It's Ghana Be Quite The Summer! - Part 1

Hello from Ghana!

So I've officially been here in the country of Ghana for four days and I thought it was about time to make my first post!

Both flights I took to get here (Halifax - London, London - Accra) were relatively smooth sailing after an incredibly tearful goodbye at Halifax International. I was searched in Halifax, all my carry-on luggage was tested for explosive content, but other than that no huge airport trouble at all which was a complete relief! On my flight to Accra however I sat next to a man who informed me that only good, strong, devout Christians are safe and welcomed in Ghana which of course is not true (the people from Ghana that I asked about it simply laughed at the idea), but still it was a little unnerving for a not-so-religious individual such as myself to hear!

However, I arrived safely in Ghana a few hours later and was picked up and driven to my hotel. I didn't realize it, but the hotel that I'm staying in and the office of the coordinating organization I'm with, are both in a very poor area. They are the only two buildings that aren't falling apart of made of tin/mud, so needless to say I have been thrown right into a different world!

My second night here I went out and met some of the other volunteers downtown in a place called Osu and Saturday I visited the only mall in the entire country as I had to get a cell phone and sort out my debit card. Yesterday myself and another volunteer traveled about an hour away from our hotel to where I will be staying for the next three months... it just so happens to be on a gorgeous beach with a beautiful breeze and minimal garbage along the shore. We both got a little bit of a tan as we decided to lay on the beach for a bit and apart from pushy vendors and marriage proposals, we had a very relaxing time!

Today is my day for orientation (I'm writing this on my break) and I'm trying to figure out what I'll be doing for the next three months with my NGO - Theatre for a Change. My apartment is very close to where I'll be working and thankfully I have another volunteer working with me which means I'll have a roommate for 2 of the 3 months I'm here!

I hope everyone is doing well back in Canada (or where ever the wind has taken some of you) and I look forward to hearing your summer updates as well!

Bye for now!

Lindsay