I arrived safely to Accra, Ghana this past Friday morning. The 10 hour plane ride wasn't too bad -- I slept a lot and watched movies! It was raining when we arrived in Ghana and our training staff told us it was a blessing from the Gods to be welcomed with rain =)
There are 72 total trainees in our PCT (Peace Corps Trainee), including myself. We have mostly been together or split up into two groups, one education/teachers and the other, which I'm included in, the omnibus group. There are around 10 health/water-sanitation people...and when we head to training we are all living within the same village so we will be spending lots of QT together! It'll be great though because every person here is amazing and brings something special to our training group!
Today started the 'vision quest', which is a time where we take off from the big group/summer camp setting and head into Africa alone. Well, we originally thought we would be alone, although there is a group of 18 of us. We all went from Accra to Kumasi and then finally (after being dropped off at the wrong bus stop and having to borrow a cell phone to call our PCO) made it to Tamale for the night. We are currently at the Peace Corps Sub-Office and it was very nice. I head out tomorrow morning at 7:50 a.m. (SLEEPING IN! yesss) and meet the current PCV (Volunteer) in town and then I'm going to her site for a couple nights. I'm so excited to finally be out in Ghana, experiencing this amazing culture and meeting the most friendly people I'm ever encountered. For example, today we were on our 6 hour bus ride and this guy behind us offered to walk us 15 minutes to the taxi hub, completely out of his way. It was such a nice gesture and he just did it because he wanted to, not expecting any sort of gratuity.
Randoms I just remembered:
-- it's HOT here. I'm sitting in this computer lab, sweating trying to type this.
-- i just ate goat meat!
-- i took a few bucket baths and washed my clothes in the same bucket!
-- we meet the US Ambassador to Ghana, Donald Teitelbaum, last night at a cocktail party at the embassy
love you all :) thanks again for all the well wishes! it's going to keep me going when the times get tough!
I'll try to post pictures soon
ma jo. (goodnight, in twi)
This is super exciting. Girl, when you're takin' them bucket baths you betta get up in those pits. :) haha. Okay, that's enough of that. I posted our pictures from your going-away celebration on facebook, if you ever get a chance to look at them. And let me know if it would be better to try and post them to here for you. Love you, Miss you!
ReplyDeleteAnd how is goat meat? I've heard it is tasty!
ReplyDeleteKJ-
ReplyDeleteInstead of bucket trips, from the movies. A bucket is now dual purpose for you. Goat meat, I am sure is only the start to your new
foods of CHOICE.
Keep blogging, Aunt Beth and Uncle Butch
Grandma Shirley
I miss you so much bestie, I have to tell you all about my baseball trip sometime...I know you're staying busy and having lots of fun, be safe!
ReplyDelete-gena
What a fascinating look at life over there. Can't wait to hear more.
ReplyDeleteVicky
Hi Sister!
ReplyDeleteI'm so happy to hear you are having such a good time. I hope you're taking lots of pictures. I can't wait to see everything.
Love,
Lindsay
KJ-
ReplyDeletehello,
You have already completed 2 weeks and 1 day!!! Be safe, you know the worry wart that
I am.................
Everyone meeting at Board of Trade
6:30pm
Tuesday, 6-29-2010
Papa Turkey is turning 75 ********
Peace to you-
Aunt Beth
Uhhh, so time to write another blog! I think I'm going to write you a letter (like actually WRITE) so you can get some real mail there.
ReplyDelete-Gena