I am doing very well. It is about 4.30 am and I got up early, having slept early yesterday. We are going through orientation now, and so I am in temporary accommodation at Lenton hall, which is for undergraduate students. I will go to my permanent residence on Saturday.
Our flight from Accra on Saturday 17 September went very fine. After you left me for Tema, Vivian, Dapaa, his wife and Maame Yaa his daughter and I spent some more time waiting and chatting. They left me just before 8 pm, and I went in through the final departure procedures. I had God’s favour with my hand luggage (which was about 10kg above the limit!) and was able to sail through. We got to Heathrow airport in London about 20 minute early, on the morning of Sunday 18th September, at about 6:15 am. The queue at the arrivals section was quite long, and I had to play translator for a pastor from Ghana who couldn't speak English; he could only speak Twi. I locked my new bag and couldn't get it to open with the secret code; I was a bit hot with that, but tempered with the zips to open it (Albert fixed it up later, but can't lock it now, but it is ok). After the translation from Twi to English for the pastor (he eventually got his passport stamped to enter UK), the lady immigration officer said I had helped her so well, she was confident that all my documents were ok (they were in the locked bag!!). Favour again!! I then went to the Health check area, and showed them my x-ray. I was to have had a report with the x-ray itself, but the lady took it to the doctor who said it was okay. From there, I went to get my checked-in luggage, the big one.
When I came out, I couldn't find my friend Albert Danquah, the one I came with to Wasa when I first bought my car. He is in the UK with his wife who is a nurse, and they have permanent stay here. He was meeting me at the airport and I was to stay with them for two days. He had been standing there waiting, but we couldn't see each other. I prayed and God led me to a Ghanaian, who allowed me to use his phone to call Albert. He was standing about 20 metres from me. He helped me with my stuff and we went to the car-park where he had his car - a white Citroen, nice one. When we got to the house, his wife Jackie was so happy to see me!! She delayed going to church, got me some tea and we went to church together. Church was nice, but I was feeling so sleepy!!
When we came back from church, Jackie gave us jollof, with stew, salad and shito!! She cooked it at dawn, for me!! It was so nice. I slept after that, and woke late afternoon. We went to see Kwasi Dako in the evening. Kwasi Dako is another very good friend. He was so active at my wedding, and he actually drove me to the wedding. I think he sent his mother’s driver to pick the two of you up to my wedding. He came to Ghana on Monday. He was in UK to do his Masters as well, and he finished this year. We are still praying that he gets a new job soon, but it is likely he will return to the UK to work.
On Monday, in the afternoon, Albert, Jackie and I went to see Nancy, Vivian’s big sister. I had never met her, since she has been in the UK for about ten years. It took us about 2-3 hours to get there, using bus, tube and train. The tube is like a train, but it moves underground. It was so nice, and a good tour of a good part of London. London is so big!! Nancy was happy to see us and resembles Vivian a lot. We ate rice, salad and stew at her place, and left there close to 8 pm. It was nice seeing her, and I hope to visit her again and again. We got home after 10pm on Monday from Nancy's place.
On Tuesday, Albert took me to buy a jacket for the weather, a really nice one, and then the top-up card for the phone. Albert and his wife Jackie really looked well after me. Jackie gave me some t-rolls too, and bath cream. Then they bought the 10 pound top-up card for me, and then bought me the chip for my phone too. And the food there in their house was good!! Albert then took me to airport, where I caught the bus to Nottingham. We took about 3 hours to get here and given temporary accomodation for the duration of the welcome programme. I am in Lenton Wartley hall, block 12 room 27 for the moment. I will move to Cloister house on Saturday, God willing. We had dinner, then went to the Coffee bar to have some drinks and chat. I slept on Tuesday around 12am.
On Wednesday morning (which is yesterday), we started the orientation. We've had a guided tour of campus, met the scholarship representatives from the International office who gave us 600 pounds cash cheque and 600 pounds to open accounts. Then I went to submit my details for a letter to the bank, to be picked on Monday.
In the afternoon, I waited for Hannah, who is one of the Joyful Way ladies here. She passed by on her way to work. After seeing her off, I went to work on my computer and on the internet. This place is so advanced, and it is nice.
In the evening after supper, I saw a guy who was talking and behaving like a typical Ghanaian. He turned out to be a Nigerian!! He then introduced me to another Nigerian, who had actually schooled in Kumasi, from Preparatory school to Secondary school. He is called Moses Ademola, a doctor, and he speaks Twi like a typical Asante!! We stood outside the dining hall chatting with two other Nigerians, Dopa and Kola, as well as the initial guy called Leonard, who has finished his Masters here in Nottingham, and is going to another University to do his PhD. I chatted with him about how he got the opportunity for PhD, and I think with God’s help, it will be possible for me to get the opportunity for a PhD as well. Continue to pray with me.
They came to see me off to my hall and I went straight to bed. I woke up early and am writing to you now. I will see how I can mail this letter today, after getting it printed. I am yet to go into my permanent place, but you can use this address to get to me:
Nana Awere Damoah
(MSc Student, School of Chemical, Environmental and Mining Engineering, University of Nottingham)
Cloister House, Cloister Street
Dunkirk, Nottingham
NG7 2PG, UK
My Mobile telephone number is 0044-7947104911.
When I get into my permanent residence, which will be Saturday, I will give you my exact flat number. I will be in Cloister house, though.
|
