Almost 3 Years Since

It's been 2 years and 9 months since I packed up and left for Ghana. It's almost unbelievable how fast the last 3 years have flown by. Not only did I finish my B.A. but I'm 6 weeks away from earning my M.S.W. Wow. I'm almost out in the working world.

I'm not sure what to say, other than I yearn to be traveling again... to be getting on a plane and taking off in any direction. I'd go anywhere for almost any length of time, just to do it.

Unfortunately, there are just too many obstacles right now to do it - but that doesn't mean it won't happen in the future.

I'm happy to report however that I JUST got hired (received my official offer yesterday!) to be the Youth Services Worker at our local AIDS Committee - recruiting and training youth to provide HIV/AIDS education (sound FAMILIAR!?) and all sorts of really neat stuff that's right up my ally! It's 20 hours a week. I'm very excited about it and will be starting next week! That's ONTOP of my current 8 hour/week contract position with one of my practicum placements AND school. It's going to be a very busy March! But an exciting one at that :)

I've been following the Olympics this year and have to say, when I saw Ghana march in with it's lone athlete (alpine skiing, I think), I felt a surge of pride. I cheered loudly and quickly wrote to Pops and Godwin saying that I was thinking of them and miss them a lot. Pops responded saying,

Dede,

Yeah, we are doing well here in Ghana. Even though the economy is hard, our God is sustaining us. We are still praying for all of you.

School is still in session and everybody is doing well.

Do take care of your yourself and continue to promote the good name of Ghana.

We love you.

Pops

Can you believe it? After almost 3 years and there is still such a connection - THANK YOU INTERNET!!

Youth4Change is alive and well, striving in the community, I'm so proud. And I'm 99% sure that Y4C is one of the main reasons why I got hired at the AIDS Committee. I'm still passionate about the pandemic, and am thrilled to be starting work that feels more like a fun and purposeful past-time than a 'job' to pay the bills.

There are a lot of things I miss about my adventures, but my pictures keep me smiling. I've also signed up to take a 3-hour "African Culinary Safari" to learn how to make Groundnut soup - yum! I'm still trying to keep connected.

Missing my hot-home.

Dede