Bella Dieckmann
Having always been an only child, I was actually quite comfortable with my lack of siblings. Well, that was my mindset before I traveled to Ghana, West Africa, last summer, to teach photography and literacy at Heritage Academy. When I returned to West Chester, Pennsylvania, from that three-week-long trip, I was proud to report that I had been “adopted” by three of my students. During my inaugural teaching experience in Ghana, I gained a sister named Salamatu, and two brothers, David and Ebenezer. Although “Sala” and David are wonderful people, there is something very special about my relationship with Ebenezer. I feel as if we’re siblings who have spent their entire lives together.
My brother Ebenezer is an incredibly bright 13-year old boy. He goes to the government school called Gesdi in Ghana’s Central region while Sala and David attend Heritage Academy. So, Ebenezer was thrilled when he learned that he could attend Heritage Academy’s summer school classes. He had heard the headmaster of Heritage Academy does not allow any corporal punishment to take place. Ebenezer ended up as one my students in both photography and reading classes last summer. He often came to school without having eaten anything. He apologized for not being better prepared to study and was embarrassed that his hunger had interfered with his ability to concentrate. Ebenezer and I started sharing snacks during our morning breaks; each day we would eat and read Shel Silverstein poetry until we both felt better.
When it came time for me to leave last summer, Ebenezer told me that I could be his sister if I wanted. He already had five siblings, so the addition of one more “wouldn’t be that much of a problem,” he informed me. Plus, still trying to make becoming his sister sound more attractive, Ebenezer reminded me that becoming an honorary member of his family would be proof of his respect. Naturally, I was incredibly flattered and agreed to become an adopted member of the Ochere family.
Last Fall, when it came time to plan my Senior Project, I knew that if there was any way possible to return to Ghana, that’s what I wanted to do. Fortunately, my father had more frequent flyer miles, and I was ready to go. When I arrived, I was all set with a large stash of beef jerky and Mentos candies as snacks to share. I couldn’t wait to get to Heritage Academy.
What I wasn’t prepared for was how seriously David and Sala, my new brother and sister at Heritage, took their roles as my siblings. Each and every time I saw one of them, we needed to greet one another, announce to anyone nearby that we were indeed family, and remind one another that we would see each other very soon. While this ritual seemed to be somewhat of an interruption during classes, it also made me smile every single time. Not having had any brothers or sisters for so long meant that this whole family relationship world was very foreign and a little awkward. But I liked it. I liked it a lot.
Seeing my brother and sister every day was wonderful, but I was extremely aware that I hadn’t seen my other brother, Ebenezer, yet. Finally T. Michael Minnig and I went to Gesdi, the government school Ebenezer attends, so that I could say hello. Because he didn’t know that I had returned, Ebenezer was extremely surprised to see me again.
I was anxious to meet Ebenezer once more, and to give him the backpack I had brought for him. During the summer before, he had told me that the books we read together were his absolute favorites. He was talking about the Shel Silverstein books. This trip, I brought him my childhood copies of Where the Sidewalk Ends, The Giving Tree, and Falling Up. As I saw Ebenezer’s face literally light up when he received the books, I realized how much it meant to him to be able to call his favorite books his own. I was happy to give him the copies; this is what an older sister does, isn’t it?
Ebenezer and I were able to visit with each other several more times during my Senior Project. I introduced him to the other volunteers, and we would sit outside on the porch around the coffee table. Ebenezer drew pictures for me to bring back to America, while the others played Spar, a card game popular in Ghana.
Being able to connect with Ebenezer again means the world to me. He is an amazing kid. He attends a school whose principles are very different from the Seven Pillars of Heritage Academy (Knowledge, Integrity, Discipline, Respect, Responsibility, Simplicity, and Hard Work) and yet he exemplifies Heritage’s creed.
I suspect that having an older sister from another country gives Ebenezer some status among his classmates, but I also suspect that he can’t imagine what this relationship has meant to me. While Ebenezer introduced me as his sister to what seemed like everyone in his village, I wish only that he could know that his doing so felt to me like receiving a beloved Shel Silverstein book one million times over.
My Senior Project most assuredly won’t be my last visit to Heritage. You see, I have brothers and a sister there.