Monday, November 22, 2010
Putting it all into perspective
I haven't posted anything for a while, because anytime I felt like blogging...it was going to be some kind of a rant.
I'm trying hard to be more positive.
Everyone I know seems to be dealing well with the challenges of moving back and adjusting to life here and dagnagitt I'm going to get the hang of it, one way or another.
Right now, I'm dealing with getting back money I paid to a landlord in February for 2 years in advance. It's a long story, but in essence I didn't get the apartment and I'm having a hard time getting my money back. Now it looks like it might go to court, which will surely be another long process.
There's always a good side to every situation, some of my friends tell me. I'm sure there is, but I can't see it right now. All I know is this situation has had a ripple effect on several things in my life. I am adjusting to staying with my parents for this long after a decade and a half of living on my own....and that has been a challenge. I have been transformed into this teenager instead of the 30 something year old that I am. I can play that role...but for a short while. The wheres and the whats and the whys are becoming a bit much. But I breathe and smile. No situation is permanent. I am grateful for the time we are spending together as imperfect as it is.
I am trying to be more positive.
Then there are the numerous visits to Vodafone to get my internet (which I currently rely on for work) fixed over and over again, the hours spent on hold and on the phone with their tech support (who I must add are quite pleasant despite not being very efficient), the power cuts in the middle of a conference call with my boss, which has affected my work prospects, the several power cuts during the day or 'half power' where there's is power but not enough to do jack with, that have damaged stabilizers and equipment, and with nobody to hold to task for....the promises and failures of colleagues to live up their word. I don't understand why people make promises they have no intention of keeping. I'd rather hear the bitter truth...Like "I can't repair this piece of equipment like I thought I could, so come and collect it and find someone else who can" instead of not picking up my calls, turning of your phone or lying to me for 2 months!
I have so much more to rant about, but I won't.
This is me trying to be more positive.
I appreciate the nice taxi driver, who stopped to help me change a flat tire at 3am and didn't ask for anything in return, the guy at Vodafone who gave up his chair for me in the queue, the incredible sunsets we get sometimes.
Sometimes that's all it takes to make my day.
I'm trying hard to be more positive.
Everyone I know seems to be dealing well with the challenges of moving back and adjusting to life here and dagnagitt I'm going to get the hang of it, one way or another.
Right now, I'm dealing with getting back money I paid to a landlord in February for 2 years in advance. It's a long story, but in essence I didn't get the apartment and I'm having a hard time getting my money back. Now it looks like it might go to court, which will surely be another long process.
There's always a good side to every situation, some of my friends tell me. I'm sure there is, but I can't see it right now. All I know is this situation has had a ripple effect on several things in my life. I am adjusting to staying with my parents for this long after a decade and a half of living on my own....and that has been a challenge. I have been transformed into this teenager instead of the 30 something year old that I am. I can play that role...but for a short while. The wheres and the whats and the whys are becoming a bit much. But I breathe and smile. No situation is permanent. I am grateful for the time we are spending together as imperfect as it is.
I am trying to be more positive.
Then there are the numerous visits to Vodafone to get my internet (which I currently rely on for work) fixed over and over again, the hours spent on hold and on the phone with their tech support (who I must add are quite pleasant despite not being very efficient), the power cuts in the middle of a conference call with my boss, which has affected my work prospects, the several power cuts during the day or 'half power' where there's is power but not enough to do jack with, that have damaged stabilizers and equipment, and with nobody to hold to task for....the promises and failures of colleagues to live up their word. I don't understand why people make promises they have no intention of keeping. I'd rather hear the bitter truth...Like "I can't repair this piece of equipment like I thought I could, so come and collect it and find someone else who can" instead of not picking up my calls, turning of your phone or lying to me for 2 months!
I have so much more to rant about, but I won't.
This is me trying to be more positive.
I appreciate the nice taxi driver, who stopped to help me change a flat tire at 3am and didn't ask for anything in return, the guy at Vodafone who gave up his chair for me in the queue, the incredible sunsets we get sometimes.
Sometimes that's all it takes to make my day.
Monday, August 2, 2010
Back in the GH
So, after returning to Vancouver to work a little and taking a 3 week vacation in Europe, I am back in Ghana.
I felt so refreshed and rested after not doing anything related to work for the most part for these 3 weeks...until I arrived at the airport in Ghana.
From having to physically fight people off my luggage at the airport, and screaming at conmen, to disappointments from a landlord who failed on his promises to make several renovations to my apartment here, while I was gone, to being on hold for 2 hours with Vodafone trying to get my internet reactivated so I can get back to work to no avail, to the crazy traffic and the crazy people in them, I am already feeling exhausted and stressed out and it's only been 3 days since my return. I think I shouldn't take a break from Ghana for a while, so I either get tougher or immuned to the daily frustrations.
I wish I knew the secret to living a happy and stress free life here. I have kinda figured out how to do this with life in general, but somehow there's something else needed to make this work in Ghana. I hate to whine about life here, but it's frustrating because I do love Ghana...probably in a way I'd love an abusive parent, nevertheless I want to see the good in it and just focus on that and not let the not so great parts affect me too much. I really do.
I felt so refreshed and rested after not doing anything related to work for the most part for these 3 weeks...until I arrived at the airport in Ghana.
From having to physically fight people off my luggage at the airport, and screaming at conmen, to disappointments from a landlord who failed on his promises to make several renovations to my apartment here, while I was gone, to being on hold for 2 hours with Vodafone trying to get my internet reactivated so I can get back to work to no avail, to the crazy traffic and the crazy people in them, I am already feeling exhausted and stressed out and it's only been 3 days since my return. I think I shouldn't take a break from Ghana for a while, so I either get tougher or immuned to the daily frustrations.
I wish I knew the secret to living a happy and stress free life here. I have kinda figured out how to do this with life in general, but somehow there's something else needed to make this work in Ghana. I hate to whine about life here, but it's frustrating because I do love Ghana...probably in a way I'd love an abusive parent, nevertheless I want to see the good in it and just focus on that and not let the not so great parts affect me too much. I really do.
Europe trip
Switzerland
Cable car ride in Vitznau
Zurich - Soccer fans watching the finals of the World Cup at the "Cubar"
Croatia
Mariusc proposes to Joanna about 70 feet under the water
Open water diving with Wishek
With Szymon
On the way to Hvar, Croatia
Hvar, Croatia
Trying to get salt water out of my head after a dive
On the 12 hour drive back to Poland from CroatiaPoland
Goofing around with SzymonTuesday, March 2, 2010
Back in B.C.
It feels great to be back in B.C. It really feels good to take a break from the assault on my senses. I'm sure I'll be missing Ghana in a few weeks, but for now I'm relishing the peace and quiet.
Was welcomed with some fresh home baked bread
Got off the plane at Vancouver international airport with 2 Russian girls, who had obviously come to support their teams because they were in the Russian Olympic team jackets. And the first thing we see past immigration are people gathered around the TV's in the middle of the carousels watching Canada thrashing Russia in hockey. I felt bad for the girls. They looked quite forlorn.
Ventured downtown to experience some of the olympic festivities
Zipline - Downtown Vancouver. Passed on the 7 hour line up just to zip across one block.
The line up for the hockey finals between Canada and the U.S.
Canadian and U.S. hockey fans shouting at each other (in good fun)
Watching the hockey finals with friends.
Monday, February 22, 2010
Taking a break from Ghana
As I prepared to return to Canada for a few months, while backing up files and hard drives I came across a few pictures that encapsulated some of my experiences and feelings in the 6 months that I'd been back.
Arguing about a bill after waiters try to rip you off
This and similar experiences happened one too many times...another example was a couple of incidences at gas stations where, as the car was being filled with gas, a smiling attendant came and tried to sell me some new car product, blocking my view of the pump in the process.
Fortunately in both instances I was immediately aware of what was going on and just in time to catch the person at the pump enter in a different amount. It's not enough to just see them start the pump from zero these days, you have to step out of the car and not get distracted. This was one of many such examples in various situations and I found it quite tiring....policemen (in my case policewomen) stopping you for apparently running through a red light, when it was not the case...even with other witnesses in the car. It was all of your words against the one police person. You could argue till kingdom come and be taken to their headquarters or pony up a bribe and make productive use of the rest of your day...
Lining up at Aflao for 3 hours trying to catch a bus back to Accra.
Took 3 hours because people in the lineup had made arrangements with the 'trotros' and it didn't matter anymore whether they were in the middle of the queue or at the back. If they had a 'connection' with the drivers and station guys, they got in first. People like me that were not in the know, had to watch helplessly as bus after bus came and picked up the connected passengers and the few lucky ones that managed to fight through the angry crowd.
I could go on and on. But I won't.
There were also lots of nice moments, happy experiences, fun times, times spent with friends and family. And I think those out weigh the not so great experiences.
Vivid colours and smiling faces - Kids crossing the street in traffic on the Kanda highway, with yells of "thank you!"
A friend and her family.
Some of the kids had never been to the beach and the look on their faces as they experienced the waves coming over their legs for the first time was priceless!
The car was a mess afterwards and it took a while to get it cleaned, but it was well worth it.
Somewhere in Aburi
Sleeping family
Beautiful sunset at Aburi
Some people having fun at the beach
I always thought paying to ride a horse at the beach was corny as hell. But I decided it to try it out anyways and it was actually fun. Will probably not do it again, because I still think it's kind of corny, but I was glad I tried it.
Big ole tree at Aburi Gardens
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