Lachlan lands in Ghana!

COUNTRY: Ghana
PROGRAM: GapBreak
PROJECT: Teaching & Orphanage work
WRITTEN BY: Lachlan Walker

Our first week in Ghana has been AMAZING! Also, apologies in advance, this is probably going to be quite a long blog entry, as we have done so much and it is impossible to know what to cut out. But back on track, we are now beginning to settle into our host families and are slowly getting used to the craziness of Ghanaian life.

Our first few days in Ghana were spent at Felcare hostel in Accra, where Tina, Felicia, Emmanuel and Grace made us feel right at home. It was here that we soon learnt the electricity and water in Ghana seems to come and go as it pleases, with the electricity going out on 2 of the 3 nights we were there and most of us only managing to have one shower over the course of our orientation.

Our first day of orientation covered topics such as cross cultural issues, how to know when we might have malaria, and a crash course in Twi (the local language here). We then had the chance to change our money over and go to a Ghanaian supermarket where we discovered Fan Ice (soft serve ice cream in a packet that is the best thing we have ever eaten). After this we set off to Kokrobite Beach , where we had drumming and dancing lessons (it’s safe to say we definitely don’t have the same rhythm in our bones as everyone else here does), before heading to Big Millys, an amazing bar and resort right on the beach.

Our second day was spent touring the city, where we had our first experience of a Ghanaian market, which if you were to describe it in one word, would be hectic, with 10 different people trying to drag you into their shop at one time. We had our first experience of bargaining here, where Katie was told she was ripped off even after paying the equivalent of just 5 dollars for a canvas painting. Later that night we travelled back to the beach where we were treated to a traditional Ghanaian drumming and dancing ceremony which was absolutely incredible. We were all made to join in with our dance moves we had learnt the previous day, and whilst we didn’t compare to the locals, we all had an absolute ball.

The following day we departed from the hostel and set off in our trusty tro tro to meet our host families for the next 3 months. On our first night with our new families we had our first experience of real Ghanaian food, with Lucy and Somerset being treated to a fish stew (Lucy took one for the team and finished most of it herself), and myself and Katie being treated to some sort of brown, paste like stuff we were told was porridge.

Today we had an education on Ghana time, with Seth being 2 hours late to pick us up to go to the Orphanage for the first time (we are told this is perfectly normal). The children are all absolutely adorable. We literally had 40 plus children all holding our hands begging us to cuddle them, play games with them and be their friend. Despite the circumstances in which they live they are all so unbelievably happy and the most beautiful little children.

I am almost running out of time to write, but I think in can speak for everyone in saying what strikes you the most about Ghana so far is how happy and friendly everyone here is. It is impossible to walk through the town without people yelling out Obruni (white person) from all directions, asking you what you are doing and where you are going and wanting to be your friend.

Anyway, thanks for reading and until next time, farewell!