I got my official "International Travel Packet" for Ghana, West Africa yesterday. I think I could use two words to describe how it felt to be reading it were intimidated & overwhelmed! It does certainly sound like the staff will take good care of you while you are there which is a relief. You have to buy minutes, but they do provide you with a Ghanian cell phone to use while you are in country. They also included detailed packing checklists for both personal items and paperwork which should prove to be extremely helpful.I was particularly enlightened by the section on the "facilities" with the subcategories of "squat toilets" and "toilet paper woes". Hmmm...
We're hoping to take in a few touristy type things while we are there. I mean who wants to go all the way to Africa and not see what they've got going on. Some of the sights they suggested was the Akumoso Lake Boat Tour, Kakum National Park & Cape Coast Castles tour, Wli falls, and Aburi Botanical Gardens. I would love to go to Kakum, but since heights are not my thing we will have to see how brave I am.
I did get to talk/webcam with Mercy this morning which was the perfect thing to lift my spirits. Just seeing her smiling face and hearing her voice makes this wait just a little more bearable. I am sending a few things for her with our agency director as she travels to Ghana next week. I asked Mercy what she needed and she told me candy, biscuits, a dress, socks, and two pairs of shoes - one for school and one for church. She's certainly not shy about asking for what she needs. Love that girl!
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That is SO funny that you say that! When I saw the packet, I thought, how did I miss that the Salzwedel's were adopting with AAI? Then I saw the comment...oops!
It was very helpful and I also loved the section that addressed what we should bring with us. Good job, Anita!
The squat toilet thing freaks me out. It was a possibility of encountering one while I was in Russia (didn't happen). But the group of 50 other ladies I was with all agreed that we'd bring disposable plastic cups to make the "experience" easier.
Don't let the toilet thing throw you. We squatted in Okinawa, Japan, and France and it's not that hard. Unless you are very pregnant. Then you could be front heavy. : )
This must be so exciting for you. Another step closer!!
that is exciting!
anywhere that can conference call you with your daughter can't be all THAT bad!!! Sounds civilized enough for me!
HOw exciting!
Enjoy the preparations my dear it means you are one step closer!
Every girl needs biscuits...right? How sweet! Maybe you'll forget about the height issue :o) I didn't like rapelling until I rapelled off a 100 foot cliff.
I wish I could go with you. ALL those adventures sound wonderful, and I love LOVE heights! I had to laugh at the biscuit request. I mean really, what is life without biscuits?
You are going to have quite the adventure to share when you get back :)
I am so proud of this fact: 16 days in China and not one squatty potty. Nope, could not do it. Came dangerously close one day, until I went in and saw how many folks before me had apparently missed. Nope. No dice. Ol' muscles got a work out that day, but I made it. :)
I know, such a weird thing to be proud of, considering all I experienced for those 16 days. Remember that awful flood?! :)
So exciting! I'm still in awe of how fast it is moving for you...I can't wait to read about you meeting your daughter for the first time!
You are BLESSED to have an agency that will walk you through everything when you are in Ghana. We were completely on our own last year ... for the 6 weeks it took us to get our I600 approval. We didn't even get any type of travel prep. information. We just flew to Ghana, picked up our children, and said, "What next?" to each other.
My husband does NOT "do" heights, but he did enjoy the Kakum swinging bridges. It is BEAUTIFUL there. The Cape Coast Castles are such an important part of our children's history, we felt it was very good to take the tour there.
In case you don't know ... "biscuits" are a type of snack cracker, not the type of bread we eat with dinner.
Your list is much better than the one we got before traveling. Our son Jacob told us he was excited to come to America so that he could have his own "computer, cell phone, toys that talk, etc..." Nope ... didn't happen.
Blessings,
mama of 13
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