SKWID Out!

Well I have just completed my four days 'Skills for Working in Development' (SKWID) course. It is my final mandatory VSO training course before I leave for Ghana in February. I met a wonderful group of fellow volunteers all heading off to work in various parts of Africa and Indonesia; there were teachers, Doctors, accountants, small business advisers, organisational development adivers and educational managers. It was fantastic to be immeresed in a shared learning environment with all these different perspectives and skills, along with some of the best learning facilitators I have had the privelege to work with.
We covered many different topics ranging from health and security, stakeholder mapping and analysis, effective communication, participatory approaches to development, facilitation skills and strategies for dealing with dilemmas and conflict. It was one of the most intense learning experiences of my life, and also one of the most enjoyable.  We were given several opportunities to practise our facilitation skills using tools designed for use in a development context. The rest, as they say, is all down to us! What  challenges, adventures and friendships lie ahead for me in Ghana? Am I equipped to deal with any or all of these? I can still hear the VSO trainers saying 'it's not so much the task but the relationship that you build that is really important to achieving sustainable success,' 'it's not about you, it's about them - Hand Over The Stick!' 
And so I now have about  8 weeks to do my final preparations, including  work through a long list of immunisations. The medical unit impressed upon us the importance of having Rabies vaccines and the need to take responsibility for our sexual health especially with the very high risk of contracting HIV. We have been warned ..
So what next?  Immunisations start on Friday 17th December. My departure date has been confirmed as 12th February 2011 and my in country training will start on Monday 14th February (how LOVEly ;-))
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Count down to departure

It is about -2 degrees outside here in Lawshall, Suffolk. I've just lit the woodburning stove and made myself an extra strong coffee to help inspire my first words on my first ever blog. I've always been fascinated by 'writers block'. As someone who is not known for having a shortage of things to say (mostly  polite and uninteresting) I am feeling at a bit of a loss as to how to start this personal story. 
I realise that is just over 2 months before I am due to depart for hotter 'climes.' It feels like the start of a whole new chapter in my life; a fresh new page that is yet to unfold. I am experiencing a sense of excitement about all the possibilities for this new chapter. I have decided to approach it with a sense of wonder and to allow my self to experience each step as it unfolds rather than try and manipulate it or control it. I feel I have reached a point in my life where I want to learn to let go and trust that whatever happens I will be able to deal with it. 
I have sent of my documents to VSO so my work permit can be organised. I have made a list of all the injections and medication that I need to sort out asap. I will be attending my last two mandatory VSO training courses next week (Health and Safety, Skills for Working in Development).  I really enjoyed my first VSO course so I am looking forward to attending this next course and coming back feeling fired up and ready to make a positive contribution to my placement with the Ministry for Disability in Accra.
I feel so fortunate to have this opportunity, may I enjoy every part of the journey.