One Year Down, Two to Go!

Today, April 1st, marks our one year anniversary in Ghana. In reality, our adventure began in November 2010 when Dave told me he was interested in exploring an overseas assignment in Ghana. My initial reaction was that of curiosity and possibilities. If nothing else, I was looking forward to an opportunity to travel to Ghana with no commitment.

Last week a couple from Battle Mountain arrived in Accra for their look see. They are in a similar situation as Dave and I were in when we first began considering a change. With the exception of a few years, Joel and Bernadette have lived their entire lives in Nevada. Family is important to them, and a part of their daily lives. A move to Africa would be a big adjustment for them. I was asked to take Bernadette around while Joel was interviewed. On the first day she looked tired and overwhelmed. I distinctly remember that feeling - what in the world was I thinking? But, by the end of the week I could see a difference in her (sleep can do that for a person), and she looked much more comfortable in this strange, new environment. Regardless of what she and Joel decide to do, I believe they soaked up the experience. I have said, and will continue to preach, that everyone should leave the comfort of their American homes at least once and experience how others live. It can be humbling, and will make one grateful for the things he/she has.

Our first year has gone amazingly quick, and it certainly helps that my schedule allows for full flexibility. I know that some of my friends must work around their children’s school schedules and are oftentimes left in Ghana alone while their spouses travel.

I continue to golf every Wednesday with a group of ladies, and is without question one of the highlights of my week. I enjoy getting outside, even though it can be suffocatingly hot, humid, and smelly. We have also started golfing on Sundays with another couple, and it’s an activity I look forward to each week. Golf makes me think of home, and is comfortable; albeit the courses in NO way remind me of home! Conversation between those with whom I golf is easy.

I joined a Book Club here in Ghana, and have attended two of their meetings. I’m not completely sold on this group as I don’t quite feel like I fit in; time will tell. I can assure you that there is no way I laugh as much over here as I do when my Elko Book Club convenes! However, I have read two books that I never would have even picked up, and that is one of the driving forces that keeps me going back. Dave and I just started watching the Showtime series, “Tudors,” and I actually understand what is going on based on the first book we read about King Henry VIII!

This week I attended my first Friday morning Canasta group. This is another group of women who have been getting together for several years to play the card game. Very nice ladies, and we were able to share some salads, sweets, and conversations. But, again….it’s different. Most of the women are from the UK and I sometimes find it difficult to engage in their conversation. As should be expected, they discuss current events in the UK, which I am mostly ignorant, including reality TV shows, current trends, and popular entertainment. I don’t always understand their “lingo.” For example, they were discussing how when they visit the U.S. they are always sure to pick up several “trainers.” They went on and on about it and I finally asked what “trainers” were….they are tennis shoes; Nike, Reebok, Adidas….you know….athletic shoes! Also, since they have been playing cards together for so long, there is a general connection that is lacking for me. Hopefully, time will take care of that issue.

A couple of weeks ago I attended a NAWA (North American Women’s Association) lunch. It was informal, and just an opportunity to get out of the house for an afternoon. I met three women - two from the U.S. and one from the UK. Mary is probably 60 years old. She volunteers at an orphanage here in Accra called The Beacon House. http://beaconhouseghana.blogspot.com/2012/03/educational-sponsorship-for-children-in.html.
Mary explained that The Beacon House often takes in children who are either physically or mentally disabled. While I have been told otherwise, she insists that Ghanaians are open to adopting healthy children, while those who have health concerns are rarely adopted locally. As we were talking I heard some noise on the other side of the table. I leaned over and saw the cutest little boy in a stroller. Meet Lewis.

Lewis was abandoned by his mother, likely because of a serious orthopedic issue (I believe Mary said he was born with his leg broken and bent over his shoulder). She said that when he was brought to the orphanage it was obvious that he needed personal and round-the-clock care, so….she took him home. Lewis has lived with Mary and her husband since he was born last July. The good news is that Lewis is being adopted by an American couple from the state of Washington. Mary basically acts as the liaison between the Ghananian and U.S. governments, and the couple. As I wrote in a previous blog, adopting Ghanaian children is never easy. Things take time….lots of time in Ghana. Mary and her husband are scheduled to leave Ghana for a life of retirement in June, but she insists she will not leave Lewis until the adoption has been completed and he is in the arms of his new parents.

I told her how much I admired her for her sacrifice, but she wouldn’t hear of it, saying that she only did what anyone else would do. I also indicated to Mary that I was interested in volunteering if there was a need, but explained that I travel pretty extensively. I told her that I would call her, and have had it in the back of mind. Well, last week Mary placed an advertisement in the monthly NAWA newsletter asking for help in putting together a photo montage that will be played on a screen during a presentation that is being made in the U.S. for funding. I called her up and volunteered my services. So, after our vacation next week, I’ll be heading over to The Beacon House to give a little of my time. Hopefully, it will open some other volunteering doors for me.

I find that many of the women I meet here are overseas lifers, as I like to call them. They have lived the majority of their married lives following their husbands who are employed overseas. Many of them have raised their children in much different environments than we raised ours. Dave and I are very fortunate because our living arrangements are comfortable - we have a driver, a housekeeper, and people within the company (IT and site services, in particular) who seem to drop what they are doing when I present them with an issue. We are well aware that there are many people who may not think we are experiencing the true Africa, and they are right. There are lots of people who come to Africa without the indulgences we have, and I concur. However, I don’t feel it has changed the experience for us. It is still unique and special to us.

We have met so many really wonderful people, and our view of the world has expanded like I never even imagined. We both keep up on the local news in Elko via the Elko Daily Free Press website. The USA Today website keeps us connected to the nation’s top news, and I still listen to Dave Pratt Live every day to get my daily dosage of the good old U.S. of A. On the other hand, we are now SO much more aware of what is happening throughout the world, in particular in Africa. The coup in Mali was huge news last week. Newmont actually had a geologist stranded there and one of our friends was responsible for getting him out of the country safely. He takes his job seriously and was up every hour, on the hour for a couple of days getting updates on his progress. Mali is a couple of countries north of Ghana, so not to worry…we are as safe as we can be right here in Accra.

If Dave would ever contribute to this blog, I think he would say that he has been challenged by the different work culture, in particular when addressing an employee issue. What would seem to be a rather straight forward discipline solution in the U.S. can have multiple, and unforeseen, obstacles in Ghana. This could include curses, village Chiefs, and other cultural characteristics. I think that sometimes he feels he’s not accomplishing very much, but I know that’s not true. One of his managers told me that he’s the best thing that ever happened to Africa, and I didn’t even pay her to say that! He has a good team that works with and for him. His boss here in Ghana is supportive and they share many of the same philosophies, as well as frustrations. I think they compliment each other and draw off of each other’s strengths. The experiences he is gaining in this assignment will serve him well regardless of where the next move takes us.

Best Things About Moving to Ghana
I no longer have to work full-time. I am glad I have a way to stimulate my mind a few hours a day through my contract with the Elko County School District, but I do not miss the day to day grind of working.

We have a great circle of friends; ones who we consider to be our expat family.

I thoroughly enjoy talking to people from other countries and learning more about their cultures.

We are learning so much about Ghana, Africa, and the world as a whole.

Both Dave and I have acclimated to the weather quite nicely, and have decided that warm weather is the way to go!

Travel, travel, travel. I love the travelling opportunities we’ve had. I told my side of the family that I would be seeing them more than I ever did when we were living in the U.S., and that has been proven true! I think I might actually see Benjamin more during the school year than he sees his dad, who is living in Elko. In addition to our standard trips to Nevada and the Denver area, we were able to get to San Francisco, Virginia, and my 3rd trip to Washington, D.C. in one year!

Daniel, Melissa, and Benjamin met us in London, which included a trip into the beautiful country of Ireland. After Christmas, Benjamin and Melissa went with us to Puerto Rico for a very relaxing and sunny week in a tropical location.

I have already booked our next three vacations which will begin next Thursday! We are headed to the beautiful Seychelle Islands for a week. In August three of our four kids will join us in Accra for a few days before we take off for an African safari in Tansania followed by some more beach time in Zanzibar. And finally, we will join my parents and Dave’s son, Daniel, for a Mediterranean cruise that begins in Athens, Greece and includes ports of call in Italy, France, and Spain. In between all of that traveling, we will be returning to the states at least three times.

Frustrating Things About Ghana
Being so far away from family. Having said that, thank GOD for technology. We have fairly reliable Internet service, regularly Skype, and with Whatsapp, can text our families for free. Five years ago this frustration would have been more than just an annoyance; I think it would have made the move unbearable.

I am SO over flying overseas. It is so exhausting for me, and I do not handle jet lag very well. I wish I was one of those people who could sleep anywhere, but I’m not. It always takes me several days to recover, and it can be torturous (I might be being a little over dramatic here)!

Some days are just difficult, and oftentimes it’s just the little things. Here’s an example: The Friday Canasta get together includes a potluck lunch, so I offered to bring a broccoli salad. I had all of the ingredients, which is not always the case. The broccoli, raisins, and onions were all placed in the big bowl; all that was left were the walnuts. When one of the expats moved last summer, she gave me a baggie full of walnuts, and I pulled them from my cupboard, laid them out on the cutting board, chopped them up and scooped them into the salad. When I looked back at the cutting board, there were little black bugs jumping all over!! First, I about barfed, because I had put a handful of the walnuts in my mouth! I threw the contents in the garbage, spit out what was left in my mouth, and proceeded to make a batch of sugar cookies from the box.

Living in Ghana as a spouse, especially without children, can get downright lonely. I am used to working in an office where a little less interaction would have been nice from time to time. As an introvert, I have had to force myself to take advantage of situations that require interaction. It’s one thing to hang out with friends - that’s easy. It’s going to lunches, Book Club, Canasta, and NAWA meetings where you have to make an effort to make conversation. Dave works very long hours and his days are full of constant interaction. Some nights he has phone meetings with people from other regions that begin late at night and even end early the next morning. He has to have time to re-energize and that calls for peace and quiet, which I can appreciate.

Mosquitos - neither Dave nor I have contracted malaria, but they sure do love to bite me.

Traffic - driving in Ghana is an interesting experience. There are unwritten rules of the road, and I’m glad we have Michael to navigate us through the Ghanaian world of traffic!

Smelly - Ghana smells like a big sewer; some places worse than others. After Canasta the other day I was standing on the street waiting for Michael to come and pick me up, and the smell was overwhelmingly disgusting!

In addition to my family, I miss my cat. I miss my house. I miss working in my yard. I miss having my house all to myself. As nice as it is to have someone to clean, it means that I’m rarely alone in my own house. I miss all of the conveniences that Americans take for granted. But, at the end of the day Dave and I wouldn’t go back and change our path. We would come to Ghana all over again. We are two very lucky people who are trying to take advantage of a unique opportunity that came our way. Some days are better than others, but the good thing is….we are leaving for a beautiful tropical location in four days!! Here's a view of our resort from their website.