On the Road to Louisville

Jon is a founding director of Exposure Leeds, being hugely supportive about the benefits of improving through sharing. When he's not thinking of the next big project for the photo group or planning a future Photocamp unconference he enjoys his own brands of art photography and male portraiture. He plans to come to Louisville this year as part of the Louisville-Leeds Sister Cities Photography Exchange, further sharing his love of art and creative thinking. Here he will describe his journey to and through Louisville.




I (and my co-directors) usually publish on this site as the voice of ‘Exposure Leeds’ – mainly in an attempt to focus on the people we’re talking to rather than have all this as a personal brandbuilding exercise but, for once, I’m going to be writing, regularly, about my impending visit to the United States.

When sitting down to start this I considered where it would be best to post it (I do, after all have both a personal blog, a photo blog and various social media outlets), but I decided to post here as I felt that you, as members of Exposure Leeds should have a chance to understand the whys and wherefores as to how I got in the amazing position of taking part in this photographer’s exchange, and to hear as soon as possible what happens along the way.

For those who are playing catch-up back in March the wonderful Michael Brohm visited us from his native Louisville; a city twinned with our own based of Leeds. Michael came along with prints from his previous visits to Perm, Russia – organised, as with this exchange, by the Sisters Cities of Louisville. He talked to us, took part in a workshop and took many pictures of the city (more of that soon).

This all started in 2010 – when, as part of the Leeds Photo Week activities, Alex Lawler from Leeds City Council’s International Leeds department came to the opening of ‘The Best of Leeds, Volume One‘ and asked if we’d be interested in helping host a visiting photographer from Louisville.

Since then both I and the other directors have discussed the relative importance of creating links outside the city and how this can educate and inform what we do here – how this can enhance our own work and show us these worlds beyond ours.

I head to the states on September 17th with several remits, and I want to be honest and up front about each – because I’m hoping all will advantage Exposure Leeds’ members:

•To develop my own work and experience – I’ll admit to personal gain here; that I get the chance to go to a place I probably wouldn’t otherwise visit – to engage with locals and to see who that place differs from Leeds; and the ways in which it’s the same. I want to come back with at least one new piece of work to enhance my folio – and to share with you and others in the city.
•To create links with those in another city – and this isn’t just some social connection, I’d like to find photographers in our twinned city and, hopefully, allow these to connect directly with Exposure Leeds and it’s membership. That maybe we can get photographers collaborating, sharing knowledge and combining their expertise and creating work thousands of miles apart. I am already in contact with a half-dozen photographers in the city; by the time I return I’d like this figure to be 25 or more.
•To understand what makes a good exchange – we’ve never done it before and, along with other challenges Exposure Leeds attempts, we don’t want to just follow the rules set by others, but we do want to work out how we can ensure these twinning projects become a success. I’m aiming to make connections in Louisville that will ensure any member visiting that city in the future will find a warm welcome, but also working out who we can facilitate that warm welcome elsewhere.
•To visit the Idea Festival – this is a major event in the city, and my visit has been timed to coincide with it, where some of the world’s great thinkers get together and share ideas. I’ve been invited to go along and record the event and to meet the delegates and speakers. This will form a single piece of work I hope to share with the world upon my return.
•To create a stronger link between the two cities. I’m sure many in Leeds are unaware of Louisville, never mind being aware of the twin connection; I’d like to change this and show more people in Leeds a little of what Louisville is and who it’s people are.
The imminence of Louisville is oh so exciting, but it’s not our only established ‘twin’ link – I’ve been actively involved in the 3 Harbours Arts Festival in Scotland (not truly international, but still it’s beyond our city), and will be talking about this at this year’s Photocamp and we are already looking into the possibility of twinning links with Leeds’ South African connection – Durban.
I’ll add more to this in the coming days – and update you on what is planned for my trip. But I think that is a good place to sign off, for today.
Image © Glorious Gaduang, used under creative commons licence with thanks

Day 2 in the United States

I arrived yesterday in the United States after a long journey from Accra, Ghana at 10PM on Wednesday evening. I arrived yesterday around 11Am (3PM Ghana time). While on the plane, I began to ponder about the idea of "home." Chief and I often mentioned this concept, and others inquire about it as well. It certainly makes for a stimulating conversation, but it really is something to think about.

When I think of home, I think of my mother, our house. Sitting in our living room by the fireplace at Christmas time. A good, home-cooked meal, family, friends, etc. My idea of home is much like that of many other Americans. However, now that I am back "home" from Ghana, I can't help but think about the individuals I met there. Their welcoming spirit, their helpfulness, how kind they were.

On Tuesday, I traveled to Cape Coast to see the slave castle. Walking through the male and female dungeons was very difficult for me. It was hard to breathe in the dungeons, and to imagine hundreds of captives in there, sitting in their own waste for months, with little air only made me close my eyes. I placed my wrist in one of the shackles and did the same- closed my eyes. Then, when I walked through the Door of No Return and got chills. On the other side of the door was the beautiful water. The Coast is just an amazing sight, and to think of what went on there, is enough to make your stomach turn. Then I turned around, and walked back through the door, and felt very humble to my ancestors, who walked though doors such as the one I came through, and could never return to their home.

So this feeling I got, was enough to make me wonder about what home really is. Home to my ancestors is a home that I may know nothing about. Their language, their practices, their daily lives. I think about all the opportunities I have in my own country. That I have the privilege to come to the Motherland, to behave freely as I wish. I also think of the many consequences of the ugly part of American history called slavery, that I myself, still experience. But I have no idea the experiences of my ancestors, my grandparents, even my own parents who grew up in the 1960's. All I know is that the continent I was on for the past six weeks is a new place I can call home. There is a feeling I have, unexplainable to many (even the kind Ghanaians I met), that encompassed my entire view of myself. A feeling of being home.

So when I passed through immigration in Atlanta airport and I showed the African American man at the desk my passport, he let me through with a comment, "Welcome home Miss Lacey."

I smiled and thought,"Home. You have no idea."

So now that I have embraced my "dual identity" as African and American at it's fullest, I have altered how I see myself and my family. But at the end of the day, I am truly grateful for the experiences I had in Ghana, and I thank Sister Cities for allowing me to represent them in such a wonderful country. Most importantly, I thank God for opening my eyes to another side of this world.

Untitled Poem

Tangled pink and orange
sings to me songs of Jesus
and bright colors of this place
this place far away.

Crouching trees
and red sandy grounds
and the dancing sun
coat this area I walk in.

Warm, clear black-blue nights
bind themselves against this universe,
swimming their way to me.
They only want to be near-
These stars,
these stars,
our Mother's tears.

Day 37 in Ghana

I am so amazed at how quickly the time has gone by since I've been here. The last time I blogged, I uploaded the letter that I wrote the Zo-Simli girls since yesterday was my last day teaching there. I presented five outstanding students with a piece of jewelry (either a necklace or a bracelet). These are five girls who participated during class, who asked questions, raised their hands to be group leaders, had great work ethics, and were very friendly and welcoming to me. I wish I could have given them all a gift, but this was my way of saying "thank you." I typed up the letter I wrote them and hung it in the office of the headmistress so that they could always go read it. We also took more pictures! Several students stood up to tell me how appreciative they were for having me there and how much they learned. The English Master also expressed his appreciation for me and they all sung me a good-bye song...it was a wonderful closing to my teaching experience at Zo-Simli JHS.
Today is Saturday, and early Monday morning, I am taking a domestic flight back to Accra. I plan to stay in Accra for two nights- Monday night and Tuesday night. On Tuesday, I plan to spend the day in Cape Coast to see some of the slave castles and other tourist sights. Wednesday evening at 9:55PM (5:55PM Eastern, USA time) I will be headed back to the States. This means, Sunday night will be my last time in Ghana that I may have internet to blog, so the conclusion of my blogging will happen when I'm back in Louisville,KY. I arrive in Louisville at 9:45AM Thursday morning.
I have truly learned so much about being here and about such a beautiful, welcoming culture. I plan to write some more so long as there is internet here in the palace. Now that I am reaching the closing of my experience, I am truly beginning to see what a blessing this has all been.

Day 34 in Ghana

Dear Zo-Simli Girls,

I have enjoyed my time here at your school teaching all of you. You have made my experience in Tamale a special gift that I will never forget. Your hard work and participation has been great. But most of all, I have appreciated your kind spirits and warm hearts. The kindness you have shown me for the past five weeks has made me feel very happy!

Please continue to be the best women you can be. You are the next generation who will lead this great country. Remember that no one can take away your knowledge, so continue to do very good work in school because one day you will be rewarded for it.

Each and every one of you is beautiful. Continue to let your lights shine around you.

Yours Gratefully,

Anam-Zoya (Adrianna Lacey)

Day 31 in Ghana

Yet again, it is hard to believe that I only have eight more days in Tamale, and eleven more in Ghana. Next Monday, I plan to fly back to Accra and stay there until traveling to Cape Coast (by bus) to see some historical places such as the slave castles, and then travel back to Accra (by bus) and prepare to go home.
Yesterday I got to enjoy a festival that took place right here in the compound of the palace. The festival was a showcase of cultural dancing which was absolutely beautiful! It was an interesting, entertaining display with drumming, elaborate costumes, and of course dancing. The Ghanaians who sat next to me in the audience were able to narrate some of the different stories that are associated with particular dances. So at the conclusion of the festival, there is an opportunity for the drummer to call members from the audience up to dance. Of course, yours truly was called to dance. I caught on fast to the movements and was able to please the audience fairly quickly! Most importantly, I had fun doing it!
So today has been more of a relaxed day that has included me doing some reading and office work. A storm came earlier this afternoon for about an hour and has left the sky a softened gray. I noticed that since I have been here, I pay close attention to the color of the sky, what it looks like, the moon, the sunsets- and it is all very beautiful. At night, the stars are so visible, it looks as if one of them might drop down on your head. As the sun sets (which is usually around 6:30PM as opposed to the US in July setting around 8:30PM), the sun turns a red-orange color making its rays practically invisible. Sure, many of these images can be viewed in the States, yet when I'm here, I feel more inclined to take note of them. On the nights that I begin to miss home, I look in the sky and see the moon. I simply remind myself that in about four hours, my mom will be able to see that same moon just as clear as I can.
Distance really is a fascinating idea. Being over 5,000 miles away from the US is what really is. However, I am constantly reminded by all of these beautiful brown-faced individuals that I cannot just use these big bright stars to "walk home."

Day 27 in Ghana

Time truly does get away. It's hard to believe I have been in Ghana for four weeks tomorrow, with only two weeks left. My days seem to get filled quickly. I have been doing more clerical work in the Sister Cities office here in the compound, and of course still teaching. The students are now writing persuasive speeches. So I gave them the "American" components of structuring strong arguments to convince their audience. My last day teaching at the school will be July 7th.
I really enjoyed my events of this past Sunday. I traveled with Chief's son, Solomon, along with two other individuals around my age to Paga, where we sat, posed with, and fed a tamed crocodile. It was interesting. I also had my first experience riding a donkey for a short time- the struggle there was keeping the donkey calm. LOL
I believe while I am here my most fulfilling project will be the library for the Zo-Simli girls. The project itself is moving along at an American pace....(Quick and overall thorough.) Many of my friends back in the US have asked what are some of the things I miss about the US being in Ghana. I believe this is a typical, fair question. So here's a list of some of the things I miss. (Other than family and friends.)
1. Traffic without the constant fear of being hit in a car or hitting someone. (The lanes are not quite established, motorbikes, cars and pedestrians come together on the road.)
2. Hot, steamy showers.
3. Having access to anything at any time.
4. Consistent flow of internet access.
5. Ice in my drinks.
6. Air conditioning in every facility I enter.
7. Not wondering whether or not one of the mosquitoes that has bitten me is actually dangerous.
8. McDonald's Breakfast.
9. Escalators.
10. Sidewalks.

So clearly some of the things on my list are important to many Americans, and some of the things on my list are solely built on the amount of comfort in the United States. Being here has been such a wake-up call of how blessed I am, how fortunate. But America is my lens, which means what I cannot find in Ghana, does not mean individuals here are missing something. Happiness is something that is easy to find here. But I can't help but wonder about the Americans whom I know do not find my experience in Ghana to be one they would like. Simply because their material items are so important to them, or because they would not want to do without. This experience however, gives me a chance to challenge myself and think about what God has given me, why He has given it to me, and what is really important. So I won't simply write these things and pretend as if I won't return to my "American comfort" and enjoy it. I am writing this to acknowledge the fact that being in Ghana is allowing me to find peace within myself. I'm able to explore peace, identity, friendship, and happiness. Frankly, I feel for those who choose to limit themselves based on the fact that they don't want to lose what they THINK they would be giving up by going to any developing African country.
Herman Melville said, "Of all the preposterous assumptions of humanity, nothing exceeds the criticisms made of the habits of the poor by the well-housed, well-warmed and well-fed."

Day 23 in Ghana

Yesterday I got to experience some of the raw experiences of African culture... and I loved it! Myself along with Professor Wyatt (Prof) traveled to an area called Fooshegu in which we took part in the funeral of a Chief. There was loud gun firing, drumming, dancing and drinking. We walked about the area in somewhat of a staggered line as other individuals and children in the area joined in the line. It was wonderful.
This was also my first day wearing traditional Ghanaian clothing which allowed me to blend in and also to stand out to those who were not accustomed to me wearing the clothing! It was truly a great feeling and I certainly plan on wearing the clothing any time we travel to participate in traditional Ghanaian events/activities.
Last week, I mentioned to Dr. Susan Herlin whom I refer to as "Chief" that the library at the Zo-Simli junior high school is what I would call "nonexistent." The library is a small room with large shelves in which collect dust. The books that are there are in boxes, unavailable to the students whom have expressed to me that would like to read books during their free time. So Chief has connected me with a young man who works at the Northern Regional Library here in Tamale. Us along with another young man whom is skilled with his hands have set up a plan to improve the library. Chief has agreed to sponsor this plan. This would include building new shelves, fixing the ceiling, and most importantly, strategically organizing the books so that they can be available to students to read or check-out.
I am glad to be able to teach the students English, but it is even more fulfilling to me to leave knowing that there was improvement to the school as well. My mother always used to tell me no matter where you are, you take pride in what you have. In other words, the Zo-Simli school may need more improvements than many other schools, but if they have a library in which is taken care of, a library that the students enjoy and can take full advantage of, that is what is important. I look forward to seeing my suggestion come to fruition thanks to the help of Chief and everyone who puts forth effort to participate.

Perm - by Shane Scott

Where to start…the trip to Perm was unbelievable, amazing, wonderful, interesting, and the list could go on and on.

When I was first informed of the trip I was slightly hesitant – a free trip to Russian? All expenses paid? – is this some kind of scam. As it turned out it was completely legitimate and needless to say the trip exceeded all expectation tenfold. First and foremost I would like to thank everyone involved that helped make the trip happen, from the Sister Cities Organization, to our translators, and everyone in-between that planned and executed this extraordinary trip. Thank you from the bottom of my heart!

The trip was only 6 days in total with about a day and a half of travel time (around a 24 hour flight including layovers just to get there) but it seemed like we were there for at least 10 days. The guides managed to fit as much as possible into our stay as we embarked our 16 to 17 hour days daily which made the trip that much more interesting and exciting.

Our first full day in Perm we were lucky enough to go to school # 84, a secondary school in central Perm (I think). For me this was one of the most memorable parts of the trip: As soon as we arrive we were greeted by a group of smiling Russian teenagers all were shirts that read ‘I speak English’. As they lead us inside the school we were again greeted by an even larger group of high-school-aged kids who gave us the warmest welcome I have ever received. It was bit overwhelming at first but certainly a great experience. As the group of us took our seats we (the Americans) individually introduced ourselves and the school child, all in unison, welcomed us with their newly learned English.

Shortly thereafter, we watched a brief slideshow about the history and wonders of Perm. Following the slideshow the children were unleashed upon us to ask questions, in English, about anything they pleased. Some of the more popular questions included: ‘what do you think of Perm?, ‘Do you like Perm?’ (Difficult questions to answer at the time because we hadn’t even spent 24 hours in city yet), ‘How long have you done extreme sports?’ and plenty of others. It was incredible interacting with these teenagers and I was thoroughly impressed with their English. It made me realize my limited intellect as I can barely master English, let alone another language, while these kids were capable of speaking multiple languages.

After the question-answer session, which last quite some time, we head outside to plant trees with the school-age-children. I planted a Birch Tree with two kids( whose name slip my mind currently). I think planting of the trees symbolized a bond between Perm and Louisville. After the well documented tree planting event we were treated to Russian snacks…

As a side note: I’m always one who loves to try new things and experience new cultures. This being said, I was thrilled to bite into some interesting and unique Russian cuisine. I grabbed a plate full food and began investigating what I had grabbed and the one item that caught my attention the most was a crepe (Russian pancake) filled with caviar. I had never tried fish eggs before but I had heard good things about them so I took a generous bite. Well….it was certainly not what I expected. It was incredibly salty, slimy, and other textures that I do not have words. As I began to try to swallow, tears began to flow from my eyes and my gag reflex was in full effect. I didn’t think I was going to be able to hold it down but out of respect for a new city and new food I managed to swallow it and put a smile on my face. I didn’t attempt to eat any more Russian snacks while at school # 84.

Following the caviar incident we were swarmed by Russian students asking for e-mail addresses and facebook pages. I wrote down my e-mail so many times that my hand started to cramp. After several moments of exchanging contact information were we asked to make a circle in the school court yard. As we formed the circle loud Russian techno (all the music that I heard in Russia was techno) began to play and the teachers and the children began doing a dance which they instructed us to do. I wish I had a picture or even a video to show everyone this dance. I’m pretty sure I laughed the entire time but it was so much fun. I distinctly remember a few words from the song: ‘American boys are American Joys’.

Preceding our dance party on the playground we were invited back into the classroom where we were bombarded with requests to sign the Russian teenager’s shirts, hats and papers. It was unbelievable, here I am, some ‘American boy’ who is nothing special signing autographs for a bunch of high school aged girls – I felt like a celebrity. We must have signed autographs and interacted with the kids for at least an hour before we had to leave school # 84.

I truly do not have words for how incredible, eye opening, and thankful I am for that experience with those kids at school # 84. There is no doubt that it was a once in a life time experience and could not be more thankful that I was a part of it.

Amazingly, this little excursion at the school was only a fraction of our first day. After the school we went on a tour of Perm and all it had to offer, followed by a session at the skate park, followed by a café, followed by a bunny hop contest, followed by dinner. As I mentioned earlier our schedules were packed from morning till evening.

The hospitality of Perm and its residents was incredible. Everyone that we ran into was helpful, kind, and giving like I have never experienced before. I would like to thank all the locals at the skate park who welcomed us to their park and made our time at the Perm Extreme park an excellent one. I would like to thank the Mayor of Perm for coming out to the skate park and interviewing us and taking the time to greet the Americans, it was humbling experiences. Most of all I would like to thank our translators and guides who had to put up with 7 American boys for 6 days. I know it must have been difficult but everyone did and amazing job and made our stay the BEST possible stay I could have dreamed of. Thank you again for an adventure of a life time!!

I apologize if my thought are a bit jumbled and scattered towards the end of this post, it's just I could most likely write another ten pages on our first day alone and who knows how many pages about the trip in its entirety because I had such an amazing time. But I doubt anyone truly wants to read that much about one trip to Perm, nor do I have the time to write so extensively on this trip at this time.

Thank you to everyone involved that allowed me this opportunity!

-Shane

Day 20 in Ghana

Yesterday I conversed with some of the individuals whom I see around the palace during the day. I was speaking with one of them about the importance of a person's name in Ghana. It predicts so much about a person, it can even warn others! So of course I asked him for a local Dagbani name. My name is "Anam-Zoya." So I have created my whole name as Adrianna Renee Anam-Zoya.
He told me many of the names are chosen by a person's birth. I told him that my mother labored sixteen hours when I was born and I suffered an infection at birth because I was such a large baby. He was so surprised when I told him I was the only child. He said, "In Ghana we believe that such a long delivery can result in the death of the baby or the mother, but God spared you both, which means you were born a child of much greatness."
I told him that when I was still an infant, my mother in the midst of prayer lifted me up in the air as if to give me back to God. She was so grateful to have me as her gift that she was giving me back. My Ghanaian friend then said, "Ah, so the sky must be your limit." So the name "Anam-Zoya" means "the sky is the limit, God's love for me is boundless because I was put on this Earth to make a difference, therefore my successes will have no limit."
So of course after this conversation, I was speechless and in total amazement. The Dagbani people are so wise and have such strong value systems. I then told my friend about my mother. I told him how much I admire her. He said, "a woman who could labor for so long must be very strong and very great." So he has named my mother Vivian Lacey, "Pa-Wuni" which means "Woman of God." The significance of the names is absolutely incredible. So now my students call me "Anam-Zoya," along with other Ghanaians. So when I introduce myself I say "My name is Adrianna. Please call me "Anam-Zoya" and the respect that comes along with the name is unexplainable. After all, they know that I was given this name for a reason. They always smile at me and nod in approval. So I am official in Ghana now that I have a Dagbani name. It makes this journey to Ghana go deeper than before. My friend repeated "Anam-Zoya, Anam-Zoya, Anam-Zoya is your name now that you are home."

Day 18 in Ghana

I stare at the clock in the bottom right corner of my laptop and see the time is 7:13PM, this clock is still set to the time it is in Lexington, KY, so the current time in Tamale is 11:14PM. I am writing at a time where I usually get ready for bed because the internet here is about as reliable as the wind blowing my 8th eyelash on my left eye. Probable. So I figure I should write before I lose my connection again!
It's hard for me to believe I have been in Ghana for almost three weeks now. Time seems to be moving so quickly. I am still working with the Zo-Simli students on speech writing. The topic is for them to give speeches on what they would like to see improved at their school. I secretly wished I could give my own speech to an audience of individuals of anyone who would listen... Once again, considering all of the factors that help students learn from an American perspective. The air conditioning, cushioned chairs (it's easy to squirm a lot while sitting on hard wood), new chalkboards, new desks, bathrooms, more books for the library, transportation system, computers, a place to eat lunch such as a cafeteria, and the list goes on. However, I am sensitive to the fact that I am looking through my lens through an American perspective. A place where the students' comfort and resources are the main priority. It seems as if many of the girls are discussing in their speeches some of the above mentioned ideas. So this poses the question: How does one propose ideas of improvement without the incredible stench of an American way of doing things? Food for thought, and believe me, I am still "chewing" on this one.
I find that some of my best experiences in Ghana come about when I take walks with some of my Ghanaian peers into town. The interactions I have with these people are the most wonderful encounters. Whether it be a seamstress, a cook, a drummer, a child, or a goat, I always seem to walk away with something different whether it be a simple thought or a smile.

TV can be educational - I'm a witness

Last week a delegation of five TV & Film Bureau directors arrived in Louisville from our Sister City of Jiujiang, China. It was a flying visit; as part of what seemed to be a whirlwind tour of the USA and Canada....so the pressure was on to make Louisville stand out as the best city on their trip! I had been told by the Jiujiang Foreign Affairs Office to organize anything that was convenient but that's not the way we like to do things at Sister Cities....

After a lovely dinner at Yachings on the first night - where the waitress seemed puzzled by our request to eat 'Chinese style' and share several dishes, we let them rest up for the evening. The next day I had organized a tour of FOX 41 studios - I thought this might be of interest to them given their career area but I never expected for it to be such a hit. The tour itself was great, the control room and behind the scenes was far more interesting that I had expected but we were fortunate enough to bump into the Programming Director who invited the group back to his office. What ensued was a 45 minute discussion about American television, production, ownership and cable networks. Never have I personally learned so much during a delegation’s visit. The group fired question after question eager to learn more about how things are done in the U.S - a small quarrel broke out (I can only assume this was the case not being able to understand the language however the intonation indicated some disagreement) over disbelief that the Cable companies pay the networks for their programs and not the other way around. Once cleared up they had more questions. Harry Beam, the FOX41 director honestly seemed to enjoy sharing his knowledge with the group and even went so far as to color code that days TV schedule to indicate the variety of programs; such as news, syndicated programs and FOX shows. I really can't thank him enough for the time he dedicated to the group. Afterwards we were given the privilege of viewing a live news production in the studio and before that the lead up to it in the control room.

After lunch across the river, looking back on our lovely skyline we embarked on a tour of downtown, hitting all the places you would expect. Everything was a delight to the group, with requests to stop for photos opportunities at every location.....with one exception.....the world’s largest baseball bat. I realized that I did not have a group of baseball fans in tow, as they waved us on indicating they would not need a photo. They made a last minute request to visit a cinema and so we headed to Baxter Avenue - all the way there I contemplated how I was going to blag our way in free of charge. It seems having a group of five Chinese individuals in suits standing behind me was enough to validate my request and in we went. I'm not sure how long we spent looking inside the various screens but I am certain that we took a photo of everything inside - from the seating, to the signage, to the concession stand, to each and every poster. I came to learn that Jiujiang might be building a new cinema complex - so watch this space for a Baxter clone!

We just had time to grab their luggage from the hotel before heading back to the airport. Before they left I insisted that they all return so we can show them more of what Louisville has to offer - I found myself disappointed that we weren't able to extend the trip, this truly was such a fun group. I hope I can track them down if I'm ever in Jiujiang!

Thank you to Sean Zhang and Momo Wang who interpreted for me and without either of which the visit could not have been a success.

On a side note, it is these types of exchanges that have lead to a trust and respect between Louisville and Jiujiang. It is directly because of these interactions and the relationship that have been created between our cities that we have been able to establish the Young Scholars Program. This fall eight degree seeking students will enroll in Bellarmine and Hanover colleges for four year degrees. Next year we expect to increase that number and also expand to include other local colleges in Louisville. Over the next four years this will generate over $1.8 Million dollars in tuition fees for our area and until now that money has gone to California - who have recruited the top students throughout China. Now we are able to go into the high schools ourselves and bring that talent to Louisville. This has been made possible through tireless efforts by Sister Cities volunteers who have nurtured the relationship since its beginning. You know who you are, thank you for all that you do for our City.

http://myemail.constantcontact.com/Sister-Cities-Needs-Your-Voice.html?soid=1105757923604&aid=GVqn4uZVows

http://myemail.constantcontact.com/Sister-Cities-Needs-Your-Voice.html?soid=1105757923604&aid=GVqn4uZVows

Day 13 in Ghana

Today and yesterday morning at the Zo Simli School, I created a lesson plan of my own, which I was very proud of. The English Master instructed me to discuss with them, some of the elements of speech writing. Yesterday I taught them about informative speeches and today we covered persuasive speeches. Speech writing in itself takes a completely different perspective in Ghana than in the United States. In Ghana, there seems to not be much emphasis on conveying a message in a speech, but more so in the art of how it is delivered, and who is delivering it. However, the English Master and myself have been collaborating very well in giving the students both cultures of speech writing.
I had them repeat a phrase that happened to come to me while I was lecturing. "The best speech is an effective speech." Most American students at the college level are familiar with the differences between informative and persuasive speeches. They are also familiar with some of the structuring tools. Therefore we discussed the concepts of an introduction, main points, conclusion, and even a thesis statement- which they grasp more as the "theme" of the speech. They took notes on my lecture and then the English Master taught them from somewhat of a different angle. The biggest difference is the idea of the thesis statement. What is it that you want your audience to take away from this speech? In Ghana, this is not necessarily an important factor.
This has also been my first time experiencing tropical rain which comes down much harder than the rain I am used to in the states. I picture a giant bucket or water hose spraying the area. It rains so hard and loud, it can wake one up in the middle of the night, or make it hard to even carry on a conversation!
The Dagbani language is quite fascinating and I have been able to learn many of the standard greetings here. Generally almost everyone speaks English, however, you find that a vast majority when conversing with one another speak Dagbani. There is an English-Dagbani dictionary here at the palace that I want to read just for some more phrases. The culture here is remarkable in that its uniqueness is truly is moving.

Day 11 in Ghana

The most enjoyable part about being in Ghana right now (besides meeting all of the wonderful people) is working at the Zo Simli-Naa Junior High School. It is an all girls school, the ages range from about eleven to thirteen. I am assisting the English Master in his class. The girls immediately welcomed me with a very loud greeting in unison. They all had smiles on their faces.

The school is staffed by nice instructors whom were also very inviting. However, as an individual who has been an American student for about seventeen years, I feel as if I will no longer complain about the way classes are run, nor should I. American students often take for granted some of the things that the students at Zo Simli do not have. For example, it would be difficult for an American student to have class with no air conditioning. It's hard to focus when you are concerned about how hot you are. You need the wind to blow through the classroom, so both doors of the room must be open. This brings about a lot of distractions outside such as the many goats and sheep roaming around, people walking through the area, and children playing soccer outside.

Also as an American student, I have never thought about how a projector enhances one's chances of grasping the material being taught. It's a projector, nothing special right? Wrong. Imagine straining your eyes from the back of the classroom with about 10% of an electric light, the other 90% natural light, trying to read what has been written on the very used chalkboard. All that is seen is smeared chalk from previous lessons. Even as a teacher without a proper desk and chair, textbooks, and other learning equipment, there is much to be said about how quickly the students grasp the material. I wonder how easy it would be to find chalkboard cleaner in Tamale...

So the material I am teaching is indeed one of my favorite skills. English. When I begin a lecture in the class, I am always mindful of my enunciation of words. Ghanaians, and many Africans in general use very proper English with each letter usually enunciated. So my own pronunciation of words has definitely improved, the purpose being so that the girls can understand what I am saying. However, sometimes it is a bit of a challenge for me to understand their accents also. I have had to familiarize myself with the material I teach because much of what I am teaching was taught to me in elementary and was never revisited again. Proper use of adjectives, adverbs, verbs, pronouns and nouns, clauses, reading comprehension and punctuation. However, it is important to view this material with a wide lens incorporating a number of circumstances.

What I believe will be most interesting will be how well the students catch on to some American teaching strategies like singing songs for memorization, the pattern of writing papers with an introduction and conclusion along with three main points, and perhaps even doing more hands-on activities. I know I have some very helpful strategies to learning different concepts because they were taught to me, the challenge will be to identify the cultural differences between us and simply use the American strategies as tools, not as their foundation for learning the material. I look forward to seeing the results of my plan.

Day 9 in Ghana

I am very pleased with the way I have been able to adapt to my surroundings in Ghana- that was never my concern. However, I am a person who is very conscientious of my time as well as others' time. As Americans, we are people who value time management because we believe it helps ease some of the simple stressors such as miscommunication and waiting. However, Ghanaian time runs about 30 minutes to an hour later than usual. So if a Ghanaian says, "Let's meet at 9:00am," that gives me time to leisurely get up, prepare a breakfast, and be ready by about 9:30am. Many African Americans joke about such a time existing in the US within their communities as well. A sort of "cultural lateness." However, we still know as Americans that we are "running late." Many times in Ghana this does not exist. And as I predicted, that has become one of my greatest obstacles.
Today has been a good day. I had a brief meeting this morning with Chief about some of the new goals for Sister Cities of Tamale. I can clearly see the intersections between Sister Cities of Louisville and Sister Cities of Tamale, and I am honored to be an effective liaison between the two cities.
Today I ate jollof rice, another one of my favorite dishes in this country. It has a slight kick, which is perfect for me because I can't handle too many spicy foods. Tomorrow, I will go with Mariama (an outstanding cook and overall wonderful woman) to a Ghanaian Baptist Church, which I'm sure will be an experience all in itself. I look forward to it.

Day 8 in Ghana

With today being day 8 in Ghana, it feels as if I have only been here for maybe 2. This is my first time out of the United States, and what a wonderful choice. I have never met such a wonderful culture of people who were naturally kind, appreciative, accommodating, and overall had such "wonderful spirits," as my mother would say. Now that I have discovered internet cafes, I will have more of an opportunity to record the details of my experiences on this blog. At this very moment, I have been to Accra and am now in Tamale. I really like Tamale and its calming environment. The Chief's Palace is full of such a helpful staff and have made sure that my stay has been comfortable so far. The food is excellent, my favorite dishes are Red Red and Jollof Rice. It has taken awhile for me to get used to the heat, my skin is getting browner and browner. :)
I am now aiding the English Master at the Zo Simli-Naa Junior High Girls School, next door to the palace. The English Master has allowed me to lead the lectures in grammar and the next lesson will be speech writing. In my next entry to this blog, I plan on writing much sooner and providing many more details, but overall, I am enjoying my stay here in Ghana and adapting well to my surroundings.

Mayor Fischer meets with Local Extreme Skaters

Late yesterday afternoon, Sister Cities and 7 local Extreme Skaters and BMX riders stopped by Mayor Fischer's office. The group was about to leave for Louisville's Sister City of Perm, Russia for the opening of Russia's first Extreme Park-modelled on non other than Louisville's own extreme park blueprints (handed over several years ago during a visit from Perm's Mayor Shubin). Mayor Fischer wanted to give them an official send off; we were expecting a quick handshake, photo and "do Louisville proud" speach but what we got was entirely different....



Mayor Fischer showed a genuine interest, asking about the local Skate Park, what it needed and what could improve it. The group offered serious suggestions and recommendations and sited several local Skate shops as the unofficial representatives of the local Skate community. Two main concerns - shade and graphitti stood out (along with a lack of recycling bins) and the group had several great suggestions to tackle these issues.





Local politics may not have been a talking point down at the skate park but Mayor Fischer may have just changed that. Listening to constituents is something most good polititians try to do but showing a genuine interest and engaging individuals on the things that matter most to them is priceless and yesterday Mayor Fischer showed this group that they matter. At least to me, it seemed as though they left Metro Hall with perhaps a different view of our new Mayor than when they walked in 45 minutes earlier. Who knows, maybe we can look to the skate park for one of our future city leaders!

Middle School Debate Tournament

When Sister Cities of Louisville heard about the Middle School Debate League it was a no-brainer to become a part of it. The idea is to have students use the power of reasoning and debate instead of violent means to settle issues. The Sister Cities mission of using citizen diplomacy to promote peace and end conflict falls right alongside this. Sister Cities of Louisville, as one of the sponsors of the debate will, in the near future, host an International debate between schools in the Louisville Middle School Student Debate League and schools in Leeds, England.

HISTORY OF THE LEAGUE

The league began two years ago when Dr. Jeff Bile and Sylvia Bruton, both instructors at Spalding University, decided to initiate a pilot debate program targeting the middle schools, where few debate programs currently exist. The two succeeded in obtaining sponsorship by Spalding University's School of Communication and Sister Cities of Louisville in cooperation with Jefferson County Public Schools - Department of Diversity, Equity and Poverty Programs. The first tournament held in 2010 debated the topic: Jefferson County Public Schools should require 75% or more of its students to attend single-sex schools. With the 2011 Championship Tournament the league concludes the second year of its planned two-year pilot. In February 2011, a practice tournament, gave students a chance to practice their skills and test their ideas.

2011 CHAMPIONSHIP. . . and they're off!
It was a neck-and neck race and the winner . . . at the wire, with a photo finish, Noe Middle School!

The Louisville Middle School Student Debate League held its Second Annual Championship tournament Monday May 2nd. Participating schools included: Noe, Crosby, Westport and Nativity Academy of St. Boniface. Participants gathered at 9:00 am to hear Spalding University President Tori Murden-McClure welcome them. Round one of the three-round tournament began at 9:15 am, round three ended at 12:15 pm. Following the third round of debate, participants rushed back to the auditorium where a pizza lunch awaited them.

The awards ceremony began at about 12:30 pm. Two “Debater's Choice” awards were given for the outstanding advocates as chosen by their peers. These awards went to Affirmative debater Taylor Fisher (Crosby Middle School) and Andi Dahmer (Noe Middle School) for the Negative. Noe Middle School, under the tutelage of student teacher Laura Wicke, won the team championship by capturing 19 of 24 possible ballots. Each student participant from the four schools received a medallion. The debaters unanimously recorded that they “got smarter” and had fun. “It was a great day for everyone!” said tournament coordinator Sylvia Bruton. “Bravo to our dedicated teachers and these young leaders of tomorrow.”

WELCOME BY TORI MURDEN MC CLURE
Dr. Melissa Chastain, Chair of the School of Communication introduced President McClure who spoke to the audience about how hard work and staying in school can bring great opportunities. She mentioned that although she held degrees from two prestigious universities, Smith College and Harvard and was the first woman to row alone across the Atlantic; her most rewarding and life-changing experience had been at Spalding University where she earned a Masters of Fine Arts in Writing.

DEBATE TOPIC 2011

Prosecutors should have the power to try those 13 and older as adults for violent crimes was the debate proposition. The debaters had the mission of defending the Affirmative (agree) or Negative (disagree) position and working as a team. This was not an easy topic. It offered both challenges and opportunities for students to gain insights into a subject of interest to this age group. It also encouraged the participants to reflect, research, outline arguments and map out strategies.

PREPARING FOR THE DEBATE

The champion Noe Middle School coach—student teacher, Laura Wicke—expressed thanks to student teacher and assistant coach Ms. Sara Wiley and Mrs. Carr (eighth grade Math teacher) for their generous support. Mrs. Wicke commented: "Our Debate Team had a very enjoyable but competitive experience. We started with an interest meeting and an introduction of the proposed resolution for the debate. During our interest meeting, 40 students discussed and talked about the topic for the debate. Following the initial meeting, students prepared a two minute speech to audition for a spot on the debate team.” Mrs. Wicke and Ms. Wiley judged each student and decided who would be a member of the debate club. A total of 15 students made the cut for the Debate Club. Each student was made aware that only 8 students could go to the tournament and that only 4 students would be picked to compete.

“After the 15 students were chosen, each student chose a side of the debate (affirmative or negative). Together the students worked on forming opinions, discussing the topic, and gathering research. We met twice a week after school until 4:00 for six weeks. At each practice, the students evaluated and revised their speeches and evidence. Also, we watched several videos of debate via the internet. We were fortunate to have two students from Manual High School to critique our debaters. The week before the debate tournament, we held a two part mock debate. All 15 students had the chance to participate in the debate.” Together, Mrs. Wicke, Ms. Wiley, the two Manual students (Tyler Darnell and Jesse Schuler), and Mrs. Carr, made the tough decision of who would go to the debate tournament. “We wanted to pick students who were star debaters, but we also wanted to pick students who showed true potential and could benefit from attending the debate. It was a very tough decision, but all of the students supported their classmates and were very proud of their success. The Debate Club was a very rigorous, exciting, and encouraging experience. We thoroughly enjoyed competing in the debate tournament and the learning experience that led up to it." --Laura Wicke, student teacher, Noe Middle School

INVITATION TO JOIN LOUISVILLE MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENT DEBATE LEAGUE

The Louisville Middle School Student Debate League began with four schools in 2010, had six schools participate in league activities this year, and plans to increase the number of participating schools each year. For more information about the league you can visit us at http://lmssdl.weebly.com or email Sylvia Bruton at scbruton@gmail.com. To indicate an interest in joining us, you can fill out a contact form at http://lmssdl.weebly.com/contact-lmssdl.html.

JUDGES COMMENTS
An impressive number of people from the business and professional community volunteered to serve as judges, they shared the following comments:

"The Middle School Debate Program is always a pleasure to be a part of. Students come well prepared and eager to win and seeing that enthusiasm is priceless. The best debaters are inevitably the ones who listen carefully to their opponents' argument – you could see the cogs turning as they planned their next responses. Sister Cities is proud to be a Sponsor of this great initiative, the skills learned here will serve these students well for the rest of their lives." -- Joanne Lloyd Triplett, Executive Director of Sister Cities of Louisville

"What a great way to start the day -- in the presence of such focused, intelligent, heartwarming middle schoolers. Clearly they had come prepared and eager to speak their truth. I'm still running on the energy they shared. Congratulations to them and to their coaches." -- Roz Heinz, Administrative Manager of River City Housing.

"Thank you for the time you are investing in such a worthy endeavor. I was very impressed by the arguments the children made to support and negate the resolution. I was also impressed by the community support via the quality and number of judges that invested in the event. I am excited about the great foundation I saw for the building of what could grow to be a great asset in the academic development of young people in our community." -- Tony Darnell proud parent of two debaters.

"My experience was wonderful. It is great to see young people, particularly middle schoolers, engaging wholeheartedly in such a worthwhile activity." -- Hunter Davis, Senior McConnell Scholar , University of Louisville

"As a graduating law student, the topic of the debate was an issue that I am familiar with and enjoy discussing. I was amazed with the enthusiasm, energy and level of excellence displayed by the debaters. Not only were they well prepared, but they were able to think critically on their feet and respond to the challenging questions that were asked by their opponents during the debate. I walked away from the competition knowing full well that the future is still BRIGHT for these kids in particular, and society in general. Thanks for allowing me to be a part of this great experience. I enjoyed myself very much!" -- Courtney L. Phelps, Student Attorney -University of Louisville Law Clinic , Black Law Students Association, President U. of L. Chapter

"It was a great pleasure to take part in the development of this fine program. The student participants are eager and wonderfully well-prepared. I have no doubt that the skills acquired and talents honed in this program will greatly serve their academic and professional futures. I feel privileged for being involved."--Michael Zeller, McConnell Scholar class of 2013- University of Louisville .

"It was an amazing experience to see the confidence of the middle-schoolers as they debated each other. I was so impressed that students at this level showed the courage and intellect to argue their points in such a nuanced fashion. The two teams in my second round showed incredible promise as court room attorney’s one day! I look forward to judging again next year." --Nichelle Anthony Specialist, Communications, Media & Arts Ballard, Fern Creek & Pleasure Ridge Park High Schools

Teacher Comment

"It has been an absolute joy to see students accomplish through debate what we as teachers want to see most in the classroom. That is to see students move from dependent learners to self-motivated, independent learners capable of researching to find information to add to what has already been learned, evaluating, synthesizing and transforming it into new ideas and thought processes. Listening as students verbalize the importance of listening to peers as a means of gaining new information and ideas, adopting what is useful and helpful and discarding that which is not. The sheer joy watching students learn the skill and art of learning, developing the ability to communicate ideas, being patient and open to the ideas of others and simply allowing me to fade into the background as a facilitator to keep the conversation moving rather than the source of new ideas. Learning to communicate and disagree in ways that allow everyone to remain intact physically, emotionally, and mentally." --Angela Allen, Assistant Principal Crosby Middle School

Submitted by Sylvia Bruton, Event Coordinator
Photo's by Michael Brohm, Red Square Portraits.