Visa Application

Time to start my Visa application. I found the application for Ghana on my Projects Abroad website, but clearly people can find the proper work on the web. I also need to attach a letter of support from Projects Abroad that states I will be participating in their program. The application is pretty easy to fill out, it just needs to be in all capital letters. You need 4 copies (5 total), you send 3 plus the original application (I'm sending it to Washington D.C.) in a traceable envelope from UPS and you need to send a pre-paid, self addressed envelope with it so they can send your passport back to you. So here are things going with my Visa application:

1. Visa Application (4 copies)
2. 4 passport photos
3. 4 letters of support from Projects Abroad
4. Passport
5. Pre-paid, self-addressed, traceable envelope
6. $50 money order, cashiers check, or bank certified check (I got a money order from my bank).

It was about $62 to ship my Visa application ($28 there and $34 back)...pretty pricey, but I added some insurance for an extra $2 that will cover up to $200 if anything happens to my to my stuff. I mean my passport, photos, and the $50 money order was about $170 so $2 extra wasn't really like much of investment! I went to UPS and the lady there was really helpful.

Projects Abroad

Here is some information about the company I will be traveling with. They are really helpful and amazing to work with.

http://www.projects-abroad.org/

Ticket is Booked!!!

Airplane ticket is booked! Now it seems very real. I'm flying with Delta Airlines and leaving around 7am on a Friday with one connection in JFK, then arriving in Accra around 7:30am Saturday morning.

I booked my ticket on StudentUniverse.com and they had a lot more options and the prices were also a lot cheaper. I decided that I would pay a little bit more for an earlier flight and for a flight that only made one stop. So I paid $1,562.00 for my ticket and yes it is expensive, but so worth it!

It's OFFICIAL, I'M OFF TO AFRICA :)

Beach

Skyline

Accra, Ghana's Capital City

Facts About Accra

Accras the capital and most populous city of Ghana, a nation on the coast of the western region of Africa. The city also doubles as the capital of the Great Accra Region, and of the Accra Metropolis District. Among the attractions of Accra are the National Museum, with a display of exhibits that reflect the heritage of Ghana from prehistoric times to modern times, the National Theatre with its distinct modern architecture, the National Arts Center with local arts and crafts to suit all tastes,Independence Square, the Kwame Nkrumah Mausoleum, the Accra International Conference Centre, the Anglican Holy Trinity Cathedral, the fishing port at Jamestown and Makola Market.

2 Months Away

Well it's about 64 days away and I couldn't be more excited to take off. I have applied for a private student loan through Sallie Mae to help cover the costs of this trip and here is what I have come up with (hopefully it all gets approved by the Financial Aid office).

1. Study Abroad Fee: $100.00
2. Program Fee: $4,415.00
3. Accommodations: included
4. Meals: included
5. On-Site Transportation: $450.00
6. Airfare: est. $2,500.00
7. Passport and passport photos: $110.00
8. Visas: $90.00 (I need to renew my Visa while out in Ghana)
9. Immunizations: $1,194.10
10. Health Insurance: included
11. Personal Spending Money: $2,520.00 ($210 a week, $30 a day)
12. Other: $621.43

TOTAL: $11,606.37

While out in Ghana it will cost me about $10 to renew my visa including 2 more passport photos. My immunizations included the shots I talked about earlier and the malaria pill, Malarone, which cost $642.95 (for 100 pills), plus some prescriptions I had to get.

The website Lonelyplanet.com was a really helpful website about Ghana (you can choose whatever country you want) and it gave me the costs of transportation. I also decided to talk to other people that had been to Ghana and that was the most helpful part. Also my contact person from Projects Abroad in Ghana is incredibly helpful, so it is important to choose a program to go with that are good with communication.

Less Then 3 Months Away!

Well some major changes have been happening...

1) I'm now going alone, which is totally fine because this trip means a lot to me and I want to make the most out of the trip. And it's traveling to a 3rd world country and if someone can't handle that, then this trip is not for them! So off I go...and I'm so excited :)

2) I'm getting my budget together and it's about $10,000 plus right now with program costs and all of the travel things I need. It's a lot of money, but I just don't think you can put a price on this trip

3) I got a scholarship from the Political Science department at my school!!!!!! It's $3,000 and I couldn't be happier! It will help out a lot

3) In about a week, I will get my Yellow Fever Shot...not looking forward to that. I have heard that it takes a lot out of you so I'm going to get it on a Friday and lay low for the weekend.

4) In April I will get my last shot, Hep B

5) I will be getting my financial aid set and getting my plane ticket booked :) I will be going home for two weeks to see my family and then OFF TO AFRICA :)