update 3
hello hello!
i just got out of my educational psychology class, which was much more
interesting today than in past weeks (we only have each class
once/week here...). we started learning about theories of development
which i've always kind of known but have never really studied, so this
is good. maybe i'll realize my life calling: to be a child
psychologist? or a teacher? but two things more interesting than the
subject matter occurred today:
1. for the second class in a row a printed packet has been made
available in limited supply for members of the class to fall all over
each other trying to BUY. 1cedi 50pesawas every class could turn into
a lot, especially for many of the ghanaian students who are already
tight for cash. the girl behind me essentially begged me to buy beads
off of her so that she could afford the handout. at haverford, we pay
so damn much to attend that all of our books/handouts are already paid
for, i guess... but we also have financial aid, which i don't think
really exists here. anyway, that's just another way that life is made
much easier in the states that i never would have thought about until
now.
2. to continue on with that theme: as you've noticed, the internet is
slow here. not only is it slow, but most people don't have access to
it readily, and when you can get access to it, the systems/programs
run by the university are often down. in the middle of class today a
student came in and took the professors mic and informed the class of
hundreds of students that those who were unable to register by last
friday's deadline due to the system failure would have to DEFER A
YEAR. meaning they just CAN'T GO TO SCHOOL RIGHT NOW. there was some
amount of reaction to this, but it was only a dull roar. the fact that
this sort of injustice is clearly normal was made very evident and
class continued on after the guy left the room. this would NEVER fly
in america, or at least at haverford. i really just don't think this
would fly in the developed world. i dont have to worry about it
because i'm a foreign student, so my program director (who is a member
of the administration) will take care of it for me. the advantages are
endless. even now, sitting in the computer lab, i am aware of how much
faster the foreign students type than the ghanaian students. and i'm
not sure if it's guilt that i feel--but it's something that definitely
makes me feel uneasy.
BESIDES THAT, THOUGH, i'm having a good time! it was so great to go to
cape coast. we go off campus again next weekend. we go to kumasi, the
second largest city after accra. i might be going out again tonight to
the raggae beach party that's thrown at labadi beach every wednesday
night. it's pretty fun, which probably means it's REALLY fun for
everyone else... i've just never been too much of a party person.
i don't really know what else to say. i'm hungry! i hope you all have
wonderful days! and i hope to hear from each and every one of you soon
(please?)
reading material is greatly appreciated...........
LOVE, julia
i just got out of my educational psychology class, which was much more
interesting today than in past weeks (we only have each class
once/week here...). we started learning about theories of development
which i've always kind of known but have never really studied, so this
is good. maybe i'll realize my life calling: to be a child
psychologist? or a teacher? but two things more interesting than the
subject matter occurred today:
1. for the second class in a row a printed packet has been made
available in limited supply for members of the class to fall all over
each other trying to BUY. 1cedi 50pesawas every class could turn into
a lot, especially for many of the ghanaian students who are already
tight for cash. the girl behind me essentially begged me to buy beads
off of her so that she could afford the handout. at haverford, we pay
so damn much to attend that all of our books/handouts are already paid
for, i guess... but we also have financial aid, which i don't think
really exists here. anyway, that's just another way that life is made
much easier in the states that i never would have thought about until
now.
2. to continue on with that theme: as you've noticed, the internet is
slow here. not only is it slow, but most people don't have access to
it readily, and when you can get access to it, the systems/programs
run by the university are often down. in the middle of class today a
student came in and took the professors mic and informed the class of
hundreds of students that those who were unable to register by last
friday's deadline due to the system failure would have to DEFER A
YEAR. meaning they just CAN'T GO TO SCHOOL RIGHT NOW. there was some
amount of reaction to this, but it was only a dull roar. the fact that
this sort of injustice is clearly normal was made very evident and
class continued on after the guy left the room. this would NEVER fly
in america, or at least at haverford. i really just don't think this
would fly in the developed world. i dont have to worry about it
because i'm a foreign student, so my program director (who is a member
of the administration) will take care of it for me. the advantages are
endless. even now, sitting in the computer lab, i am aware of how much
faster the foreign students type than the ghanaian students. and i'm
not sure if it's guilt that i feel--but it's something that definitely
makes me feel uneasy.
BESIDES THAT, THOUGH, i'm having a good time! it was so great to go to
cape coast. we go off campus again next weekend. we go to kumasi, the
second largest city after accra. i might be going out again tonight to
the raggae beach party that's thrown at labadi beach every wednesday
night. it's pretty fun, which probably means it's REALLY fun for
everyone else... i've just never been too much of a party person.
i don't really know what else to say. i'm hungry! i hope you all have
wonderful days! and i hope to hear from each and every one of you soon
(please?)
reading material is greatly appreciated...........
LOVE, julia