Arriving

It has been a long journey. Several connecting flights. Bit of stress. I really do not like flying. But now the end of the journey is here. The plane sets down on the runway and everything looks unfamiliar, yet strangely more inhabited than I imagined. I thought it was Africa - this is a busy international airport in Accra.

But as we leave the plane things a different after all. The moment the door to the aircraft opens a blazing heat hits me like a wall. It is quite humid too and soon I am gasping for air. I am also gasping out of awe.

Everybody´s pitch black. I have off course seen people of many different colours before. But the ghanaians are SO black. I know i have to look for Big. He is the older brother of Billy - a ghanaian i know from Denmark. But how am I going to recognize him here. They all look the same. And I am ready to turn around and board the plane again. How will I ever function here when I cant tell people apart. ust as panic sets in, Big grabs my arm. He off course had no problem finding me. Pale as a maggot and taller than most people I stand out like the Eiffel Tower.
I almost start crying. He is incredably kind and insist on staying with me untill I am in safe hands at the VOLU headquarters in central Accra. He makes sure I change one of my travellers cheques, so I am not stuck without money. He is SO kind and actually easy to recognize after all. He is truly owning up to his nickname. He is BIG. And he is bighearted. He makes arriving in Ghana a good thing.

I have arrived!