So taking a plane to West Africa can be quite and experience. When I left Denver and went through London I thought I was going to miss my connection. Security in London is extreme, everyone gets a pat down and bag check until they realize that you are going to Africa and then they leave you alone because as they see it no one wants to send a fiery bombed plane into Ghana. We left London 6 hours late so my flight into Ghana was dark and we got here at 2:30 am. When I called the ship to let them know I was so delayed the receptionist told me to look out for some other Mercy Shippers as there were three of us on this plane. God blessed me when I found Judy another nurse. That was huge to have another person going through customs with me and gathering baggage.
First impressions of the Ghanian people is that they are amazingly well dressed whether they are poor or not if they are flying they are in suits and dresses with these incredibly high high heels. I looked horrific next to them with my 9 hour flight from denver clothes and smell:)
When we landed the huge British Airways plane just taxied to an open area at the airport and the front and back doors were opened and we all got off and walked across the landing pad into the airport. The best part of such a late arrival is a relatively empty immigration and customs line. All we had to say was Mercy Ships and we were through the line no questions asked. These people are incredibly warm and gracious the majority of them knowing what Mercy Ships is just say thank you!
The moment I picked up my baggage I was surrounded by men that were either taxi drivers or luggage carries wanting to help me for a fee. At one point myself and the other nurse were so surrounded we couldn't see Albert the head chef that was the lucky man to pick us up. Once we were in the car and driving away I was surprised to see the relative modern roadways. However the modern and passable roadways were heavily littered with dead animals and every time you saw a huge semi guaranteed that the driver was streched out on a cot in front of the truck. Everywhere we drove by people were asleep by the road in front of the gas stations anywhere they could grab some land!
We arrived on the ship and I am fortunate to have one roomate rather than five. She's this absolutely gorgeous girl from England. She looks Ghanian actually very black with very strong features. The Ghanian people are very beautiful. The ship itself was the Victoria a luxury cruise liner in the 40s. The amount of work carried on from this ship amazes me from the surgeries to the prison and orphanage visits. The ship is docked in the Port of Tema and this is the busiest port in West Africa mostly because it is the safest. Therefore the ship sways all of the time when other ships pass it by. It's very weird to be rocking back and forth.
This afternoon we went into town to the market and the people were unbelievable. I saw one women carrying a 8 gallon jug of oil that was full on her head. The women carry everything on their heads!
Anyhow that's all for now. The staff on the ship are incredibly warm hearted and loving. My job begins on Monday more then:) Love to everyone:)