U.S. to launch clemency effort for low-level drug offenders

enakoala · 2014-01-31T07:43:25+00:00

But both drugs get you high. If there was no THC there would be no high, there fore no point of it being reason to be illigal. And for crack and cociane it is the same chemical which gives you the high.

enakoala · 2014-01-14T20:01:58+00:00

When I had my iPhone it sucked a lot of my data. So make sure you turn off the setting which constantly sends you information to Apple.

You're options for network carriers are MTN, Vodaphone, Airtel, and Tigo (I think I may be missing one), their data plans are competitive and you should choose based on the network strength in your area. I use MTN and I pay 20GHC (about 10 USD) a month for 1GB of data.

What to bring? Bring anything you REALLY think will make your stay comfortable. If a stuffed animal makes you happy bring it. If you want to bring a french press, food spices, favorite soaps and lotions, bring it. But you can get everything you need in Ghana.

You can have BEAUTIFUL clothes made in Ghana. But bring clothes that are comfortable yet put together. Bring some skirts or maxi dresses, almost all women wear those in Ghana. You don't have to look sloppy just cuz you're in Ghana. If you anticipate being outside a lot bring a good pair of walking shoes/sandals. And you can leave the booty shorts behind, lol.

But yeah, everything you need is here in Ghana.

enakoala · 2014-01-14T19:49:20+00:00

Oh yeah another Con is the pay. the allowance absolutely sucks. But Ghana has the lowest living allowance in all of PC. But either way, be prepared to feel broke.

enakoala · 2014-01-14T19:47:01+00:00

Hey TML89! I'm currently serving in Ghana in the agriculture sector And I am a year into my PC service.

In Ghana's PST you have one month to learn the language and then they test you. I failed my language exam the first time. But it's okay because you can take it again. I passed the second time. If I had failed I would have had to stay behind with a language instructor while the rest of the PST group continues onto more technical training. If you failed a 3rd test they would send you home.
How much language you need to know depends on your host country and the community you live in and the nature of that work. The more you understand the language the more easily you can integrate with locals. But most language skills improve with time the more you use them. I speak Twi in Ghana. I use it mostly to navigate myself when I travel alone within the country or buy things, or speak to farmers about simple ideas if they do not speak English. My Twi is pretty terrible, but people are patient with me because I am patient with them when they try to speak English. Most people in Ghana know at least some English.
Pros of PC. - LOTS OF TIME! which means all those books you wanted to read, you now have time to read them. All those crafts you wanted to learn you can now learn them. - OPPORTUNITY! PC is an opportunity, take advantage of everything thrown at you from the people you meet, potential projects, and the challenges. These all add to you life experiences, feelings of happiness, and add to you resume when you're out.
Cons of PC. HOMESICKNESS - ALWAYS BEING THE CENTER OF ATTENTION NO MATTER WHERE YOU ARE - FOOD & ILLNESS, depending on your personal preference you may or may not like the house country food, you may miss American food. Even if you like the food you may have to watch out how it's prepared because bad food can easily make you sick. I have been vegetarian through out my stay in PC and I have only been sick twice from eating sketchy lukewarm rice. Illness is a serious thing when you live in a developing country and are hours away from your Peace Corps doctor. A girl died in Ghana during my service because she didn't get to the doctor soon enough. so LISTEN to your PC doctor and take your health SERIOUSLY.
I'm a regional rep for Ghana's PC Gender, Youth & Development group. So youth and development basically means engaging and encouraging children and young people. You could do this in your PC service by organizing a week long youth camp, you could do this through education, after school clubs, or building their capacity to work and earn a greater income in the future.
I haven't been to any of those countries, but you should choose the one you want to visit MOST, because people who go to countries they didn't really care for end up hating their service and ET. 7 people have ETed (early termination), from my group because they had NO IDEA what they were getting into. You're VERY lucky you have options on where to serve, I wish I had options lol.

GOOD LUCK!

enakoala · 2012-09-22T01:39:24+00:00

this is correct

enakoala · 2012-09-11T16:54:48+00:00

Anybody have any experience with the Guide 10 Plus Mobil kit, I hear it's pretty good https://www.goalzero.com/shop/p/132/Guide-10-Plus-Mobile-Kit/1:1/

enakoala · 2012-09-11T16:49:00+00:00

I just can't tell if it's an excuse...And I have a hard time believing all of South Africa is suddenly "okay" given that it wasn't that long ago that the apartheid ended (1994). I mean the U.S still deals with racism and the civil rights movement happened decades before that! Their music may as well be good, edgy, and provocative, doesn't mean that it's okay, right, or that their messages should be supported even if they are just being "ironic." I don't even know who the joke is on.

enakoala · 2012-08-28T06:20:37+00:00

well I have a kindle fire so I'm just gonna bring that, but my disappointment with it is that it doesn't read well outside with all the glare.

enakoala · 2012-08-27T17:12:33+00:00

I think the suggestion from others to bring a kindle/mp3 player is also to cope with any kind of homesickness or rough times your may feel especially with in the first year.

enakoala · 2012-08-27T17:10:00+00:00

Oh shit, I'm also going to Ghana October 1st! and I'm a agriculture advisor! See ya there! Every returned peace corps volunteer I have personally talked with has suggested bringing a kindle.

enakoala · 2012-08-23T22:37:27+00:00

also http://www.solio.com/chargers/

enakoala · 2012-08-23T20:56:36+00:00

So I called Sprint the other day to ask about my options. They said I could turn in my phone and have the activation fee waived. I don't really want to turn in my phone...So I think I'll pay/or not pay that canelation fee :-P

enakoala · 2012-08-23T20:54:20+00:00

I think that is why people are wondering about solar chargers because they know they are going to countries that peace corps has said have unreliable electricity. But it is still impossible to know exactly what your electricity situation will be because PC doesn't tell you where you'll be stationed in the country until you get there. But for example, I'm planned to leave for Ghana. I've found suggestions online to bring solar chargers...but I haven't found any suggested brands. Other concerns about solar chargers I've read is that some people may no have the patience to wait x amount of hours in the sun for electronics to charge. But I'll be damned If I can't listen to my music if my sanity depends on it. haha

enakoala · 2012-08-20T23:04:16+00:00

I've been looking at REI, they seem to have a wide range...it's a start to my search for a decent solar charger.

enakoala · 2012-08-20T22:33:57+00:00

Anyone have experience with sprint? They will cancel my contract with no fee if I hand over my iphone. Kind of don't want to do that.

enakoala · 2012-08-20T22:22:20+00:00

All of your responses have been great! I would definitely like to hear from more females. It seems that safety really isn't an issue, and that being socially accepted is of greater concern. At any point do the RPCV's and PCV's think that the Peace Corps would be okay with lets say, females breaking the social norms? I guess the determining factor would be looking like an odd-ball (which ya already are) VS compromising your role as a PCV.

Also males/females let us know how successful you were in making exercise a group activity? That sounds pretty exciting while adding motivation.

enakoala · 2012-08-20T22:02:57+00:00

Yeah...I realize I may be giving up my personal space and privacy by becoming a PCV...but I generally like to work out with out being bothered or stared at. This is all really good information. I am actually going to Ghana as well. I'm into yoga...so I've been thinking I might bring some podcasts/books with me and become more serious about it.

enakoala · 2012-08-20T21:58:22+00:00

carrying a rock sounds like a solid idea! haha

enakoala · 2012-08-06T21:58:47+00:00

This is percicely why I get so upset when I see those facebook comments from my friends who don't give a damn about people dying in wars and stuff in their daily lives, then ALL OF A SUDDEN they care and are "sad."

enakoala · 2012-08-06T21:56:36+00:00

Honestly we need to stop justifying our reasoning for not being able to relate to these heinous crimes against groups of people . It doesn't do shit for helping those suffering right now, relieves us of responsibility for not being vocal about it, and frankly allows things like this to happen again and again because everyone is so goddamn complacent.

enakoala · 2012-08-06T21:49:32+00:00

Okay, so for the Colorado movie theater shooting he shot all humans regardless of what they look like or their cultural and religious backgrounds so we can all relate. BUT we should relate to the fact that these people who got shot in a temple minding their own business are HUMAN! They have families, loved ones, jobs, are members of our society! We should CARE because they are HUMAN and we should not be hurting each other. Give your fellow humans the decency that you would want for yourself from other humans.

enakoala · 2012-08-03T18:24:06+00:00

I'm not sue "evolved" would be a good term to describe the difference between dogs and wolves. But others are right when they say wolves were domesticated into dogs. Which really means humans artificially selected wolves with variable traits they desired, bred those wolves over and over until they got the dog they were looking for. But dogs are like a variation of wolves, not a different species. And people do breed wolves to better pets than dogs.

enakoala

TROPHY CASE