Hanna goes on adventures

Cultural experiences day 2

hannaontherun — Wed, 21 Dec 2016 08:02:00 GMT

The second night in Ghana was much better even though my roommate came in the middle of the night. I felt rested and excited about a New day. However I was soon warm so before doing anything else a shower was the first thing on my agenda. That is what is recommended as well, two showers a day!

After some safety information and a Quick language course we went on our second cultural outing! The first stop was the art center where they sold so much handmade stuff such as clothes, paintings, Wood art and so on. I bought a beautiful painting with a elephant family on it! 🐘

But on the way there our car got overheated so we stopped by the road and what looked like a tip but it turned out that people was living there. Even though we know what situation this country and Africa is in it is still hard not to want to do something when the reality of poverty really hits you like that. But it is like they say, nobody can do anything but we will make a difference, do something while we are here!

After the art center, where people were shouting after us to "come come, come closer and look" we went to the big market in Ghana which really was an experience. Imagine an outstanding heat and the mixed smell of fish, meat and garbage at the same time as you are doing your best not to step on somebody while you try not to start crying due to all the children that you see as you try to keep up with your guide. It was though, it really was. I saw so many children that I just wanted to take with me, wash and give a big hug too. It really is a different world here, it really is and I am eager to go to the Orphanage tomorrow and start doing what I came here to do! ❤️

In the end of the market there was a quite Nice restaurant where we ate Chicken & rice for lunch! The spicy rice is really good! 👌

We successfully than walked the same way threw the market back to the car and the heat was really getting to us. The way back was awful. Soo many cars, much honking and an outstanding heat made the trip back feel like it was gonna take forever. But we made it to the same mall as the day before and the rest of the trip back went alright. The distances here are not that long but since the roads are so bad and there are a lot of people and cars it takes a long time to go somewhere.

Exhausted as we were we still went to the beaded sandal factory and ordered some when we got back. They are soo beautiful! 😍 After that waited a Nice meal and a long cold shower, some chilling, packing and now time to sleep since we are leaving for our projects first thing.

I am really happy about the introduction we have had, we have seen and learned so much for just two days and it was nice to get a chance to see the country a bit before settling in at the Orphanage and unfortunatedly saying good bye to the other girls who are going to other places. But that is why we came and I am looking forward to seeing all the children and the Orphanage.

Good night!

// Hanna

Cultural experiences day 1

hannaontherun — Tue, 20 Dec 2016 19:45:00 GMT

It's 7.45pm and after I have written this and hopefully been to publish it as well I will go and sleep 😴

Our outing started with changing money and that was Nice since we now feel really rich. 😅 100 GHS is around 22€ so you do the mathe! After that we went to the mall and got internet - cheap but not the best as it seams. The mall itself felt like a small version of an american but slightly less decorated! Less is more here it' super beautiful!

After that we went to the beach! Our best team had brought traditional food to us which we ate at a private place with the best view (See my Photos) 😍 and the food was soo delicious too! Don't remember the name but it was some sort of beanstew and "food"bananas! Yummie!

Than we went cultural, we learned how to play african drums and than how to dance to that music! It is totally harder than it looks 🙈 but so much fun! Totally exhausted we ran into the big waves and spent some hours at the actual beach after that ☺️🏊🏾👌

The bumpy road kept me awake on the way home and before I got the chance to relax we went with our hostess cute daughter to a close by "sandal factory" they make beautiful hand sown sandals with beats on them! I am thinking of buying a pair 😁 a shoe "only" takes 2h to make 😮

A well deserved shower later I tried to be friends with the internet but that didn't really work as well as I had hoped but I got to be a bit social with the outside world before dinner was served! Spicy rice & Chicken - also delicious! I am really starting to like the food here as well as the people.

Too tired to do anything else I tried to see if the internet would work better outside where there was a Nice breaze. It didn't,... But it was Nice until the power went off and all neighbours were heard loudly! Haha

I must say that our introduction is really Amazing - we are being treated so royal! A great program and food are served without us needed to so much as lift a finger and I feel just so amazed by the locals - they are so Nice! Can't wait to go to the kids and give back after this Amazing intro which continues with local market and street smartnes tomorrow! 👑💓

8.05pm time to try to get an 11h snooze!

Over and out!

// Hanna

First impression of Ghana

hannaontherun — Tue, 20 Dec 2016 18:45:00 GMT

When I got to the gate for my flight to Accra I felt like an outsider for the first time in a long time. It was a weird feeling and to be honest I had some doubts, was this such a good decision?! But by the time I reached my seat in the plane all that flew away. The guy sitting next to me was very polite and nice, they all were. It was a nice change to actually talk to the people next to me instead of sitting quietly as we Finns normally do.

The flight was really okay, we got a lot of food and all was good! 👌 I watched a Dutch movie for the first time and had a good trip 😊

By the time we reached Ghana I was a bit scared of what they would ask me in the passportcontroll and the wait (Forever!) didn't help out but again I wouldn't had to worry since they really didn't say anything than "you can go" in the end 😅

It was such a relief to have passed without trouble so the crowed that waited outside, the heat and the countless questions "need taxi miss?" didn't bother me at all. I found my transport, or they found me and it turned out that we were 3 girls arriving at the same time so that was a Nice surprise 😊

The drive to our "introduction house" was long and even though it was dark it all looked so different, the roads looked like they have been massive amounts of rain making them look like roads straight from the woods or even from a cartoon movie - but our driver was very good 😊💪

Even though I was super tired some things that really took my attention was that the police were standing by the road and as we passed our driver turned on the lights and the police inspected us with his flashlight, not sure if it made me feel safe that the check or worried that they have to check?!

Another thing was the Young children selling stuff by the road, in the dark... Such a different world we are living in.

By the time we reached the house it turned out that the power was gone - welcome to Ghana they said, it happens a lot here 😅 Luckily I had packed a flashlight so it went alright. My roommate had missed her flight so I got the big bed and the Room to myself - which was quite nice I must admit.

Even though I was tired, couldn't really sleep on the plane I had a hard time falling a sleep and when I finally did the power came back on and the fan woke me up 😅

By 5 am the animals were up an by 7 am I was time to get up for the first real introduction day. We started with breakfast; eggs, Tea and bread and after a short information session we went on our first cultural outing! More on what we did on that later, now time for dinner!

Ghana, so far really good!

// Hanna

Together as one

hannaontherun — Sun, 18 Dec 2016 21:15:00 GMT

Nobody can do everything but everybody can do something! These words are the foundation of the amazing work that two swedish girls are doing in Ghana. Those words inspired me to do just that, what I can, is to go and volunteer - make the world a little bit better place to grow up in. But before I get to board the plane that will take me to my final destination it is time to grab some lunch, pizza for probably the last time this Year! I sure hope it will be a good one! 🍕

My next update will hopefully be from Ghana if everything goes according to plan! 🎉

// Hanna

Dutch ground

hannaontherun — Sun, 18 Dec 2016 09:40:00 GMT

Hey!

I made it to my first destination without any trouble. Couldn't really sleep on the plane and felt even more tired when I got off the plane, bummer! But food has always seemed to solve that problem soooo,

Atm I am sitting at the cousy Mediterrane sandwich bar and after a delicious panini and some vitamin well I am starting to get some energy! However I have a lot of time to kill so no need to stress for a change!

Now I will find out where my next flight is from and hopefully find a quite place to relax on while waiting. Hopefully one with good wi-fi as well so that I can tell you all about where I am going and what I have planned to do :)

Safe and sound on Dutch ground,

Hanna

Photos: Africa 2016-2017

hannaontherun — Sun, 18 Dec 2016 06:29:00 GMT

Pictures from my volunteer trip

It's time for Africa!

hannaontherun — Sun, 18 Dec 2016 06:13:00 GMT

It is finally time to make a dream come true! Ever since my last visit to Africa I made a promise to myself to come back and give back! So here I am, a student from Finland at the AirPort on my way to Africa! I am spending this years holiday in Africa volunteering and I am super excited! Atm really tired though since I didn't sleep that much due to my alarm went off at 4.20 Am! So now I'm super tired but checked in and can't wait to board the plane so I can catch up on some sleep! I will tell you more about where I am heading at my next stop Amsterdam.

For now I am fine, mum!

Hej så länge!

// Hanna