Academic Pomposity

 We were honored this last Saturday to be invited, as visiting faculty, to participate in the "congregation" (graduation) of the most recent 1064 medical students of the University of Ghana.  They included doctors, dentists, nurses, pharmacists, and others.  Next November. the first 6 of our Audiology students will walk across the stage.  Above is John, in all his glory, with Dr. Kitcher (an Ear, Nose, and Throat doctor) who has been the driving force behind our Audiology program from the beginning.  He is an amazing, visionary man, and will retire at the end of this academic year.  He is also the one who coined the phrase that they were participating in "academic pomposity".  John thinks he looks like one of the Three Musketeers in this photo.  The program was 4 hours long, warm, but so interesting.  The Ambassador to Ghana from Israel was the speaker.  We really enjoyed the dancing and drumming which was part of the ceremony.

                 (Jemima, Grace, Josephine, Rejoice and Florence (Floxy) all dressed up for a Friday)

For this blog, we thought we would introduce some of the people that make our lives worth living at the office! When we first arrived in Ghana, these people said, "You are welcome!".  Here, it is a greeting, and they have made us feel very welcome ever since.  

Below is Dr. Kofi Sampong who is the liaison from the University of Ghana.  His field of study is Nuclear Physics, but he has been a great support for our program here at the teaching hospital.  Also below is our office at KorleBu with the "Prof" hard at work.  The AC has been out this week, but hopefully will be working again soon! ( Now working!)

Jemima is our clinic manager.  She supervises our students in clinic and is quite knowledgable.  Here she is going over the results of an ABR with John.  One of our students, Daniel, is also in the photo.

 Dr. Geoffrey Amedofu visits Accra twice/month from Kumasi (3 hour drive) to help with the clinic load.  He is one of the first Audiologists in Ghana, but was trained in the US.

Rejoice is another who works here in the clinic.  On Fridays everyone wears their African dresses.

Florence (Floxey)   is the clinic secretary.  She is pictured here with her two little girls.  She is an incredible help for us and makes amazing decorated cakes.

Grace (In above group photo) works with our hearing aid patients.  The mandatory retirement age in Ghana is 60, but people can be re-hired on a year to year contract if they are needed.  Grace is one of these employees and we are grateful for her.

Last Sunday we were invited by Josephine (who works in Reception) to her Methodist Church.  We took 3 of our students who have been busy measuring noise in churches here for members who are complaining that the music and services are too loud.  It was Palm Sunday and we were delighted to find ourselves participating in the music and children's parade.  Their church is making some renovations so it is a good time to be concerned about the noise factor.  Our "cookie monster", Ronald, jumped right into the choir with his equipment to do a sound measurement.  (Below in beige shirt)

One of the hymns the choir sang was "It is Well With My Soul" which is popular here in Ghana.  The Mormon Tabernacle Choir has a lovely version.  The next day we spotted this message on a car.  It seemed fitting for Easter Week.

John leaves for CA on Tues.  We have one more chance with our students to get visas on Tues.  We pray they can go with him on the flight Tues. evening.