An invitation

Chance was written all over my first invitation in Accra.

After two bewildered days of learning the do´s and dont´s of the city, I was no wiser than the day i came. I was weary of the food and drink, remembering the horrorstories of parasites and snails that entered through eating or drinking. Little things like purifying water and making sure your moscitonet was tucked in everywhere, became the main occupations of my day - mainly as an excuse not to mingle too much. The embarassment of not being able to really distinguish people from eachother let alone remember their names, led me to a somewhat voluntary isolation - allthough it is impossible to be isolated in Ghana. There is allways someone who pays attention to your situation - a fact that came to save my life in the end.

On my third day in Accra, a busload of people poured in at the VOLU office. Well minibusload anyway. Fresh back from working in the bushvillages and in high spirits, they had exactly the kind of joy and excitement that infected everybody and quickly brought the mood to the roof. They were lusting to hear news from europe and I was equally desperate to hear of the work awaiting me. A couple of germans seemed especially professional in the art of getting around and offered me my first invitation.

They were on their way to the Cape Coast festival. It was a bit of a journey but apparently it was worth it. people from all over would come to celebrate and party. There was to be a procession of the chiefs from the different regions of Ghana and their wives and families. They only had to ask me once. What an adventure!!!

My days in isolation were over - I had a plan and company. It was such a thrill.

VOLU

I should probably have explained why I was in Ghana. Eventhough it is secondary to my experience and of less importance. As it was I came to join VOLU - a local organisation of volunteers from both Ghana and Europe. I suppose it would be for anybody else as well, but I only ever met europeans there. The purpose of VOLU is simple. To help locally with the projects they really need - not what some academic decided at his or her desk. They were very active at the time and had agreements with several different foreign aid organisations including MS in Denmark. As they must still do considering their noble cause. In the organisation of VOLU it was highly important to foster the spirit of volunteering and the breakdown of barriers of class, religion and gender.
I chose to fly straight to Ghana and join VOLU upon arrival. This was partly because I was very idealistic and wanted my joining fee to actually go to the right people. And partly, off course, because I allready knew people from VOLU - both ghanaians and europeans.
I arrived on my own, was thankfully met by Big, and therefore my adventure started without a prearranged group or plan.

I was on a blank page.