Merry Christmas

It seems too early for Christmas to be so close. It is especially hard to realize when the temperatures are so warm and there is no Christmas music in the air. But it is here nevertheless.

This past week I was invited, along with many other Canadians in Ghana, to lunch with the Governor General of Canada. She is on a tour of Africa and Ghana was one of her stops. She visited Tamale during her five days in Ghana and about 80 Canadians were invited to lunch with her. I was selected to join Her Excellency at the head table.

I enjoyed meeting her and found her to be genuinely interested in development issues. I felt that she is a good representative of Canada - very outgoing and friendly. She made a big hit when she danced to the local drummers as she was greeted on arrival in Accra. Her stepping outside of the bounds of protocol and showing off her dancing skills made a big hit with the local people.

I decided to stay a few extra days while I was in Tamale to give some peer support to another volunteer stationed there. We made a day trip to Kintampo Falls. The first picture is part of the smaller upper falls. It was very picturesque. The second picture is the bigger lower falls. The people in the picture are nursing students from the Nurses Training School in Sunyani. They were there to enjoy the day playing in the water.

The falls were lovely and very approachable. I found the water to be quite cold, mostly because the spot was sheltered from the sun. I enjoyed watching these young people playing in the water and having a generally wonderful time together. I got wet but did not play so much, realizing that I am older and maybe a bit more fragile than these young people. Several spent time talking with me - about nursing, about Ghana, about their hopes and plans for the future, etc.

It was a good day, but a long one that could have been improved by spending a night. Kintampo is about three hours from Tamale so the travel took most of the time.

As far as work goes, I am busy travelling about Upper East Region. I am often doing two trainings at different locations in a day. It is still a bit sporadic, but all the districts are on board now and I am keeping busy. I still have to stay flexible with my schedule as planned trainings are often cancelled at the last minute.

It has been a while since I have updated here. It is because our internet access has been sporadic and I have been out of the office much of the time. However, it is time to wish one and all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.