Ghana Revisited

It is hard to imagine that I've already been in Ghana for over 3 weeks! The trip has been a busy one but as always rewarding and enlightening in unimagined ways. Over the past three weeks we have visited over five communities in which we ran sessions on environmental sanitation (academic speak for picking up garbage), hand-washing (a potentially life saving technique here), and AIDS/HIV awareness and prevention. These session are kind of like the Olympics - totally chaotic and each one is always the BEST EVER!!

We've worked in communities that are considered the poorest of the poor as well as those that are focused on caring for those who are left behind in the wake of AIDS in Ghana. Each time we are thrilled by the response of the children and adults alike. I have to say that my favorite visit this year was to Zongo - a name given to "inner cities" within urban areas in Ghana.

The highlight at Zongo was an Assemblyman who "got it" - he helped up to organize the kids and participated throughout the entire program. While in Zongo, a predominantly Muslim community, I also witnessed the loving and joyful relationship that can exist between the leaders of the community and the children. I loved watching the not-so-stoic Imams giving pointers to the children and smiling and laughing at them as they crowded around to wash their hands.

It was equally amusing to watch the Imams (and Chiefs in other communities) laugh as they watched older teens and adults in the communities learn how to properly put on condoms... on plantains that is! This experience ran so counter to all the message that I had heard about Zongo, and more broadly, against the media images of Islam that are often shared through Canadian media.

Throughout the trip the students have been working on their passion projects - personal learning projects that had them talking to "average" Ghanaians as well as exploring themes that related back to their learning in Canada. Last friday they presented their projects back to us all in a community conference - it was amazing! I was so impressed by the level of learning that students were able to gain in such a short period with such a busy schedule.

Of course we also did some amazing ecotourism tours but right now lunch is ready (grilled cheese & avocado sandwiches! I've done a good job of rationing the cheese brought from Canada) so that will have to wait until the next posting. If the internet holds out that could come later today.

Two More Sleeps

It probably doesn't look like much, but that white board and those blue squiggles represent the next couple weeks of my life! Sunday marks the official start of the 2010 Ghana - Canada Partnership for Environmental Education (GCPFEE) study tour. Myself, 4 colleagues, 10 students, and 1 consultant are heading to Sunyani Ghana in beautiful West Africa.

The blue squiggles were our latest attempt at trying to bring some level of structure to our days while also figuring out the logistics of organizing 16 Canadians and approximately 30 Ghanaians! We have four weeks to accomplish a lot so the logistics get a little crazy at times! We're lucky to be working with such great partners in Ghana and of course having Amanda as our officially Ghanadian always helps!

Preparations for the trip have been going on all semester but like every year in April, I've spent most of the last week or so sitting on my butt marking. Well... when I wasn't in meetings, running errands, or simply day dreaming about Ghana I was marking! This semesters assignments were submitted electronically (mostly) which has made the marking thing a bit easier - no trucking paper back and forth.

Despite all the prep I'm still feeling a little bit crazed about heading out on Sunday. I think the volcano and its impact on air travel through us all for a loop. One of our students is actually joining us in Accra, she was one of the unfortunate ones who was trying to get to Europe last week when the volcano blew its top! It took an extra week and I imagine extra funds and patience but she finally made it to Greece yesterday... she was to have left last Thursday!!

Anyway - this will be the last post until Sunday when I hit to Traveler's Lodge in Richmond. I'm heading over earlier than the crew to visit with friends and celebrate my BD a day early. I'll meet up with everyone at the hotel before dinner and then it's GAME ON! For those of you just tuning in and/or who haven't had to listen to me go on and on and on and on about this trip - I'll be in Ghana for a total of 7 weeks before heading to Italy for a vacation. The first 4 weeks are with the GCPFEE, the last 3 will be spent traveling around and checking out sites for a field school in 2011 (my mom will be joining me for that), and then it's off to Genoa Italy. We are in Genoa for 2 nights before heading out on a 7 day Med' Cruise, then back to Genoa and then home via Paris (only 5 hours).

I hope you enjoy the journey along with my latest adventure. As always there will be lots of pictures and hopefully the internet will be a little more predictable this year you I'll be able to keep the blog more up-to-date.

Ag

Two Weeks To Go

I cannot believe that we only have two weeks left before we head to Ghana. There is so much to do (marking mostly!) before I leave but this year I'm determined to have all my grades submitted before I leave Nanaimo!! Tomorrow we have our official pre-departure session with the International Ed folks - it really makes it real.

We've had some great activities this semester and when I find the time - airplane to Ghana perhaps - I'll post some pics and video of our prep. We have a much larger group of folks joining us this year so it should be interesting.

I think I mentioned in the previous post that my mom is joining me after study tour is over. We will be spending 3 weeks traveling around Ghana as I work to arrange a study tour next spring. This will be really exciting as it will be the first time that I travel through the country without the safety net of Rick, Ken, and Maggie and perhaps more importantly Michael - Ghana's best bus driver!

In preparation for the trip I've been checking out some of the sites that I will visit. I think that I'm most excited about visiting Wechiau Community Hippo Sanctuary! I don't know how mom will do with the Tro tros but I figure if she's excited about the Yam Boat up the Volta Lake, she's up for anything!

As we get closer to the date I'll start posting more and am hoping that once we get to Ghana I'll be able to post stuff every couple of days... I'll do better this year I promise!

Until later - Aggie

The Team is Assembled & We're Getting Ready to Go

I can not believe that it was only a year ago that I was starting to get ready to head to Ghana for the first trip. It seems almost surreal that I'm fortunate enough to go back again this year for an even longer trip!

The team we've assembled is bigger this year, with five faculty, eight students, and couple of interns. It is going to be an amazing trip with some really great projects. We still aren't 100% sure where we will all be staying but rumor has it that we'll be in the same place as last year (students in a new place though) and that the Internet connections are a bit stronger so I should be able to keep up-to-date easier. I'm also taking my MAC this year so should not have the same virus issues as I did at the end of last year's trip.

A couple of changes in the overall trip this year - first it looks like we might get to do a home-stay within one of our project communities (too cool!!!) and my mom's going to join me for the final 3 weeks of trip. I'm going to be sticking around after the others head back to Canada in order to scout out and set up a field school for next... Yup that means I'm possibly going back again NEXT year! I love my job. Below are a couple of pics that I didn't share last year... you'll see why I really love my job!

Stay tuned as I'll up-date our preparation for departure. We'll head to Vancouver on the 25th of April and onto Accra Ghana on the 26th - what a great birthday that will be.