As you all know by visiting this site, my plans to venture off into the West African coast are only weeks away. Yes, yes this is true, however I have hit somewhat of a stumbling block in reference to my new 3 months of life in Ghana., something that might make daily life in Ghana a little difficult.
What am I going to do with myself when I get back?
I knew that I would have to get things together in Alabama so that everything would be smooth sailing once I hit the Motherland, right? Right, well turns out I gotta put a little more hustle in my step, or as my hip friends say....."I gotta get my ULTIMATE hustle on" LOL,- P. Varner
I thought I had a plan to keep my space in Birmingham and use it for a temporary operating base until I figured out the BIG plan.
I'm faced with a decision of whether or not I want to come back to Birmingham or venture off in some other city in a new direction. Of course I want to get things going in terms of my career and whatever fellowship options await me, but dang ...I gotta do it soon as a sista get back from the Motherland???? Since I am by no means rich or well off I have to abandon my apartment in Alabama and put everything I own in storage. This is no problem, its more of a matter of where am I going to move it to when I get back after 3 long months of working and traveling in West Africa. Petty Problem, you say....let me break down my options for you....
1.Spend a blissful time in Ghana, return to Alabama with no job prospects and move in with my mother until something comes through..Did I mention I was 26 years old????
2. Come back from Ghana,move to the ATL( Atlanta, for the hip-challenged) with my older sis and take a contracted position with Emory School of Public Health up until the time my fellowship(s) come through...I'm thinking late summer.
3. Stay in Ghana until fellowships come through making a living doing photography work in Kumasi and surrounding local towns.......Sound good huh?
4.Move to D.C. shack with my girlfriend and try to get something permanent up with an international health NGO.
5. I haven't come up with this option yet.
All of these things sound pretty good, I don't know if I'm ready to move soon as I hit US soil. It's all logical,but all those months of saying I'm tired of Birmingham made things happen quicker than I expected. There isn't anything in Birmingham that could turn into a real career, so I guess the decision is made. The only thing to do now is to figure out how I can get all the accumulation of books,blankets,artifacts and chocolate I call an apartment into one tiny storage space before the month ends. I've done most of the excitement business about my trip and now its back to the basics--what to do when I return---Nothing wrong with a few backward steps!
Wish me luck!
Hey check me out at myspace.com/internationalsoutherngurl
Peace,
Inas
Posted by: Inas | June 29, 2006 at 04:43 PM
whichever choice you make, it should come together nicely. you'll have such a clear perspective as well when you get back from Ghana, lol @ the risk of sounding like a walking cliche, just follow your instincts.
are you planning on visiting any other african countries btw? i'm from east africa and all i can say is you are going to have a great time.
Posted by: Aulelia | August 06, 2006 at 07:23 AM
that sucks, AFRICA?? can't think of anywhere better???
Posted by: rtd | October 26, 2007 at 07:17 PM