Itinerary Planning

Hello hello!

The planning continues...


We booked our flight from Faro (Portugal) to Schiphol, Amsterdam (a smaller, albeit still quite large airport outside of Amsterdam, Holland). So, that's where we'll be starting from! We'll most likely head into Belgium from there and then into Western Germany.

Now that we know we'll be gone for 8 weeks (or more if Jeff refuses to return home from having so much fun! lol I can hope, right?) we've really started to buckle down with trying to figure out where we're going and how we're going to get there through Europe. It hasn't been an easy task exactly, as we navigate our way through the Eurail (train) website and compare it to our itinerary... then to realize how expensive it is and then figure out if it's worth it or not.

So, our next option is Busabout (http://www.busabout.com/) which is hop-on-hop-off bus transportation, which essentially means, you can hop on the bus at one spot and when it gets to the next stop you can hop off and stay as long as you like, then hop back on the next bus (it arrives every two days) and continue your journey. There are preplanned routes and tours you can do as well as ones that are more flexible (this is what Jeff and I are looking into)... but because we have to be in Munich by the 28th of September for Oktoberfest, it's throwing things for a little loop with the Busabout route... so, is it cheaper to just manage the transportation ourselves via local transit and slower buses, or use the Busabout where we can? Not sure yet.

There's so much to think about! Especially when trying to keep our costs as low as we can.

Also, I'm thinking that the 3 hour bus to Paris from Brussels may just be worth the trip... must talk to Jeff more about that one... :)

I'm currently wearing my hiking boots (in my apartment) to break them in as I'm hoping to ward off any blisters ahead of time! Jeff and I will have our first real breaking-in of our shoes when we go camping in July. Which reminds me... I still have to spray them... urgh...

I also still have to figure out the best way to get/carry money in Europe without paying through the nose with bank fees... I'll have to call the bank this week and talk to someone.

After raiding mom's medicine cabinet at home this weekend, I managed to score Gravol, Pepto (chewable AND liquid) and Immodium... your three major staples when traveling (Thanks mom!). Jeff and I've got the polysporin, benadryl, and bandages... we still need a full first aid kit though.

We've also got to photocopy our documents and figure out how we're getting to the airport... not to mention a dozen or two other things as well.

There are still 2.5 months before our departure date so we're not panicking yet... although not knowing how we're going to get around is a little unnerving (but still exciting).

Let the planning continue!

The Current To-do List

So, Jeff and I made a trip to MEC (Mountain Equipment Coop) to pick up a backpack that he had scoped out on the internet (thank you internet Creator!)... a good quality, exactly-what-he-needs and decently priced bag (bingo). Another to-do taken off the list...

The rest of the list is looking like this:

Talk to gym about membership – hold for Sept & Oct

Call Rogers to hold account for Sept & Oct

Purchase "gear"/wishlist:

Blister medic kit (because no matter how much we break in our shoes, we need a back up plan!)

Squishable water bottles

Good quality socks

Small travel alarm clock

Mini locks for our bags

Money belt/pouch

Wallet and or wallet-chain for Jeff

Memory card for camera

Purchase Travelers Insurance

Practice Packing

Set Up First Aid Kit

Pick up Hosteling International Card

Figure out who’s driving us and picking us up from the airport

Figure out directions from various hostels from arrival points

Photocopy important documents

Figure out how much cash we are taking with us

Call banks and get information regarding fees for international use of debit and credit cards as well as notify them of travel plans

So, still lots to do yet but the big pieces are done.

Jeff came home tonight asking if I'd done any 'travel related' work today since I was at home relaxing... I guess he's got the pre-travel bug! Awhile ago we were both so stoked about going that we almost got TOO excited!! We've got to level ourselves out as it's still 3 months before we leave! lol

We're still so very excited though! Every time I see a place we'll be visiting on t.v. or in a movie I pay extra attention :) I even watched one of my favourite movies, Under the Tuscan Sun just to see the Italian landscape!

This week's goal: try and figure out how we'll access money in Europe without paying through the nose in service charges.

Eurotrip Fall 2011

I can hardly believe that 4 years ago I would have already been in Ghana for a week... and what a first week it was! I don't think I'll ever forget it. I just re-read all of my blog entries throughout that trip and my heart aches to return to my host family. Pops still emails me and keeps me updated as much as he can but his emails lack a lot of content, although they are full of good wishes!

Now, after 4 years, it is time for my next adventure and this time I'm lucky enough to be traveling with my other-half, Jeff. It's taken approximately 3 years to convince him, but finally the time has come and he's absolutely ready and just as excited as I am for our European adventure. I've never been to Europe!!

South America - Check
Africa - Check
Europe - Soon!

I'm really, REALLY excited to be taking off on another adventure and this one will be quite different from my last two. In Ecuador and in Ghana I had a host family, a "base" if you will, somewhere to return to at the end of the day, somewhere to get food and rest... this Eurotrip is going to be a backpacking adventure! I'm nervous but definitely more excited.

We'll be flying into Lisbon, Portugal in September, spending a couple of days there and then heading to Lagos (Portugal) for four nights...

Check out a beach in Lagos below...



















GORGEOUS!!

Then we'll be flying to either Belgium or Holland (we're still looking at flights!). We'll see both countries before heading into Germany (Oktoberfest!!), Austria, Czech Republic and Italy (flying home from Rome at the end of October).

We'll be gone for 57 days or 8 glorious weeks!! EIGHT WEEKS!! That's a TON considering Jeff initially agreed to 2 weeks... and then he realized how much more time we needed to see what we wanted to see!

There is still lots to do but we've got lots of time to do it.

This week, we need to get Jeff a backpack!

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

1 Year 8 Months

Funny I wrote exactly one month ago on here with an update as to how things are going in my life.

Things are pretty much the same - I'm starting my third semester on Monday, and have been managing a caseload of about 10 clients at the agency I'm working at. It's been a really neat experience, and provides some light into getting a "real job" when school is over.

I've been thinking a lot more about traveling and how it might look in a year. I know that so much can happen that it's hard to plan. I'll be done school, that's one thing that's a pretty much "for sure", but where will Jeff be? I'll finish in April, but graduation is in June... do I leave before graduation? After? Skip it? I don't think I could skip it, not after 2 years of graduate studies, I want to be with my friends!

There are a lot of things to think about... it's tiring because I want to plan and be excited for it. I guess time will tell.

The frustrating part is that I've been dreaming of Ghana - dreaming in parts in Dangme, and living daily life. I don't know why it has been so strong lately but something is pulling me back there. My heart aches for it. There's got to be a way to go about it so that everyone is happy. There just has to be.

Unless I go on my own... but, I don't really want to do that.

It's aggravating because I want to get on a plane and go!

1 Year and 7 months Home

I almost can't believe it.

I almost can't believe all that has happened since returning home from Ghana... a year and a half ago. The changes in my life have been astounding, and each and every one welcome.

I finished my schooling at UW, survived the last semester, although it was ridiculously stressful, attempting to undertake statistics and research methods, it was unpleasant. I met a girl in those classes, who has now become one of my best friends, Sarah. I met my partner, of over a year now too, Jeff.

I graduated from UW, thank goodness - 4 years of blood, sweat, and lots of tears, but I made it, and even managed to get accepted to do my Master of Social Work!

Jeff and I moved in together, I'm working at my first practicum placement as an intern therapeutic counsellor (yikes!), and I'm finishing up my semester right now... mind you, another starts in April until June - so, not quite done first year yet.

A lot has happened in the last year and a half - some major changes in my life, and everything has been a new adventure, that's for sure.

One of my most proud accomplishments, has been the continuance of Youth4Change.

In November 2008, 3 new friends of mine from class, and I, managed to raise over $600 for Youth4Change for a class assignment. We toured through main campus talking to people about the project, explaining it's significance, and requesting funds to help the group purchase supplies. It was a truly wonderful experience to talk about the group, the work they're continuing to do, and that it's been nearly 2 years since it started and they're still making a difference in the community. It really is wonderful and I continually feel thrilled to have been a part of it.

Pops and I email back and forth periodically with updates. I miss everyone so much, and still practice my dangme when I can... I le ni (I am smart).

I find myself searching flights to Ghana every so often, more and more as I realize that the end of my schooling is one year away. April 2010 and I'll been done with my formal education - I'm rather ECSTATIC about it :)

Also, grandma gave each of the grand kids some money for Christmas, so I've put it away to use for my travels after graduation. I can't wait to get back to Kpong... and this time, bring Jeff with me. What an incredible experience that would be for both of us - me revisiting the African family I have, seeing the sights and sounds of my town and community... and Jeff to see first hand what it was like to be there for 3.5 months. It's pretty amazing to think about it. I can't wait to get back, and unlike Ecuador, I will head back to visit - it made such an important impact on my life that I would be devastated if I never made it back to say thank you.

In knowing that graduation is really only one year away, I should start thinking about planning my upcoming adventure... where I'll go, what I'll do, for how long, and how... I mean, I'm the first one to want to head to the airport and go... so why not start now? I mean really, wa je (let's go)!