One Last Entry

Well, I’ve been back in the States for over a week and things have basically resumed to business as usual. I’d like to thank everyone who read the blog again for all of your awesome support!

This last entry is for all future travelers interested in voyaging to Ghana on a similar adventure. What follows is a not even close to complete list of things to bring or consider before traveling.

- Anti-mosquito weaponry. I sprayed myself at least every evening with bug spray (DEET, 30%). The mosquitoes weren’t such a terrible problem – they were much smaller than I expected, and really only came out during dusk and evenings. I took Malarone, a daily malaria prophylactic. There were four other pills I had heard volunteers take, and I would recommend a cheaper pill or one that is taken weekly. However, it is very important to take your meds; two people on the program got malaria while I was there, so the threat is real. You can also spray your clothes with Premethrin, a chemical that keeps mosquitoes away from your clothes and survives several laundry washes. It’s also a serious carcinogen and probably not worth it.

- Phones (like everything else in the country) are pay-as-you-go. Either bring a phone that would accept a SIM card and work in Africa (not all SIM phones do, check online) or buy a phone (~$30). I used a Tigo phone company, but all are essentially the same.

- I would recommend bringing a candy or food that reminds you of home. There are very few sweets in Ghana, and I had many chocolate cravings. Luckily I brought two bags of M&Ms, which were able to sustain my sugar fix for the six week trip.

- Bring shaving cream if you plan on using a manual razor.

- Bring or purchase in Ghana an electrical adapter with a ground plug (the third hole). They are available in Ghana for pretty cheap and mine worked fine, save for occasional sparking. In Cape Coast, all electrical outlets are the Great Britain style.

- Bring a Visa debit card. Master Cards and anything else aren’t accepted.

- Bring office supplies, if only as a gift for Ghanaians. Paper, tape, and pens are pretty scarce. I brought some mechanical pencils as prizes for students, and those were a pretty big hit.

- Try the fruit! It’s all very good, just be sure they don’t “wash” with common water or slice with a contaminated knife. Unpeeled or unsliced fruits are usually safe, and they’re delicious.

- Try FanIce! It’s a delicious bagged frozen yogurt. Vanilla is the best, though they have other flavors.

- There are very few mirrors in Ghana, so if you want to check your hair I’d recommend just snapping a digital picture. If you’re desperate, you can buy a mirror in the market but they’re expensive (by Ghana standards).

- Although riding in a taxi is a very rushed experience, take a moment to check the seat as you’re getting out for any forgotten items. While I was in Ghana, 4 different volunteers had lost an Ipod, camera, and 2 cell phones.

- A note about etiquette: Crossing your legs is considered the sign of a lazy person. Also, it’s offensive to point the bottom of your feet at somebody. Everything is done with the right hand – signaling a taxi, paying for money, shaking hands, etc. Often, taxis will pass you if you try signaling with your left hand. Eye contact or saying hello to strangers is acceptable and encouraged, especially if you’re white. Hissing at someone is how you get their attention (not shouting across the street), and clucking is a sign of disapproval.

- One last thing: Keep an open mind! You’re going to a third world country, and things won’t always work out as planned. The unexpected will routinely happen, and you’ll just have to go with it. If you are volunteering, try not to be disappointed if you encounter resistance to change. It’s impossible to change the world single-handedly – it’s a very gradual process. Think of your work more as laying the foundation for future volunteers, and take satisfaction in knowing that you really are making a difference, even if the changes aren’t immediately apparent.

Thanks again for following my blog! If you have any questions you can reach me at band.aid.dude (at) gmail (dot) com