Conditions in Ghana are not what we're used to...

No water? Dirty money? School in shifts?

We are so blessed to live where we do.  I have been getting many alerts over the last few days that make me realize how lucky we are to be born in a developed nation. 

In Accra, the capital city with 1.6M people, there are frequent water outages, and access to clean drinking water has become an issue to all but a privileged few:
Accra Pipes Go Dry


Ghanian money carries significant disease. Complicated by the lack of good hygiene and the habit of eating with one's hands citizens are exposed to diseases that we don't concern ourselves with.  I have just packed my own fork and a bottle of hand sanitizer to address this!! 
Notes Carry Bacteria

Students in the capital city of Accra can only go to school 4 hours a day because there are not enough schools.  They take shifts - morning or afternoon - to accommodate the thousands of students who cannot fit into the existing school infrastructure.   See the link for a video of the schools and a speech from the Accra Mayor, whose organization I will be working for while in Ghana.  He is a tremendous advocate of education for Accra's youth, to address high youth unemployment and the potential for success as a nation.
Shift System in Accra Schools

So while some of this is alarming, it also makes me realize we CAN make a difference.   And I am definitely taking to heart your many wishes to "Be Safe"!

Four Days to GO!!

The departure date has almost arrived and my head is swimming with so much to think about:

• The work we have to do:  The objectives defined for my sub-team are daunting.  We are working for the Mayors office in the capital city of Accra and have several projects in the Works Department helping them issue timely building permits and manage the city owned assets.  We also have a project in the Education Department, implementing a teacher resource center where they can share best practices and lesson plans to improve the quality of education.  All in a month...
• Life in Ghana:  Will I feel comfortable there?  Will my team work well together? Will I get to see some of the country or will I be very busy working?  Will I be able to run?  Will I get sick?  We are living in Yiri Lodge on the University of Ghana campus, which sounds like a great location, but I'm probably quite naive about what my everyday experience will be like traveling in the heavy traffic, finding a restaurant for 12 people every night, getting the bank machine to release funds, and trying to blend in when I'm a tall blond woman... Well if a big smile will help, mine will be pasted on!!
• Leaving my family behind:  I'm going to miss them so much.  Kelsey and I always study for her exams and she has several mid-terms while I"m away.  Riley and I are working at home more often these days and he still lets me mother him some of the time!  Howard simply tells me "we'll be fine" but maybe he'll miss me too!! 

My flight is Friday night at 10pm... Wish me luck!!