busy crazy Accra & leaving Sunday
It is a lie that these computers are faster in the morning. I've been here 15 minutes trying to get onto Hotmail and Blogger, and it's still not there. ARGH. So, I apologize to all who have emailed me and I have not responded. Someday (soon) I'll have a faster internet connection and will be able to.
Yesterday I went to a World Bank forum on Gender Equity and Education as related to the Millenium Development Goals. Fascinating. Not so much what was said, as to watch the interactions and such. It was a worldwide teleconference with tables responding from NY, DC, Malawi, Rwanda, Uganda, Cameroon, and other African nations. Perhaps the most important thing I learned is that I'm ready to be an active member of these types of forums - I don't need more education or experience - I'm ready now to get off the sidelines and into the thick of it. Thanks to Fred for taking me along. Then we went to Osu's Food Court where I had a cappucino and chocolate pastry! It was heavenly. With all that caffeine and sugar I felt like my old self ... but I missed rice and greens. We went to the supermarket - the first time I've gone. Lots of white people and other expats around ... it was a little creepy. For all my joyful exclamations of, "Cadbury!" "Jam!" "Coffee!" etc., everything felt SOOOO expensive and unnecessary. It's as though my consumerism has been reset. Not that I'm ever that active of a consumer, but now I'm more frugal than ever. And always want to eat only rice and greens ...
I'm trying to figure out how to confirm my Emirates flight for Sunday - was at the airport yesterday but they couldn't help me and the number they gave me doesn't work right. Their website said that reconfirmation is not necessary, but that makes me nervous. Well, worst case scenario is that I have to stay a little longer, and that's not that bad.
Accra, where we were yesterday, is a crazy place - makes me appreciate the relative calm of the camp and village Awutu. I'm sure that if I were based out of Accra that it wouldn't bother me so much, but it just seemed uncomfortable now after the kick-back life here where everybody is genuinely friendly and helpful. Even if there is no jam available.
The school is running and I'm not even showing up anymore. I will stop by and pass along my email address and give best wishes, but I am detaching. No more yelling at PCO staff for not following through, no more frantic dashes about trying to coordinate everything.
So, I think I'm going to significantly change my plans. I want to finish my PhD, and I want to be back there for two terms this year to finish coursework and take exams and write prospectus and be back here in a year for research. So, shorten Jordan time and India time and be back in the States by Thanksgiving.
Any teacher friends - keep an eye/ear out for me for a teaching job starting in December!
And for the Dayton update - I think we're good. I told him if I leave that I leave and I'm not making promises of anything. I've eff'ed up too many long-distance relationships. But, we'll be in touch. He thinks he'll be able to join me soon - I'm skeptical of the "soon" part of that. But, I'm not stressing, and if it's meant to be it'll be, and I'll enjoy my last days with him here and hopefully we'll have many more together in the future. I'm glad he's so sane and calm - it's good for me. Becky and I made all these great industry plans for rebuilding Liberia - I love the idea of Dayton and I reconstructing Liberia through education and industry. Fair Trade coffee and chocolate! Yum!
Oh, I just got email from his friend Jackson. Crap. Enough said.
I have five minutes to post. What else? Enough for now.
Hope all is well with all. Thanks for all your input!
Yesterday I went to a World Bank forum on Gender Equity and Education as related to the Millenium Development Goals. Fascinating. Not so much what was said, as to watch the interactions and such. It was a worldwide teleconference with tables responding from NY, DC, Malawi, Rwanda, Uganda, Cameroon, and other African nations. Perhaps the most important thing I learned is that I'm ready to be an active member of these types of forums - I don't need more education or experience - I'm ready now to get off the sidelines and into the thick of it. Thanks to Fred for taking me along. Then we went to Osu's Food Court where I had a cappucino and chocolate pastry! It was heavenly. With all that caffeine and sugar I felt like my old self ... but I missed rice and greens. We went to the supermarket - the first time I've gone. Lots of white people and other expats around ... it was a little creepy. For all my joyful exclamations of, "Cadbury!" "Jam!" "Coffee!" etc., everything felt SOOOO expensive and unnecessary. It's as though my consumerism has been reset. Not that I'm ever that active of a consumer, but now I'm more frugal than ever. And always want to eat only rice and greens ...
I'm trying to figure out how to confirm my Emirates flight for Sunday - was at the airport yesterday but they couldn't help me and the number they gave me doesn't work right. Their website said that reconfirmation is not necessary, but that makes me nervous. Well, worst case scenario is that I have to stay a little longer, and that's not that bad.
Accra, where we were yesterday, is a crazy place - makes me appreciate the relative calm of the camp and village Awutu. I'm sure that if I were based out of Accra that it wouldn't bother me so much, but it just seemed uncomfortable now after the kick-back life here where everybody is genuinely friendly and helpful. Even if there is no jam available.
The school is running and I'm not even showing up anymore. I will stop by and pass along my email address and give best wishes, but I am detaching. No more yelling at PCO staff for not following through, no more frantic dashes about trying to coordinate everything.
So, I think I'm going to significantly change my plans. I want to finish my PhD, and I want to be back there for two terms this year to finish coursework and take exams and write prospectus and be back here in a year for research. So, shorten Jordan time and India time and be back in the States by Thanksgiving.
Any teacher friends - keep an eye/ear out for me for a teaching job starting in December!
And for the Dayton update - I think we're good. I told him if I leave that I leave and I'm not making promises of anything. I've eff'ed up too many long-distance relationships. But, we'll be in touch. He thinks he'll be able to join me soon - I'm skeptical of the "soon" part of that. But, I'm not stressing, and if it's meant to be it'll be, and I'll enjoy my last days with him here and hopefully we'll have many more together in the future. I'm glad he's so sane and calm - it's good for me. Becky and I made all these great industry plans for rebuilding Liberia - I love the idea of Dayton and I reconstructing Liberia through education and industry. Fair Trade coffee and chocolate! Yum!
Oh, I just got email from his friend Jackson. Crap. Enough said.
I have five minutes to post. What else? Enough for now.
Hope all is well with all. Thanks for all your input!
posted by NOLA at 3:57 AM
1 Comments:
So the grocery store seemed like a frivolity? I had a similar experience buying jam earlier this year, but for different reasons than yours. You know my committment issues with food.
But for my cats, food is a different matter! Did I tell you how Boom Boom was reduced to practically a skeleton this summer? He wasn't eating at all...even ooshy-smooshy food that cats love. I thought about how and whether I could/should take him to the vet...he's so skittish anyways...blah, blah. Well, I put him on diet of kitten formula, and he was able to slurp that up. Recently, I started adding a high-calorie gel supplement to the mix, and he took that too. Eventually, he started eating canned food...I give him as much as he can eat, and most recently, I've seen him crunching on the dry cat food as well. Anyhoo, yesterday, I got a chance to pet him, and he has packed some weight back on! Hooray for Boom Boom!
Delighted to hear you may be back for Thanksgiving!
Lots of love,
Jen
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