shots? check
ghana visa? check
register with canadian government/embassy? check
create a packing list? check
shop of the stuff on the list? started
collect items for street aid? started
prepare 5 classes for my absence? next week
get to know this team of amazing women before we engage in this ridiculously exciting adventure? getting there :)
on february 10th, we, gal pal kathy and new acquaintances (soon to be pals) cathy and kay, fly to accra ghana via amsterdam. the 20-day trip is sponsored by a variety of rotary clubs throughout minnesota and a club from southern california. as the non-rotarian in the group, i am on quite a learning curve. the power and experience held by these women is awesome (truly) and i know i will learn a ton. the hope for the trip includes sharing the western concept of strategic planning with an agency called street aid (www.said-ghana.com). the organization works with street girls and their children. there will be a lot of listening and when it is all over, we will have helped facilitate the creation of a plan. additionally, i will get a chance to work directly with the girls receiving services from street aid.
there are a lot of unknowns as we prepare...intentional unknowns. the internal struggle to "know best" and "direct outcomes" is something we are working to keep in check and i appreciate that. so we prep for everything, not knowing what will actually occur once the agency and, in my case, the girls take the wheel.
as we get closer, my own excitement grows. africa has been a dream for 20+ years. i have always known that i would go and that i would go in a service capacity. growing excitement is also spurred by the anticipation of an explosion of culture not my own. i wonder how i will feel, the racial tables turned. i remember clearly how uneasy i felt in turkey when i realized i was one of two women out on the streets at night...where were the women? i expect my new minority status will briefly stop my heart in "a ha"again and again over the 20 days. ghana is not a tourist hotspot. safety is a concern and planning for disaster is part of preparing for the trip. i may need to bribe my way out of something at some point.
security and my own "i wonders" aside, i am equally thrilled about talking with people, playing with children, visiting the landmarks of ghana's history, experiencing new food and, of course, bartering in the markets.
i hope to blog daily on the trip (she smiles)...hope is the key word here. spotty internet access is likely.
for facebookers out there, take a look at an event to raise cash and donations for street aid.
https://www.facebook.com/events/163348080438898/
for those of you who are not in the fb world here is a little more info.
Ghana "Shower"
January 20th
7:00 pm
Lindbloom-Larsen Residence
To raise material and cash support for the girls, I am hosting a "baby shower" of sorts. Stop in for wine and great food and to hear more about the trip. PLEASE bring items from the list below or CASH to put toward the purchase of items needed! Baby List: New born clothing (remember it is crazy hot in Ghana) so light weight (newborn-3 months). Receiving blankets On the "other list": Colored pencils Small scissors Small pencil sharpeners Crayons For the Young Moms: Women's Underwear Sizes S-L Earrings for those of you far and way who would like to send something...great! Kirsten Lindbloom 1818 6th Avenue NE Austin, MN 55912 **this girl is smiling one of those big ear to ear smiles at the thought of this trip |
kirsten
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