Through the looking glass

Wow. I am in freaking Afffffrrrriiiicaaaa! The journey was horrible, but uneventful. Arriving in Accra was very emotional, considering all that has gone into the planning and execution of this journey. I was starting to curse my travel advisors when my suitcase that I checked through was among the last to be unloaded. Nonetheless the advice was good, and thank you! Another good sign was someone tried to cut in front of me at customs, and they were rebuffed by security. I didn't want to make a scene, but the security guy waved me in like a good third base coach. I'm getting the vibe that politeness pays here, which bodes well. I was then waved through customs without a word. Other than a look at my documentation, there was nothing. My bags were not even given a cursory inspection, and never left my shoulder, not that I have anything to hide. My hotel driver was awaiting me as promised.

As we left the terminal, I felt like I had just won a Juno, or I was walking the red carpet at TIFF. There was a huge crowd of people standing behind barricades. I guess no one is allowed in the terminal. It would've made a great picture, but pics at government facilities are strictly prohibited. The drive to the hotel was everything you can imagine about Africa. Tons of people on the streets, vendors hustling food at intersections, tiny market stalls open for business and a sea of humanity. Its hot, humid and slightly stinky. In short, its everything I imagined. What I didn't imagine is that I would have women all over me. Apparently, I'm quite a bit hotter in Accra than Toronto. Or maybe its cos people are desperately poor here and I'm not. Ya think? More on that in my next post.

Also, I am watching the Canucks online w/ wireless in my hotel room! Who says you can't have your cake and eat it too!

A clarification

It seems that some people have a wrong impression about the Omenako School Project, so I just want to clarify.
YES, I did start the idea that led to this.
NO I am not building a school. It is up to some wonderful people in Ghana, and contributions from worldwide donors that will make this dream a reality. I am just a small player here, and I can assure you that no parent on this planet would feel safe having their children educated in a building that I built. If you want to understand the whole story, follow directions below.

GO to ghanacommunity.com CLICK general discussion THEN CLICK trying to help.

Please do not think that I am doing this, as it does not give the proper respect to the people who are doing the REAL WORK.

Love You All

Greg

Ground Control to Major Tom

So this is it. I am really doing this. No longer is this journey an intellectual concept, it is becoming a reality. I have spent the better part of the last ten days, building ledges, crawling out on them, and then talking myself down. How productive! I have wasted a great deal of time and energy listening to my baser instincts and crumbling under the daunting task of trying to control the unknown. After one panic attack driven email, my travel guru called. Miss Jocund gave me some sage advice, in addition, a few calming words from a worldwise bartender and I am feeling much better. Make no mistake though, I feel like I am jumping out of an airplane, the only question is whether I am going to piss myself on the way down. I say no to soiled underwear! Time to cowboy up, cos the landing is going to be what it is going to be. The only control I have is whether or not a urine stain is involved, speaking metaphorically. I will see you all on the other side, and thanks for coming along on this journey with me. Sharing this will ease my loneliness in difficult times, and magnify my delight in good times. This journey will be pools of sorrow and waves of joy, and I am blessed to have people sharing this ride with me. I am coming to acceptance of the consequences of my own unexpected choices. The transition from concept to reality has proven quite daunting, but there is no turning back now. I am going to trust my instincts and the tremendous amount of research I have done. So pull up a keyboard and follow me, I don't know what the road ahead is, but I am confident that I will be able to navigate it. My next post will be from Accra on Tues or Weds. And Cayelle, thanks for the lift!

A funny thing happened on the way to Ghana

Its funny what can happen when a butterfly flaps its wings. AFTER I booked this trip something wonderful and accidental enveloped me.

In researching this trip I came upon a website, really just a forum, but I was fascinated by the content. I had stumbled upon a tiny corner of the internet where real people from Ghana were conversing. Something struck me about the general ability of the people who posted to disagree agreeably, no matter what the subject.

I felt that I had stumbled upon a real community. Almost every poster is connected to Ghana, though many are expats. I was fascinated by the detail provided, like only a true local would know.

All of this led me start posting, knowing that there was a font of intimate knowledge that I could tap. I registered, and asked a couple of touristy questions and was rewarded with some great advice.

Then I thought about giving a little back. Some small meaningless gesture to appease the guilt of my privilege in the face of global poverty. I was going to donate my laptop to a school, and fill it with educational programs. Suffice to say, my small idea was picked up by these wonderful people and we are now working on building a school kitchen for a poor community, so that the children may get a lunch fed to them at school through a government program.

You can follow the ongoing saga below. I am truly amazed by what my small idea has led to, and the generosity of spirit by all the people involved. Would love to post a link, but this corner of the blogsphere won't allow it. I really should have built a website instead of a blog. Oh well.

Go to ghanacommunity.com Click general discussion. Read the posts at the top of the page regarding Omenako School Project. There are some pictures on page 4 of the "Trying to help" forum. Will try and repost pics in a better location soon, but I need permission.

Let me be clear, that I am just an accidental tourist in this morality play. I may have started something, but I had no idea that it would turn into this. It is a few angels in Ghana who are doing the hard work, but I am blown away by the generosity of all involved. I plan to get to Suhum and visit the school and will post on the video map when I get there. Some projects are run by NGO's, but this is an NPO. Networking People Organisation. NPO's have no staff, no budget and no tax writeoff. All money goes to recipients, and the only acknowledgement is you get to go to sleep knowing that you're trying to make a difference.

PHOTO GALLERY HERE

Photo Gallery click here

VIDEO MAP CLICK HERE

View Larger Map

By clicking on an icon you will see a video from that location. Make sure to click View Larger Map first, otherwise the videos will not display properly as the space is too small.

You're going where?

Map of Ghana click here

I am going to Ghana. It is a country in West Africa. It was once known as The Gold Coast. It was the first African country to gain its independence from a "modern" colonial power. Ghana was also a major gateway during the height of the slave trade. The coast of Ghana is dotted with trading forts that were originally used for gold and other items, but were converted for the purpose of trading human beings. Ghana has some parallels with Canada. It is a multicultural country, represented by regional interests. Some language tensions exist within the country.

Like all of Africa, Ghana has serious issues with poverty. However, Ghana is a beacon of stability, and represents the best hope for improvement in the region and possibly the continent. Ghana recently held an election, with razor thin results. The transition of power was conducted peacefully.

In contrast, Ghana has turbulent neighbours.

To the west is Cote D'Ivoire. Not too bad in the south, but as you go north the potential for really,really, really bad mayhem gets exponential by the mile. Plus their mayhem is in French.

To the north is Burkina Faso (it'll always be Upper Volta to me) This is generally regarded as the poorest country on the planet. If you want to get some of those National Geographic kind of images, there are parts of this country you must see. But it is a long, long , long freakin way from the ATM at Broadview and Danforth. Mostly tribal languages.

To the east is Togo, also French speaking. The capital, Lome, is not far from Accra. In its heyday, it was the Paris of Africa. Would like to go here, but recent reports of "tribal cult violence" are a little concerning. Seriously. I am not kidding. Angry, machete waving mobs hacking everyone in sight. But if I get a nice coupon, who knows?

Two weeks. Two weeks. Two freakin weeks. Starting to get very excited. The excitement has flashes of inner terror, but I'm trying not to listen to that voice. The reality of this bizarre expedition is beginning to yield its shockingly unknown head. That David Byrne line "watch out, you might get what your after" keeps going through my mind. However, I once took some classes in Bhuddism which were conducted by a doctor who at that time was head of emergency at The Wellesley (sp?) Hospital. And he said something that I have always carried with me when embarking on new experiences - "Things are not necessarily difficult, simply unfamiliar" I'm going to try and make that my mantra.

I'm starting to get a feeling in the pit of my stomach. The feeling is excitement, combined with a fear of the unknown. My lack of experience as a traveller, combined with the fact that I'm going alone are also making me guffaw at my dumb temerity. (yeah thats for you Miss Jocund!) Nonetheless, I'm ready to light this candle.

And Cayelle, thanks for the advice. Four layers and no L!

http://www.goyestoeverything.com