Last Word from Ghana.............Or Not.

I just spent however much time composing an entry for my blog. And it was really good! I mean, I was impressed with how wonderful it was. And then the internet got jiggy and, as far as I know, I lost it all. Now, of course, if it magically saved itself and I recover it and post it, then I'll have to edit this bit since YOU might not think it was all that wonderful. Hell – it's easy saying something was wonderful if nobody ever gets to see it, right? Fishermen have been doing that for centuries. Anyway – that's not really my point. My point is that if this had happened to me 2 years ago, I would be REALLY upset – saying foul things about this computer, the internet, Bill Gates, and whoever invented the blog (anyone know WHO invented the blog??). But now, there was just a mild reaction and then on with doing a new entry, with maybe some stuff I remember from the lost one, into a WORD doc which I can cut and past into a blog entry if / when the internet comes back up. I must have learned SOMETHING during my time here living with people with infinite patience and a deep understanding that it's much easier on your body, mind, and heart to learn how to move with Life than it is to try and force Life to move with your plans. Now if I can just hold on to that understanding when I move back into the western world.

Which is happening in about a month. Three weeks from now I will be packed and leaving Daboya for Accra. Less than a week later, November 12th to be exact, I will be on a flight to Newark, NJ (with a 5 hour layover in Amsterdam). So this will be one of my last entries on this blog site. My next entry will likely be posted from the US with some comments on what it's like to be back and perhaps some final reflections on the experience.

Which brings me to thanking you all for sharing this experience with me over this past 25 months. Some of you have come along for the whole ride and some have popped in and out at appropriate spots for you. All of you have provided support for me whether you have written responses or not AND you are the reason that I even write anything on this site. So you truly have been an integral part of this interchange and I appreciate it. Thanks.

As to current events, I just received some potentially great news today. Because of a change in Peace Corps timing, there was not going to be a replacement volunteer available to hand the reins to in Daboya. At least not for 9 months. This is a critical juncture in the development of tourism in Daboya and not the best time to leave them without an active PCV (you should all know what that means by now). My APCD (5 brownie points to anyone who knows what that acronym stands for) has been very aware of the situation and watching out for any possible solution. Today he called to tell me that there is another SED (OK – I'll give you this one: Small Enterprise Development) Volunteer who may have to switch sites. If so, Daboya will be the first choice. Should know by the end of the week. That will not only be great for Daboya but will solve one challenge for me. I was trying to figure out who to give all my stuff to. If I have a new PCV coming, then I'll just leave most of it to him and just give away a few things that I know will be meaningful to certain people.

We've set a date for the Visitors' Centre inauguration celebration – 10 / 24 and gotten our invitations out. Now all we have to do is finish planting the grass and flowers, complete the exhibits we wish to put inside the building, plan the agenda, invite the speakers and emcee, plan the entertainment, plan, buy, and cook the food, establish a Welcoming Committee, invite the media, and, oh yeah, figure out how to pay for it all. We have a proposal before the District Assembly to foot the bill (about $700) but if they don't come through, not sure how we're going to pull this off. I may be sending an email to all of you asking for donations!!

We've also made good progress getting the information together so that our good friend Dada Pramananda of AMURT, an NGO (OK – who knows that one?) in Accra can finalize a proposal to potential funding sources for our library and regional marketplace.

Did I mention that we had our 2nd annual election for DTMT (Daboya Tourism Management Team for those who are tired of guessing Acronyms) executive officers and now we have a stronger team than ever in place to move forward? And that NCRC (Nature Conservation Resource Centre) provided a weekend training in how to do a development plan for the DTMT? And that we have a follow-up training planned for later this month on management skills? So things are popping in Daboya and pretty soon you'll see us on websites should you begin to think about vacationing in Ghana. Hey – it doesn't have to be two years – just two weeks will get you acquainted with some of the warmest-hearted people in the world.

So that's probably it for me from Ghana, although you never know. See you all back here after I jump over to the other side of the pond. For anyone who has been sending packages and / or letters (THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!!) don't send any more. Much as I love them, there is a better than even chance that anything sent from here on out won't get to me before I leave.

Thanks again for sharing these experiences with me.