My First Day

So today was my first day in Mampong.  I arrived in Ghana last night, but stayed at the Projects Abroad Office in Accra.  The evening started off on a positive note with me spraining my thumb while picking up one of my bags out of the taxi.  I did bring tape to stabilize it, although not enough to last me more than a few days (just enough to give the illusion of preparedness) so I hope it heals rather quickly.  The Projects Abroad Office (which is also Tom, the country coordinator’s home) was screened in, so I didn’t need to worry about the mosquitoes (one of these days my mosquito net will come in handy… one of these days…) and there was a fan in the room which made the uncomfortable heat and humidity slightly less uncomfortable.  (When my planed landed it was already dark out and a balmy temperature of 31°C).

(my room the first night)

(outside the Projects Abroad Office in Accra)

  I shared my room that night with 3 girls from England, 2 of them, Becca and Naomi, arrived slightly after 9:30, and the third, Pip, close to 1 in the morning.  Henry, the fourth Brit slept in a different room.  Out of all the people staying there for the night, I was the only one heading to the Hills in the morning, as three of them were going to teach in Cape Coast, and the fourth in Kumasi.  Naomi, the one traveling to Kumasi, had to be up at 3 in the morning to set out on her 4-5 hour ride to Kumasi, I however was allowed to sleep in ‘til 5, with the taxi coming at 6 (or so was the plan).   The taxi arrived for the three people heading to Cape Coast at 6, but my taxi didn’t end up coming until after 7:30.  The taxi took me and Isaac (a Projects Abroad worker) to a tro station (which one I’m not entirely sure) and we took a tro-tro up to the hills.  I was surprised how bad traffic was in Accra, much worse than anything you see in Winnipeg.  Many of the roads in Accra have been poorly maintain, so what was once a nicely paved road, is now a combination of dirt, broken concrete and cavernous pot holes (I know that pot holes are bad in Winnipeg, but you haven’t seen anything like the ones here).  It took us about an hour by taxi to the tro station, and about another hour by tro to get to Mampong. 

            I have used the word tro several times now, so I guess it would probably be a good idea to explain what I am actually talking about.  A tro (or tro-tro) is a form of public transportation in Ghana.  Most are mini-buses (similar to an old 12 passenger van) that should seat 15 people (including the driver and his assistant… although I think the first tro I took had closer to 20 in it).  The prices for the tro are fixed, so you don’t need to worry about bartering with the driver, which is always a plus.  A lot of the tros I’ve seen here are older, and definitely are showing their age (it’s always reassuring when you can see glimpses of the Ghanaian scenery through what is suppose to be a solid portion of the tro door).  The drive to Mampong was absolutely gorgeous.  Ascending into the Akuapem Hills took me through winding roads overlooking the outskirts of Accra.  Many of the inclines were quite steep, and sometimes I found it rather debatable as to whether the tro would make it up the hill (although it somehow always managed to do so).  On the way to Mampong, we passed through several small towns.  Although I do realize I’m in Africa, I was surprised as to how similar many of them were to the rural impoverished towns in the DR.  There were many small shops (or I guess more accurately stands) selling everything from fish on a stick, to tapes, to fabric and there were people walking around everywhere.  I know when you’re a child and you think of Africa, one of the images that comes to mind is people carrying their goods on their heads.  Well it really does happen here.  Pretty much anything you can think of carrying can and will be carried on your head, from peanuts and plantains, to water and firewood.  When I arrived in the Hills, I was first taken to the Projects Abroad regional office in Mamfe.  Mamfe is a town just north of Mampong.  There I was greet by two more Projects Abroad Workers, Emanuel and Henry.  I was told that Emanuel is the co-ordinator for the region, and I am not sure what exactly Henry is.  They showed me the office there, and then took me to my home for the next month.