I leave for Ghana in 14 days – and I started packing today! I know some of you may think I’m crazy and should probably wait another week or so, but whatever the opposite word of “procrastinator” is, that’s me. I just don’t want to forget something and then be half a world away when I need it. I already got my travel shots, malaria pills and passport visa, but now I want to start thinking about clothing.
I’m packing long skirts, one of the dresses that was made for me in Ghana on my last trip, and my Kekeli shirts. It’s very hot and humid in West Africa this time of year, and it will be quite the change coming from winter in Colorado. Shorts aren’t an option as the culture does not really allow for much exposure of legs for women, and you probably couldn’t catch an older man in shorts either. There tends to be more freedom for women to show their upper halves. For example, breastfeeding is done out in the open (which is not usually the case here in the States), and older women at home sometimes don’t wear tops at all. I’ll be packing for maximum coverage with an adequate airflow ratio.
Now that my clothing is packed I can start to get really excited! This will be my second trip to Ghana – the first was in August of 2015 about a year after my first kid was born. We did some mapping and teaching and it was such a great introduction to the work that RHC does in Ghana. Now, 4.5 years later (and 2 more kids!), I get to go back!
For this trip, our goal is to help with the transition of the Ghana Country Director, to encourage the Kekeli women on the fabulous job they are doing, to meet with the District Health Directors and other government employees as needed, and to do some community mapping ahead of the Kekeli 4 expansion this summer. We currently have 49 Kekeli women, and it is amazing to think that we are going to be adding another 20 women in 2020.
So follow us on our Instagram page to see all that we are doing, ask questions in real time, meet some of the Ghana team, and participate in this exciting next step. Now, I’ve gotta get back to packing, talk to you all later!
