More bloggin'

I'm writing this as a nice downpour with a few thunder rumblings is coming to an end. It's 11AM and I'm at WAAF waiting for Fifi so we can go to another area of Accra to do some scouting for educational workshops. Tomorrow we are going to Koforidua in the Eastern Region to do some VCTs - Volunteer (something) Testing. This is a chance for people to get tested for HIV/AIDS. We'll be back the same day - its only about 2 hours drive away. Later in the month we will be traveling all over Ghana performing these tests and I think we'll be distributing ARVs (Anti-Retroviral drugs) to clinics. I'll be returning to Wa and Lawra as well as going to Bolgatanga (capital of Upper East Region) and Tamale (capital of Northern Region).

I thought you might be interested in how I've been getting to WAAF everyday since I live in East Legon, a far northeast suburb of Accra, and work in Roman Ridge, more centrally located. I start by walking down the dirt road I live on, about 1/4 mile, to the tarred road. There I wait for a tro tro - a large van with 3 - 5 rows of 3 or 4 people across plus two people sitting next to the driver. The tro tro mate sits next to the sliding door on the passenger side. He hangs out the window calling out where they are going. I wait for one going to Kwame Nkrumah Circle - the mate yells very quickly "circle, circle, circle, circle" while moving his hand in a circle motion. When the tro tro stops I get on and tell the mate I want to be dropped at "37" which is the name of the military hospital and a tro tro station is located near there. This leg of the journey costs me 35 cents. When I get to "37" I walk over to the tro tro station. There are probably over one hundred tro tros parked in rows with the mate calling out where they are going. I walk past people selling breakfast, candy, water, etc. I find a tro tro going to Achimota and get on. When the tro tro is full we set off. I tell the mate to drop me at Roman Ridge 2nd stop and pay 40 cents. When I get dropped I walk down a residential road about 3 or 4 blocks to WAAF. The entire trip takes about 50-60 minutes depending on traffic and how full the tro tro is when I get to the 37 station and the trip costs me 75 cents! I took a taxi the first time and it costs me $8 so the tro tro is much more economical!

Well thats it for today.