The school this week was extremely noisy as they where practicing for their annual march to celebrate their independence from the British. this meant that every morning starting just after 8, each classes would be in the court yard learning and practicing to march, it also meant that the school drummers ( a bunch of boys with sticks and plastic oil containers) would not stop until about 11. This had the knock on effect that i had no one to teach in the mornings so the little time i would spend with a class was cut in half so that i could see all the classes in the afternoons. This continued everyday until last Friday. The march was on the Monday but i sadly missed it as i was traveling to lake volta with a small group of the volunteers.
we left Agric Friday morning at about 6am to arrive at the metro bus station for 6.30. On arrival that place was already swarming with people carrying everything from suitcases, fridges, sacks of flip flops to chickens. We managed to find our conductor and waited patiently for our bus. The metro buses didn't seem to have any set time table and after about three hours our bus arrived. As it arrived people began to run for it (before it had even stopped or the doors had opened), There was a scrum to get on as it is quite common for the bus to be over booked. After we got through the scrum and found a seat the bus fell silent as as i looked up i saw the conductor who began to give a prayer. After the prayer there was a long silence the an Amen, this seemed to be normally practice as everybody joined in. After 5 hours on the bus we arrived in Koforudia and from there we got on a tro and traveled 2 hours to Akasombo. By this time it was about 4 o'clock and we found a guest house.
Traveling in an odd numbered group and trying to save money. Luke, Dries and Myself decided to share a room which again only had one double bed. After an inter sting night sleep we headed for lake Volta ( the largest lake in Africa) where we booked our selves on a all day cruise. On the cruise we met a group of volunteers from the UK who are traveling with Mad Adventure and where working in Ho ( our next destination ). They all live in one large youth hostel style house with three large dorms. Seeing as they had a dorm almost empty the invited us to stay with them. That night as it was their cooks night off i decided that as a thank you i would cook for all 13 people. After i had made this promise i soon discovered that i had two pots and almost nothing to cook with but impressed my self out how many things i could use my pen knife for.
The next morning we left early and headed for HoHoe and the waterfalls there. We arrived at the waterfalls at about 11 and decided we would hike to the upper falls before visiting the lower falls. After meeting our guide we set off and hiked for about 2hours. Although at some points it was more like a rock climb as we found our selves walking across paths a foot wide with a drop on one side and a vertical lift on the other. After 2 hours of hiking in 30 Degree heat we looked like we had already been swimming. Eventually we arrived at the falls which were about 100meters high and because of the long walk we where the only ones there. After the about 30 min we headed back this time doing the hike in half the time as it was down hill although we may have slipped and fell a few more times as we where running out of energy. We reached the lower falls soon after and headed back to the town where we had our driver waiting for us.
That night we went back to Ho to stay with the other volunteers from the UK and again cooked for the entire party. The next morning we found a tro that was heading for Kumasi and managed to get home in about 6 hours.
The next morning i was again feeling sick and decided to revisit the hospital as it was getting worse. After 4 hours in the hospital i was told i was not going to get to see the doctor so i headed to the school and taught my lessons. This morning (Thursday) i tried again and after 5 hours in the hospital got to see the doctor for about 5 minutes who was convinced that i have Malaria. So he has given me a course of drugs to take and if there is no change by Monday it looks as if i will be heading back to the UK for proper treatment. (hopefully it wont effect my trip to south Africa!!!!!!!!!!)
Thursday, 25 February 2010
Monday, 15 February 2010
sickness and the sea side.
Well after our trip north i managed to catch some horrible bug and was violently ill Tuesday morning. After not a hugely productive day at the school on the Monday i went home feeling rather run down. Having an early night i woke up Tuesday morning shaking and being sick. After calling Gabriel i met one of the charity reps at Abrepo junction and we traveled for five minuets to the nearest Hospital. I must say a Ghanaian Clinic was not the experience i was hoping for while i was in Ghana but life is full of surprise.
We arrived at the clinic just before 8 o'clock and it was already swarming with people. We walked through several wards which were all concrete and on one level. The place was full with every available piece space taken by someone. The rep Anthony walked me straight through and into one of the doctors Secretary's rooms which was surprisingly comfortable but very dark with an air conditioning unit that seemed to break every 30min. After an hour i saw the doctor, who had trained in Liverpool. He gave me the fastest examination i have ever had and then sent me to the lab for a blood test. The Lab was another dark concrete room with lime green paint on the walls. The technician sat me in a chair and started searching for a Syringe. I quickly gave him one of the sterile needles that i had brought with me and wiped my arm down with one of my alcoholic wipes. After he toock a blood sample i had to wait another hour for the result, and was pleasently surprised to find out it wasn't malaria. which the nurse had said she was sure it was.
The doctor gave me some antibiotics and told me to come back on thursday. I left feeling no better and nothing seemed to change even with the drugs. At the Wednesday volunteer meeting i met up with Pete and mieker both nurses and they said the antibiotics i had been given where mainly for ears, eyes ans throat. Li then gave me some ciprofloxacin (diffrent antibiotics) and these seemed to help. waking up Thursday i was again being sick and made a return trip to the hospital where i found my way back to the same nurse. She wanted to test me for more viruses so i was given crude instructions to a private lab which i found above a cafe. after another blood sample was taken and another one of my needles used i waited three hours for my results which again showed nothing.
Deciding i had nothing to lose i joined the rest of the volunteers heading south to the coast. We met at the STC bus station at 4am and made the 5hour trip to the coast. Which was probably not the best decision had made as i seemed to spend 4hours trying to convince myself not to be sick. After arriving at the coast and feeling slightly better with some fresh air and exercise we made our way to the hotel, which was just as interesting as the one in the north. Me and Luke (also English, care volunteer) decided to share a room and were not surprised when we found one bed this time slightly smaller than a double and a bathroom which was so small you could go to the loo, brush your teeth and shower at the same time.
We then headed to Kakum National park and into the rain forest where we did the highest canopy walk in the world which is about 350meters long and made up of 7 different bridges. After that we did a guided walk through the rain forest and with humidity at near 90% we decided to head for a rest stop. We found the driver we had hired for the day and went to Hun cottage which is suppose to have a family of crocodiles living there. we ordered our food and because it can take a couple of hours in Ghana, we walked round the crocodile lake but failed to see anything.
We then headed to the beach and Oasis hotel. The tide and current was unbelievable. getting in was easy but as you swam you were swept down the coast and to get out you had to catch a wave which would through you up onto the beach. After another interesting night sleep we went to the cape castle which was the main slave trading post in Africa for the British. After a guided tour with about 50 locals. I felt as if they were going to chase me into the see for all the horrific thing that the British did to their ancestors. That night we went out for dinner and after waiting over an hour for our starters and even longer for the main, which was wrong (as i ordered a shrimp dish and received chicken), we headed back to the hotel enjoyed the night life.
After a weekend of fresh air and western'ish food i felt much better. I headed to the school this morning where we manged to fix 6 computers so that now all 15 are working. My lessons went well as i asked them to open paint and just to draw. So that there mouse skills would improve. however the short time span is still a huge problem as although the majority got the hang of it there were a few who really struggled and which i could have helped with another 15minutes.
we are planning on heading east this weekend to lake volta but that all depends on the plan as it may involve missing the Monday of school. so unless i can move my class to the Tuesday i will not go.
We arrived at the clinic just before 8 o'clock and it was already swarming with people. We walked through several wards which were all concrete and on one level. The place was full with every available piece space taken by someone. The rep Anthony walked me straight through and into one of the doctors Secretary's rooms which was surprisingly comfortable but very dark with an air conditioning unit that seemed to break every 30min. After an hour i saw the doctor, who had trained in Liverpool. He gave me the fastest examination i have ever had and then sent me to the lab for a blood test. The Lab was another dark concrete room with lime green paint on the walls. The technician sat me in a chair and started searching for a Syringe. I quickly gave him one of the sterile needles that i had brought with me and wiped my arm down with one of my alcoholic wipes. After he toock a blood sample i had to wait another hour for the result, and was pleasently surprised to find out it wasn't malaria. which the nurse had said she was sure it was.
The doctor gave me some antibiotics and told me to come back on thursday. I left feeling no better and nothing seemed to change even with the drugs. At the Wednesday volunteer meeting i met up with Pete and mieker both nurses and they said the antibiotics i had been given where mainly for ears, eyes ans throat. Li then gave me some ciprofloxacin (diffrent antibiotics) and these seemed to help. waking up Thursday i was again being sick and made a return trip to the hospital where i found my way back to the same nurse. She wanted to test me for more viruses so i was given crude instructions to a private lab which i found above a cafe. after another blood sample was taken and another one of my needles used i waited three hours for my results which again showed nothing.
Deciding i had nothing to lose i joined the rest of the volunteers heading south to the coast. We met at the STC bus station at 4am and made the 5hour trip to the coast. Which was probably not the best decision had made as i seemed to spend 4hours trying to convince myself not to be sick. After arriving at the coast and feeling slightly better with some fresh air and exercise we made our way to the hotel, which was just as interesting as the one in the north. Me and Luke (also English, care volunteer) decided to share a room and were not surprised when we found one bed this time slightly smaller than a double and a bathroom which was so small you could go to the loo, brush your teeth and shower at the same time.
We then headed to Kakum National park and into the rain forest where we did the highest canopy walk in the world which is about 350meters long and made up of 7 different bridges. After that we did a guided walk through the rain forest and with humidity at near 90% we decided to head for a rest stop. We found the driver we had hired for the day and went to Hun cottage which is suppose to have a family of crocodiles living there. we ordered our food and because it can take a couple of hours in Ghana, we walked round the crocodile lake but failed to see anything.
We then headed to the beach and Oasis hotel. The tide and current was unbelievable. getting in was easy but as you swam you were swept down the coast and to get out you had to catch a wave which would through you up onto the beach. After another interesting night sleep we went to the cape castle which was the main slave trading post in Africa for the British. After a guided tour with about 50 locals. I felt as if they were going to chase me into the see for all the horrific thing that the British did to their ancestors. That night we went out for dinner and after waiting over an hour for our starters and even longer for the main, which was wrong (as i ordered a shrimp dish and received chicken), we headed back to the hotel enjoyed the night life.
After a weekend of fresh air and western'ish food i felt much better. I headed to the school this morning where we manged to fix 6 computers so that now all 15 are working. My lessons went well as i asked them to open paint and just to draw. So that there mouse skills would improve. however the short time span is still a huge problem as although the majority got the hang of it there were a few who really struggled and which i could have helped with another 15minutes.
we are planning on heading east this weekend to lake volta but that all depends on the plan as it may involve missing the Monday of school. so unless i can move my class to the Tuesday i will not go.
Monday, 8 February 2010
First week end away and the school!
Well this week end was my first excurtion with the other voluenteers, we went to the boabeng-fiema monkey santuary, It tock us about 2 hours to reach are hotel. We traveled in a tro tro (a van or minibus that should only take about 10 people but you see them with 30 in). As there was 15 of us we bought the entire tro and when driving through ghana kids would see us and shout BRUNI BRUNI BRUNI'S i dont this they have ever seen so many white people at once. we arrived at the hotel and quickly discoverd that the twin room was actually a double bed so me and pete (a 24 year old nurse in traing, who is hear working in a hospital) ended up sleeping together for to nights (but its all part of the fun). although the girls that thought they had a triple soon discoverd that it was actually just a kings size bed. but its Africa.
after an excellent night sleep (as the fan was so good), we orderd breakfast and it came out in drips and drabs, the last person recieving there food two hours after order. eventually after anothe 2.5hour drive in a tro we arrived to see the monkeys. I got some excellent pics which i can't upload as the internet is to slow. After the monkeys we went back to the hotle for lunch which took around 3 hours due to the amazing service. after ordering we headed into the market to get a loaf of bread and a pineapple and had finished both before the first plate of chips arrived.
but apparently this is the same through out Ghana. after lunch we headed to see a bat coleney and caves but when we arrived in the local village to them we where swarmed by people telling us they where our tour guide and that we had to go to the palace and to their homes to collect their torches. After katie (Canadian working in a clinic) managed to kick the man out the bus we decided with night almost exactly 1 hour away and the cave trail taking up to 2 we would head back to the hotel.
The next day we went to find the local water falls and hassle free we arrived there and spent the afternoon standing under the falls. after another 3hour meal we managed to bartter for a larger tro to take us back to Kumasi. which tock us 3.5hours to do 85Kilometers.
I wwent to the school today where i was given my timetable by the headmaster. after looking at it and conversing with the teachers i soon discoverd that atmost i had an hour with each class once a week. i only have 15computers in the Lab and each class has 60+ kids so with time to change the kids over each kid will spend a max of 15min on a computer a week. So in the 8 weeks i am hear i will only teach the kids for 2hours.
Today it took me 10 min to get the kids to write "hello my name is ....." so i dont no how useful i will be to them while i am hear. and with each kid calling for a teacher when the press the right button on the mouse as the little box appears progress is slow.
after an excellent night sleep (as the fan was so good), we orderd breakfast and it came out in drips and drabs, the last person recieving there food two hours after order. eventually after anothe 2.5hour drive in a tro we arrived to see the monkeys. I got some excellent pics which i can't upload as the internet is to slow. After the monkeys we went back to the hotle for lunch which took around 3 hours due to the amazing service. after ordering we headed into the market to get a loaf of bread and a pineapple and had finished both before the first plate of chips arrived.
but apparently this is the same through out Ghana. after lunch we headed to see a bat coleney and caves but when we arrived in the local village to them we where swarmed by people telling us they where our tour guide and that we had to go to the palace and to their homes to collect their torches. After katie (Canadian working in a clinic) managed to kick the man out the bus we decided with night almost exactly 1 hour away and the cave trail taking up to 2 we would head back to the hotel.
The next day we went to find the local water falls and hassle free we arrived there and spent the afternoon standing under the falls. after another 3hour meal we managed to bartter for a larger tro to take us back to Kumasi. which tock us 3.5hours to do 85Kilometers.
I wwent to the school today where i was given my timetable by the headmaster. after looking at it and conversing with the teachers i soon discoverd that atmost i had an hour with each class once a week. i only have 15computers in the Lab and each class has 60+ kids so with time to change the kids over each kid will spend a max of 15min on a computer a week. So in the 8 weeks i am hear i will only teach the kids for 2hours.
Today it took me 10 min to get the kids to write "hello my name is ....." so i dont no how useful i will be to them while i am hear. and with each kid calling for a teacher when the press the right button on the mouse as the little box appears progress is slow.
Thursday, 4 February 2010
First Couple of nights in Ghana,
Well its only been two days and already i have wanted to come home and through in the towel,
I arrived finaly in Ghana at 11pm, after about 20hours of traveling with almost no sleep. on arrival i was met by a 28 degree heat ( at 11 pm). Then once i had collected my bags and avoided the beggers i left the airport to meet a rep from PA. We traveled to the PA guest house where he gave me a bag of water (yes a bag). he left me to organise my self and to get some sleep as we had to be up by 3am ( it was already past 12).
when i got up i dried the gallons of swet that was dripping off me and changed. it was at this point when i was cursing the world and asking my self what the hell i was doing. at breakfast i met Lee another volenteer from Luxemburg. as we traveled to the bus station we were stopped at a check point by police who were both carring AK47's. our rep payed them off and we arrived at the bus station hassle free.
after sitting at the bus staion for an hour a luxuary bus pulled up and we climbed on. i began to think that this wasnt so bad when out rep informed us we would drive for 2.5hours rest for 50 min and the drive another 2.5 hours. wondering why we would need a rest from a bus trip i dried to fall asleep when i was thrown out my seat as we left the paved road for dirt. for the first 30 kikometers we travel over un even ground and the bus could not exceed 20mph. after almost 1.5hours we came back on to paved road how ever this changed frequently finaly we reached i rest point. (now i understand why you have to rest).
we arrived in Kumasi at 11am and met Gaby, he showed us rond the city and took us for a traditional meal where we ate rice balls in a penut sauce which we ate with our hands. Eventualy we mad it to the PA office in kumasi, As it was the meeting night all the volenteer where there and i met another 15 people from all over the world. flow a french chef had decided he would make us dinner. after watching him cook for 5 hours we sat down to a a large rice dish and 4 diffrent dishes ( a chicken dish, tuna, fish stew and quacamoli). after spending the evening with them i relaxed and was happy to be in ghana.
i then went home and met my new host mum and host dad, who were extremely welcoming and understanding that all i wanted todo was get to bed after 48 hours and less than 5 hours sleep.
This morning after trying to force some eggs in me i was taken by Gaby to the school and i was met by hundreds of kids charnting Bruni (white man, apparently its not racis). after going from one class to the next with the IT teacher ( Mr Daniel, who is also 18) and teaching some theory i realised how basic there undertsanding of ICT was and how hard it is going to be as i have to try and stick to the ghanain sylabus (which is very wrong in a few places).
Any way we shall see how it goes.
i will try and post agin next week and try and get some pics online.
Much love Mr will (what the children call me)
I arrived finaly in Ghana at 11pm, after about 20hours of traveling with almost no sleep. on arrival i was met by a 28 degree heat ( at 11 pm). Then once i had collected my bags and avoided the beggers i left the airport to meet a rep from PA. We traveled to the PA guest house where he gave me a bag of water (yes a bag). he left me to organise my self and to get some sleep as we had to be up by 3am ( it was already past 12).
when i got up i dried the gallons of swet that was dripping off me and changed. it was at this point when i was cursing the world and asking my self what the hell i was doing. at breakfast i met Lee another volenteer from Luxemburg. as we traveled to the bus station we were stopped at a check point by police who were both carring AK47's. our rep payed them off and we arrived at the bus station hassle free.
after sitting at the bus staion for an hour a luxuary bus pulled up and we climbed on. i began to think that this wasnt so bad when out rep informed us we would drive for 2.5hours rest for 50 min and the drive another 2.5 hours. wondering why we would need a rest from a bus trip i dried to fall asleep when i was thrown out my seat as we left the paved road for dirt. for the first 30 kikometers we travel over un even ground and the bus could not exceed 20mph. after almost 1.5hours we came back on to paved road how ever this changed frequently finaly we reached i rest point. (now i understand why you have to rest).
we arrived in Kumasi at 11am and met Gaby, he showed us rond the city and took us for a traditional meal where we ate rice balls in a penut sauce which we ate with our hands. Eventualy we mad it to the PA office in kumasi, As it was the meeting night all the volenteer where there and i met another 15 people from all over the world. flow a french chef had decided he would make us dinner. after watching him cook for 5 hours we sat down to a a large rice dish and 4 diffrent dishes ( a chicken dish, tuna, fish stew and quacamoli). after spending the evening with them i relaxed and was happy to be in ghana.
i then went home and met my new host mum and host dad, who were extremely welcoming and understanding that all i wanted todo was get to bed after 48 hours and less than 5 hours sleep.
This morning after trying to force some eggs in me i was taken by Gaby to the school and i was met by hundreds of kids charnting Bruni (white man, apparently its not racis). after going from one class to the next with the IT teacher ( Mr Daniel, who is also 18) and teaching some theory i realised how basic there undertsanding of ICT was and how hard it is going to be as i have to try and stick to the ghanain sylabus (which is very wrong in a few places).
Any way we shall see how it goes.
i will try and post agin next week and try and get some pics online.
Much love Mr will (what the children call me)
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