Pre-trip thoughts - Acknowledgments

I would like to begin these acknowledgments with the words Robert Farris Thompson used to begin his acknowledgments in his book Flash of the Spirit. He said, "An artist in Nigeria once taught me a proverb: One tree cannot make a forest (Igi kan ki s 'igbo). In other words, a person who does not work together with his colleagues and his friends will not accomplish very much. The recognition of this truth lies with all acknowledgments." I couldn't agree with Thompson's sentiments more, and after the wonderful experience I shared last summer at Yale University's Programs in International Educational Resources (PIER) - African Studies Summer Institute on The Teaching of Africa, I decided it would be a good way to begin to thank many of the people who have contributed to an opportunity of a lifetime - visiting Ghana for six-weeks.

Thus, I first would like to thank the six people who have been a part of my life the longest - my family. I would like to recognize them for being people of extraordinary character who have dedicated large parts of their lives to the service of others. It is through them that I have developed into the person that I am now. So I send this recognition to my Dad and Mom, Frank and Ruby Jewell; to my sister, Teresa Kopshina; and to my three brothers, Chuck Jewell, Michael Jewell, and David Jewell.

Secondly, I would like to thank my very dear and near girlfriend, Virginia McDonough for editing my application and discussing with me my proposal. I want to thank Garry Hill for helping me come up with the idea of trying to extend microcredit loans to entrepreneurs in Ghana. His enthusiasm for life is contagious. I would also like to thank my dear friends Beth and Geordie Narwold for relaying their tales of world travel to me. Without their input, I would have not as easily been willing to pursue such an endeavor.

Next, I would be mistaken if I did not ackowledge my colleagues at the Lovett School. I thank Billy Peebles, Bill Dunkel, and Rick Chase (all supervisors) for being very supportive of my pursuits and for writing my recommendations. I also thank the members of the History Department in the upper school at Lovett who have created a wonderful environment for learning. They are Bill Nichols, Charlie Brooks, Anne Fuentes, Bernadette May-Beaver, Heidi Gray, Robert Sanderson and Jordan Clark. I would like to express my appreciation to the members of the lower school faculty at Lovett who helped my students in the fall of 2006 with their African Studies project. They are Virginia McDonough, Anne Houk, Suzanne Coleman, Rebecca Brown, Andrea Morgan, Jill Melito, Tricia Carter, Margie Vegh, Jeff Morton, Susie Davis, Mallorie Dubugnon, Laura Jernigan, Kim Johnston, Brooke Hight, Sarah Spiers, and Nancy Spetnagel. I also enjoyed my two and a half hour discussion I had with Kingsley Sackey, a Ghanaian, who also happens to be a Lovett parent. His words and thoughts helped me understand the culture and language better than I had to that point. I would also like to thank Laura Deisley, a parent, for helping me to set up this blog. Finally, I would like to thank my colleagues with whom I coach for being supportive of my time away. These fine people are Ed Billingslea, Ken Rau, Tony Patino, Kaseem Ladipo, Steven Drinkell, Rene' Hounglame, Perry McIntyre, Colleen Bailey, Steve Franks, Stacey Noviello, Charlie Finch, Lara Kauffman, and Gavino Asteghene.

At last I believe it is very important to point out that the director of PIER, his staff, the instructors, other guests, and the participants were so valuable in creating this family environment while attending the institute in July of 2006 and during the follow-ups. I would like to recognize those individuals now. The director and his staff are Maxwell Amoh, Lora Lemosy, Jenny Kline, Elizabeth Ludyjan, and Jizhi Ge. the instuctors and guests who shared their knowledge, passion and experiences were Robert Farris Thompson, Bill Foltz, David Baba Coleman, Jimmy Kandeh, Barbara Brown, Dorothy Woodson, Robert Harms, Misty Bastian, Annette Chittenden, Clyde Taylor, Lee Hirsch, Merry Merryfield, Christopher Udry, Mary Kordak, Mohammad Ali Ahmed, Sifa Mpungu, David Simon, Jo Sullivan, Alex Boateng, Serwaa Anokye, Andre' Siamundele, Lesego Malepe, and Trina Mullins. And finally the participants of the Institute who helped create one of the best academic environments possible. The members of the family who won't make the trip are Rita Abessino, Derek Christensen, Jane Creamer, Katie Dooley, Matt Dooley, Susan Garvey, Sadie Jordan, Nicole Means, Jennifer Norcross, Maria Ogren, Dannete Riehle, Joanne Rubin, Christina Silworth, and Nicole Williams. I would like to welcome M. Lynn Roach and Joan Malerba-Foran who will be joining these members of our family who are going to Ghana from July 8, 2007 to August 19, 2007: Kate Burch, Andy Goldman, Sam Hunt, Jennifer Johnson, Ida Malloy (girl don't go to Utah), Mora Martin, Jaimee Mendillo, Susan Parker, Kellee Terkla, Dorothy Verheyen (Hey Dotty Dotty!), Jenny Kline, and Ellen Cummings. Finally, I would like to especially thank Lyn Brignoli for offering her support as an earlier participant on the trip to Ghana.

Jimmy Jewell