Ghanian educator tickled by Troy

According to James Clement, principal at St. Augustine's, Mr. Agbokey has only been here for a few short months but already is like one of the staff at the school. Mr. Agbokey has been helping out at St. Augustine's while on a 90-day tourist visa to the U.S.

At the end of December, though, he will be returning to his wife and four children in a hometown that is so small, it can barely be called a town.

"It is a small place located on the seacoast near Tema and Accra, the seat of our country's government," Mr. Agbokey said of his hometown during a recent interview.

Waiting game

The Ghanian government accepted his application and the wait began for approval to attend school in the U.S. However, as a result of the September 11th terrorist attacks, all student visas were suspended.

"After a year's wait, he was able to obtain a tourist visa for 90 days," said Mr. Clement. Though Mr. Agbokey was hesitant to use the visa because his family would not be able to accompany him here, he learned that if he didn't take the trip, he would never be considered for a visa of any kind again.

Retired teacher Sheila Morris, who had taught in Mr. Agbokey's school in Ghana four years ago as a member of the Global Volunteers program, sponsored the visit.

Getting to know you

"He has been helping out in our classrooms and sharing his experiences with our children. He's spent a lot of time in our pre-K and Kindergarten, and the children love him. He's also been involved in another job shared by many of our principals: lunch duty!" Mr. Clement said.

Mr. Clement noted that he had to show his new colleague how to open a carton of milk because he has never seen one.

"He's never seen snow before either and made a comment that he was surprised it didn't make any noise when it falls. Since the temperature never goes below 70 degrees where he lives, he has never seen ice."

`Very impressed'

"He is absolutely overwhelmed," the principal stated. "I took him to New York City and we went to the top of the Empire State Building and took a ride on the Staten Island Ferry. We visited St. Patrick's Cathedral and even rode the subway. He was very happy, very impressed."

"The people here are very warm and welcoming," Mr. Agbokey told The Evangelist. "I am very impressed with how kind everyone here has been to me."

Mr. Agbokey said he would return to Prampram at the end of the month with bittersweet feelings.

"I have enjoyed and learned much from my visit. I hope to return someday soon to study liberal arts here and also to bring my family to the U.S. Right now it is very cold here but America is a wonderful place to live," he said with a laugh. "The people have been just wonderful."

COLLECTION

"There are about 400 children enrolled in his school, with nearly 50 children to a class," Mr. Clement said, adding that "four or five children use one book [to study from] between them. There is no running water, electricity or indoor plumbing and the roof leaks when it rains. The building is over 50 years old and is in disrepair. I will be collecting used books from various Catholic schools in our area so we can send them to Mr. Agbokey's grade school in Africa. I am looking for some sponsors to cover the cost of shipping these books and supplies."

(Call 235-7287.)

(12-12-02) [[In-content Ad]]