Thursday, May 20, 2010
Friday, May 7, 2010
Less Then 2 Weeks Away
In 12 days I will be in the JFK airport waiting for my connecting flight to Accra :)
Thursday, May 6, 2010
Housing
My Host Family:
Mr. Frank Obuobi is a Computer analyst who works at the Centre for Scientific Research into Plant Medicine at Mampong. He also owns formating internet cafe in Mampong.
Other people who live in the house are Mrs. Akosua Ofei Obuobi his wife (house wife), Maame Esi Baffoe their daughter (2006), Kobby Ofei Obuobi their son (May 2005), Nana Yaa (2008) and Ruth Nfum (1995) who is a house help.
Akosua another househelp comes to the house to help but does not stay in the house.
Location:
The house is situated in Abotekyi (Mampong) about 5 minutes walk from Tetteh Quarshie Hospital in Mampong.
The house is also directly opposite Dr. Winful's residence.
The Akuapem Hills is at an elevation of 400m, and hence have a slightly cooler climate than most of Southern Ghana. Mampong has a post office, a market and a few bars and restaurants. There is much to see and do in the surrounding area including good hiking, mountain biking and visiting waterfalls and bead markets.
About My Room:
Frank hosts a maximum of four volunteers and your shared room will have two beds, fan, light and space for clothes. Volunteers have a private bathroom so the family do not share in theirs and basic cleanliness is satisfactory.
General Information:
Frank is keen for you to explore the region and is happy for you to go out in the evenings with other volunteers but not to return too late, so you do not disturb the family. They really appreciate it if you are home by 9:30pm.
Internet service is in this accomodation therefore volunteers with laptops will be able to browse.
Mr. Frank Obuobi is a Computer analyst who works at the Centre for Scientific Research into Plant Medicine at Mampong. He also owns formating internet cafe in Mampong.
Other people who live in the house are Mrs. Akosua Ofei Obuobi his wife (house wife), Maame Esi Baffoe their daughter (2006), Kobby Ofei Obuobi their son (May 2005), Nana Yaa (2008) and Ruth Nfum (1995) who is a house help.
Akosua another househelp comes to the house to help but does not stay in the house.
Location:
The house is situated in Abotekyi (Mampong) about 5 minutes walk from Tetteh Quarshie Hospital in Mampong.
The house is also directly opposite Dr. Winful's residence.
The Akuapem Hills is at an elevation of 400m, and hence have a slightly cooler climate than most of Southern Ghana. Mampong has a post office, a market and a few bars and restaurants. There is much to see and do in the surrounding area including good hiking, mountain biking and visiting waterfalls and bead markets.
About My Room:
Frank hosts a maximum of four volunteers and your shared room will have two beds, fan, light and space for clothes. Volunteers have a private bathroom so the family do not share in theirs and basic cleanliness is satisfactory.
General Information:
Frank is keen for you to explore the region and is happy for you to go out in the evenings with other volunteers but not to return too late, so you do not disturb the family. They really appreciate it if you are home by 9:30pm.
Internet service is in this accomodation therefore volunteers with laptops will be able to browse.
Placement Details :)
Working:
Tetteh Quarshie Memorial Hospital,
P.O. Box 26,
Mampong-Akuapem
Greater Accra Region
Ghana
My Supervisor:
Dr. Owusu Acheampong
Job Title:
Medical Superintendent
Overview:
Tetteh Quarshie Hospital opened in 1961. It is the main hospital in the Akuapem area and therefore a reasonably busy one. The hospital is setting up a library that is dependent on donations. Any medical books would be an appreciated contribution. The children’s ward always gratefully receives any toys and early learning equipment.
Typical Day:
Volunteers have the opportunity to work in numerous departments at the hospital. The most popular are: paediatrics, physiotherapy, the male and female medical wards, and the public health unit. Please make sure you bring a white medical jacket with you as they are extremely useful.
Project Structure:
You can join a doctor on ward rounds, who will be willing to answer questions about the varying cases, some of which may be shocking and extreme. You may attend out-patient clinics, visit clinical conferences, watch surgery if you are qualified, and if you are part way through your medical training, get involved in clinical research – possibly even giving your own presentation or assisting with a medical officer. Depending on your interests, confidence and ability you may yourself also carry out observations, tests, check BP and injections. Hours of work are flexible. Volunteers can work morning shift, afternoon or even night shifts.
Tetteh Quarshie Memorial Hospital,
P.O. Box 26,
Mampong-Akuapem
Greater Accra Region
Ghana
My Supervisor:
Dr. Owusu Acheampong
Job Title:
Medical Superintendent
Overview:
Tetteh Quarshie Hospital opened in 1961. It is the main hospital in the Akuapem area and therefore a reasonably busy one. The hospital is setting up a library that is dependent on donations. Any medical books would be an appreciated contribution. The children’s ward always gratefully receives any toys and early learning equipment.
Typical Day:
Volunteers have the opportunity to work in numerous departments at the hospital. The most popular are: paediatrics, physiotherapy, the male and female medical wards, and the public health unit. Please make sure you bring a white medical jacket with you as they are extremely useful.
Project Structure:
You can join a doctor on ward rounds, who will be willing to answer questions about the varying cases, some of which may be shocking and extreme. You may attend out-patient clinics, visit clinical conferences, watch surgery if you are qualified, and if you are part way through your medical training, get involved in clinical research – possibly even giving your own presentation or assisting with a medical officer. Depending on your interests, confidence and ability you may yourself also carry out observations, tests, check BP and injections. Hours of work are flexible. Volunteers can work morning shift, afternoon or even night shifts.
Friday, April 30, 2010
Stress, Stress, Stress
Well after a lot of stressful nights and days, it really does look like I am going to Africa in 20 days!!
But let's backup and tell you guys why I was so stressed out:
I got a SallieMae loan to help cover the costs of this trip and I was suppose to get my money on April 18th (which was a Sunday), so I gave them 2-3 business days to get my money to my school. When I found out that the money hadn't reached my school yet I called SallieMae and they said they forgot to release the money, but they would do it that day (Wednesday) just allow 2-3 business days. Allow I was upset over this, it was okay I could wait until Friday. So Friday comes and the money still hadn't gotten to my school, so I called again and I got the same story "sorry, we forgot to release the money, I will get a 24 hr work release and get the money to you on Monday." So here comes Monday and guess what, NO MONEY! So I call again, and they once again forgot. At this point I am more then frustrated with SallieMae and the run around they are giving me, more then a week late with my money and no one can explain it. So I go to my financial aid office and talk to my financial adviser, and he calls SallieMae. It turns out there was an internal problem within SallieMae and they just weren't handling the problem and they didn't know when I would be getting my money. Needless to say, my dreams of going to Africa were slipping, and I was in the process of finals and moving so this was the very last thing I wanted to deal with. But after a lot of phone calling, crying, freaking out and some very wonderful, wonderful people at my school it is all figured out :) My school is just advancing me my money and when my loan finally comes in they will just keep it. I am so blessed to have such great staff at my university and they couldn't have been more helpful...I truly appreciate everything they did for me.
SOOOOO....I'M LEAVING ON A JET PLANE TO AFRICA IN 20 DAYS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
But let's backup and tell you guys why I was so stressed out:
I got a SallieMae loan to help cover the costs of this trip and I was suppose to get my money on April 18th (which was a Sunday), so I gave them 2-3 business days to get my money to my school. When I found out that the money hadn't reached my school yet I called SallieMae and they said they forgot to release the money, but they would do it that day (Wednesday) just allow 2-3 business days. Allow I was upset over this, it was okay I could wait until Friday. So Friday comes and the money still hadn't gotten to my school, so I called again and I got the same story "sorry, we forgot to release the money, I will get a 24 hr work release and get the money to you on Monday." So here comes Monday and guess what, NO MONEY! So I call again, and they once again forgot. At this point I am more then frustrated with SallieMae and the run around they are giving me, more then a week late with my money and no one can explain it. So I go to my financial aid office and talk to my financial adviser, and he calls SallieMae. It turns out there was an internal problem within SallieMae and they just weren't handling the problem and they didn't know when I would be getting my money. Needless to say, my dreams of going to Africa were slipping, and I was in the process of finals and moving so this was the very last thing I wanted to deal with. But after a lot of phone calling, crying, freaking out and some very wonderful, wonderful people at my school it is all figured out :) My school is just advancing me my money and when my loan finally comes in they will just keep it. I am so blessed to have such great staff at my university and they couldn't have been more helpful...I truly appreciate everything they did for me.
SOOOOO....I'M LEAVING ON A JET PLANE TO AFRICA IN 20 DAYS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Monday, April 19, 2010
ONE MONTH
Wow...time flies, exactly one month until I leave for Africa. Not a lot has changed, mostly just waiting for loan to come in (which is did yesterday) and should get processed in the next couple of days. Then I will pay Projects Abroad and I will be all set to go :) I should be getting my placement and housing details very soon too (probably after I pay), so I am excited to see where I will be living and the place I will be working!!
I will fill my malaria pill prescription in the next week or two, get my last Hep. B shot on the 3rd of May, finishing packing my apartment all up, take my finals then go home to visit family before I leave...I think for the first time I am getting nervous. I'm certainly going to miss all my friends and family, but it's getting very real for the first time since I started planning this trip!
Other then that, just waiting for paperwork to go through and counting down the days!!!
I will fill my malaria pill prescription in the next week or two, get my last Hep. B shot on the 3rd of May, finishing packing my apartment all up, take my finals then go home to visit family before I leave...I think for the first time I am getting nervous. I'm certainly going to miss all my friends and family, but it's getting very real for the first time since I started planning this trip!
Other then that, just waiting for paperwork to go through and counting down the days!!!
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
Why It Pays To Plan Early
I am very happy I booked my ticket early and really planned for this trip in advance. Recently Delta decided to cancel my return flight from Accra to the USA, so now I leave a day late which is fine, but they never rescheduled my connecting flight. I went through Student Universe and they are a fine company, but the back and forth with them in rediculous. They don't honor anything that Delta says, so don't bother calling the airline yourself to get answers, but you have to constantly check your stuff because it never matches up with what Delta has, so it's a waiting game.
I guess I might have paid a little extra to go through an airline company directly instead of a 3rd party because when things happen and you want answers quick, that doesn't happen! Either way hopefully they can figure it out :)
I guess I might have paid a little extra to go through an airline company directly instead of a 3rd party because when things happen and you want answers quick, that doesn't happen! Either way hopefully they can figure it out :)
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