I'm in the US, for a little while anyway. My plane leaves at 3:30, and I have to be there no later than 1:30, but I want to be there earlier because I have no idea how this works, and I feel like I'm going to mess something up. I'm going to miss Spot, my little dalmation puppy I sleep with. I don't want to lose him/get him stolen/get him ruined, so I've decided to leave him here. :( I haven't slept without Spot somewhere at least close to me in a long time, and, yes, I'm 20 years old, stop laughing. Grr... :P
But, I have everything ready to go, and I feel like I'm in a good enough place to take care of myself while I'm there. Physically, mentally, and emotionally. I have all my documents, pictures, and necessities. I have snackage for the plane as well as there, if I get lonely for good old unhealthy American food. ;) (It's actually not that bad; give me some credit).
I got to say goodbye to part of the family yesterday. That was fun. I appreciate all the good wishes and good vibes. This morning, I'm relaxing and trying not to stress out too much. This is going to be fun. :)
Monday, May 14, 2012
Thursday, May 10, 2012
Getting Ready
I never realized how much goes into getting ready for a trip, like a major trip. There's the plane, which I booked back in December, but then figured out I needed to figure out a seat on said plane ride. Of course, it's actually three separate planes so I'm not quite sure how that works really. And I'm claustrophobic, so I have to ask them to put me on a special seat in a plane and not just any old one, unless they really want to deal with a panic attack, which may very well happen anyway. Ugh.
Then there's the program. Figuring out which one to go with, where, for what, how long, for credit or not, paying for it, preparing for it without really knowing what I'm doing, and everything else that seems to go into it without really being able to be quanitfied or even really qualified. I have to figure out the dress code, cultural expectations, how I'm supposed to act and express myself. Learn a little bit of the local language, hopefully. :) Yeah, it's a lot. And sort of overwhelming. Word of advice, leave yourself plenty of time to prepare for long trips.
We can't forget the packing. All the proper clothes and toiletries for 5 weeks, assuming I can do laundry every week. And my medications, with a doctor's letter saying I need them so I don't get arrested or held up a lot. And I have to make sure it's under the limit for weight and size for the checked, carry-on, and purse I can take with me. This includes bedding, mosquito net, things to entertain myself/distract myself if I get overwhelmed and have to bring myself back to the present, and little things for the program, like books. It adds up quickly, even though I'm trying to pack smart.
Finding everything I need is difficult. A mosquito net, skirts, tops that actually match and not just my kind of matching (same load of laundry or design), something to hold money and passports close to my body so no one steals it, vitamins/supplements to make sure I stay healthy while I'm there, a way of staying in touch with the world, camera that works and is small enough to bring with me, getting shots and yellow card, passport and VISA, pictures and addresses of the people I'm meeting, and so much more. There's just a lot of stuff to remember and get together.
One thing I want to mention: I had a friend with one of those little NOOK Color things that he didn't want, so, I figured I'd try that since it can have books for me to read to distract myself and can access the internet with Wi-Fi so I could update this blog with it. Unfortunately, it doesn't register this as something it can type into, so I may not be able to update as much as I would like, with the one computer in the home I'll be staying at. (Since I'm NOT bringing my computer). But I will try, so don't be worried if I can't update for a few days or a week or so. :) It'll happen. Also, photos will be uploaded to my Facebook, which you can find at: https://www.facebook.com/kaedington?ref=tn_tnmn and friend me, if you like. If I don't know you, I won't friend you, sorry. I'll try to use the computer when I can to transfer the photos to here as well, or I'll do it as soon as I get back. Either way, eventually everything will get up here.
Wish me luck! I don't know if I'll update one more time before I leave or not.
Then there's the program. Figuring out which one to go with, where, for what, how long, for credit or not, paying for it, preparing for it without really knowing what I'm doing, and everything else that seems to go into it without really being able to be quanitfied or even really qualified. I have to figure out the dress code, cultural expectations, how I'm supposed to act and express myself. Learn a little bit of the local language, hopefully. :) Yeah, it's a lot. And sort of overwhelming. Word of advice, leave yourself plenty of time to prepare for long trips.
We can't forget the packing. All the proper clothes and toiletries for 5 weeks, assuming I can do laundry every week. And my medications, with a doctor's letter saying I need them so I don't get arrested or held up a lot. And I have to make sure it's under the limit for weight and size for the checked, carry-on, and purse I can take with me. This includes bedding, mosquito net, things to entertain myself/distract myself if I get overwhelmed and have to bring myself back to the present, and little things for the program, like books. It adds up quickly, even though I'm trying to pack smart.
Finding everything I need is difficult. A mosquito net, skirts, tops that actually match and not just my kind of matching (same load of laundry or design), something to hold money and passports close to my body so no one steals it, vitamins/supplements to make sure I stay healthy while I'm there, a way of staying in touch with the world, camera that works and is small enough to bring with me, getting shots and yellow card, passport and VISA, pictures and addresses of the people I'm meeting, and so much more. There's just a lot of stuff to remember and get together.
One thing I want to mention: I had a friend with one of those little NOOK Color things that he didn't want, so, I figured I'd try that since it can have books for me to read to distract myself and can access the internet with Wi-Fi so I could update this blog with it. Unfortunately, it doesn't register this as something it can type into, so I may not be able to update as much as I would like, with the one computer in the home I'll be staying at. (Since I'm NOT bringing my computer). But I will try, so don't be worried if I can't update for a few days or a week or so. :) It'll happen. Also, photos will be uploaded to my Facebook, which you can find at: https://www.facebook.com/kaedington?ref=tn_tnmn and friend me, if you like. If I don't know you, I won't friend you, sorry. I'll try to use the computer when I can to transfer the photos to here as well, or I'll do it as soon as I get back. Either way, eventually everything will get up here.
Wish me luck! I don't know if I'll update one more time before I leave or not.
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
My trip
Hey everyone,
So, since I am never going to remember to email everyone while I'm in Africa, I'm starting this blog and anyone who wants to can follow what I'm doing, how I'm doing, etc. I am also trying to figure out how to upload pictures here and I will upload them as I get them. I'm told I'll have internet access when we have electricity, so hopefully I'll be able to actually update this on a regular basis. Alright, I guess I should tell you all what I'm doing, huh? :)
I'm going to a town called Busua in Ghana, Africa with a program called Teach on the Beach. (You can find more info on them at teachonthebeach.org). I'm leaving the 14th of May and coming back on the 19th of June, so I'll get to Africa on the 15th and leave on the 18th. I will be teaching English and perhaps math to kids anywhere from 5 to 18. The program sponsors some kids, most who have been there for a while and are older. These kids are the ones I will be living with during the time that I'm there in a three-story house built right next to the school on the beach. I haven't gotten my assignment yet, so I'm not 100% positive exactly what I'll be doing, but I know I'll be participating in News Hour, where all the kids in the house and the volunteers watch the international news for an hour, then talk about what we saw/hear. It's a way to practice English, as well as learn about what's going on outside Busua.
The part I'm most nervous about is the flight there and back. I start in Madison, stop in Chicago, then Heathrow, and down to Accra in Ghana, where I'll have a 5 hour bus ride to Busua. Most people who know me know I'm really not great with crowds of people or closed in spaces. Unfortunately, planes and buses tend to be tightly packed and closed in. Not sure how I feel about that. :/
Ghana is 6 hours ahead of Wisconsin, 5 hours ahead of Michigan, so I'm guessing my already abnormal sleep schedule will be even more abnormal when I first get there. Yuck. But that's okay; it's just something else to get used to. Another thing I have to get used to...dressing like a girl! I have to wear floor-length skirts and t-shirts, plus nice-looking sandals every day. I can wear shorts at night/for bed, but that's basically it. Definitely something I'm not used to. But, something I can get used to, I think. :)
Long story short, I'm excited, nervous, a little scared, and definitely looking forward to this adventure! Feel free to follow me along!
So, since I am never going to remember to email everyone while I'm in Africa, I'm starting this blog and anyone who wants to can follow what I'm doing, how I'm doing, etc. I am also trying to figure out how to upload pictures here and I will upload them as I get them. I'm told I'll have internet access when we have electricity, so hopefully I'll be able to actually update this on a regular basis. Alright, I guess I should tell you all what I'm doing, huh? :)
I'm going to a town called Busua in Ghana, Africa with a program called Teach on the Beach. (You can find more info on them at teachonthebeach.org). I'm leaving the 14th of May and coming back on the 19th of June, so I'll get to Africa on the 15th and leave on the 18th. I will be teaching English and perhaps math to kids anywhere from 5 to 18. The program sponsors some kids, most who have been there for a while and are older. These kids are the ones I will be living with during the time that I'm there in a three-story house built right next to the school on the beach. I haven't gotten my assignment yet, so I'm not 100% positive exactly what I'll be doing, but I know I'll be participating in News Hour, where all the kids in the house and the volunteers watch the international news for an hour, then talk about what we saw/hear. It's a way to practice English, as well as learn about what's going on outside Busua.
The part I'm most nervous about is the flight there and back. I start in Madison, stop in Chicago, then Heathrow, and down to Accra in Ghana, where I'll have a 5 hour bus ride to Busua. Most people who know me know I'm really not great with crowds of people or closed in spaces. Unfortunately, planes and buses tend to be tightly packed and closed in. Not sure how I feel about that. :/
Ghana is 6 hours ahead of Wisconsin, 5 hours ahead of Michigan, so I'm guessing my already abnormal sleep schedule will be even more abnormal when I first get there. Yuck. But that's okay; it's just something else to get used to. Another thing I have to get used to...dressing like a girl! I have to wear floor-length skirts and t-shirts, plus nice-looking sandals every day. I can wear shorts at night/for bed, but that's basically it. Definitely something I'm not used to. But, something I can get used to, I think. :)
Long story short, I'm excited, nervous, a little scared, and definitely looking forward to this adventure! Feel free to follow me along!
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