Spanista » Self Care Rituals, Reflections & Resources for Joyful Living by Ginny Shiverdecker

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  • About Spanista

    Ginny Shiverdecker, Creator of Spanista is Spa Wellness Enthusiast, Adventurer Seeker and Brand Builder.
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Dear Wellness Seekers,

Into Africa Day 2 Lake Volta’s First Floating AbodShelter is the dream build for this trip to Asikuma, Ghana. This first night at M Hotel feels safe and comfortable enough to frame up what ‘home is’ for the next several days. Knowing Mabel the owner is staying there with new Life is reassuring too. And I know my guys are just doors away if I really need them. We  early with a mission on our minds – loads of labor awaits and we are eager to begin. Breakfast is essential to feed our energy levels for the day.

Ordering meals at the Green Hut restaurant is a priority because it takes a long time to get it. So the night before we told our lovely hostess Dinah to have it ready for us. We order simple dishes – scrambled eggs and bread. Hot coffee and tea. Eventually a large water container one uses for camping arrives with super hot water. This I judge is drinkable as Doug and JD dive into it. I opt to drink tea from here forward – forego coffee which is a real sacrifice for me. Tea makes a wonderful choice – sometimes it is just the little things you become to enjoy most – hot water for tea is the only hot water I experience while in Asikuma. Happy to say the scramble eggs and bread are sumptuous and satisfying. If I stay well it will become my go to way to start the day.

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Doug has organized a team of workers hopeful of positive outcomes. Off we go…Doug and DJ on his motorcycle and me with our South Africa friends and workers in the tro tro (bus).  The drive there is a dubious task. The dirt road is full of deep ruts from harsh winter rains, twists and turn, hilly and overrun by tall green growth. The landscape is beautiful along the way – I look out the window and concentrate on it while the guys make banter in their native tongue – loads of laughter erupts so they seem happy to have a week of solid work it seems. I fall in love with the expansive trees – one in particular.

Alas, we arrive at the beautiful Lake Volta. We stop at a high hill and walk down to find the developing Fish Farm landsite – a large warehouse with two Abod homes and a thatched patio frame the setting. It all overlooks a million dollar view of Lake Volta. Down 60 stars is the lake access. In the distance you can see the fish grid in the water where the growing of talapea is a promising way to make a living in Asikuma.

There is a chicken coop – the kind I remember from my grandparents farm. It brings back warm memories.

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We jump into work – Jacques, Lee-Ann and Leslie are our AbodShelters manufacturers in South Africa who produced the structure materials and would guide the building of the floating Abod so guide our efforts.

Physical labor can be so satisfying – we pull together to build the grid platform for the floating Abod as our first task – its hot but we make it fun .  We stop for water breaks as we go and enjoy a native style lunch.

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By the end of the day we have made real progress – the grid is in place but not without a few trick challenges along the way to connect the last pieces.  Soon the sun falls on the horizon and we need to head back to town – the night unfolds in deep darkness and the road dangerous to navigate at night so we head back to the hotel.

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Dusk arrives and the drill is order your food, shower in very cool water, dress for casual dinner and have a few drink to unwind and chat more about what we want to do int he days ahead. The atmosphere is electric as everything is new to me. As enjoy dinner and I watch the workers come for meals Doug treats them to as part of their pay. Such meals are a real treat.  The children come to see Doug – they know him well. He is a hero here – bringing them a connection to the outside world and generosity – giving them free milk when they ask.  They deserve a better chance int he world and we hope we can help in some small way through our efforts.

Into Africa Day 2 Lake Volta’s First Floating AbodShelter reveals the pride and warmth of the people here in Ghana. Spanista sees so much opportunity to help and teach how to be commercially oriented – to build a small business enterprise and the manage it profitably like the Fish Farm. But everything seems to move on what Doug calls ‘Ghana Time’ – we try to lead by being examples of hard work, setting standards for quality and patiently teaching basic operations principles. We pray over time it will become a profitable venture so many more can be put to work and raise the quality of their lives. I count my blessings as I lay my head  down for a good nights rest. There is air conditioning for a few hours before the power outage arrives. It gets me through the night.

Won’t you join me tomorrow to experience the next chapter as we move the grid down the big hill to build the first floating AbodShelter?

To Your Self Care Journey To Joy,

Ginny

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Dear Wellness Seekers,

Into Africa Adventure Day 1 finds me in Accra, Ghana after my first night at a hotel in a neighborhood about 30 minutes from the airport. After quickly getting ready, the task for early morning is picking up Doug and JD my traveling companions who were delayed leaving the US.

Although I was told we were in an area called The Estates – upon looking out the window in full daylight it was unlike any neighborhood I had seen before. An eye opener indeed. I slept lightly and woke at 6 am – taking  several minutes to get oriented. So many new behaviors to engage in here  to keep well, right down to how you brush your teeth – every step you take has to be reconsidered. Michael my host tapped on my door indicating he was ready. We checked out and hit the road. My eyes  opened to find local people starting their days – heading to work, getting their stores set for trading and kids heading off to school in uniforms. Amazed by the heavy traffic and chaos on the road I just sat back and listened to Michael’s stories about life in Accra. The roads looked friendlier during the day – I was clearly the novelty while we road along attracting waves and stares.

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We arrived at he airport with a taxi bus (tro tro here) tagging along as we would not get our collective bags into our little car which included  donations for the school. We found seats in the open air where other Africans are waiting. I took a breath to relax and looked around admiring the bright colors and sense of style of that is unique to Africa  – women’s nails were gelled – Michael Khors handbags over shoulders, beautifully braided hair stunningly shaped – pride in appearance is always an asset. All juxtaposed against brilliant Africa fabrics formed into personal self-expression. Love this as you see in this woman head wrap.

Alas, Doug and JD emerge from the International Exit with smiles and heavy bags. We greet warmly, happy to see each other and head to the car. After loading the vehicles Doug jumps behind the wheel of the car keen to drive the rugged roads. We work our way onto major roads and head to the local mall where we get cash exchange before heading on the three-hour road trip to the bush in a village of Asikuma in eastern Ghana. In a couple of spots going out of the city traffic puts us at a full stop. The car is swarmed like bees to a hive as vendors approach to sell everything at your window. We indulge in street food – large donut like rounds by US standards. Yumm – a bit of local flavor with bottled water takes the edge off. I trust Doug’s recommendations on food that is safe to eat.

As we move on down the road I see such contrasts – Michael and Doug commence a conversation about all the happenings of the Fish Farm, medical clinic, orphanage and school. I take it all in – Raw, raw, raw is the word the burns on my brain.

Soon we find ourselves at a river where we must take a ferry to cross because the bridge is being rebuilt after being destroyed in a storm. I like fairies as I traveled over Lake Michigan via car ferry. After and extended time watching all the women vendors work hard to make a living we buys water, and a snack to show support and help the waiting time pass.

After we arrive on the other side make tracks to Asikuma. Arriving in the Village one feels the welcoming warmth of the people as they smile and way along the street. We arrive at M Hotel where we meet the owners Mabel and New Life who know Doug well as this is his usually home away from home.   We have lunch at he restaurant and get our rooms sorted out – then we outline the work goals for the week and begin to greet many people who know Doug well and are happy to see him.Into-Africa-Adventure-Day-1-7.jpegPINIMAGEInto-Africa-Adventure-Day-1-8.jpegPINIMAGEInto-Africa-Adventure-Day-1-9.jpegPINIMAGE

Into Africa Adventure Day 1 has brought us to our destination. Spanista is happy to know where home will be for the next few days –  it next few days will be full of physical building activity. Loads to accomplish as we build AbodShelters facilities here. I am humbled and grateful to be here doing somethings that really matters with Doug.

Tomorrow we will explore the area and the site for our building work.

To Your Self Care Journey To Joy,

Ginny

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Dear Wellness Seekers,

Friday Wellness Tip: Humanitarian Vacation’s Rock is a new happy discovery. This was the first time I traveled to another country to perform humanitarian work with the mindset that I was on vacation rather than the mindset set of working hard. It was a huge paradigm shift for me that provided a news lens to experience my time devoted to my purpose in going to Ghana, Africa. Even though the completing the work is exactly while I was going. So many times in my life I traveled to
As a result I after 8 days away, I AM REINVIGORATED BY MY VACATION in multiple ways – forever changed because I choose to see and do things outside the point of view of work. Everyday while considering what I needed to accomplish for AbodShelters, I looked for ways to really immerse myself into the people, culture and way of life – transport, food, destinations and going outside the norm to experience the real side of life in Ghana.
Here is how I changed my approach:

1. I move at a lively pace as I prepare to take a humanitarian vacation. How freeing it is to decide how, when, and where I will spend my time to enjoy each moment to the fullest while planning how I will accomplish my building projects and relationships. The 30 minute mototaxi rides from the village along a winding dirt road to the lake where we are building the AbodShelters was a real adventure.

2. I make new friends with the view of relaxed joy. Leaving the need to achieve a work objective behind. Only to find it is accomplished with out effort because of the positive atmosphere created.Friday-Wellness-Tip:-Humanitarian-VacationPINIMAGE

3. I open up to learn about a different region and culture, and take in the stunning beauty of nature. I am stopping periodically to take in the moments and breathe, to enjoy the local flavors like these fruits – to burn the images in my brain as a positive memory.

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Friday Wellness Tip: Humanitarian Vacation’s Rock offers a new way to look at how a humanitarian trip can be really rich with discovery and joy that enhances the rewards of giving back no matter what type of mission trip you might be on. My Ghana trip was life changing as a result.

Congratulations to anyone who took personal time to make a difference in the world. A personal thank you for your devotion to humanity.

If you have a humanitarian vacation story you would like to share – Spanista would love to hear it. Or if you want to explore options see this USA Today article for some ideas.

To Your Self Care Journey To Joy,

Ginny

 

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Dear Wellness Seekers,

Night Time Arrival City of Accra Ghana Africa Chapter 2 is the story of Spanista’s humanitarian trip to Ghana to build AbodShelters as housing and medical facilities with Kingdom Cares International. My host Doug and his son DJ missed their flight in the US so they will arrive the next day. As Executive Director of AbodShelters Foundation this is my first trip to Ghana to build Abod homes.

As I exit the Accra airport with my bags in tow I am clearly a novelty to the locals who are standing and seated in an open air waiting area. As I walk into the crowd, I am approached by taxi drivers – typical of any airport in the world the local drivers all speak English well. I politely decline with words of respect. Scanning the crowd for a 6 foot 4 inch man with a sign saying ‘Ginny’ I see Michael with a broad smile. We greet one another warmly. We make friends immediately. He takes my bags and guides me to a parking lot across the street. I inhale to notice the aroma’s of deep rich earth, humidity and something new I cannot describe. An unique smell different form any other I have ever encountered.

We navigate to the car over some rough terrain – my first impression is the infrastructure is unfinished – without seeing anything the word that comes to mind is RAW!  While it is dark, yet you can see just enough – there is hustle of activity that feels chaotic as people come and go. Angry words emerge for a military guard with a rifle as someone makes a wrong move – he pushes him to get him in line – we carry on to load the car. Darkness makes everything seem more ominous than it is.

Michael drives through the pay station and we head out to the hotel. We head out of the Accra airport to see signs of a the city, the capital of Ghana, emerge with tall buildings and billboards – yet the road eventually turns from pavement to dirt with pot holes we miss and no dividing lines. You drive where you need to barely missing passing cars. This is unnerving. Darkness is everywhere – people are walking and biking along the road as their own risk. I see makeshift wood huts juxtaposed with larger buildings. Many are left unfinished.

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We turn corners taking winding roads lines with shacks. There are no road signs in Accra. Now we are in a local neighborhood unlike any I have ever stayed in before. People of on the streets in small clusters enjoying their night life – it is after 10 pm. The locals are dressed well – yet they live in very small shacks of left over materials with dirt floors. Michael says we are now in a place called the Estates. Hmmmm. Really? Guess things are relative. We finally pull up to a building that looks solidly built and drive behind a gate that gets locked. It’s the Hotel we will stay in for tonight. I know when I walk in I have left creature comforts back home. It appears clean  – we head to my room – lights in the bathroom do not work, they get fixed quickly. The bed looks fine – I brought my own pillowcase. No TV, no wi-fi. Glad to have a place to lay my head and freshen up a bit after 24 hours of travel. I have a full bottle of water to get me through to the next day. I discover he shower has no warm water, just cold. I would learn this would be the rule for the week. Time to adapt.

I unpack just what I need. Michael is staying in the room next to me – says if I need him to pound on the wall. All good. I try to close my eyes – music is coming from the bathroom window. People are talking outside. I opt to keep the bathroom light on all night so I can have the comfortable breeze blow through. At 6:30 am we will head back to the airport to pick up Doug and DJ.  I close my eyes and pray for a couple of hours of rest. There is a big week ahead.

Night Time Arrival City of Accra Ghana Africa Chapter 2 is the first taste of what is to come. I am full of anticipation and welcome the expansive impact of this humanitarian trip. Spanista is ready for learning more about another type of Self Care called giving back and trusting humanity. 

Come back again for Chapter 3 of Humanitarian Travel Diary to Ghana.

To Your Self Care Journey To Joy,

Ginny

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Dear Wellness Seekers,

Road To Ghana Africa Humanitarian Experience begins my multi part story of devoting 8 days to humanitarian work in the rural bush country with partner NGO organized by a new friend and his teen son has had a profound effect on me.  Frankly, my feelings are twirling in my heart like tumble weeds in the wind rolling across acres of dry red earth.

Being the Adventure Seeker that I am, I am familiar with many remote areas but Africa always carries a distinct image that varies so greatly from country to country. Extremes in cultural behavior can threaten life in a single moment. For anyone traveling in Africa you are always mindful that winds of change could blow from a different direction from one day to the next with out warning.  But for those of us committed to building AbodShelters Villages of The Future to help transform living conditions for disadvantaged families in the developing world we are willing to travel to where ever the need is armed with the mean to make a difference for people who deserve better.

One of the challenges of being int he bush is that wi-fi is just not available – another thing we take for granted.  So my blogging has been disrupted for a few days. If you are a Spanista follower, you know that I started my journey last my journey last Sunday. I just finished packing when I got a call from Doug the trip organizer saying his first flight was delayed  translated to I will miss all the subsequent flights too. Argh – the real adventure begins this minute as traveling with an experienced companion who knows the ropes is preferred in Africa, I knew I had to dive into the trip myself.

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Delta Airlines knows Africa. My first Delta flight from Kansas City to Detroit at 5:45 pm offered me a tight connection but I took a moment to stop at Dylan’s Candy Bar to pick up one last American Sweet treat before leaving the country. I arrived at my gate easily so I simply walked onto the plane. Off now on my 8 hour transatlantic flight to Amsterdam at 10:15 pm where I settled into my seat and took in a movie, meal and some red wine hoping to help lull me into slumber to get some rest before the next leg. Arriving in the Netherlands Schiphol International Airport was uneventful – thank goodness. But the 4 hour waiting between flights a study in people watching – the French call it voyeur. The next KLM flight is lively with chatter in languages I do not understand. Ghana has 62 difference tribal dialects alone with people anticipating arriving home to their homeland. We arrived at 8 pm. But it took a full 90 minutes to clear immigration, get my luggage and clear customs. Happy that my bag had arrive after a couple of tranfers as all my essentials to survive the busy were contained within.

Now I with my courage dial turned up its highest  level – I walked out of the airport and into the Africa night air – just taking in my first breath of fresh air in 24 hours I knew I walking into a completely new world…..

Road To Ghana Africa Humanitarian Experience  – Over the next couple of weeks I will be sharing the many dimensions of this remote area. Especially sharing  my experiences and the affects it has on myself and others. Spanista believes a valuable dimension of Self Care Practices is giving of ones time and talents to help others is essential path to explore in life on the journey to joy. This is a labor of love for humanity.

Come bak again to take the journey with me, won’t you?

To Your Self Care Journey To Joy,

Ginny

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