Departure Day

Today is the day.  We are all packed up, well pretty much, and ready to go.  Our flight leaves Greensboro this afternoon and we'll be in Accra by noon tomorrow.  It is hard to believe that all of this is really happening.   Mr. Atta and I talked about traveling to Ghana way back when this project started.  It seemed like a pipe dream back then.  Not any more.

We have quite a lot to take with us.  Two giant bags of soccer gear that weigh 40 pounds each, two carry ons each and then our regular suitcase.  Our carry ons will include three video cameras and three digital cameras for Community Eleven.  Right now it seems like if we make it through the airports with all of this stuff it will be a miracle.

We have just a few more hours here to take care of final details, then the adventure begins!

GCSTV!

Here's a link to the GCSTV story about our project!
http://schoolcenter.gcsnc.com/education/components/scrapbook/default.php?sectiondetailid=360420
Our story starts at 2:12.

More later.  Busy packing for tomorrow's flight!

9 days and Passback

I picked up the soccer gear from Mike at Soccer.com today.  I'm super excited about it.  He gave us at least three sets of uniforms, a couple sets of cones and over fifty balls.  Looks like a few keeper jerseys and some gloves as well.  I didn't dig too deep in the bags as I was afraid I wouldn't be able to repack them.  We've got somewhere around 90 pounds of equipment, just under the limit for our flight.  He seems like a really good guy, and his little sister is even working with some of her friends around here to collect a little more gear.  Sounded like she might drop another set of jerseys off for me at school on Monday.

Things are coming together, and the trip is coming on quick.  Mr. Atta and I are planning on sitting down again sometime this weekend and talking a little more about what we need to discuss when we meet with the leaders of Community Eleven School.  I think that he is a little worried about the committment from Mendenhall and being certain that the school is in it for the long haul.  He says that so many times people come with good intentions, but they quickly fizzle out, and he doesn't want to see that happen here.  I certainly agree and have some of the same worries.  However, I think that we will be able to build some extra support for it when we return and have some things to share.  Mr. Matson has agreed to draft a letter of support for us to take with us as well.  He's been supportive of us the whole way, so I think we'll be ok.  I guess in the end, only time will tell.

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving, and I can't help but take a few minutes to think about how thankful I am for this opportunity.  There are a lot of uncertainties as this project moves forward, but I'm very excited about all that we've been able to do so far.  I feel like things will continue to just work themselves out as we go along as well.  That's how good things tend to happen, right?

9 days...

14 days and television

It's getting closer and closer.  Two weeks from the time I'm writing this we'll be in the air.  Hard to believe it really is that close to finally happening.  Things are really starting to come together and feel real.  I got to talk to my friend Julie Olson via Skype the other night and discussed a few of the particulars of our trip.  She's kind enough to open her home to Robyn and I and she's committed to getting her school, Lincoln Community School of Accra, in on the project.  She'll be bringing a group of staff members from Lincoln along with us to meet with the staff of Community Eleven School.  I'm excited to have another school involved in the project, especially one close by and with a lot of resources to help.

I also did my first television interview today.  GCSTV interviewed Mr. Atta and me this afternoon to help publicise the work that we are doing.  I know it is just the school system channel, but it's still pretty cool.  I'm excited about this project and I want people to know about it.  It will be interesting to see what the final program looks like.  I'm not sure when it will air.

Finally, I'm really excited to be collecting soccer gear next Wednesday to take along with us.  There's something cool about working with a program (Passback) that's connected to the US Soccer Foundation.  I can't wait to see what we get but more importantly, I can't wait to share it with the kids in Ghana.  The computers and school supplies are of course very important, but getting to share the beautiful game with kids across the ocean is something extra special for me.

Passback just posted this on their Facebook page.  Some of this gear is headed out with us!