Panama, again...

Hi Folks!

I'm at it again.

Going on another brigade to try and help out!

This round I will be dealing with Human Rights issues to fix the problem of the public's health and medical access.

I'm having trouble with fundraising!

So please help out! Spread the word and donate if you can! Any prayers will be greatly appreciated as well!


Here's a screen shot of my donation:

Here's the link to my donation page: http://www.empowered.org/Leta-Ko


Have a great day y'all!

Part 3 Ghana Talk: Ten Pesewas for Porridge

Back in the summer of 2011 after my first year of college was over, I worked at a YMCA camp as a camp counselor. Basically, I took care of toddlers of the ages 3-4 the whole day. I love that job, best summer ever. I got a great tan and spent time with innocent little people.

My name is already difficult for the average adult. I'm still not sure why, because it's four letters and two syllable. LEE-DAH. Leta. Realistically, I knew these cute, innocent bundles of poop and pee would butcher it. So to save myself, I came up with the nickname "koko." My last name is Ko. So hey! It was easy enough. 

In Ghana, I decided the same thing. There was a PLETHORA of children and kids whose first language was fante. I wanted to make sure my name was remembered. So I dubbed myself "koko" again. Little did I know, that "koko" in Fante means porridge. Next thing you know, I hear the little poopies call me "koko-tan." I had no idea what that meant, but it seemed like the funniest thing to them. Kids would bring more kids to me and I can hear them and see them point at me (suggesting to their friends ask me what my name was, when they already knew it). Then I finally asked an adviser, and she said with a sly grin, "Koko is porridge and the price to buy porridge is ten pesewas" (Pesewas is basically cents or pennies) 

Yup, I was "TEN CENTS FOR PORRIDGE." I didn't mind it that much, until it got a bit annoying. I was a bit of a famous person. Literally, everywhere I went...I heard in the distance, "KOKOTANNNNN." When I was near the school, kids would be pulling at me, trying to hold my hands and steal my sunglasses whilst yelling and chanting "KOKOTANNNNN KOKO TAN KOKO TAN!!!!" 

It was cute that it brought them so much joy that my name was 'porridge' and it did what I wanted it to. They never forgot my name. 

Since I never introduced my name as Leta, the advisers and translators always called me "koko." One day, James (a translator/soon-to-be adviser) asked my why name wasn't on the roster... He said he couldn't find "koko." Then I finally introduced myself as Leta Ko and explained where the nickname came from. He laughed. :P

Part 2 Ghana Talk: The issues....

In GHANA

Akwaaba! ("Welcome" in Fante)

We were in Srafa Aboano, and this region in Ghana speaks Fante. Fante is hard. But learning it, understanding it, speaking it... it really changed my perspective.  I love that the language has incorporated God and his grace in the language. I guess a good example would be the title of the first post, "By God's Grace" also you can say in Fante, "Nyame ahdome." It's a way to respond to "Oatsay den?" which is how are you?
Isn't that cool? Isn't that awesome??

When I learned that, I thought it was really interesting and eye-opening. These people in the community are poor. REALLY POOR. They don't have clean water, a place to properly poop/pee, food, money, and shoes are scarce. This is a third world community! Yet, they still thank God everyday. It's hard to see all of this. I felt sad, which is normal, I think? I felt hopeless and I wished I was rich, filthy rich! so I could just help this community out with everything they needed! 

Anyways... I definitely enjoyed this trip more than Panama. If you don't know, I went to Panama last summer on a medical trip (very similar organization to Global Brigades). For 7 days, we had opened up a small clinic at a Priest's house that was housing us and saw massive amount of people... people all over the mountain-rural area walked for hours to just come see us to get some medicine for their aches and illnesses. I felt good at the time, and I still feel good.... but something that had bothered me was the fact that we were only giving them a month or three month's worth of medicine or vitamins. Then what? Wait for another clinic like this organization to come back with another group of kids.. sure it sorta works? but is it sustainable? They can't keep living like this, waiting for another group to come back. I was torn.

Family Clinic in Panama 

Which comes back to my point... I truly felt good and ALL good about Ghana. We had built a rainwater harvester for a family, and 4 latrines for the school in that community. THIS is sustainable. With proper maintenance and care, these structures will last and provide for the family and the community. There will be no need for us to come back to the community for THESE issues again (hopefully). Yes, I still love medicine. I still want to be a doctor, but this is what people need the most. Clean water! A proper way to poop. We visited the area where the children of the school went to shit and HOLY SHIT, it was disgusting. It was basically in the grass, you follow this small narrow path to this area that has the grass cut. There are logs and the stem of the corn cob and poop everywhere. They explained that they sit on the log, shit, and wipe their ass with the cob. So yes, there was just piles of poop everywhere.

The narrow path to the poop area

This is the area they pooped. You can't see, but be glad. It smelt  bad and visibly gross

This brought another issue to our attention, where do they wash their hands? The coordinators and advisers said they don't and also kindly pointed out that after the kids come play with you and hold your hands, you should sanitize... a lot.
What people need is clean water and way to prevent fecal matter from entering in their systems. It took me a while to realize but when I was writing my fundraiser/donation letter, I realized many of the illnesses and sickness we saw in Panama (and I'm sure in Srafa Aboano and many other third world communities) are probably caused or at the very least exacerbated by the lack of clean water to drink and clean any infected or broken skin. Right now, it seems obvious... but in Panama, I literally thought it was because they didn't have medicine or medical care readily available for them.

Think about it! If you get a cut on your skin, you clean it... Now, if you cleaned the wound with clean water... all is fine, blah blah blah.. but lets say you cleaned that water with contaminated water (contaminated with fecal matter from people in the community and animals). Chances of a small cut getting infected....pretty high.

It's something as simple as clean water to drink and clean yourself with that makes a difference in this community. To help keep the clean water clean, you need a proper place to poop.

Here's an example of the "cleanest" rain water area the community has

Not even clean....

And on top of the dirt, soil and bugs in the water...this is a small stream from the ocean. The ocean is where people in the community go to....and poop. They digs holes on the beach, shit...and them cover it up... some people even just poop straight in the water. This was the reason why we couldn't go into the water... because too much bacteria, too much to risk for a little fun in the water.


The beach was pretty though.. If you ignore the fact that there's visible poop and hidden poop everywhere. .

isn't it super pretty?

Mamiya! She was really ticklish :)

Okay! Part 3 will come up... whenever I don't feel like studying for my MCAT. Stay tune!

Part 1 Ghana Talk: "By God's Grace"

So I made it. My goal was reached. I went to Ghana.

Friends and family have been asking me since I've been back from Ghana, "Tell me all about it!"

It's hard. I'm not sure how or where to start and it's certainly a story that isn't very coherent. It's not a story I can just say... 

I do believe it's because I went there for a purpose. God's purpose. I truly believe that. 

I started this journey around the beginning of April. I officially decided to go on the Public Health and Water Joint Global Brigade to Ghana. The reason why I thought it would be hard to go was because I decided really late in the game to go (meaning the flight cost would be more expensive and I had a very short time to get donations). I honestly didn't think it was possible, but I talked to one of my good friends, Eunhyuk, and he said,"to pray and ask God." Now if anybody knows me...Christianity has been hard for me to deal with lately, er... for a couple of years now (That's a whole other story)... For the sake of this post being 30 pages long, let's just simply put it as: It's hard for me to put complete faith in God. In a way, I made this trip a challenge for God. I have been so distant and, in my eyes, rude to God that I was fearful and doubtful that he was still present in my life. So I basically told myself, "If this is God's purpose for me, I will be able to SOMEHOW make it on this trip." It's a big risk considering how much I really wanted to go, so everyday I would pray constantly, almost chant-like, of how much I wanted to go on this trip. 

Each payment deadline, I would freak out. I thought I wasn't going to make it, which would mean I couldn't go on the trip. However, for each deadline, I made the deadline up until it was due. I never had a satisfaction moment before a deadline was due, because I was nervous and annoying wreck that kept annoying my friends saying, "OMG I'M NOT GOING TO MAKE IT. I'M NOT GOING TO GHANA." My friend always told me, "God's not going to make it easy" and He really didn't. Before each deadline, I was a nervous wreck and then miraculously.. or should I say, "by God's Grace" I made each deadline. 

Another sign(?) (should I call it a sign?)... er well, anyways... 

Another sign was meeting my friend, Grant. I honestly believe God planned this out (I know he plans everything...) and brought Grant to me because God knew I was going to be struggling and that I am a curious child with too many annoying questions. The way I met Grant was coincidentally....er....by chance (at least it felt like it). Long story short... Grant, who was a complete stranger to me at this point, gave me $19 to help me in my Ghana fundraiser. Now to me, $19 is a lot to give away to a stranger. So, I was already amazed at that. Secondly when he gave me the $19, he wrote on the paper, "Proverbs 3:5-6." To the people who doesn't know that verse by heart (Don't worry, I had to look it up too) 

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight."

Isn't that verse LIKE EXACTLY WHAT I WAS STRUGGLING WITH??? So when I read that verse, I was like, "Holyyyyyyyyy #$@#%#@$" (Yes, I have a potty mouth. It's a real struggle of mine. Forgive me, God). I had to tell everybody the coincidence (or the presence of God) that has just shown upon me. I know that sounds cliche. But forreal, I wanted to preach. I was shocked. So like the verse said, I tried...really hard to put everything in God and to stop questioning his action (or lack of action). But it wasn't enough for me...

Okay, fast forward to the days leading up to the last payment deadline... 

1) I was shocked that my dad gave me money. I had asked him before I started this whole thing if he would help me if I don't get all the donations I needed. He said "No, I'm poor." (Typically answer) He asked me why I was going on another trip when I'm poor and can't afford it. I gave me a simple and vague answer, because honestly.. it's hard to explain.. But wow, he gave me $450. That be crazy for my dad. So Thanks Appa! You're awesome and I'm glad you came around to support me. 

2) My mom was willing to put in $500 (Thanks Omma!). Let's make it clear right now, my parents were adamant about NOT giving me money for this trip, because they believed it was a waste of time, money and it was a distraction from becoming a doctor. At this point, I was about 1,000 short from the goal. I made a backup plan, in which I will put $500 on my credit card and my mom as well. I honestly did not want to give up at this point. I had worked so hard and had seen miracles (Was that considered a miracle?). I just didn't want to stop and not be able to go. For reference, this would have put be in BIG debt, because I already don't have money and had been using my credit card like it was real money. (tsk tsk.. I know... I'm stupid). 

Basically I told my mom to give it a few more days, because I still had 5 more days til the deadline. And if it's  anything I learned from the other deadlines was that God waited till the last minute to urge someone I knew to donate. 

3) So my friend, Grant, had contacted me again. He asked how he can make another donation, because he was thinking about making another one. I was excited! because I thought this would get the ball rolling again... (does that make sense? like momentum... ?) I'll leave out the details, but that night I checked my empowered account (where you go make a donation for my trip) and I thought it was broken... because it wasn't telling me how much more I had left to fund raise. All it said was $2611. I scrolled down and I see, "Anonymous donated $972" In the note section of the donation, that person wrote "Proverbs 3:5-6"

This is how shocked how I was... I dropped the phone on my FACE (I was lying down on my bed). 

Here's a screenshot on my phone. I was confused on why it only said "2,611 raised" instead of "$$$$ out 26,11 raised"

WTF...... who gives someone a THOUSAND dollars?? Who has that kind of money to just give away? (Mind you, I already felt REALLY uncomfortable getting donations from people. I'm eternally grateful to everyone who donated, but still it makes me feel weird because I don't feel right with people giving me money. I feel like I have to pay them back).

Now there are other things (signs) that I figured out and that would take too long to explain and it's a bit personal. so let's leave it at that.



It will take too long to talk about the full story in one post (and even longer if I include pictures), so I will post up multiple post talking about my experience... so stay tuned for more Ghana talk!

GHANNNNNNAAAA!!!!!!

Hey guys! This summer, I'm going on the Global Public Health-Water brigade to Ghana to help a community receive clean water, build new latrines, and educated them on proper hygiene and health precautions. Our goal is create and build a sustainable community! I need your help in this goal. I need to raise around $2611 to be able to go on the trip! Please help me achieve this goal by contributing!  Any donations will be greatly appreciated and together we can create that sustainable community!!!! Here is the site where you can donate your money directly : >>>>>>http://www.empowered.org/leta-ko <<<<<< Donations are tax-deductible! If you do not want to put your information on a website, just let me know and I'm sure we can figure out a way!  If you are not able to donate, that's fine as well! Prayers are the best form of support, so please keep me in your prayers! Please do not hesitate to ask me any questions! Thank you for your time and help!!  :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D  If you want more details of why I'm going to Ghana, please continue reading. Last summer, I went on a trip to Panama on a similar international organization for medical. My trip to Panama taught me many things. First off, I knew that I chose the right career to become a doctor, but secondly, it opened my eyes to the world outside of my comfortable home in America. In Panama, I felt great... really great I was giving them medicine to alleviate the pain, or the rash, or other ailments, but I knew it would only help until three months later, when they run out of the medicine. What would they do then? Of course, more volunteers are sent a couple of times a year, but is that really the most efficient, practical way to fix the root of their medical problems? One common thing I noticed in Panama was the lack of clean water (which is huge issue around the world). Many medical problems stems or is exacerbated with the lack of clean water. Thousands of communities around the world suffer without clean water.  In Ghana, we will be working in a community that does not have access to clean water. Our projects during the 10 day trip will be to construct piping from far water sources to a closer water source to the community, build toilets to properly dispose of human waste, and to educate members of the community over proper hygiene and improving health precautions. I believe that trips like this one will help prevent future diseases and medical problems, which will increase the sustainability of the community However, I'm a broke college student (like a lot of us are), which is why I'm asking for your help. ANY amount of donations can help me get closer to Ghana! I can't do this by myself, so I'm asking for your help! Together, we can create a sustainable community in Ghana.  Here is the site where you can donate your money directly : >>>>>>http://www.empowered.org/leta-ko <<<<<< Donations are tax-deductible! For more information: http://www.globalbrigades.org/

I help too much

And that says it all...

I help so much too people. They take advantage. and they leave me hanging...

Bitch got in.

Maybe it's because I think too much.....

Today, I saw a former friend. I tried to reconnect with that person ages ago... didn't happen, No response. Yet today, all seems to be fine and dandy, and I was greeting with a hug and a "long time no see girl."

My response. I pushed away from the hug and walked away.

For people who read my blog and I know some could be former friends.
FYI: That's not how you do it. You don't pretend that nothing happened. As much as I would like to pretend that you didn't hurt me and that I was used... NO. That's not how I roll and that's definitely not how to become my friend again.

I instill a lot of trust in my friends, once it's broken. I still try to fix it. IMMEDIATELY. However, from prior knowledge and experience, I don't wait. I move on with my life. Which is what everyone should do.

No one is worth your patience and kindness when they decide to be so cruel, when they decide that it's okay for you to not live your life to the fullest and when they decide that you shouldn't be happy.
These are only some of the consequences that occur when someone you thought was your good friend turns their back on you.

I would so love to name names... This is my blog after all. *ahem* I can do whatever the fuck I want.

To You:

FUCK YOU. Get real or get out of my face. I don't need your piece of fake ass shit pretending to be friends with me just because you don't want your reputation to be ruined. Seriously guys, let's switch places. If you were me, how would you want someone to ask for forgiveness??

And I realized as I was writing this that.... all of the friends I lost...may have started with me... but it ended because of them. Because REGARDLESS, I try to make things work. I TRIED to apologize and to fix and other times, I only stated my discontent. It was you who decided to end it. Not me.

I hope future encounters with you will include either: ignoring each other's presence  or you legitimately trying to build trust. I don't have time to play games. No fake shit. I have friends. real friends that I would like to spend my time with. I have no time for fake bitch asses...


word.