The journey from Wales to Ghana
Saturday, July 28th, 2007
An early start today. I woke at 5 o clock in the morning. Mrs Parry (the Head of the school) came to pick me up at 6 o clock. The journey from Bethesda to Manchester took an hour and a half. Once we arrived at the airport in Manchester, we needed to go to the check-in desks to regsiter ourselves and to transfer our case to the plane. The lady at the desk asked to see our passports and our travel visas. We received our tickets enabling us to board the plane. Then, we needed to proceed through all the security areas. These areas are called Passport Control. There, your bags are examined by X-Ray machines with special staff whose job it is to maintain the security of the airport and the planes themselves.
Flying initially from Manchester to Amsterdam in the Netherlands. It was a journey of around an hour and a half.
After landing in Amsterdam, we needed to catch a plane from Amsterdam to Accra. We needed to walk from one end of Schipol Airport in Amsterdam to the other. We walked for at least 15 minutes through the crowds. Arriving at last to board the plane. A journey of around 7 hours ahead of us.
I always enjoy flying. When the plane lifts into the air, I feel exactly as if I'm on a ‘rollercoaster’ in Alton Towers! It was a relatively clear day. I saw the green fields and the orderly streets from the air. I saw the highway stretching out into the horizon like a thin grey snake! From time to time. as the plane rose higher and higher, we disapperaed into the clouds.
On top of the world!
After a few hours, suddenly, the pilot announced that we were passing the Atlas Mountain Range along the North African coastline. Then, the pilot announced that everyone should look out of the window to see the Sahara desert. The red desert stretches out for miles. There was nothing but red sand - nothing growing, no green vegitation.
It is difficult to see clearly through the windows. I wonder what else I could see if I were not up this high? I wonder, where do I pass when I'm above the clouds?
After hours of travelling, we arrive and land in Accra, the capital city of Ghana at 7.30 at night. As we landed, there were very few lights to be seen, only the occasional cluster of lights. I didn't see many streetlights. I wonder why?
As I walked down the steps of the plane and into the fresh air, the atmosphere is warm and humid. I'm perspiring profusely already. I had to join the crowds of people in order to register as an immigrant.
Across the pillars at Kotoka Airport in Accra, red, yellow, green and black materials were blowing in the wind. These colours form part of the flag of Ghana. There are many posters around the airport - a reminder of the country's celebrations in March 2007. The country celebrated 50 years of independance from Great Britain. Ghana was the first country to gain independance. I feel quite excited, but I must admit that I'm slightly nervous as well. I don't know what to expect, neither am I sure how I should behave. The way of life in Ghana and the way of life in Wales are different. Are there similarities between both countries? I wonder?
I had my passport stamped. The Ghanaian government is aware that I am travelling there, and therefore keep a record of who visits and leaves the country. As I walk through the Entry Hall, there are no streetlights, only the lights of the airport.
We are staying overnight at a hotel near the airport. The schoolteachers at the Great Royal School told us that it was unsafe to travel at night because there is no electricity. So the drivers cannot see very well without streetlights. Electricity is produced by the force of the River Volta flowing into Lake Volta and through the Akomboso Dam. The force of the water flowing from the Dam produces electricity for Southern Ghana. This method of producing electricity is especially important to the bauxite and aluminium industries in the country situated in the city of Tema, to the East of Accra. However, when the river flow is shallow this effects the production of electricity in the country. As a result, electricity is rationed. Electricity is available at certain times of the day or at night, but never for a whole day without interruption.
So away we go in a mini bus to our hotel. The Fiesta Royal Hotel is a very prosperous hotel (even though it was not as expensive compared with hotels in Britain). There was a luxurious bed in the room, a television, a shower and a toilet. Electricity is available at all times in the hotel. The hotel has its own generator, so it can produce its own electricity when there is no electricity available for everyone. I feel slightly guilty at being able to use electicity when the rest of the people outside the hotel are unable to do so. It does not seem fair somehow.
After such a long journey, I was famished. Therefore I had to go to the restaurant in the hotel. What I found strange was as I looked at the menu, I was familiar with all the dishes. The hotel did not prepare any traditional dishes, only European dishes. So I had beef and chips to eat and had Coca Cola to drink.
I slept all night as there was a machine in my room cooling the air. I was absolutely exhausted.
Sunday July 29th, 2007
The following morning, I awoke full of excitement. Today we were to meet our new friends from Denu and then travel there to stay for a whole week. But first, breakfast. It is warm this morning as I walk to the restaurant. But the air feels humid as well. I must put on some sun cream today and my anti mosquito cream. For breakfast I had Corn Flakes, cereal and milk, toast and fruit (watermelon, pineapple, papaya and orange)
After breakfast, I went outside to the hotel gardens. There were gardeners there tidying the lawns and feeding the beautiful flowers with water. Everyone is courteous and friendly and they say "Good Morning" or "Akwabaa" which is "Welcome". At 10 o clock in the morning, it is time to meet Mr Vincent Atiglah, a teacher at the Great Royal School. I recognized his face from the photographs we have been sending each other's schools over the past year. Great, we shall meet at long last. I'm now ready to travel to Denu. I'm really looking forward to meeting everyone at the Great Royal School and Adafineu Amalgamated School in Denu.