From Developing to Extremely Developed: What do you Expect?

After having traveled around Europe and becoming addicted to the amazing transportation systems and the buzz of culture and diversity of other European cities, I was beyond excited for the service learning trip. I have studied abroad twice in Europe, yet I had never actually done service learning prior to this summer, where both of my trips were solely based on outreach. Prior to this trip, I was in Ghana working with a local NGO to help combat child labor and child trafficking through observing education systems at a local school. Having experienced an NGO in a developing world, I am interested as to what I will find in Germany. In Ghana, things are very relaxed and slow-paced as a culture, however they deal with significant governmental corruption which makes it extremely hard for people to get the goods and services they need. In Germany, on the other hand, everything is highly organized and meticulous. The government is highly concerned with providing for each and every one of its citizens to the point where it even bleeds into humanitarian outreach on a global standard. So, going from a developing country to one of the most developed countries on the planet, I am not entirely sure what to expect. While I may be clueless about what I should expect as far as my NGO, culturally I know I can definitely expect clean drinking water, warm showers, and lots of pretzels.

 The picture is of me outside of the Cheerful Hearts Foundation (an NGO outside of Kasoa, Ghana). It was taken right after a small ceremony they host for all volunteers right before they leave. The stole is a traditional Ghanaian pattern called Kente. (Maybe I'll find a dirndl to match!)

Emma Tobe