V day

So, many of you may not realize this but Valentine's day is something of a national holiday here in "Liberia in Ghana". I'm not kidding. The kids stay home from school and everybody parties like it's July 4th. The Ghanaian Education Board has decided that what with all the Christian and Muslim holidays and days like UN day during for which school is suspended, students only attend like 3 or 4 days of school a year. So, they are "cracking down" on lover's day making all schools hold classes that day. We had a teachers meeting to discuss this and there was practically another mutiny. The teachers pretty much refused to teach saying that none of the kids would show up because they are not used to this change and there is no good way to get out the information. That's all true. One teacher made some argument about the importance of Valentine's day having to do with universal or religious love. The other teachers just kind of rolled their eyes. It's just an expected day off. I have no earthly idea how Valentine's day got elevated to a national holiday here, but I too am glad to have another excuse to celebrate.

OK. So here's a copy of a little Valentine one of my students made for me:

He addressed it:
"Sweare is sen it to sis kim
PO Box 46 State House
Accra Ghana
for mo information
contact Sweare Jo Torjlair"

"Happy Valentine to you sis Kim. Made God Bless you and wish many many mo years. What is Valentine? Valentine is all about John 3:16 Valentine is all about Share to one and another Person THank you."

He then drew me a Valentine's apple with an arrow through it. Yes, I said apple. No idea how that became a romantic icon here, but there it is. A friend of mine received an apple and a poem from a Liberian who has been pursuing her, so we all now tease her that in accepting the fruit she has agreed to all kinds of... lets just sayy... romantic acts.

OK. So, happy Valentine's day from the land of apples and no school.