Date: /09/2010
Time: 6:29pm
Location: Eleanor’s bed Yaabim, Agona Swedru
Blogger: Eleanor
Co-Bloggers: Siobhan and MJ
Maache! (Good morning!)
It feels like ages since I last blogged because we have been constantly busy. On Wednesday Afternoon Kofi and Seth took the group down to Big Milly’s where we were met by some Rastafarian Ghanaen’s who had a collection of drums which we carried down the beach to a large gazebo! We learned the traditional drumming alphabet which, according to our teacher, allowed us to be able to play any rhythm. By the end all of our hands were red and numb and we were looking forward to standing up and getting our boogy on. Two traditional female tribal dancers then walked us through two dances step by step which Seth filmed for our entertainment. Needles to say we all felt rather ridiculous and uncoordinated but all thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. By the end we were exhausted and I could not believe Kate, Hanna, Georgina, Sophie and Bec’s stamina when I realized they continued playing with the children when we got back to the hostel. The rest of us collapsed onto our beds and had a nap before dinner.
In the morning we had a cooking lesson where Felicia taught us how to cook Jolif Rice, Red Red (bean Stew), Boiled yam and Fried Plantain. The kitchen was very small and hot so not many of us survived the entire class. Round of applause for Iszy who managed to stand up in the Kitchen for the entire time. What a trooper. Elephant stamp. We were very excited to leave the hostel to meet our Host families. We all squeezed into a very hot tro-tro and many of us fell asleep on the way to Agona Swedru.
Siobhan got woken to excited screams when we realized we were at the first house. We all waited eagerly in the bus to find out who would be living there for the next few months. Hayley and Ellie were called to come on down and we all started to get nervous to meet our own families. All our houses are very different, for example theirs was situated in a high school compound which is where Seth lives and teaches. Kate, Iszy, Hayley and Ellie were just on the outskirts of town but we got dropped off before we got to see everyone’s houses. We know that most of us are a short walk from the centre of town. Sophie and Bec were placed in a Muslim family and spent their first night with a feast to celebrate the end of Ramadan. Jyo and diane unfortunately had to visit two host families before finding a suitable one. Third time lucky, they are now living upstairs in an apartment block with a small caring family. Siobhan, Mj and I live in a house which is conveniently situated a few minutes walk from the markets and an internet café where we had our first experience of temperamental African internet connection. Our family is big and loud with lots of kids and we feel very much at home here after decorating our room with flags, photos and our Ghanaian names. Ekua (Siobhan) meaning born on Wednesday, Abena (Eleanor) meaning born on Tuesday and Akosua (MJ) meaning born on Sunday. During our first meal we were surprised to see a large pig waddle out of the bushes outside our house. We also have 3 or 4 baby goats who make adorable bleating noises all day long and of course each morning we are woken by mr rooster who likes to make a lot of noise.
We got to spend the weekend with our families which meant that on Sunday we all attended a morning church service. Everyone had a different experience but we all found the services went for a good 3-4 hours. Mj, Siobhan and I attended a Church of Pentacost on children’s day which meant a lot of singing dancing and poem and bible recitations by the kids. The whole service was conducted in Fante until the Pastor welcomed us “Visitors” in English and made us come up and introduce ourselves. We were very flustered but later found out that the same thing happened to all the other Anitpodeans Volunteers. We stumbled home after the long service and went straight to bed for nanna naps.
The week was spent as a large group painting a new orphanage owned by Felicia from the hostel. Seth met us on the first day to tell us how to catch a tro tro to the orphanage. It was pouring with rain and seth arrived in “Ghana Time” (about an hour and a half late) by which time we were drenched. We were welcomed by some other “obruni” volunteers who were from germany. They are currently teaching the kids at the orphanage. It was a long long week and we worked very hard to paint the entire exterior of the building and 5 rooms inside. Somehow we all had some energy to get to know the children and play with them before we left each day.
On Wednesday was our first Obruni meeting which is where all foreign volunteers who live in Agona Swedru meet and discuss their experiences, travels and have a chat. We were amazed at how many Obroni’s were volunteering in this one Small Town. There are two meeting places, one in town and one in a hotel which has a pool that we are able to swim in for 5 cedis. Some of us went with some English Volunteers to check out both meeting places and later in the week we decided to go back to the hotel to use the pool and eat some western food after a day at the orphanage.
This weekend most of the girls are visiting Cape Coast but some of us are branching off the stay at the Green Turtle Lodge further west, which is a popular place for volunteers to visit so we were eager to check it out. On Monday we all start our school placements which we are anxious and excited about. I will keep you updated on how our weekly adventures go and what it is like to be a teacher in Ghana. Mabre mekoda (I’m tired, I’m going to sleep) Until next time, Eleanor ☺
p.s
Not many of us are coping with the traditional food but most of us manage to sneak in a few treats here and there especially after discovering western supermarkets and hotel food.
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