3. Excitement continues...

Soooo.. I emailed Emily from WUSC National Office with a few questions, I just couldn't wait for the package, and got some exciting news from her that I'll share with you! I asked whether she thought I'd be with a host family and she said yes, most likely, so that is awwwesome.. I'm really hoping that comes into fruition! Also, I asked if she knew exactly where I'd be placed and she said that too has not been decided but I will either be in Tamale which is 500km North of Accra (capital city) or in Cape Coast which is just 145 km West of Accra. Truthfully I need to do some research to see the differences between these two cities before I can say where I'd like to go and explain to you the highlights of each. Cape Coast is right on the water and is close to Accra, so is probably more developed, and I've heard Northern Ghana (Tamale) is a lot less developed, more village-like, less city-like. But again this is all speculation and there is more research to follow! It's neat looking at the map because just North of Ghana is Burkina Faso where my good friend Crystal was this past summer for the same Seminar so it would be very cool if I was in Tamale, a few hundred km from where she was!

Other than these details I don't have a whole lot more for you. Unfortunately my Ghanaian package has not come in the mail yet and I'm heading to Pickering tomorrow morning for the Holidays so my excitement and anticipation will continue over the next week until I return back to Windsor!
I've attached a map of Ghana so you can see where I might be in just 6 months time!
AHHHHHHH I'm sooooooo excited guys and girls you have noo idea!!!
Thanks for reading!
Please post some comments people!!
Wishing you all safe, fun, happy, exciting holidays!!
Ghanaian Robin

2. Some more info for you curious people!

So a lot of people have been asking me for more details- so I'll share what I know (which isn't a whole lot)

20 Canadian students go to Ghana and are matched up with 20 Ghanaian University students to do research on the primary education system in Ghana, and how policies etc are effecting school enrollment.
Apart from that I don't know a whole lot...!
Not sure if I'll be living with a host family (what I'd really like to do, so I can be totally immersed in the culture and learn about family life). But I could also live in a hostel/residence building type of deal, which was the case for a lot of the participants last year.

I hope to visit my adopted girl Agnes who is in Ghana and who my mom sponsored for me through Plan Canada.

Anyway, next week I get a package in the mail with all the juicy details- or some of them it least!!
I will keep you all posted tho! And any questions/comments write them on here people!!
Thanks :)

1. WOW

So, two nights ago, I was sitting at my laptop studying Stats- (yes, I'm a Drama in Ed major; just taking stats for grad school)- when the phone rings. The past two weeks, since my interview in Windsor for the seminar, I have been answering the phone prepared to be interviewed by national office. Friends even commented and laughed at my fake voice when I'd pick up (that's life without caller id). So anyway, get to the point, I pick up, totally unprepared and immersed in the boring formulas of Quantitative Methods, when I hear "Hi, this Emily from WUSC National Office in Ottawa" as she goes on to spell out what WUSC stands for (World University Service Canada), I immediately think 1 of 2 things are going to happen: 1. She will schedule a date for my phone interview, or 2. She will interview me on the spot, right that moment...think Robin, get it together

When I hear: I'm calling about your candidacy for the International Seminar in Ghana... you've been accepted.

OHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH MYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY GODDDDDDDDDDD!!!!!!!!!!!!!

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

I AM GOING TO GHANAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!

All this going on in my head, I hope.. not exactly sure what I said but my enthusiasm/energy/shock/happiness and gratefulness were clear!!!

So now it's been two days, and I had my stats exam tonight (it wasn't too bad I must say, considering the fact that my mind has been immersed in Ghana-thoughts).

Has it started to sink in?
NOT AT ALL
Well, of course a bit. The initial giddy excitement has SLIGHTLY mellowed to let in thoughts of this reality.

I will actually be in Ghana in six months time.

Do you know how fast time flies? This first semester of my 4th year has FLOWN by.. unbelievable.

In six weeks I will be heading to Ottawa for training and preparation with the 19 other Canadians participants, and then my butt will be on a plane to GHANA

TO AFRICA

My body will be on African soil, and I will live, work, eat and sleep under the African sky.

It really has not sunk in yet for me.

I just live with a general feeling of happiness and excitement. Every time I check my email or facebook I have another message from a friend or acquaintance about the seminar- (I put it in my status; I should have expected this). It's amazing to feel all the support, love, and congratulations from people I care about.
It's amazing to talk to Crystal who did this seminar last year in Burkina Faso...
and to know that now it will be my turn. Now, after all these years of dreaming and thinking and questioning, I will be overseas, immersed in a culture that is alien to me as a Canadian, having the experience that will change my life more significantly and drastically than any other experience in my 21 years thus far.

Wow.....




These entries will hopefully be a lot more organized, informative, interesting, as I practice and gain some experience with this whole blogging thing (this is my first blog, in case you didn't already notice).

Right now my hyper-excitement/confusion/shock/disbelief create a messy lens through which I write tonight. As pathetic and random as this is, I'm excited about this blog, and more than anything else

I'm excited to start my Journey to Ghana!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!