Ghana homestays and $11 lobsters

COUNTRY: Ghana
PROGRAM: GapBreak
PROJECT: Teaching & Care work
WRITTEN BY: Robyn McKay

We know, we know, we’ve been terribly slack – but we promise this post was worth the wait.

The weekend before leaving our beloved orphanages we took all the munchkins to the beach. A handful, to say the least. More than 50 children under 15 who couldn't swim. It was a little stressful but there was also lots of laughing, dumping and yummy pizza for lunch which was a real treat for the kids. We finished painting the new dining area with a few helpful hands, Rainbow Radio being our constant soundtrack and plenty of water.

The following week we left the orphanages. It was a bittersweet departure – although we were sad to leave, we were grateful to have had such an amazing experience that has left us with some wonderful, everlasting memories of snotty noses and sweet giggles.

The day we left the orphanage was full on, from one activity straight onto the next. A five minute drive through Swedru, and we were at our new homes. Sophie, Kiya and myself (Jess) are staying with a lovely couple, Mary and Clarence with their 18 year old daughter, Aba. Maddie and Robyn are living with Pat and Kwame, not too far from us and within walking distance to our new school, Central Lyceum School KG1 - JSH1.

Teaching on our first few days was intense. We were thrown headfirst into the deep end. Handed a class, a textbook and half a piece of chalk and off we went. We all chose a class that we felt comfortable with. With no teaching experience, battling with times tables ourselves and not knowing what level the kids were at, we all surprisingly felt reasonably comfortable and we settled in well. As we still had fundraising money left over we got thinking of things we could contribute to the school. We asked the kids what they needed, to which they all replied "motorcars!", which is a motorbike. Instead, we decided to build some walls to separate the classrooms. We also concreted the flooring in one of the rooms, no more dusty holes, hooray!

We were only with our host families for three weeks but we enjoyed it very much. We have learnt how to cook tasty local dishes like red red with plantain and jaloffe rice. (Get ready mums and dads, you'll be getting a lot of this at home). We've spent a fair few cedis on getting some beautiful clothes made by our new friend Monika, who has a shop just next door to our house!

Our first weekend whilst at homestay was spent at Takoradi - a place we finally reached after travelling six hours west in a trotro along an extremely bumpy road. Whilst being out west, we went to a town named Nzulezo (we can't say it either) a village built completely on stilts. Just our luck, we chose a day of torrential rain to be on a canoe for three hours to reach the village. Although drenched, hungry and cold, it was 100 per cent worth it as the village was insanely beautiful. The ride there was just us sitting on top of this massive lake in a tiny dugout canoe, not another soul around, still water and beautiful landscape over each shoulder.

That night, we treated ourselves. Semi-hot showers for some, lobster, prawns, and a glass of white wine for dinner sitting on a balcony over looking a picturesque beach. The lobster was only $11! $11 of pure joy if you ask me.

With only four days left in our hometown Swedru and with just over two weeks to go, us five girls are starting to realise we soon won't be each others only friends and family. We won't have each others mess we've become so tolerant of, we won't have Sophie's constant sleep talking, we won't have a million laughs every day, and no more unplanned travels across this amazing country. We will leave Swedru on Friday to start yet another journey, this time to start at Cape Coast, then zigzagging north, stopping at bead markets, national parks, safaris and other cool things we decide to visit along the way.

We're excited to get on the road and have a million more fun times. Swedru has treated us well. We’ve met some beautiful people, enjoyed their homemade peanut butter stalls and most of all, we’ve been given the opportunity to help some amazing kids at Helping Hands and Tina's Orphanages.

Thank you Swedru, thank you Ghana (medase, medase) . Our time is nearly up, yet we still have many more exciting adventures to be had. Peace out, chat soon! xo