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The stories might be written a bit more simplistic than yours but that’s because I am – bit lazy – copy pasting from my own blog which my grandmother also reads . Just to let you know!

Accra (GH), January 19th 2009

After a long journey with a train full of middle-aged women going to the ‘huishoudbeurs’ and a transfer of nearly 6 hours in the middle of the outskirts of Casablanca, Felice, Jolien and I have reached Accra, the capital of Ghana.

Still having a knot of mixed feelings in my belly thanks to my ‘pastaboy’ or maybe the idea of having to live out of my backpack for the first coming month – ok if the intension is travelling less if you carrying all kinds of research shit with you – the taxi ride to Felice’s accommodation – where Jolien and I will be staying the first days – made it all better. Some of you may recognize this feeling I want to describe here, do not know yet how, and some may not but it feels super duper magically great when you arrive at night in a country or place you have never been before. The whole world seems to have stopped, you are completely exhausted but brought ‘home’ and at the same time the best reggae music is playing on the background. How fortunate am I again that I got this chance to study, travel and live for a brief period of time somewhere else!!!

Before heading to Ouagadougou on Saturday morning – the capital of Burkina Faso from where the workshops will start – the first week contained so far resting, relaxing, acclimatizing and preparing especially to the climate waiting us up north. We have arranged the bus tickets, got a Ghanaian sim-card, exchanged some money and tried to cook in the dark due to power cuts and despite my attempt to convince my fellow companions as well as host wife that some candles might always be handy… In addition also the shower stopped and of course no well near. For a brief moment I longed back to my place in Tanji… Despite the absence of running water and electricity there were at least constantly candles and water.

But do you hear me complaining? This is the charm right of doing ‘field work’ …?

With love,

Sanne