Bolga: Days 3 + 4

Let me take a moment to congratulate the Black Stars on qualifying for Round of 16! Although we lost the match against Germany, we're still in! And of course, all of Ghana is celebrating. With all this soccer, I do miss watching Wimbledon (the Isner v. Mahut match is the longest match ever, with 100+ games, and it's not even finished yet!)

Okay, enough of sports.

All of yesterday and today, data collectors conducted the baseline surveys in various communities in the Talensi-Nabdam and Kassena-Nankana Districts. Each district speaks different languages, so data collectors had to be able to speak the language of those in the communities in order to accurately complete the questionnaires.



Yesterday was also market day in the area, so I saw lots of men, women, and children alike on the roadside with empty baskets on their heads, walking, driving carts pulled by donkeys, or riding bikes and motorbikes.


I tried the shea fruit for the first time today in the Kotintabig community. I was a little skeptical because honestly, they smelled horrible. Since everyone was saying that it was sweet and kept urging me on, I relented. How could I turn down sweetness? I was disappointed. It didn't taste as sweet as I expected, tasting kind of salty instead. But I can't hate it when the seeds are used to make the shea butter that my hair so dearly loves.



Needless to say, I still prefer mangoes by a loooooooongshot.

The community had given guinea fowl eggs to the data collectors, who then generously gave them to me. They're supposed to taste much better than chicken eggs. Can't wait to eat them!

I'm heading back to Tamale tomorrow. Though these past few days in Bolga were busy and tiring, it was worth going out into the communities and seeing exactly what organizations like CRS are doing on the ground and seeing such projects in action. I only hope I get more opportunities like these in the future.