Akwaaba! Hello folks! Bonjour tout le monde!Sorry for the long delay in blogging but here we are, arrived in Accra, GHana, safe and sound, and I've built up enough energy to finally write an update for everyone on our blog again. Things here are slow, the transition from Quebec to Ghana has been a difficult one for me so far. I spent the last month quite sick, from stomach troubles (which is normal I guess) to a sort of flu I caught from Eva, she must have picked it up at her new daycare. I did start feeling a b
it better and applied to several job offers that came to me, even had an interview at the Swiss Embassy for a Visa Officer position that didn't pan out in the end, but that's okay because I won't have time to start a new job (you will understand as you keep reading down later). We spent a nice few Sundays at Tills beach about 2 hours away from Accra with some friends from Charles's work. That was awesome, so relaxing and beautiful sandy white beaches. The best part was enjoying fresh lobster and drinks with our toes in the sand...
it better and applied to several job offers that came to me, even had an interview at the Swiss Embassy for a Visa Officer position that didn't pan out in the end, but that's okay because I won't have time to start a new job (you will understand as you keep reading down later). We spent a nice few Sundays at Tills beach about 2 hours away from Accra with some friends from Charles's work. That was awesome, so relaxing and beautiful sandy white beaches. The best part was enjoying fresh lobster and drinks with our toes in the sand... At the end of November, we lost our internet connection for about 2 weeks and tha
t totally sucked. We still don't have it properly connected to a new provider but sometimes it randomly works just like today. You can imagine my frustration with this since I already felt completely cut off from the rest of the world. So we've been calling friends occasionally and keeping mom and dad, and Claire and Daniel, regularly updated on how we are doing here. It's not obvious calling Canada with the time change, especially calling my brother and sis in Vancouver where the time difference adds up to 8 hours behind us I think, but it's totally doable!
t totally sucked. We still don't have it properly connected to a new provider but sometimes it randomly works just like today. You can imagine my frustration with this since I already felt completely cut off from the rest of the world. So we've been calling friends occasionally and keeping mom and dad, and Claire and Daniel, regularly updated on how we are doing here. It's not obvious calling Canada with the time change, especially calling my brother and sis in Vancouver where the time difference adds up to 8 hours behind us I think, but it's totally doable!
Anyways, things here are pretty good. Charles seems happy with his new job and loads of new responsibilities. He's even offered himself as vice to the Social Committee at the CHC (Canadian High Commission) - none of us are surprised at that. And Eva is adapting very well at her new daycare the Gingerbread House. It is located within the gated compounds of the British High Commission (so pretty safe) and is a cute little place. Expensive, but cute. They just celebrated their Christmas Festivities last week with Santa visiting and giving out gifts to each, with a little Theatrical performance they had some of the older ones play out for all the parents. It was quite adorable and Eva was loving participating in it, clapping and jumping around with the others. She's made a few new friends (mostly children of some of Charles's co-workers who attend the same daycare as her); there's Clare, Alexiane and Annalissa (daughter of our European neighbour across the street where we live). It's been good here for Eva. She's been adapting much better than I have. She especially likes going swimming with her papa at the pool on our compound. (See pics). I've signed her up for classes starting mid-January, that will be given at our pool for moms & tots, in the water together, so that should be really fun!
She is missing her grandparents and family and friends back in Canada (and in Belgium!) though. She often picks up our cell phones and pretends to blab on the phone with mamie and papie! She is taller too. You will see it when we come back home soon...
As for me, well it's been OK I guess up to now. It's hard to describe how I feel here. I've been quite sick, feeling nauseous a lot, making me less motivated to get out and meet new people. I have met a bunch of really nice CND expats (Charles's crew), signed up to the North American Women's Association (NAWA), and the Book Club. So I'm trying. But nowadays, I find it most comforting to stay home, relax and sleep-in in the morning. I go pick up Eva at noonish, bring her home, and put her down for her nap in the afternoon. Then we play till Charles gets home. When I am alone though, and at night, I think about coming back home pretty often and find myself missing all the sweet little delights we don't realize are so special when we are home, and take advantage of. I've been craving poutine, Mexican, and burgers, AND bagels!!! Real Montreal Bagels! No Timmy's, McD's, vietnamese restos, ahhh... these things were just part of my comfort zone that I've now lost and don't know yet if they are replacable living here. Anyways, things will get better - I know they will - it's always tough in the beginning, especially if you are not working or keeping busy with other stuff.
It might help though if I explain one BIG piece of the puzzle that will make how I've been feeling sound like it makes a little bit more sense: Yes, we have some happy news! Eva's going to have a little brother or sister because I am now going on 9 weeks pregnant!!! We are of course extatic, Charles especially (remember, when I first met him and we started talking about kids, he wanted to have 5! One for each continent he said. Crazy boy!) Anyhow, I am so happy about this little miracle and of course it makes sense I've been feeling so crappy lately. Therefore Eva and I will be coming to Mtl. in May and staying at my parents for a couple of months for the baby to be born. As it is now, the due date is July 12th and I can't fly past 7 months.
Some of the things I have been most sensitive to here include the strange odours outdoors. Outside, it is very hot, at least 30 degrees Celsius every day, and there's always the smell of burning leaves and palm trees in the air, sometimes even making the air smoky. For me, I find that makes it h
ard to breathe - I'm sure that's related to pregnancy though. Also, my North American skin is used to some amounts of cold and refreshing air, which is at a lack of here. We also have to watch out for mosquitos and Malaria. Living here we are more at risk of catching Malaria, especially now that we've decided to stop taking the medication for that. We have good reasons for stopping; we noticed that Eva was becoming quite agitated a day later and she was complaining of nightmares, waking up screaming at night. At 2 years and 4 months, I think she is a bit young to be having nightmares. We were starting to have strange dreams too... not to mention Charles's hallucinations of birds flying across our bedroom one morning. I wanted to stop b/c of the pregnancy, don't like being on extra medications if I can help it. We put up mosquito nets over all the beds and have been using OFF spray whenever we go outside.
ard to breathe - I'm sure that's related to pregnancy though. Also, my North American skin is used to some amounts of cold and refreshing air, which is at a lack of here. We also have to watch out for mosquitos and Malaria. Living here we are more at risk of catching Malaria, especially now that we've decided to stop taking the medication for that. We have good reasons for stopping; we noticed that Eva was becoming quite agitated a day later and she was complaining of nightmares, waking up screaming at night. At 2 years and 4 months, I think she is a bit young to be having nightmares. We were starting to have strange dreams too... not to mention Charles's hallucinations of birds flying across our bedroom one morning. I wanted to stop b/c of the pregnancy, don't like being on extra medications if I can help it. We put up mosquito nets over all the beds and have been using OFF spray whenever we go outside. Another weird thing here is the bats. Yeah, tons and tons of bats fly around in flocks at around 9 am and again at 4 pm daily. They are perched in trees hovering the Military Hospital. It's very strange considering bats are usually nocturnal creatures who live in dark places like
caves. There is a story the locals tell about the origins of the bats. The tale goes like this: There was an African chief from a small village outside of Accra who was loved and reveered by his clan. One day the chief became very ill and had to come to the city to seek treatment for his ailment. With him came hundreds, if not thousands, of bats who circled the hosiptal grounds where the chief was taken to. Although this hospital had many good doctors, the chief succombed to his illness one week later. Ever since then, the bats have remained hovering over the hospital in the city awaiting their master's return. People do not know what kind of supernatural forces have made the bats to act this way but they claim that it is Black Magic.
caves. There is a story the locals tell about the origins of the bats. The tale goes like this: There was an African chief from a small village outside of Accra who was loved and reveered by his clan. One day the chief became very ill and had to come to the city to seek treatment for his ailment. With him came hundreds, if not thousands, of bats who circled the hosiptal grounds where the chief was taken to. Although this hospital had many good doctors, the chief succombed to his illness one week later. Ever since then, the bats have remained hovering over the hospital in the city awaiting their master's return. People do not know what kind of supernatural forces have made the bats to act this way but they claim that it is Black Magic. Well, that's my update from Ghana for now. I'm sure Charles will have an installment en Français that he will be posting shortly. Oh, I almost forgot to say that Napo and Loki are also doing well, they've been dying to go outside and hunt lizards and other small creatures but I don't think it's a good idea yet. Charles has been taking them out on their leashes though, so they can have a walk and pant in the heat! I promise we will write again soon! We miss and love everyone back home very much and hope you are all doing well!
Take care folks,
Keep in touch with us,
Keep in touch with us,
Love ALways, xoxoxox
Laura Charles & Eva (+ 1) (+Napo & Loki)
Laura Charles & Eva (+ 1) (+Napo & Loki)
