begins the journey to Ghana:
Frankfurt Airport - Check in, our flight left at 11:00 and clock takes about 6 hours min 15th - Unfortunately, the sky is overcast, so we do not track the journey across the Mediterranean and Sahara can.
arrived in Accra: Pleasantly warm weather and an unexpected pleasant humidity.
We will be met by an employee ICYE but need to wait for other volunteers from around the world. We are looking around - get from locals groundnuts (peanuts traditional) service, which we gratefully accept.
Finally after a long wait, all volunteers arrived and the journey begins: In a Trotro - an ordinary minibus (conventional means of in Ghana) - we drive to our first accommodation. The city in comparison to other German cities, relatively flat and wide-ranging. Everywhere along the roadside in small stalls offered a variety of goods and cooked. About dusty and busy roads we travel in a more or less orderly procedure, plays a fundamental role in the Horn, towards Labadi what the quarter will be our first stay in Ghana.
Arrived: A Mid-level conditions for Ghanaian area - a quiet and relatively clean. Flat stone houses are seen here primarily. We are welcomed warmly by the family, drink water from plastic bags - As is common here - and get to eat one of several creations rice with egg. We explore a little the district, which, given the usual here early-turning darkness (sunset o6: oo-o7: oo Clock) is difficult. Nevertheless - all having fun. We are often approached and asked of what we do here, where we come from and so on. Because we have so many volunteers, some to another family, including myself. This has a nice roof terrace where we the evening, let in conversations with the locals and Outlook end of the quarter.
morning: We are from the bustle of the people awakened, you stand here against o6: oo o7: oo Clock usually on. The first shower from the water bucket and go to town.
Trotro We go - stretch out your hand and single one of these vans will stop. You should still avoid it with his left hand to wave, because the left hand is considered unclean and sincerely understood with this hand as an insult.
We head Circle, which means as much as downtown. Each "Trotrolinie" does not have any fixed departure schedules and stops, but their own hand signals and shouting, so that each point of the Eurozone Trotro in the desired direction Can stop if it is not full - including an expandable concept.
arrived in the city: loud bustle, dust and a lot of people. Our group is striking, with only whites. We run more or less aimlessly through the city, past market stalls, religious meeting (the population is very religious) and crowds. The sewage system in Accra is partially above ground - so you should be careful hinläuft where you and always have open eyes. We are often approached with "obruni" initiative, which means "white".
We drive home, or at least part of the group. I want to Beach, near our neighborhood, just a few blocks away. Once there: garbage and a beach, but still: the sea and horizon.
Later: I have a volunteer and get to know a local who takes us through a kind of slum. There is a horse stable, burning garbage, corrugated iron houses. We walk back toward the beach. He shows us the spot where an old man - his house is made of a bush, clothes line and a sleeping bag - have long lives and a roof should have been on the man once 4 days before it was noticed that this is dead.
Next day: It starts in the introductory camp. Meanwhile, all volunteers have arrived. Trotros pick us up. We drive out of Accra, which for some time, due to heavy traffic takes. Then it's over bumpy roads past small villages with the usual appearance here in the bush in a training camp, located near a small village. There is an old man who is very wise. Negru is his name. We will be greeted warmly.
All in all a very nice place: We have beds, showers, toilets, lots of room and no running water, which we are already used to and not feel bad, I do not anyway.
This week, we learn much on traditional customs here, how should we conduct ourselves, what are we to set ourselves and the local language "Twi", which makes up the lion's share of the program. In particular, the manners, customs and rules of conduct, such as not using his left hand very important information and in particular are interesting. You talk with locals, ICYE staff and the other Mitfreiwilligen on exchange, expectations, fears and hopes will, in the evening in the small village bar, learns new people have fun. During our stay, also a group of local young people come for a summer camp, which consists almost only of a large church and a group that makes this three-week course into a drum camp to us. As we become friends with the drum teachers may also drums. We have a lot of fun.
After a week of our camp is already over - A new departure for all volunteers in the projects for me that is to Kumasi. It's the same distance as the week before back to Accra and the same outward appearance as always.
In Accra: We take the STC bus companies - nine clock is to leave our bus. To o9: oo Clock a loudspeaker announcement: "The o7: oo Clock bus is now ready to leave." You learn patience.
But we are lucky to have o9: 15 - o9: 3o Clock is our bus ready to leave. We travel 6 hours and 3o min. - The route is estimated 300-350 km long - over bumpy roads and small villages in the bush until we finally reach Kumasi. The ride is very interesting, life seems very much to play on the road. Everywhere people are engaged in more or less of their work. You can buy at the roadside as well as everything from washing powder over chicken to entrance gates.
We arrive in Kumasi. Our contact person is waiting for us. On the way to Kumasi has accompanied us our language teachers Sampson. He also comes from Kumasi, the capital of the Ashanti Region, is spoken mainly in the other "Twi", the most common language of the country. There were originally over 30 languages, of which today are the Akan languages except the remains.
We take a taxi, not to the project is to work in me. First, we live in a different project, currently the school holidays, so we have free time.
taxi ride through the city: Even at first sight it is striking that Kumasi is much greener than Accra. I like it better at first than in Accra, where it was kind of dreary, though I really after a one-day exploring the city can not say yet. The image of the city is otherwise similar to the previously seen: no tall buildings and street life. The city looks more like a huge village.
We arrive at the temporary shelter: a Montessori school, whose appearance is a little depressing - gray. We are welcomed by some people working there, including a volunteer from Berlin, which is already half a year in the country and shows us our accommodation. Comfortable for Ghanaian conditions. We have running water. In the evening we go to a cafeteria / bar. I eat fufu, a kind of dumpling which is served in a bowl of soup and is then eaten with a special Esstechnik with your fingers. The food is fun and tastes good.
way: In Ghana, I have met so far 4 different types of beer, which I would classify as native: Stone, Gulder, Castle and the most famous Star beer. All taste very good, I prefer Gulder.
I am finally arrived in Kumasi, the town where I will be one year. More blog entries will relate to experiences in this beautiful city. A great time at all, I would have anyway.
Felix
0 comments:
Post a Comment