Since I don’t have access to the internet on a daily basis right now I’ve combined all my posts into one, so they are probably going to be long but I hope you enjoy!
Friday June 27th, exact time unknown
So here I am, sitting in the Frankfurt airport, surrounded by many of my sleeping comrades. I have no really idea how long we have been traveling, all I know is that my laptop is telling me it is 2:02am but here it is somewhere between seven and eight in the morning. This has to be the longest day of life ever!
So we got up early this morning to check out for 8am Ottawa time and head to the airport. Our original flight was supposed to leave at 3pm but a few days ago it was bumped up to noon. Anyway, we got to the airport, had a few troubles with overweight luggage but they let us through and we were on our way.
Flight #1- Ottawa to Toronto! So this was the shortest leg of our journey but not the easiest. It was an extremely bumpy ride for the duration of the flight. I watched a bit of tv for the hour long flight and didn’t really have time to do anything else. We arrived in Toronto with plenty of time to waste, about four hours worth. Most of that was spent grabbing some lunch, watching the Euro Cup game (not sure who ended up winning though), looking around the souvenir shops and chatting. I picked up a few extra books to read on my journey and also some Swedish berries- for a sugar fix I will probably need in the next six weeks.
Flight #2- Toronto to Frankfurt! I just spent almost eight hours on the biggest plane I have ever seen in my life. I was very impressed. The plane we took was like three planes put together and there was even a “downstairs”- which I ventured to but only found washrooms, but still what other plane has a basement? I thought I would sleep of most of the ride but that did not come to pass. It’s kinda funny to lose most of a day to time change so I don’t think my body understands what time it should be right now. As we left Toronto, the sun was setting but we flew into a beautiful sunrise when we approached Frankfurt (I don’t know if this is actually true, but that’s what it felt like). Anyway the flight was not very eventful. I was in that state where you are too tired to read or do anything productive but can’t fall asleep, so I spent the eight hours watching anything and everything. I watched three movies- “The Other Boleyn Girl”, “Definitely, Maybe” and “Jumper”. I also watched a documentary on the Great Wall of China and its history and an episode of “Joey”. Since it was such a long flight we were served supper and breakfast. By the time breakfast came around I was in that state of being so past tired that everything is extremely funny. At least my flying buddy, Lindsay, could relate. We spent most of the flight attempting to read the German that was plastered everywhere, one of which is the title of this entry. You will have to ask Ben to whip out his mad German skills to translate it for you. Then later, when breakfast was served, we could not contain ourselves because part of our breakfast was a small bun, which we misjudged to be nothing more than the top of a muffin. We then proceeded to laugh and discuss why they would only give us the top of the muffin and who received the other half. When we finally realized that it was actually a whole bun, laughter ensued- it was a true Seinfeld moment. So that is my trip thus far. We have a few more hours to wait in Germany and then we set off on our last stretch- Frankfurt to Accra, with a quick stopover in Lagos, Nigeria- but sadly we don’t get off the plane so I can only experience Nigeria from afar. I foresee more movie watching and maybe if I’m lucky, sleep!
Friday June 27th 10:44pm
So I have finally made it and to tell the truth I feel a little home sick and lot out of place. Our last flight was not bad; I really either slept or listened to music. It was really nice when we had to refuel in Nigeria because they opened the doors and even though we were not allowed off the plane, we breathed in some fresh Nigerian air before continuing on. All I can say is that that fresh air was well received because when we walked off the plane in Ghana, it was another story. It was not really hot but more like warm and wet. I don’t think I could ever fully explain but it was so humid it might as well of been raining. I doubt I will get used to it in the next six weeks. We then picked up our bags and headed for the outside, where our counterparts would be waiting. I walked outside and we greeted with a crowd of people, many of whom were holding signs. I found my counterpart quickly; Aminatu, who was dressed in hot pink and sequins from head to toe, holding a sign that read: “Louise H.”, which I assumed to be me. She was extremely friendly and practically jumped the gate to hug me and in the next instant was walking towards the bus with my bag. One we were on the bus we got to share some information but mostly I was so overtired and stunned by Ghana that I could not tear myself from the window. I don’t think I saw one stop light the whole drive but I saw people by the hundreds, waiting for buses on the side of the road. I can not even attempt to describe to you what Ghana is like; words alone cannot do it justice. The dorm that we are currently staying in is pretty open, there is no door to the inside, and the hallways are practically out in the open. The actual door you enter is that to your room. I dropped my stuff off in my room and we headed to the dinning hall for supper. There we had a great meal and got to know each other a little more. Since we all had such a long day, we did not stick around very long after supper and instead headed back to our rooms. I just officially had the coldest, darkest shower of my life. Apparently our bathroom light has decided to burn out and since I just really wanted a shower, I braved the darkness with my trusty flashlight. As well, I don’t think the only temperature for shower water here is cold because no matter what I tried it was not getting any warmer. So I survived what will probably be the first of many very cold Ghanaian showers. Tomorrow the Ghanaians are taking us exploring in the city which will be exciting. Wish me luck!
Culture Shock at the Market
Saturday June 28th 10:14pm
So first full day in Ghana is over and let me just say that it was a rough one. We were awoken at five in the morning by the song of singing. Ghana has two main religions; Christians in the south and Muslims in the north. Both my room mate, Usamatu, and my research partner, Aminatu, happen to be Muslim, along with a few others in the program. Anyway, their first prayer of the day is at five o’clock and it begins with singing. That was fine, it was kind of a nice way to start the day off. However, when I went down for supper, I was not feeling well at all and it just went down hill from there. All morning I felt horrible and for a bit all I could think of was going home. I know that sounds a bit dramatic but it as how I felt, until I remembered all that I had learned in my training session in Ottawa. We had learnt there that it is normal to react harshly in new situations but not to let the whole experience be damped by it. I talked with a few of the others and they weren’t feeling to well either, so we all decided to just take some gravol and get on with the day. Afterwards, the day got a whole lot better; it just started off really shaky.
After breakfast and a session on health and safety, we all piled into the bus and headed for down town Accra. The city is huge and people are everywhere! First we stopped at a stadium where political assemblies are held, which also happens to be on a beach. While the Ghanaians just watched us with blank expressions, we Canadians ran down to the beach to let the waves roll over our feet. One of the Ghanaians, “the Rev”, actually said that if we looked towards the horizon really hard, we Canadians from the East coast could possibly see our homes, we all waved just in case. Then we headed for one of the many markets and it was like nothing I have ever experienced before. It felt like we were the only ones there, out of the thousands, who were not trying to sell something. There were cars and people everywhere, the noise was deafening and the side walks were practically falling apart while you walked. I ended up buying some fabric because a lady is coming to the residence tomorrow to take our measurements and make us dresses, I’m very excited! I think the best part of the trip to the market would have to be the group of kids we saw on the way out. They must have been no older than five or six, and as we left they waved to us and when we waved back they erupted in giggles.
Once everyone was back from the market, we jumped back on the bus and grabbed some supper. After supper, we drove around Accra for a while. It is a very beautiful city but even all its beauty can’t hide the poverty. There are little shacks on the side of the road everywhere and whenever the car stops people file into the road, taping on your windows, attempting to sell you something. It could be anything, from sunglasses, to shirts, to candy or water, or even “Obama ‘08” bracelets in the Ghanaian colors. At first it’s amusing, for lack of a better word, because they are friendly and are just trying to get your attention, but after a few minutes of being hounded it becomes very uncomfortable. It’s tough being the person on the bus but I know that it’s even harder than I can ever imagine, being the person on the sidewalk.
To end the night, we went to a church service, in which one of the guys, Javier, was playing the guitar. It was really fun and lively, and a shout out was even given to the Canadians, who appeared out of nowhere. So now I am in bed and ready for some sleep.
PS- I just remembered one of the best stories of the day. We had to stop, on the way to the market, to get pictures for some government forms we have to submit this week. Anyway, upon doing so we found out that our visas are actually only good for thirty days, which means that we have to get our visa extended or we will be forced to live in Ghana illegally for two weeks. Don’t worry too much though, Marc-Andre, our internship coordinator, says it will most likely be very easy to do.
Posted in Ghana
