Thursday, May 6, 2010

Pre-Dep/DEP! (-parture)

Having just finished my pre-dep "check-in", I find I am in a sharing mindset. The past 5 days at pre-departure training have been an incredible learning experience, which I have been lucky to share with an amazing group of people. I've gone through a fairly strange cycle (or cyclone, maybe..) since arriving in Toronto on Saturday afternoon - when I left London, I felt like I was so ready to get on a plane and go to Ghana. Really, I was just ready to leave London.

This was completely changed when the workshops started; I felt lost, couldn't articulate my thoughts, and felt as if the topics and questions were completely above my head. It was a good reality check, and since those first Sunday morning workshops I feel like I've learned so much and am much better prepared for these next four months. I feel driven and inspired, and like I'm really ready to go - because getting on that plane just means I get to learn even more, and finally get to live the reality of EWB's overseas work.

Some of things that really stuck out for me were: incredible discussions that made me open my mind and consider things that I never would have considered on my own; using the dusty part of my brain that sometimes comes up with something creative; and learning the history and complexity of everything that is EWB (including actually being inside the infamous office, set of EWBBC - check out EWBBC 2010 on youtube).

So without wanting to make this into an essay of predep learning, I'll sign off with: Feeling better than I've felt in about a year, despite immense lack of sleep (24 people 3 bedrooms...) and intense mental fatigue. I'm just so happy to be a part of this and am so excited to enter the reality of Ghana.

But one more logistical thing - location! I'll be in the Upper East region, in Sandema in the district of Builsa. Check out my district website - http://builsa.ghanadistricts.gov.gh/. I'll be living either right in the town or just outside, and biking or walking to the office.

Next post will more than likely be from Ghana!

Anne
Posted by at 8:48 PM

2 comments:

  1. I hope that these words of Dr. Seuss help you while you're away:
    Congratulations!
    Today is your day.
    You’re off to Great Places!
    You’re off and away!

    You have brains in your head.
    You have feet in your shoes.
    You can steer yourself any direction you choose.
    You’re on your own. And you know what you know. And YOU are the guy who’ll decide where to go.

    You’ll look up and down streets. Look’em over with care. About some you will say, “I don’t choose to go there.” With your head full of brains and your shoes full of feet, you’re too smart to go down a not-so-good street.

    And you may not find any you’ll want to go down. In that case, of course, you’ll head straight out of town. It’s opener there in the wide open air.

    Out there things can happen and frequently do to people as brainy and footsy as you.

    And when things start to happen, don’t worry. Don’t stew. Just go right along. You’ll start happening too.

    Oh! The Places You’ll Go!

    You’ll be on your way up!
    You’ll be seeing great sights!
    You’ll join the high fliers who soar to high heights.

    You won’t lag behind, because you’ll have the speed. You’ll pass the whole gang and you’ll soon take the lead. Wherever you fly, you’ll be best of the best. Wherever you go, you will top all the rest.

    Except when you don’t.
    Because, sometimes, you won’t.

    I’m sorry to say so but, sadly, it’s true that Bang-ups and Hang-ups can happen to you.

    [I had to delete the middle part because it was too long]

    I’m afraid that some times you’ll play lonely games too. Games you can’t win ‘cause you’ll play against you.

    All Alone!
    Whether you like it or not, Alone will be something you’ll be quite a lot.

    And when you’re alone, there’s a very good chance you’ll meet things that scare you right out of your pants. There are some, down the road between hither and yon, that can scare you so much you won’t want to go on.

    But on you will go though the weather be foul. On you will go though your enemies prowl. On you will go though the Hakken-Kraks howl. Onward up many a frightening creek, though your arms may get sore and your sneakers may leak. On and on you will hike. And I know you’ll hike far and face up to your problems whatever they are.

    You’ll get mixed up, of course, as you already know. You’ll get mixed up with many strange birds as you go. So be sure when you step. Step with care and great tact and remember that Life’s a Great Balancing Act. Just never forget to be dexterous and deft. And never mix up your right foot with your left.

    And will you succeed?
    Yes! You will, indeed!
    (98 and ¾ percent guaranteed.)

    Kid, you’ll move mountains!
    So…be your name Buxbaum or Bixby or Bray or Mordecai Ale Van Allen O’Shea, you’re off to Great Places!
    Today is your day!
    Your mountain is waiting.
    So…get on your way!

    Super long comment but oh well. Love the picture of the toques, hahaha!

    Don't die!
    Love, Jess

    ReplyDelete

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)