Hello all,
I am safely in Ghana. I had a rough first day. I always thought that jet lag was kind of a BS phenomenon, but it's real and it's a bitch. I've had a few hiccups; my luggage didn't arrive and I was already in a minor car accident! However, I am in good health and I like Ghana so far. It reminds me a lot of Jamaica, except the people are nicer. I've been learning words in Twi from the lady who sells me water and phone minutes. Yesterday we went to orientation at the clinic and then toured the botanical gardens. They were really beautiful. They have a guest house at the gardens that used to be a TB sanatorium a little over a hundred years ago. Last night I rode past Rita Marley's house on my way to the airport to pick up my broken-ass luggage and get hassled for two hours by customs. I am sleeping well (because the days are long and exhausting), but I am up with the chickens. Literally; there is a rooster outside who, by my most coherent estimate, crows at about 6:30. We haven't really done much yet. I didn't get to go to Kumasi as planned; I thought it would be safer to wait for my luggage in Accra (and you have a tendency to err on the side of caution when you've been wearing the same underwear for 3 days). However, today dawns anew! I'm feeling great, wearing clean clothes, and I'm recently fed. I'm off to Kpong for my first outreach any minute now. For anyone who has not traveled abroad, that means the bus was supposed to be here an hour ago, and it'll be here when it gets here.
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Hey Missy greetings from home! I think it was a bad idea to compare your trip to survior. It may have pissed off the travel gods. I'm glad things are looking up. I miss you like crazy but hope you are having a great time.
ReplyDeleteI am happy to hear that you are doing better. I miss you very much, and so does everyone else, but we are keeping together and keeping each other sane. I had a dream about you the other night, just dreamed about your trip. I did not foresee though, the small fender bender. I'm glad you didn't have to elbow drop the customs people, but I told mom that if you didn't start having less trouble, I was going to hop a plane and bring you back. :) Glad you got new skivvs. I think that now that you have all this crap that you have been through, the rest of the trip with be a breeze (knock on wood). Anyway, we are going to play with Samwise tonight, but he is out to play with Gundu for the time being. He is being good and making it to work on time, and going to bed at a decent hour. Sammy is being good too. I'm glad to hear that they native people are very kind, it always helps when you are far away and having a shitter of a day. How is the strange water in saline bags? Have you seen any wildlife yet? How did your fender happen? Anyway, I wrote you an email at your UAB account.. don't know if you can check it... but if you can, it's there. I love you very much Missy. I was thinking about it the other day, and my eyes tear up because you are so far away, but I know it's for a greater good, and that you will be back soon and with experiences that other people only dream about. You are one of the strongest people I know meem.... you can do it and we are rootin' for you!!!!! I love you soooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo much!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteomg, we see you, maybe, once every other month, maybe two...and today we do miss you! just knowing you are on the other side of the world is exilerating!!! wait til you see the coast! sleep with your net, drink only bottled water and don't sniff the acrid, rubber-buring air. can't wait to hear what you did today. xox goodnight r&r
ReplyDeleteWe're sitting here with Rotty (the Nano Rottweiller) reading your blog. I'm glad you're days are getting better. I was having anxiety attacks!!!!! Things are good here. Alvin is going to Memphis tomorrow and Stephie will be here. I'm making sure everyone has minutes to call. My Indian friend at the Racetrack keeps us fixed up. Be very careful. We love you.
ReplyDeleteI love your updates! Hilarious! Please blog as much as possible while there. I need a good laugh everyday! I'm glad you made it safely and are now wearing clean undies. See you when you get back!
ReplyDeleteHey darling! Sammy and I miss you bunches but I know you'll be back before too long. I've been watching Conan all week and plan to see a couple of movies this weekend. Work is going ok. Brouillette is out of town this week so that saves me some time on Friday morning.
ReplyDeleteOh! I donated a hundred bucks today. A local animal shelter is having some money problems and they are threatening to close and euthanize the 300+ animals there which of course is unthinkable. Annnnnd there is an anonymous donor that matches donations up to 5K so, in effect, my donation was doubled!
I hope that you are remembering to be safe and careful but have lots of fun as well. Talk to you soon. ---Sam & Sammy
Hope you're having a great day. I'm now starting to clean house for the weekend. Nano Rotty is ferocious. Be careful. I am going to try to call you. Hope you found some vegetables!!!! Mom
ReplyDeletehey, Rikki! Just wanted you to know that I've been thinking about you and I hope you're trip will be clear sailing from here on! Hang in there and please discard the three-day old undies! Love you and your blog! Donna Weems
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