May 25, 2016
Well, today’s the day! I have butterflies in my stomach and my passport in hand! I never thought I would be chasing my dreams so soon. Since I was young I have wanted to travel to Africa.
My ultimate goal is to work in international health and development. I am attending the Rutgers Women’s Rights & Community Service Learning Trip. In Ghana, I will be learning about women’s development and equality and will be interning in a NGO that supports these goals. My internship will give me insight on public health and healthcare in Ghana.
So far I have my Akan/Twi phrases ready! Aqwaabi (Welcome), Meypaakyew te so (Please reduce the price), Daebi (No), and Medaase (Thank you). In Ghana, I will have to negotiate the prices of everything I purchase, even laundry! As an Obruni, or foreigner from overseas, I will have a better outcome of the negotiation if I show that I know Ghanian culture by using Akan/Twi. I’m up for the challenge!!!
I am most excited to go, experience, and observe. I am a keen observer and look forward to analyzing why things are the way they are in the post-colonial state. I also can’t wait to mingle with Ghanians since I have heard they are very friendly.
I have the opportunity of being placed in one of nine internships. At the moment, I cannot decide if I want to intern at the refuge camp. Refuge camp? No refuge camp? Refuge camp? I can’t make up my mind! Ah! It’s something that I have always wanted to do & jumped at the minute I heard about it! After looking at photos and reading the history, I am quite nervous as to the conditions of the camp. They definitely need help. However, I will have to live with one other person from my group apart from everyone else outside of Accra. Working there would be the reality of doing true mission-like work as opposed to what I imagined an internship might look like. Do I do it? What do you think??
Off to the airport! Here we go!
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