A few days in...

Hello Everyone!

I have only been here a few days but already I feel like I have experienced so much. I am not going to write this too poetically due to time and internet constraints, but I do have a lot to say.

The plane ride convinced me that Air Canada economy class is not the best ride lol. I was jammed in the middle of two people, (in the middle isle) and in front of me were 3... that’s right 3 babies which cried for most of the trip. The take off was fun ( I love take offs) but the trip felt like forever and no matter how hard I tried, sleep was impossible. There is just no position that was confortable. The travel pillow that Brandon and Robyn gave me served as something cuddly to hug though which was great.

London was very neat. I loved the accents and just listening to people talk. The airport alone convinced me that I want to go back sometime .

Then our flight got delayed by 5 hours (once we were in the terminal ready to board) so we did not arrive in Ghana until 3:30 am and 4am at the hotel. I made a call to my mom and to home.

The Hotel is really nice. At first I thought it was the WUSC guesthouse- but I guess it is a hotel. It feels more like a house with a lot of rooms. My bathroom has a big tub and shower which I was super excited to use (mind you I t did not really work for the first two days). Last night the water was not working and so I washed out of a bucket. Interesting experience. Lol I actually loved it. It was very refreshing. The water only came back on a day later.

So we slept in the next morning but had eggs and toast for breakfast. It was very good. Supper was better though. It was this battered chicken , rice, and sause for the rice. It was SOOOOO good. I need to learn how to cook like that.

We also walked down the street for a while. There are lizards everywhere! The houses are kind of like they were in Mexico. The roads are mostly dirt but many are paved ( although not well) and there are no sidewalks anywhere. MANY roadside businesses. People selling stuff everywhere but they dont hassle you - instead they want to talk to you or take your picture. You work up a sweat just by steping outside though, so to get anywhere takes a while.

That night we were invited to a party by another volunteer's friend. 5 of us went- it was a engagement party. We realised after we arrived that we were actually crashing someone's pre-wedding party! The tables and walls were decorated beautifully and the music was really fun (mostly in the local language twi). It didnt take long before family members came and greeted us and started talking. The owner of the house that it was at was the brother of the groom. He was very nice actually and sat and talked with me pretty much the whole night. It was held in the yard, under the stars.

They brought some food to our table and I tried a goat meat skewer, which I am sure that I have never had before. It had A LOT of spices.... it was good but the next day I felt pretty sick. I guess we have to go slow on the local food and the spices (which are on everything). All in all though it was a lot of fun!

The next day I took things pretty easy. Met a bit if the locals and wandered around. I was supposed to go to the beach but I didn't feel well and wanted to take it easy.

Then In-country orientation started and it started at 9 am which still feels really early to us. It lasts all this week. We eat breakfast at 8:30 am and then start. Patience (the coordinator) is really nice. We were supposed to go buy cellphones but all of the one's around costed 55 cedis and we only want it for 3 months and we hear we could get cheaper ones at the Accra Mall. So a couple of us decided to share a taxi to the mall.... in rush hour....longest taxi ride ever! It only cost 6 cedis but we went through the slums, and through streets of mansions... the poverty divide is quite huge. We went through things that weren't even streets to avoid highway traffic until finally we went on the highway and reached the mall. It is like any western mall actually. You can get anything there but usually for more than in the markets. We got phones for 35 cedis.

Driving in Ghana is the most ridiculous thing I have ever seen in my life. There are no road signs AT ALL. No stop lights or no crosswalks.We nearly got hit 600 times. Then our friend ( who actually turns out to be a really nice guyone of the volunteers knows from Canada) informs us that he bought his liscence. It is real, but apparently there was no test. Most people in Ghana, although required to write the test, just “buy” their liscence for the right price instead. Apparently tests are a “money grab” and administrations will just fail people so that they will have to pay again. So now you can only imagine what driving in Ghana is like.

 I found out I am not living with a host family. On Monday my partner organisation will take me looking for accomodations and I will get to pick one. No idea who I am living with yet or what the sitch is. I will be working at the Ghana WUSC office though on the AFRI project which sounds pretty cool. Through most of my work is office I was assured that I will get some field work too. Because we are so close to WUSC Jackie and I can start on this Thursday. Looking forward to it.

The food is delicious... fried plantanes are pretty good. The fish is not bad and the chicken and rice are fantastic. There is a lot more variety than I thought.

Today orientation was very long but interesting and I learned alot about education and gender equity. Tomorrow we are going to have a crash course on Twi..the local language. We are now in charge of providing our own dinners so that is interesting lol. Last night we just bought fruit from the local market. Best mango and pinaple of my life.

So this has basically been what I have been up to. I should be getting internet more so I can write a bit more about the food, culture, and what I learn. I will try and update pictures another day too. I have a lot.

I love and miss all of my friends and family back home in Canada and I wish you were all here with me.

Cassie