Just about a month before I report to Philadelphia for my 3 day orientation prior to flying to Ghana. NOW it's really starting to feel real! I'm in the process of selling all of my furniture and it looks like I found someone to lease my house. I'm planning to set up a 9/11 flight to NJ later today so I can spend a few days visiting relatives and friends prior to the orientation. That means it is now 29 days to departure and the start of an amazing adventure.
I'm told there are 3 climate zones in Ghana: hot and dry, hot and humid, and hot and wet. I've been living in hot and dry for 30 years but the big difference is that we have air conditioning in Arizona! To prep for my new life, I borrowed a bicycle (that will be my primary mode of transportation in Ghana)from my friend Jason Mingus and started riding every day in the heat. Since I haven't really ridden a bike for about 25 years, I started with just 15 minutes and now I'm up to 30. I thought the first few days were really hard until I got the idea to check the tire pressure. I was riding at 20 psi when the tires are designed for 40! Putting some air in there made it a LOT easier.........until the back tire went flat. So now I'm on my first lesson in bicycle maintenance.
I also went out and played 18 holes of golf in 113 degrees yesterday during the hottest part of the day. That should prepare me for Ghana!
Well - just wanted to start jotting notes to keep y'all informed of my experience. That's it for now.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
2 comments:
Larry,
I spent two years in Ghana as a volunteer from 1969-1971. You are heading to one of the best places in the world. I know that your two years will pass far too quickly.
The heat is dry all right, but at least it was bearable. I did have some candles melt even though they had never been lit. It makes for a great story.
We were warned that the most difficult time was traing, and that was true. Once at our stations, we were home.
I wish you the most wonderful experience.
Thanks kat. Right now the future is a total blank to me so it is very helpful to hear from those who have been there and done it. It has already been valuable to feel the support that is out there from earlier volunteers. I have spoken (or emailed) with those who went in the 60's, 70's, 80's, and 90's as well as those recently returned or are still there and it all helps a lot to begin to put flesh on the coming experience.
Post a Comment