Sunday 27th August

Had a great afternoon with lil angels, watched a football game the boys of lil angels played against the village boys. They looked so smart in their new Jerseys the founder Madam Angela gave them....

Its really good the founder came to Blessed yesterday gave all the kids brand new clothes and toys, lil francis was carrying around a big v8 racing car, so cute he was holding it like it was his baby. She is coming back next week to give them more toys. She also gave Asare the manager a double bed that he can sleep in cause he sleeps at Blessed works all day then sleeps their at night as well with 21 children, Amazing!!!  

I just kept cuddling them and kissing them and telling them how much i love them, i have fallen in love with every single child, Francis has a special spot in my heart... Love them so much, so recommend anyone to come to Ghana meet these beautiful children who are always smiling and just want to be kids, you will also fall in love with them :-)

Wednesday 24th

Today was a great day went to the other town Kosoa which is like 40 min away, decided to go on tro- tro because it is faster to fill up (vehicle wont leave till the bus, tro- tro seats are all occupied) . Some of the road was being fixed up, so not as many potholes.The tro- tro didn't need to swerve as much thank goodness.  I was watching the news and in the northern region the road is so spoilt due to rainfall it has trenches in it, people have to walk 15km to and fro because vehicles can not pass through. The problem that they encounter due to the damage on the roads, is highway armed robbery. Mostly happens in Nothern area because the police cannot or choose not to patrol the area. Sadly deaths do occur, the robbers block of the roads then rob the drivers. This only occurs late at night and not from Accra (the capital of Ghana) so you never travel at night you always stop over in the town you are currently in then continue travelling the next day... Theft is not looked on lightly in Ghana if caught severe Jail sentence or the community may beat the person to death (they show the bodies on the news) i do not believe they deserve the punishment for the crime they have committed. Then again it is a different world over here and people struggle financially so it is not fair of these robbers to do what they do but i still wont fully understand it... You will never see men fighting because if they do everyone will come to their aid, everyone looks after each other here.

The children wanted to do so much maths and English today they are so eager to learn, English language definitely is not easy and they do really well. Gracie in particular always wants you writing up maths sums for her then she loves to mark it herself, i say Gracie that is cheating. She is a clever girl with alot of creativity i can see her traveling the world one day she is fascinated about everything, craves to learn. The education system needs a lot of help to improve, some teachers sleep nearly all day.
There is this educational book a volunteer gave to them "Children of the World" kids love looking at it, teaches them about children from all over the world in different countries; Asia, Australasia, Europe etc. Asare was looking at it and turned to Australia there was a picture of two full blood aboriginal children, Asare said to me do they live in Australia so I explained the history of Australia (Aboriginals were there first) then the English settled, stolen generation. He said "I saw a documentary on it but I didn't believe it", now you have told me i believe it is true" Maybe Australia would be like Africa if the English didn't settle.

Ghanian's hospitality is amazing, I left Blessed lil angels yesterday was very hungry and thirsty so i bought something from the little shop. A lady who lived right next to the shop said "come and sit (pulling out a chair for me) down and eat, then you can keep going" It was lovely i said "you are invited" (what you say when you are offering your food) she said medasse (thank you) but she didn't have any. I asked her how her day was (Ete sen) she said "not to good" and asked "why" she replied with "not much money" it broke my heart.

I definitely recommend visiting Ghana it is so peaceful everyone wants to help you with everything. I cannot count how many times people have helped me in the Markets looking for items. If you a woman you will get a million wedding proposals you just don't worry about them they are harmless they just all want a white wife ( they love the white skin) children will yell out to you Obroni (white person) but it's children so its cute the first hundred times hahaha, no i think maybe i will miss it... Its been a lot of fun an amazing experience that has taught me so much i am definitely learning another language when i get home:-)
 The kids, Asare and me are going back to Winneba beach Tuesday hope the weather is perfect for bathing (swimming)

Saturday 20th August

It was very exciting at Blessed yesterday, Mosquito nets for the children's beds were set up. My host bro Kobi got a great deal 7 cedi for each mosquito net. They are medically approved, the kids were so excited i just hope that they don't get spoilt then again the children know how important they are. Kobi is the best.....

The cultural in Ghana is the men walk around holding hands cuddling and dance together, Homosexuality is illegal here and they are always debating about it on the radio...

Most of the business's are set up in Shipping containers in Swedru were they sell clothes, electronics, food etc... I figure they would be quite secure and easy to lock up

I am so excited about getting my traditional dress, Mumma Joyce's friend Comfort is making it for me. Mumma Joyce is so sweet, I think alot of the Host families get volunteer's traditional dresses made. :-)  next week is my last full week with the children :-( then i head off to Accra the following Friday with mumma Joyce who is accompanying me

Sunday 14th August

The Ghana Flag represents;

 

Red on the flag - this stands for the blood shed during slavery
Yellow/ gold on the flag - this stands for the gold the country had

Green on the flag -this stands for the forest

Star - a symbol of Ghana emancipation and unity in the struggle against of colonialism - although another version is that The Black star on Ghana's flag was placed there by Kwame Nkrumah (first Ghana President, he fought for Independence. The Star was placed there as a symbol to all Africans in the diaspora to come home (to Africa).

Ghana's last President wanted to bring all African Countries together to make the continent one country. I went to the Swedru Government Hospital with Mumma Joyce (she works there) it is very well established and has adequate resources and the grounds are kept neat and tidy.

 

Thursday 11th

Yesterday lil angels got a parcel from a previous volunteer in Germany, the kids were so excited they all got hats and frisbees. Books, shoes and other items. It was so much fun watching the kids getting their gifts. I still have not met the Founder of Blessed Little Angels, they still have to get donations of food from the market which i dont understand if the owner is in Ghana.

The kids helped me paint today we are trying to give the place a bit of a makeover. Painted map of Ghana, flags from some of the countries in Africa. Tomorrow i am going to the hospital with my host mumma Joyce to get a procedure done, I'm glad i can be there for her.

One thing i don't really get is what the Government literally does for the people, the amount it costs for families to send their children to school. University's fees are way to high, the students are protesting about it in Accra a lot lately. The roads are not in good condition with hundreds of pot holes everywhere. The public transport is not very helpful for the Ghanain's but sadly they have to live with it this way and have no choice about it, the Government must be so corrupt, they are amazing people to deal with all the problems of everyday and are so thankful for what they have. Everynight on the news people are pleading with the Government to help with food shortage, water shortage and high fees with education. Mumma Joyce was talking to me last night about it and said you have to be careful what you say about the Government because they will come and get you and lock you up. Then on the International News every night it shows the Somalian People dieing from hunger its horrifying and so sad. It is a beautiful country but they definitely struggle.

Tuesday

The tradition in Ghana is women wear these beads on string around their hips which they don't usually take them off, tribal children wear them too. Today at Blessed Myriel the German volunteer brought beads and string elastic to make these beads with the kids. The girls made the beads to put around their hips, the boys made bracelets and necklaces. The funny thing and tad annoying was the beads hole was too small to put the string through, very difficult but a lot of fun. We of course helped the little ones, I made Francis a necklace which took at least an hour and it will prob only last a few days oh well he loves it....

Then on the way home i found a lady selling the beads so she wrapped it around my waist and tied it. Yay now i have a traditional African bead on me for hopefully ages. Myriel still wears hers and she has had it overr 6 months and never taken it off.....

Then after making beads we started painting Myriel American volunteer Jake and me started painting the outside of Blessed, going to paint on the walls Ghana map, African map, flags of countries in Europe, Australia, America so on. Elephants, lion. Its so much fun painting and the kids gets heaps involved it feels a constructive thing to do. Myriel and Jake are leaving this week so its just going to be me at Blessed for the other 2 weeks and a bit (wow my times nearly up, that's sad) I am loving this experience but to be honest i don't think i will miss the Obroni thing. Seriously every where you walk it can be cute but then get very old quickly. It is so funny when a little baby has never seen a white person they just scream and look at you like you are a monster. It is an amazing place everything is so simple in ways, and then just about survival in other ways. Thanks for reading my blogs

best afternoon with lil angels at Winneba beach

Best afternoon me with of two other volunteers and two guys that work at blesses took all the lil angels to Winneba beach. We hired a tro tro which drove us all (23) to Winneba beach which is like 40km away. Instead of saying they are going swimming they say going to bathe or bathing. They wear their clothes in the water not swimmers, which makes sense. The kids all got spare clothes which we put into bags we also took food for lunch that was previously cooked.

The beach was so clean and absolutely beautiful surrounding, the kids really enjoyed them selves. I went and found big bag which holds 30 sachets of water for only 1 cedi 50 peswas. It was really safe to cause the beach had one of those pools built in the ocean. The little ones stayed on our backs or shoulders, some of the older kids were swimming okay. It was alot of fun for the kids to just enjoy themselves aswell as the guy who works with them, it was a nice break for everyone.

Sunday 7th August

Today i went to a Roman Catholic Church with mumma joyce, the service went from 6:30am-9:30am we didn't arrive till 7 am though. The Priest spoke in Fanti so i did not understand what he was saying but they were singing the Hymns in English. The building is large but is not complete, most of the walls are not up yet so you can see straight outside. Everyone sits on plastic chairs the children sit in another end on wooden stools they are so well behaved through the whole service. The church was getting donations today for the completion of the building, they were getting donations the whole three hours. I felt really silly because did not take any money with me. Some people were getting up multiple times to make donations, everyone would cheer and clap. I think some must have gone home poor. Other people make donations of items to the church, if it is your bday you bring an item eg water, toilet paper food to the priest then he blesses you with holy water. I was defintely the only Obroni lol...

After church I went straight to another church with Mumma Joyce so she could test people for HIV. We sat outside the church with a table waiting for people to approach. I would then hand them a booklet and pamphlets about HIV. Then if they wanted to be tested Mumma Joyce would test them. It seriously takes no more than 2 min, she pricks them thumb then sucks up the blood which she puts on the tester with few drops of this solution with the blood. Then after like min half she can tell them the results. Mumma Joyce always wears gloves. She tested 70 people with only one positive, she does an amazing job. I was happy to be there with her, she had a lot of patience and understanding for them. There were signs up saying not to judge people with HIV, also to be bold and get checked and another one that had a guy kicking the symbol for HIV out of Ghana then it said lets work together to kick HIV out of Ghana. The symbol they use for HIV here is our Symbol we use for breast cancer. The Organisation that supplied everything except the tests (Mumma Joyce supplies them) is called Care Network (NGO) they were also finding out people's blood type at another section and blood pressure. It was so well structured the whole process, and no one was ashamed to seek results and guidance. It really was a unique experience

Friday 5th

Today was a great day at Blessed, the boys were drumming and singing, the girls were dancing. They have the best rythym. Helped the children sort through black beans to prepare for red red, the children are very self efficient they all help each other out in the kitchen. They had red red with this powder called Guri which makes the oily red red intoa  paste like form, the kids love it. I was dishing out their food and put what i thought was enough guri on their beans but obviously wasnt because the younger kids were asking for more, im like oh they really like it. They all help aroound the centre, I always see the same certain kids sweeping and cleaning up they look after the place. I wish i knew what they say to each other, its very hard trying to sort a problem out when you dont know the whole story. The older ones can get rough with the little ones but its usually because they have insulted them in one way or another, usually calling them a monkey or what most kids say to each other

It is amazing how many different heavy  things the Ghanians carry on their heads, amazing balancing acts. They put on top of their heads material wrapped around like a donut then the box, dish, bowl etc is placed on top, it is amazing skill.
I also love the way the Ghanian women carry their children on their backs with material wrapped around tied in a certain way, usually tucked into itself. The material is mostly the same color as the clothing they are wearing so it blends in. The babies bums look so cute sticking out. Even onder sisters carry their little siblings this way to take them to school. I carried a little man aroound at Blessed like that, he was a tad big but it is def a more comfortable way of moving around. The litle girls at Blessed carry their dolls the same way, adorable:-). I also saw a stroller the other day first time in Africa.

The way i travel in Swedru which is quite a small area, i take shared taxi. The way you do this you wait by the side of the road poiting to which direction you want to go to. Then if driver is going that way he will ask where and if that is the same destination you hop in. That fare will cost 40 pesewas you give it to the driver sometime through the journey, if you give him 1 cedi you just wait he will turn around and give you 60 pesewas back. They usaully drive around on empty or very close to it. Sometimes they will fill up while you are sitting in the car. Their are some really nice taxis, other ones that look like they have been in a derby. It is insanely cheap. Then tro tro depending on distance of  location usually 1 cedi, 1cedi 50 pesewas. Again bus is much safer and you dont feel the hundreds of potholes as much as in tro tro, most of the time buses are cheaper the only thing is you have to wait for it to fill up which would take longer than  tro tro. I have been lucky to hold the most adorable babies on tro tro sometimes the mother will pass the baby to me, so trusting.

Wow i only have a month left of this amazing experience i am adapting to so much more than i thougt Iwould. I have not seen much begging at all everyone is making an income though it may be the smallest amount.

Sadly i cannot drink purified water they way i love, through sachet becasue my mumma joyce said that 70% are contaminated and she said my stomach is not used to it. The water sachets are 5 or 10 peeswas not much at all i dont know how they would make much money from selling them alone. The water stays coller in these pouches more than bottles. but still a box of 1.5l bottle containing 12 will only cost 12 cedi.

We want to take the kids on a day trip Monday to the closest beach. So we will hire a tro tro to Weenemba.

today was a good day, all the kids are home from school so lots of energetic children running around. Sadly one of the older girls was sent back to her village. We painted their showers with the water theme they loved it, all the kids from around us came to see it. Its only three of us volunteers at the moment not sure if anymore are coming due to school holidays. The cat had two kittens they are so little i hope they survive, the kids do feed her a little bit so thats good. Wow its crazy when people buy chooks they cary them around in plastic bags with their heads poking out, crazy sight. Or you might be on tro-tro for hours then realise their has been  little goat or choc there the whole time. Im still amazed about the harmony between the animals, its crazy when you see ducks too its like what are you doing here in Ghana....

It is so peaceful here, the govt isnt to bad the cops are a bit corrupt but not excessive. Alot of people do live in fairly poor conditions but they do seem happy. The kids running out of the places to come and greet the Obroni it is cute. They say how are you and you are meant to say im fine and you, but i usually say i am great or good or fantastic and they just laugh and run away. They always answer everytime with i am fine, its funny. It was so funny this taxi driver picked me up after work and he said do you remeber me, i replied sorry i dont. He pointed to my leg and said i always know its you cause of the mark on your leg im like ohh my tattoo. I said yeah there are a fair few blonde girls. The way that some toilets work is a pipe hanging out of an outdoor toilet with a bucket underneath i think i have just got used to that sort of thing walking past it every day.

a summary of last week

Wow sorry i have not blogged in a while. Were to start, i finished working with the children in Creche 3 last Friday due to school holidays, sadly i wont see them again because they don't return for 6 weeks. They are all going on to Nursery. Oh my gosh at School the other day they were singing this song with the kids; when i grow up, im going to be a soldier, im walking in my kharki jacket and puting my rifle in my pocket and they do hand signal for the rifle. Im singing along thinking wow training into little soldiers. Another song which alerted me Stranger Danger. Mr Lorry Driver take me for a ride, climb two steps jump in, Mr Lorry driver take the little boy for a ride.  I got the cutest video of them singing and saying bible verses in their parade. It was  great to work with them all. I'm still working at Blessed little Angels all the children are there due to school holidays. I am trying to organise a day trip to the beach with another girl who is a director and owner of the children's home Meet Kate this week sometime. The owner of Blessed was there last week but i was to sick to go in. We have started painting the showers underwater theme. There is a new little girl who is about the age of three who is the sister of Margaret who was already there. Plus two other boys who came from another Orphanage. Sadly my friend Louise has flown back to England :-( for her last day she painted the kids faces she is an artist Eddie had batman, prince Spiderman, my little man Francis had an army face. Gifty under the sea theme. I will try to upload them they are marvelous photos. I had to go to Kasova to get money out today about an hour away, i caught bus which is more safer felt a bit nervous about asking for directions cause then they would know i was going to back but everyone was friendly. One guy grabbed my arm but i was abrupt with him and he let it go. That's the thing with the men over here you get like hundreds of wedding proposals just walking past but i just smile and walk away. If you get stern with them they don't get aggressive, crazy they just don't understand personal space but i just don't take it seriously. The tro-tro i caught back was great and i had a very honest taxi man. I have been very luck to only come across honest taxi man. Back to the tro-tro its so funny cause the driver is called driver obviously but the guy who is his sidekick who collects the money and opens and closes the door is called mate. I really like that even though i didn't know that i would say mate. Then when police pull them over mate always gives a bribe even when you see them they don't mind. Another funny things that the guys do here it tricked me once, they speak the women in high pithced tones trying to imitate our voices, i actually thought this one guy really had a high pitched voice until he spoke normaly, its quite funny. I had to take little Francis to get his really severe wounds patched up. Every day us girls have to do first aid on the children they really hurt themselves probably cause there is not any grass at School. Its sad the new madam Agnus working said Francis wouldn't hurt himself if he wasnt bad i just ignored that statement. All of us have noticed she does not care for the children she sleeps all day and tells us to lock the boys in the room if they misbehave. The Ghanians here are so proud of there clothes because it was Sunday today every single person was in the sunday best, the kids looked gorgeous in their matching traditional dresses. They have so much Faith pretty much 99% of the popullation. Im slowly adapting the spicy food. I sort of fail Mumma Joyce she says you make me very proud and so happy if you eat all your food. I try but its so much not used to it, but i dont get fufu yay. Fufu doesnt have a taste its just the texture that make you gag, you are meant to just swollew it not chew it. None of us volunteers can eat it. The animals are in harmony seriously cats, chickens, ducks, dogs goats never even think of hunting each other. I think that is really cool, oh saw my first Volture the other day those birds are horrible. Oh yeah i used a toilet that was literaly like walking into a shower and you just go on the floor, I went after Louise so you can imagine and trying to wee on concrete floor not really possible. The amount of things that they can carry on their heads is unbelievable. I need to make a book of all the funny business names they are all every single one of them about jesus god or bible versus they are just peaceful people. There is this show on television at the moment called Pulpit, children no older than 15 preaching to a church and then they get judged, these kids are amazing!!! Im going to go and work at another project next week Meet Kate working in nursey and kindergarton, its a great centre Kelly has set up. The centre houses 60 children, forty who attend day school and 20 who reside there. This little amazing girl i met who was 3 who wasn't even the size of a one year old. Kelly said she was that badly malnurished she couldn't walk but she is slowly walking now. She said that when her fatcher came to the centre the little girl remebered him and walked straight to him she said the father started crying and was so overjoyed.

Weekend blog

wow great weekend went to the Volta region with three other Friends, Climbed a eight hundred something mountain literally thought i was going to die. The view was amazing. then went to Wli falls and went swimming the waterfall was like 70 ft. Amazing pictures on my face book Becky Jones. So hard to put photos on blog. Met the monkeys at the Sanctuary and fed them bananas they were so cute. The tro-tro drive was like 7 hours long, we had to swap trotro's three times. There are so many pot holes along the road so the tro tro has to swerve then all the time. There are some guys who are filling them up with dirt and just want a little bit of money for their troubles, some people pay them which is nice.. The taxi drive was a bit crazy because we had to overload cause his mate was in the car as well. One trip in tro-tro was a bit scary he was driving so fast i ended up yelling out slow down which he did thank goodness. Its great meeting so many other volunteers from all around the world, we have so much in common here. I want to go back to Volta Region . The rainforest waslk was surreal amazing there are so many little villages that live there too The monkey Sanctuary was great because it was in there habitiat and are treated really well. Loving red red and plantain chips.

Monday 4th July

Wow have been away a month today by tomorrow one month in Ghana. Saturday night with my host mumma Joyce, host bro Kobi and two other girls i live with went up to the hotel to listen to music. We stayed for a bit listened to the biggest band in Africa Ruff & smooth, they play international as well. Kobi's favorite band Then on Sunday me and the girls with my other friend Louise meet at the hotel to go swimming and meet Ruff & smooth they gave us all a free cd (they were very nice). Today i went to my little School Happy Homes and did singing and art with the kids then went to Blessed Little Angels at 11am and played with the kids, cleaned and helped the older kids with homework when they got back. Had a great chat with Mr J the man who runs the place, found out all the  problems he is faced with, makes me understand why he acts the way he does. He is trying with the little resources he has. I also found out the owner of Blessed Little angels who resides in London is a Ghanaian woman. I cant wait to meet her, she has done a great thing the only problem is she is not putting any money into the place. So Mr J every few days has to go to the markets to try to get donations of food to feed 19 kids. Our stomachs would not handle the food that he collects but their stomachs must be much more tolerable for it. It is sad though sorting through the food vegs, fish bit of fruit, but the children like it so that is the important thing. Wow when i was in the taxi i was looking around at the buildings, i really don't know how some have not collapsed the beams holding the buildings up are bent and just holding by a thread. The dancing here is really cool but it's funny because the guys and girls sort of separate them selves. I love when the children or adults leave they say I'm Coming i am starting to say it as well. Sort of learning the language but  just what is your name how are you ete sen bokko (cool) eye paa (very fine) always say that one Medase (Thankyou) Maa haa (afternoon) Madwo (morning) atar (shirt). Need to learn more i am always asked can you speak Fanti my response a little. Going to travel again this weekend to Volta region only few hours away with other volunteer's. Wow forgot to say meet another Aussie who lives in Canberra and even my suburb Crazy!!!

Yesterday at Blessed little Angels

Yesterday (Friday) was a day off school for the kids so i stayed at Blessed little angels all day. We played football taught them bowling they loved it. Just spent time with them all, starting to get to know each child there learning the different personalities and what each child likes to do. Me and Louise haven't finished painting yet we hope to have it finished by Monday for the kids. Today i slept in did my washing took an hour. Learning how to ring out the clothes properly then walked up to internet cafe

Monday 27th

Wow! Yesterday amazing new experiences and a few confronting ones at the same time. My other volunteer living with me (Josie) came to the Orphanage and my friend Louise. We walked around the markets for about 2 half hours, was great to get to know the place. One situation a lady got pushed who was carrying 6 steel bowls of all different sizes on her head onto the road and the taxi hit her, people came to her assistance and we helped pick up the bowls for her but the astonishing thing is the taxi man just drove off i was so angry. The lady was so shaken up and couldn't walk properly. It was terrible. Its quite different here you need to walk on the road because there is no- where else for you to walk, but you have to walk on the left hand side towards the cars safest way. Bit scary though because some of them drive really fast but most of them are okay.

The Orphanage was so much fun today playing with all the kids got the best photos of them all playing and getting cuddles. Me and Louise have started painting the wall we have two coats of ocean blue. We are going to start painting the atlas of the world so excited to do that for the kids. Then they can see all the different continents in the world and where they live. It was horrible though because the man Mr J came back to the Orphanage drunk and yelling at the children, i am going to tell the Owner of the Orphanage next month about it. I am still finding it really hard, mostly seeing the kids on the street you feel powerless. I made a mistake today me and my friend Louise were walking to the Orphanage and these two boys (Gorgeous) age 6 and 3 were looking like they were lost we went to talk to the children. But cause i cant speak Fanti i couldn't ask them anything. So we asked this lovely gentlemen to interpret for us and asked where there mum was or where they lived, they said there mum had to go to the farm and they stayed back. It ended up working out me and Louise walked and another man walked them back to where they lived and there grandma was there. They just were so shy and timid, i know i am going to come across this situation a lot its just hard not to intervene. The good news is the other guy Azoari is going to see there mum and see if the children can come to the Orphanage during the day when she is at the farm so they are not wondering around. I am loving this experience but it's definitely hard at times not to get to attached and to try to look past things. Its going to make me grow. It's just somethings are so sad. I do love the people they are so friendly mostly around my little town. I eat really well as well. The house is beautiful. Went out in Accra weekend just gone it was great to catch up with everyone and unwind. We stayed in a hostel which was grand we had a bed each and three showers in the next room and a toilet (bonus) it's funny what you take for granted in your home country wow!!. Seriously you can not find one  toilet in the whole town i usually have to hold on till i get to the Orphanage. I wish you could all the see the kids they are so cute and tough as well, i guess they have to be. It's a tough country. New blog soon, sorry still t4rying to put photos up computers are very slow teaches patience haha Talk soon

Monday 20th June

Just finished work at the Orphanage, lucky the taxi didn't break down, Happens a lot. Wow had an amazing weekend went to Kokoma National Park ( Central region ) went an a canopy walk, wow it really did not seem safe but it obviously must have been, on the top of the trees it was amazing. Then  I slept in a tree house with two other volunteer's Louise (good friend) and Josianne, it was amazing the noises you hear all night are just magical. Then at 4:30am the tour guide woke us up and we walked in the rainforest for nearly 2 hours, didn't see any animals though. And the ranger with his massive rifle but he didn't shot it thank goodness, i would have been petrified. We also went to Cape Coast which i didn't mind but the middle of town was pretty confronting but we all stayed together, the 12 of us stayed in Cape Coast for the night. Then us three girls and two other guys went to the castle in Cape Coast oh my it was horrible the history of the slaves, we walked into all the slave dungeons it was really depressing and mostly because so many African's don't know about their history.  I cant believe slavery went on for almost 300 years. Terrible, it was a bit uncomfortable because we felt the African people were looking at us like how could we.  Then we saw another castle in Elmina which was just as horrifying a bit more though. The beach fairly clean there was not as  much rubbish on the beach. I have another volunteer staying where I am and in a week her friend will joins us, Yay!! not getting fed as much, my little town is so nice everyone is really friendly, the Obruni thing is getting a bit old but i just smile and keep walking. I just feel bad when they say you should give me money and buy me something.but it's just a different culture

Friday 17th June

Yay! got to sleep into 6:30am today that was great. I am the only Obroni here at the moment haha. I am heading to Cape Coast with other volunteers today for 2 nights, it will be fun and great to catch up with the others. My friend Louise has changed Host family and is coming to my town and the orphanage I work at. I have to call my host mum when i arrive she is so lovely. Got a bit lost the other day getting home it was frustrating but my host mum called to see where i was ans she directed the cab. I now know exactly how to get to Orphanage and home I walk from my place to markets then catch a taxi to Aboso which is like 10 min cost 40 pescis (not much) then i do the opposite coming home, easy as now thank goodness. Everyone I have met are so lovely sometimes they joke around and say Obroni give me that you just smile and giggle then they laugh. I'm starting to really adapt wow more and more to the food Mamma Joyce is not feeding me such big meals yay! Yesterday was difficult very frustrating, two of the kids have come down with malaria fevers very high Gifty and Prince. It;s just frustrating cause its so different to what I am used to I kept saying they need to go to Hospital they did end up getting the medicine which is really good. The men at the Orphanage are very tough and strict but there is going to be a lady working there soon. Really loving it over here the children are gorgeous some little babies are scared of me cause they have never seen a white person before SO cute.  I want to adopt kids from the orphanage mostly Francis he is so cute it's so sad, but they are very much loved by the workers at the Orphanage  :-) Its raining heaps at the moment, its beautiful

Tuesday 13th June

Wow sorry haven't blogged in a while, have my own personal taxi man Queezie who picks me up every morning for work and picks me up and takes me home. His really nice I am glad to give him my business, wow started at the Orphanage yesterday there are 19 children from the age of 4 - 16 the youngest my little baby boy Francis he is so cute they are all so cute. The orphanage is not in the best condition but extremely better maintained than other ones. They yell a lot at he children and hit them with canes which is a bit hard to get used too. Just found out today that they have a bill for 600 Cedis (like $300) if they don't pay the water will be shut off which would be terrible the drinking water, washing etc. It's only men that work at the Orphange but they really care for the kids just very tough... There are a fair few other volunteers helping teaching at schools during the day then returning in the afternoon to help with home work. I have only stayed at the Orphanage learning to Peel casova with insane knives cut myself a few times takes a bit of practice, ill def have more. I am meant to be meeting up with the other volunteers tomorrow so i am going to go into work later. Queezie will pick me up, it was so good to hear form mum and dad and Hannah. It is so hot here i am sweltering the whole time haha, i have to eat my dinner at home under a fan. Out of chose I'm only eating twice a day because Host mamma Joyce feeds me so well. I still gag a little but def dont let them see, I am waited on by which feels so weird i try to help but they say you sit down, I am so blessed my other friend Louise is having a terrible time gets yelled at by her host mum a laot because she cant eat all the food or doesn;y understand Twi I'm slowly learning Fanti but it is very difficult. I have said to Louise to ask to stay with me, host mamma Joyce and host bro Kobi because i have a double bed and a bunk bed and the next volunteer is moving in Friday but only for a month so I will be the longest stay. I am gradually getting used to things stuff still does distress you though, but im keeping it together really well. Love the kids and everyone I have met is just so sweet and caring. Again I am blessed.Loving it here know the time will go quickly just going to do as much as i can to help fix up the orphanage bring all the kids home especially Francis. Sorry for the long Post Love you all see you all really soon xxxooo

Saying goodbye to other volunteer's and Pink Hostel

About five volunteer's left 4:30 this morning, I didn't wake up though bit sad about not being able to say good bye mostly to my friend Paul. The other seven left just before we far-welled them goodbye. They have a 12hour journey up north of Ghana. I am about to leave with another four people at 8:30am only for about 70 km journey to Agona Swedru Central Ghana. Two other volunteer's are staying longer in Accra at Pink Hostel. It's sad to say goodbye its only been four days of the beginning of this adventure. I also need to get used to eating spicy food (starting to adapt to it) im going to go and have breakfast now and then a sad goodbye to pink Hostel which has been home for the last four days, but very eager to get to my host family xxoo.

 Don't know when I will be able to post again maybe a couple of days hopefully earlier :-)

Wednesday

Wow major culture shock today, been waiting for it to come. Went on a city tour of Accra with the other 18 volunteer's and guy from organistation; SYTO. Went to the wholesale markets was so poor it was terrible the conditions that they were living in. Then went to the beach and to the memorial site of where the slaves were sold off in the slave days. There are Ghanian's who still live there because there ancestors were the African slaves, again terrible conditions wouldn't believe until you saw. The children are absolutely gorgeous running up to us yelling out Obraine which means white people. But even though they have so little to nothing they are so happy. And families are always together and children are never left alone.  We did African dancing at the hostel it was so much fun they pull you up to dance. We did go to a section where they were protesting about stopping the noise ban, but we left again because it was to unpredictable. Loving it here though they are beautiful people. Sad because all us volunteers go our separate ways tomorrow but i definitely cant wait to get to my village. Thinking of everyone over here tis crazy when im awake you are all asleep, the time difference is phenomenal. 

Nearly forgot went horse riding on the beach it was amazing the horse was beautiful, I explained to him that i knew how to horse ride so he let me ride with out his assistance, It was relaxing and very enjoyable. Tasted there beer tonight too the lager is nice. Ill post again tomorrow

Went to Accra Beach today to go swimming with the volunteer group. It was nice the water, really sad the living conditions of the little villages near the beach. Went to this place where they make custom caskets eg Beer shaped with the beer logo on it, a nike shoe, flour and all the different caskets have different meanings for the person buried in them. It was crazy something you would never imagine. Had a lot of fun with the other volunteers tonight at the hostel early start again tomorrow, haven't been able to upload any photos yet but will try

Orientation Day

Wow today was amazing orientation started at 7am finished at 4pm, had Indian for lunch with rest of volunteers still full. There are 17 of us more people arrived last night, I am the only Aussie the rest are from, Germany Holland, Ireland and one guy from Netherlands. Amazing hearing all different languages mostly they talk English. Have had an amazing time already, Cant wait to get to my Project in Agona Swedru central part of Ghana. Ghanaian People are so nice always want to help you. The  Word Oburaine means white people. Early start again tomorrow :-) The kids here are so cute, Feeling really safe and comfortable just really really hot.

landed at Addis Ababa

WOW landed at addis Ababa (e

Getting so excited and nervous at the same time. Wow!!!! 3 more sleeps to go