I love my job!

Sorry I haven’t updated in so long, I’ve been really busy. I love my new job! I had to wait a while (seemed like forever) for my work permit to be processed before I could start working, but it was nice to have some time off, even though it got boring after a while. I read a ton of books and spent a lot of time hanging out with friends and watching DVDs.

When I finally started working I had training sessions for a few days, which were kinda boring. Then a circuit ride started, and it got really busy and interesting. Circuit rides are when we are actually interviewing refugees, and last from one week to several weeks. When we’re not on a circuit ride, we are reviewing cases and doing other things at the office, but aren’t actually working directly with refugees. During circuit rides is when we spend all day doing hands-on work with refugees. We have circuit rides here in Ghana, and also all over west and central Africa.

Anyways, shortly after I started working we had a circuit ride here in Ghana, so I spend a couple of days observing other people as they did interviews, and I then I was on my own. I really enjoy working with the refugees, and it’s very interesting and fulfilling as well, being able to help in a hands-on way. We were extremely busy during the circuit ride though, and worked really long hours. For every hour we work over our regular 7.5-hour workday, we get an hour of comp time that we can take whenever we want. So for every couple of days we work long hours, we get a comp day that we can take off work whenever we want. It’s great!

I really enjoy interviewing the refugees, although it can get really intense. Sometimes it’s hard to stay composed while they’re telling their stories of torture and rape and family members and friends being murdered. Many of the refugees have absolutely horrific stories, and get extremely upset while telling them, and we have to calm them down while staying collected ourselves.

I like all of the people I work with. There are about 25 expats (expatriates, i.e. foreigners) who work at my organization, and about 75 Ghanaians, but I work mostly with the expats and only a handful of the Ghanaians. I was already friends with most of the expats when I started working here, so it’s been really fun to be working with them now. And all of the other people working here are great too; they’re all really interesting and have lived all over the world. It’s a great work environment.

I’m living with two good friends (who I also work with) in a three-bedroom apartment right now, but I’m planning on moving in with some other friends in November. Both places are nice, with housekeepers, and are in the same area where most of my friends live, so they’re both great.

Before I forget, I’m traveling with work to Guinea in November! A group of us are going for a couple of weeks to interview refugees. I’m really excited! All our expenses are paid, we get tons of comp time, stay in nice hotels, and get paid extra for every day we travel! Overall, things are going really great for me right now. I love my new job and am having fun living in Accra.

One more thing, I have a new address. Everyone should send any letters or packages to the following address:

Liz Kah
O.P.E.
#10 Quarcoo Lane
Roman Ridge
P.M.B. K.I.A.
Accra, GhanaWest Africa