David Going To Ghana

David In Accra, Ghana

I am safely in Ghana after good help in getting to the airport in Toronto, where I had to repack my bags in the middle of the airport to meet weight limitations, good flights to London and then to Accra and VSO at the airport in Accra to meet the entire group. It was a long day and I was glad to get to the hotel and to bed.

There are 10 volunteers in our group - 1 Canadian (me), 1 Scottish lady, 1 Kenyan lady, 2 Indian men, 1 Filipino lady, 3 British ladies and 1 British man. The British guy and I will be doing the same work, only he will be in Wa, Upper West Region and I will be in Bolgatanga, Upper East Region. We are already looking forward to collaborating on the project, once we find out exactly what the project is.

We met with the VSO programme officers the other night and have a better feel for what we will be doing. But we both realize that the reality might be different from the expectation.

All is well here. The hotel is very nice with AC, hot water, satellite TV, good meals, and quiet. It has been a very gentle introduction to Ghana so far. Sunday we leave for our placements, and that will be the real introduction to Ghana.

I might not be able to post often as Internet access will be non-existent or limited in Bolgatanga. I will have to think of a good way to keep in touch with everyone.

Bye for now.

David Going To Ghana

I received confirmation last week that my visa for Ghana has been approved and VSO is just waiting to receive it so they can send it to me.

Today I received an email telling me that my passport, including visa and travel arrangements, has been overnighted to me and so everything is a go.

I have spent the last few days getting things that I know I will need, things that I think I will need, and even some things that I hope I will not need or will ever have to use. In the meantime, I am sure that there are some techical tools that would be useful to have when I get there but I won't really have any idea what they are until I need them. Some of my technical friends back in Canada and the US might get personal emails asking for long-distance assistance once I have a better idea of what I will be doing.

It seems that the time is really flying by now. It wasn't that long ago that I had two months to get ready. And now I have only a few days. I am organizing my bedroom for storage and so that it is not a nasty mess while I am gone. I am selecting clothes that I want to take with me. I am looking at the size of my bag, and that will mean reorganizing my gear. And then I expect that after I try to get it all in the bag there will be yet another attempt at reorganizing. I am sure that the final load will be determined when my ride to the airport gets here and I have to seal my bag for the trip.

The good part is from my past experience in Nigeria, I know that I can get by with what I take with me. I might miss a few things but in the long run, I will manage. In fact, that was a motto for Nigeria - we'll manage. I expect that it will be similar in Nigeria.

My next entry will be from Ghana. Perhaps I will have the chance to add some interesting photos, or at least some interesting information about the country.

The End of January (Almost)

Here it is the end of January. The last that I heard I am leaving on February 11 and will fly for a couple of days from Toronto to Accra in Ghana. I should be quite tired by the time I get there.

I am putting off packing. One reason is that I still have to wear many of the clothes that I will take with me. Another reason is that I have not yet decided what to take. It is hard to know since there is still much up in the air.

It won't be as severe a transition as I experienced when I went to Nigeria, unless the weather changes in the next few days. January has been one of the warmest on record. It is still colder than what I will find in Ghana, but not as cold as expected for this time of year.

Sunday I went to church in Toronto and met a couple of Ghanaian men. They talked with my parents and assured them of my safety in Ghana. They also mentioned family and friends that I will be able to contact when I get there. One thing they both said is that it is going to be very hot in Bolgatanga. Other than that they were very positive about what I will experience. Both are planning trips there next year and said they would look me up when and if they come.

Less than two weeks to go and there is a lot that I could be doing. But I still feel a bit in limbo as I wait for the final approval and arrival of my tickets. Patience!!!!

Getting Closer to Leaving

January is passing quickly. I just received the word that my anticipated departure is February 11. I have been telling folks that I was leaving in a month. Now that I have a date to target, it seems so much closer. That means that I really need to start getting things organized - deciding on clothes, hardware, software, miscellaneous stuff, etc. I can remember some of the things that I wish I had taken to Nigeria with me when I went there, but I learned to live with what I had. I have some of those things, but not others. And I know that I will remember something when it is too late to do anything about it. But I know that it will be okay and I will manage with whatever I have when I get there.

I think that my previous experience will make this transition easier. However, I do have to continue to remind myself that it is not going to be the same experience as Nigeria. There will be different people, different cultures, different living conditions - both from Canada and from Nigeria. I am looking forward to getting started, while concerned about what I am leaving behind.

Training in Ottawa

This has been a big weekend. Lots of training. Met several new people and enjoyed getting to know them. Tiring because there is so much to learn and to try to apply to my placement in Ghana.

Just trying out this blog site on the recommendation of a new friend from the course and might use it as a way to keep in touch with folks while I am in Ghana.