Yes yes,
See here!
After I've made them smaller, I could upload them! I hope, you will enjoy them.

Yesterday I went with Francis to the National Museum of Ghana, it took us quite a while to find it. First two different TroTros, than a Taxi who took us there. But finally we made it :-) For Francis it was probably the first museum he has ever seen! We saw cloth, tools, jewelery, ... from earlier times! After we had a drink, we went back home. It took us almost one hour because you can't image the traffic they have here!
In the evening I helped Francis to cook. Most of the time we have either rice, yam (comparable to potatoe) or Banku (corn-dough) with a stew (tomatoes, lots of hot pepper, onions and fish or a stew with okra (vegetable) and fish). So when I come back, I hope I know how to prepare some of it :-)
I guess, I can be very lucky to live in this family as I can really see, how they live here! Of course, Francis would go to work when I wouldn't be there. But I think, for him his normally day-life also changes a bit and he can enjoy the life a little bit more as I go out with him and help him...
Today I also made some pictures of the sewage channel and the 'river'. Of course, people here are poor and some of them have to suffer a lot so they are not really interested whats happening with their environment. But still, I think most people know, that its bad to throw everything just away, especially all the plastic bags (also fresh treated water is saled in little bags). Yes, they don't have treatment plants here. So the water from the shower, washing and kitchen flows directly into the river, black water (which means water from the toilet) is collected (at least in our house) in the underground and every few month a car comes and takes it away (where to???). But together with all the rubbish (because the sewage pipes are open and next to the street) well, the river doesn't really look nice...
Ok, now I will call Francis, he will come to the internet cafe and I will show him the internet... He has never before used a computer!!!
Oh, and before I forget, I am accepted at the IGB-Fraunhofer institute in Stuttgart, so I will start there in October with my diploma thesis :-)

Here I am again :-)
Unfortunately the company where I first should have worked doesn't have any work to do for me somehow and Kafui (IAESTE organisation) found it out just yesterday. But he told me, he is a problem solver, and he already found another place for me to work, but it will only start next monday...
Well, so some more days will come up where I can train myself in not doing anything :-) Kind of hard you can believe me... So I read and sleep a lot and I'm talking with the neighbours in the next house, the children next door... I already showed them a new trick with the skipping rope. The people here around are very nice and a lot of them want to talk to me... I somehow get used to that I am the only white person around... One little boy from the neighbourhoud (2 years) always takes my hands when I'm passing by :-)
Today Francis joined me to a market... In my opinion I could go there alone, as I believe I know people and kind of what they want (just chatting or money etc). But well, I guess its good in the beginning to be joined and also my family is happy (here and in Germany *g*) that I don't go out alone...
Yesterday evening the other internship people came by and we talked a bit... I hope I can visit them soon again (they don't live that far from my place). And on the weekend they are planning a trip so I will join them.
Some words about the weather, I hope, I won't tell you everything twice... As its raining season (but since I came it only rained a bit, but the friday before there was so much rain I heard that a lot of places were flodded) we have wind and not so much sun, so I can handle the temperatures and the humidity very well. I expected it would be worth...
I also climed on the little hill next to our house and had a nice view over the city! I made some pictures but well, I hope I can upload some of them soon!
I talked a lot with Francis today, he came to Accra 1,5 years ago, his uncle is training him and he has to do the work in the house, but still, I don't feel so comfortable with it so I help as much as I can (although David doesn't like that). He came from a village and he has not much more than one bag with stuff here... also he is sleeping on a matress in the livingroom while I have my own room. But still, the family where I live I don't think they are very poor, but still, I have to think about that a lot, how they live here and how much things we have in Germany... I guess, I have to write about that more, but my session is almost finished and its getting dark soon, so I will go home!
Let's see, whats happening tomorrow and well, I will enjoy my time with doing nothing than relaxing :-) I think about all you who have to work!!!
Liebe Gruesse!
Verena

Ok, lets try it again...
Yesterday Kafui came by and told me he will fetch me today at nine, now its 11 and he is not here yet, so I decided to go to the internet cafe again :-) I will see, if I will start working today or perhaps tomorrow... I guess, thats also somehow the african way...
As I live with the family together I am able to try all the ghanian food which they are cooking! Its really good, very spicy and with lots of fish (well, I will restart my vegetarian carrier when I'm back :-) ). We have rice and this special dough (Maisteig) with it... Not bad!
For breakfast I have white bread with some kind of butter (margarine) and two days ago we had pasta for breakfast: Take pasta, pull cream milk over it, add some sugar and stir well! Well, it was not bad, really!!!
Living with the family also means that they are responsible for me, so they are always worried (especially David) where I am etc... Thats also why I didn't really go out a lot, but still, I have lots of things to tell :-) And when I will start working, I will also know my environment betterer and I think I can be more 'free'.
As far as I understood the jungest (Francis, 20, cousin of Shadrack) is responsible for cooking, washing, ironing etc... But I already told him that I will do my things by my own. And I helped him washing cloth (by hand of course)... The others are helping him also but only when its too much work for him. His uncle told me, thats their way of educating... Francis also goes to work (David owns cooling containers for food...) but not all the time... He also sleeps in the hall (living room), Francis told me its because there is a fan, but I think, when I wouldn't be there, he would sleep in my room... I don't feel that good in knowing this, but thats their way of welcoming and hospitality! I guess, I have to accept it and I think when I help whenever I can it will be ok.
With Shadrach I walked around a bit on Saturday, and I also had my first Ghanian beer with him... Was very good :-) And in the night I have the impression that there are even more people on the road than during day time... its a nice athmosphere: people, loud music, food everywhere.
I go to bed very early, like at 8 or 9pm as it gets dark at 6 and there is not much more to do at the moment :-) Shadrack also gets up very eraly, he leaves the house at 6am and comes home from work (at a bank) at 8pm. I will see, how much and long I will have to work.
This evening I will meet the other internationals who are here in Accra (3 more). They are staying at a different place and I've met them when I first arrived here. For next weekend they are planning a trip to Cape Coast, so I hope, I can join them...
Everyone here was very happy, that Obama came! We finally didn't go to see him, as he spoke in the parliament and lots of roads were closed anyway... but I watched his arriving and speeches on TV and the whole Saturday you could hear a song about him (which was created before he became president)...
And yesterday the church service, as I already wrote yesterday, it was very different what we are used to, the church is a building like a hall (not finished yet), some curtains in front and some plasitc flowers, a keyboard, drumset, drums and microphones. Everyone who was there really participated in the service, everyone prayed aloud (also in different microphones at the same time, which was kind of loud), shouted, put his hands in the air, danced... and the predigt (I don't know the english word for it) was also very loud and translated into Twi (the language a lot of people are speaking here). Although it was in english I could hardly understand ... But well, it was an experience, but I'm not sure I will join Shadrach and Francis every Sunday (for 3 hours!). But I could feel that all what they said and prayed came from their hearts...
I could still write more, but I guess its already a lot to read :-)
So take care and I guess I will write again soon!
Liebe Gruesse!

Ok well, I just wrote a long text, but then the connection broke down and everyting was gone... too bad. Now I have to go home (I'm not very free at the moment, but I hope it will change, when I will start working...). But at least, its the first time I went out alone :-)
I'm still fine! I tasted lots of Ghanian food, I joined the church service today (wow, what an experience!!!, not comparable at all to our services!!!).
Tomorrow I will start working and I hope I can write the long text again tomorrow or the next days!
Bis bald!

Hello from Ghana!!! Akwaaba!!! (Welcome! I heard it a lot of times)

I have savely arrived here, about 6hrs of flight from Frankfurt. I had the chance to fly with Business class as all the other seats were full. ... was a great experience :-)
Luckily I met a nice guy in the plain who gave me his address because I didn't wrote down some adresses and I needed one for the immigration. After I got my suitcase I realized that I don't even have a phone number or address, just the email where Kafui told me he will fetch me... ok so I went out and nobody was waiting (but the plain was really early so I didn't start to worry...) And luckily I wrote Kafui my number so he called me and a friend of him (Fred) fetched me from the airport, I met three other IAESTE students and then Shadrack came to pick me up. I have a nice room in his house (where he, his father and his cousin) are living. Everyone is very friendly to me...
Yesterday I went with David (Shadracks Dad) out by car, he had to do some business (irgendwas elektrisches an einem Kuehlcontainer) and so I had the chance to see lots of things. Its really different here... lots of cars, traffic, people between the cars selling everything (food, water, telephones, guertel,...). And nobody cares about dust, exhaust... A lot of poeple are carrying all the stuff on their heads, it expresses me a lot! I even saw a guy with a suing-mashing (Naehmaschine) on his head!!!
I didn't take that much pictures so far (and at the moment I'm not able to upload them) because I don't feel good taking pictures... Its an experience being more or less the only white (Obruni) here...
This morning the tab water was not running, so I took my first shower with a bucket and a little cup... No problem at all :-)
As its raining-season there is not so much sun, which is good I think because I can handle the temperature and humidity very well. I'm glad about my new trakking-shoes I bought in Stuttgart... They are very usefull here as not all raods are with asphalt...
When we went by car and there was so much traffic that we couldn't move on, we just went to the side, there was no asphalt street but sand-streets and perhaps you can image what it is like when you have sand and rain...
Today Francis (Shadracks cousin) went out with me. David doesn't want that I go out alone... but I feel comfortable here and I think I can walk around here also alone in a few days... By the way, on Monday I will go to work in a construction company...
But first this weekend I guess I will see Kafui who organised everything for me (he is in Kumasi) and perhaps I will also see Obama tomorrow!!! Everyone here is excited that he will come to Ghana, to Accra tonight...
Everything goes slowly here, no stress, nothing... I can relax and I'm happy I have internet access now (although for my email program its very slowly).
Yesterday I tried ghanian food where I forgott the name... was some dough (out of corn) (gekochter Maisteig oder so was) with a spicy soup with different kinds of meat and fish... of course we ate with our right hand.
Ok that are my first impressions... Its very different here but I am happy to be here! I hope everyone is fine! I also have a ghanian cell phone number now, and with a predial number it shouldn't be that expensive to call me. I'm not sure if skype is working here, but I will try it the next time. And perhaps I will also have internet access in my company... we will see.
Ganz liebe Gruesse an alle! And hugs to everyone!!!
Akosua (my Ghanian name as I was born on a Sunday)

P.s. my mail provider (1und1) works very slowly (while writing here I could only read one email!), so its better if you write me to verena91284ATgmail.com or in facebook or studivz, those sites are working faster... :-)

Hey guys!

I hope, you are all doing well! Since more than one year I'm now back in Germany, mostly in Stuttgart! I had a great time so far, doing internship, some trips, visiting friends, friends were visiting me, studying a lot for my last exams ... You can see some pictures on my google account.

Now I decided to restart my Blog as I will be en-route again! In three days its time for a new adventure!!! I will fly to Ghana for an intership with the student organisation IAESTE (speicial thanks to Ali, otherwise I wound't had the idea!). As you can imagine, I'm starting to become very excited... Tomorrow I will go back to Stuttgart to organise the last things, and start packing my stuff. I'm looking forward to see lots of people again tomorrow evening/night as I won't see them during the summer!
And on Wednesday morning it will be time to leave Germany again for about 10 weeks: Ghana, I'm coming!!!

I wish you lot's of fun and I hope, you are enjoying news from me!

And now some special greetings and hugs to my friends in Canada!!!

Liebe Grüße
Verena

I first wanted to continue my blog with news from my "german-life", but I guess its too hard, I won't do it regularly. So I decided just to continue putting some pictures in Picasa. I hope, you will enjoy them and you can see what I'm doing after work and on the weekends.



So far I arrived back in Stuttgart and I'm doing an internship in an environmental consulting office where they do some groundwater and soil remediation. Its interesting and not too stressful ;-)

And of course, there is one more thing I would like to say: Thanks guys for this great great time in Canada!!! I miss you!!! I'm really hoping to see you all again! With Leonie we started the "see-you-again-in-Europe" and I hope many many visits will follow! Of course you are always welcome to visit me in Stuttgart!!! Would be great to hear from you all by mail or in person ;-)

Take care!
Liebe Grüße
Verena

Ok, ich bin mittlerweile wie die meisten ja wissen, wieder daheim in Deutschland angekommen. Da ich aber meinen Blog gerne noch schön beenden würde, gibts jetzt noch zwei oder drei Abschlussberichte, mit dem passenden Datum :-)

Anstatt am Mittwoch Richtung Ottawa zu fahren, habe ich meine Eltern doch noch überreden können (auch dank dem Regen, der in der Nacht endlich aufgehört hat) noch ein Stückchen nord-östlicher zu fahren. Und so sind wir, wieder am St. Lorenz Strom entlang bis hoch nach Tadussac gefahren.

Im Sommer zieht es dorthin viele Touristen, weil man von dort aus Walbeobachtungen machen kann. Hier fließt der Saguenay-River, der zwischen riesen Felswänden entlang fließt, in den St. Lorenz Strom. Der Lorenz Strom ist an dieser Stelle sooo breit, da kann man sich kaum noch vorstellen, dass es ja "nur" ein größerer Fluss ist. Er erinnert dort viel eher an einen Ozean :-) Und das ist ja nicht mal die breiteste Stelle, bei Tadussac fängt im Prinzip die Erweiterung erst an, bis der Lorzen Strom dann irgendwann in den Atlantik mündet.

Und ziemlich kalt und zugig wars auch, aber gelohnt hat sichs auf alle Fälle!!!


In Tadussac konnten wir auch eine tolle Kulisse bewundern: Sanddünen, auf denen noch Schnee liegt! Echt toll, wo sonst kann man Sanddünen und Schnee gleichzeitig beobachten!?

Da es dort aber doch recht windig und kalt war, sind wir am gleichen Tag auch wieder Richtung Süden gefahren, und haben kurz vor Montréal die Nacht auf einem Parkplatz in der Nähe des Highways verbracht.
Am Donnerstag, 1.Mai gings dann also nach Ottawa. In der Hauptstadt haben wir zwei tolle Tage verbracht: wir haben den Parlamentshügel mit dem Unterschlupf für streunende Katzen angeschaut, eine Tour im Parlament mitgemacht, das Marktviertel besichtigt, ganz toll gegessen, wir waren im Museum of Civilisation in Gatineau (das sich auf der anderen Seite des Ottawa-Rivers befindet, und somit in der Provinz Québec liegt) und haben noch den Beginn des Tulpen-Festivals mitbekommen. Hier ein paar Eindrücke:







Am Samstag gings dann leider schon wieder auf den Rükweg Richtung Waterloo, mit einem Zwischenstop samt Mittagspause in Kensington, das am Begin/Ende des Ontario-Sees liegt und wo der Lorenz-Strom beginnt.

Übernachtet haben wir auf einem Campingplatz, direkt an einem kleinen Fluss und auf der Insel "Prince Edward Country", die natürlich auch im Ontario-See gelegen ist. Trotz Regen haben wir uns den tollen Strand angeschaut, im Sommer und bei Sonne ists dort bestimmt sehr schön (nur am Fluss hatten wir bereits jetzt mit einer kleinen Mückenplage zu kämpfen).

Am Sonntag kamen wir dann wieder in Waterloo an. Meine Mama half mir noch einige Klamotten auszusortieren und ich gab ihnen etliche meiner Unterlagen/Ordner mit, da sie noch Platz in ihren Koffern hatten bzw. für mich freigelassen haben. Ansonsten hätte ich das ganze Zeug wohl niemals bis nach Deutschland bringen können :-)
Am Montag verbrachten meine Eltern noch einen Tag in Toronto, gaben das Wohnmobil am Dienstag ab und für sie gings dann auch schon wieder nach Hause (nach knapp 4 Wochen) :-) War eine tolle Zeit zusammen mit Ihnen!!! Ich hab mich total gefreut, dass sie mich besucht haben, und so auch etwas von "meinem Leben in Kanada" kennengelernt haben. :-) Nur schade, dass Annika ja leider nicht mitkommen konnte.