3-2-1-BUNGEEEEEE!

Up incredibly early today. Reallt excited at the prospect of going on Safari. We boarded an open truck and hit the road around 7am, with the icy wind catching our faces. Fortunately we had blanket ponchos to cover our faces and nice cuppa awaiting us in "Mosi-y-tuna!" Absolute legends.
Apparently, the prospect of seeing ANY animals was 50/50 and so conversation turned to the animal faeces that was littering the pathway. We saw elephant tracks, but sadly no elephants.
But we did see giraffes, zebra, impala, monkeys, babboons, wildebeast and a phenomenal tree that as soon as an elephant comes across it it sends out signals through its roots as a defense mechanism to protect others of its kind from being floored from the elephants.

Arrived back at Jollyboys and was very nervous for the afternoons' activities...bungeeee.
We first had to cross the Zam/Zim border, which proved easier than anticipated. After a ridiculously long wait we took the (short) long walk to the bridge and before I knew it I was getting harnessed up for my jump. Having had second, third and fourth thoughts about the jump, there was NO GOING BACK.

Suddenly I was sitting on the platform - freaking out. The jump was so HIGH. Why on earth was I doing this?

5-4-3-2-1.....BUNGEEEEE! And I was flying, head first. The sensation felt weird...I was flying.

The worst part was walking up the bridge again, legs shaking like jelly from the adrenaline.
YEEEEEEH, I did a bungee jump. yeeeeh!

In the evening we went for an African meal at an African restaurant with some awesome entertainment. What a day!

Livingstone

Had a rough nights sleep as it was really cold again. Two blankets are really not adequate. I wish it would hurry up and warm up. I'd rather be sweaty and have to drink litres of water and be using up my washing stuff than shivering all the time. I bought far too many vest tops!
The sun is hot at the moment, and I will tan, but the strong winter wind keeps sending chills all over my body. I bet England is warmer!

We went to Victoria Falls today - I don't know how else to describe them, except WOW! Got completely soaked and would have been drenched if it weren't for the ponchos. The falls are enormous and are really loud. From the bridge we were able to stand really quite close and although I didn't snap the postcard picture with the rainbow got some gorgous shots. We also saw monkeys!

In the evening we had a drumming workshop, which was loads of fun, despite the few drunken girls who DID NOT PAY (AND STOLE KAKOLI'S TWIX BAR) The downside was learning that the drums cost $100...grrh, I will bring a drum home with me. watch this space.

Terminal

The 18th was a highly eventful day with plenty to write about. We spent the night in Nairobi airport cafe trying to get comfortable on seats that aren't comfy to sit on for a long duration. The airport was FREEZING, and sleeping in a fleece wasn't even warm enough (THIS IS AFRICA!). Equally the high volumed, monotonous voice of the "American plastic surgery = perfection and Hollywood's secrets", was not the entertainment to send one off to sleep.

Having had around 2 hours sleep, we expectantly crowded round gate 3 for the plane to Lusaka, only to find that there was a fault with the plane.
A two hour delay and NO information whatsoever.
Finally around 11 we were airbourne.

Arrival in Lusaka took its toll. Not only was the Youth Hostel actually the Salvation Army, because they'd managed not to book their original choice in time! But also, it was FREEZING. I knew it was winter, but I never anticipated how cold it would be.
The rooms were tiny, with one bathroom between 10 girls and an icy shower. There were cockroaches everywhere. I think had it been a bit warmer, I'd have thought "sod this, I'm in Africa"...instead I felt that we'd taken a detour to Romania.

---

Next day, after a lengthy delay in waiting for the bus (John had forgotten to book it - MEN!), we embarked on a 7 hour roadtrip to Livingstone, for our bonding week (although I think getting cosy in Nairobi should not be undervalued).
The route was exciting, seeing people and the conditions en route. Welcome to Africa.
Had to take a massive detour over a proper African road (as opposed to the Japanese renovated areas). Bit hard on the ass, but the red sahara sand had me singing "This is the Great Southland" to myself.

Arrived in Livingstone's Jollyboys Hostel, by early evening. The place seemed like Paradise compared to Salvation Army. The staff were really friendly and there was a swimming pool, although with the wintry conditions you'd have to be mad! Had a lovely evening socialising with everyone.

Zambia begins

...on the plane embarking on my second Gap expedition.
If Ghana was "life changing", phenomenal, amazing, tear-jerking, then Zambia is sure gonna be crammed full of the same - if not more.
I feel less well-prepared for this...am CONVINCED I forgot mozzie-spray even though I packed everything. Bit of a bugger.

I know nothing about my project or really anywhere I'm staying. I feel very in the dark actually. Thankfully I'm flying out with people just as unknowledgable as I and I don't have the worry of "will I, won't I?" be met at the airport this time. If 20 students are abandoned at Lusaka aiport, there'll be a bit of a problem.
Anyway that's like another 24 hours away, I have to survive Nairobi aiport overnight first, I really will feel like Tom Hanks in Terminal.

OOOOH, there's a chance that we'll fly over "Kili" tomorrow! How exciting?! Wish I had a window seat :(

I miss Andy already. I cried on the phone to him and I cried when I left my mum. I think when you've seen less of people you love, you really treasure them more. I hope my mum has a really awesome time in Tanzania.

Liberation

I'm free!!!!!!!!!!!

I don't think the feeling has sunk in yet. Having nothing to do? What is this feeling?
Yes exams are over, the D-word is not to be mentioned. I'm at a loss of what to do with myself.

I'm free, I'm free, I'm free. YAAAY!

Procrastination and Randomness

The title of this blog is a good summary of my life at the moment.
Not getting on with the tasks in hand and finding things which are far more exciting to do.

I was inspired by a good friend, Kate, to continue with my blog and share the stories with my friends of my life, travels and general encounters.
So, I revisited my diary entries from Ghana October-December 2007 (goodness that seems so long ago!!!) and have uploaded these to fill the chronological gap that is my blog thus far.

In the Summer 2009 I visited Zambia on a similar volunteering encounter. Although as the blogs reflect, the experiences were so very different. I promise, that before I disappear off THIS Summer, I will get the Zambia experience up here!!!

I'm meant to be revising for my exam entitled "Music, Culture and Politics"...oooh dear. Not much of that going on today. I kinda got distracted by the article I was reading on gender and feminism in Schumann's song cycles. I have felt through this entire course unit that authors make far fetching statements to judge extramusical ideas; especially when it has come to the likes of Wagner and his so-called anti-semitic motives in the Ring.
But to regard Song cycles as a gendered motive on the basis that the female is purely removed from any other ideology of the era, so therefore can either only be defined in a promiscuous way or in the stereotypical maternal, domesticated form is a ridiculous argument.

And I have to potentially write an essay on the above (horror!)
(maybe I should go back and revise).

On the randomness front. Little things please little minds. I bought Andy some silly putty the other day as he was putting some putty onto my door, and I remarked...ooooh "silly putty". And he was like "waaat". Clearly never had the stuff as a kid then.
He's been occupied with the gooey stuff for ages now - how old? 21. Bleeeesss.

x

Osu, Osu

So I have been working with the 2-5 year olds for nearly two weeks. It is an exceedingly rewarding experience.
I mentioned before about Fofo, who couldn't write his name - this boy struggles in all aspects of education; however when I introduced the art materials (which I shall explain in a minute) he really enjoyed this task.
He bursts into tears every time he is given a piece of work, because he cannot do it...I try very patiently to explain in about a million ways - it seems like he has some sort of learning difficulty.

About the art - the children had been learning about time; so in art I suggested making clocks; whatever type clock they wanted. My attempt was of a Christmas tree. We had all sorts of clocks (and used the pipe cleaners for the hands). Some of the girls made more than one - it is very clear which are the bright students; and sadly this seems to correspond with those that are not orphans. (the school also takes pupils from the local area).
The art highlighted for me exactly which were the orphans - even though I knew this already. All the orphans drew families of people in addition to their clocks. You don't need an art therapist to analyse that.

Teaching at the school has been good for my maths (haha) - ok, that was a joke, the kids have also been learning basic addition; and the foam shapes have been an excellent resource. However mathematicians may like to note that NONE of the kids understood the concept of zero.

Fridays are an opportunity for FREEPLAY, the children play in the play area all morning. This gives the teachers timeout, and means I am doing overtime! What I mean here is the teachers are lazy - they sit in the shade while the kids fight over the swings, prod each other, and everyone is in tears. None of the orphans understand the concept of sharing, so I am running around trying to break up petty fights, whilst stop the boys from pushing the girls off the swings.
There is a serious lack of common sense used in the orphanage. For example the children are given a half hour "assembly" where they "sing" a combination of traditional songs and hymns (some which vaguely sound familiar). But it gets worse - they are made to recite Bible quotes, with children picked on to recite them. If a child gets it wrong, then they are publicly humiliated with the "shame" song. Basically the Ghanaians version of booing. They also have a very cool way of applauding a child, but that's not the point. I don't know all my psalms off by heart, and I certainly wouldn't have at age 5. Many of the children end up in floods of tears, and that's not just from being beaten for talking, or not keeping still.
Wednesday's are even worse, because the children are kept for an hour doing this.

And what is the average concentration span for a child of 2-5? like 8 minutes..."you're talking?" of course they are talking! what do you expect!
The best line was when they were practicing "away in a manger" the teacher kept singing "I work in a manger", but criticisng the children for saying/singing it wrong. I was so tempted to argue back and say that she too was saying it completely wrong...!

With tomorrow my last day at the orphanage, I shall be devastated to leave the kids. I have grown very attached to them, and every day they ask "aunti Kat, will you come tomorrow?" It makes me feel guilty to know that I go back to my life of luxury, and their lives will continue as usual. I am glad that I have been able to give them the one single thing they crave for this past month, but I wish I could have given more.

xxx

The most beautiful kids

I am now going to bring you up to running speed on the Orphanage.
Having spent two weeks there already, it seems appropriate to comment.

I should add that I havent spent two WHOLE weeks there, as last week I had a stomach infection, meaning I was throwing up, and lots out the other end too...think I caught this off the kids, as there had been a few of them who'd been off their food. One especially - she also had a temperature, and just wouldn't touch any food at all.
We'd been trying to persuade the "aunties" to take her to see a Dr. As one of the sad things is that out of all the 0-2 yr olds, they only know for definite with 2 of them that they are HIV +. Many more could be, which means the slightest infection/illness could be awful.

But what is really sad is that taking a child to the doctor is expensive, same as seeking any sort of medical help, as you have to pay for everything.

I'd hate to be in the Aunties position - as they have probably had to go through a lot of emotion, seeing children come and go, in both ways. But they are very ill educated in how to deal with the children considering what they have been from.
For example, when one case of abandonment saw a child found in a house alone eating his faeces to survive - it is no wonder that many of the children are exceedingly possessive, break into unconsolable tantrums.
However, the aunties way of dealing with this is roughly throwing a child into a cot, even beating them to tell them their act is immoral.

There are so many children that just need love. If I could adopt then I would. My two weeks has been spent cuddling babies, and feeding them at lunchtime. Its a wonderful feeling to know that you can give a child something that they long for. Its heartbreaking to know that you can't give it to them permanently.

I am now going to the 2-5yr olds, where most of my time is going to be spent playing, and helping teach basics to them (i.e. ABC, and 123) as they learn to read...it was fantastic to day...and I even got to teach them the "marching song" Siyahamba!

The class I was with were learning to write their names, with neat handwriting, and some of them were really struggling. So I introduced dotted writing, where they join the dots. It was fantastic to see this boy, who just had been fretting so much, smile at being able to produce this neat work!

They are keen on story telling - "aunti Kat, can you tell us a story" so am gonna bring in the Mister Men books tomoz!

xxx

A chillax weekend

Arrrrgh...tried writing a post and it somehow deleted itself. I know I am a little incompetant with computers, but that is taking the piss!

K, I have been rather neglecting of this diary...apologies.
Lack of finance (I.E. Credit card cut off for no apparent reason - thank you so much) means carefulness with money. anyway Dad's wired me money so am good now.

Let's bring you up to date

Two weekends ago - I went to what is known as the Best Beach in the whole of West Africa. Quite how they measure that, I know not, but Busua Beach resort was certainly exceedingly clean, quiet and picturesque.

We stayed in a quite appropriately named "Alaska" hotel. As my friend pointed out - its so disappointing when hotels boast of a sea view.
Our hotel/mudhuts were practically sitting ON THE BEACH. What's more it was pretty much our own private beach...completely undistracted by determined vendors.
We'd left on the Friday afternoon, leaving the ENTIRE saturday to catch those rays.

also on the Saturday, we hired jet skis - which was awesome!

Now did I almost forget to mention an island in our view. Well, Becky and Nicolas seemed keen to swim to this - which having asked the locals advise, they both went out to do. Took them about an hour or so...

Bradt Guide's view - completely unrecommended. If the shark infested waters aren't enough to put you off, let the rip currents, or the jelly fish or SEA URCHINS dissuade you.
Not them.
Should I add, Becky only got attacked minorly by sea urchins, and in her foot (the hospital couldn't get them out, so she still has these things in there, causing her no grief whatsoever!)

For tourists...DO NOT SWIM TO BECKOLAS.

Parties - Around and Aboot

Firstly I apologise for the lack of fotos. There are plenty, just on my camera, and I'm struggling uploading, because the connection is slow, and Dagney's away, and she has the best memory card, uploader thingy. majiggy

Anyway...so onto this weekend.
I was rather tempted to devote this post to my weekend's travels. But I need to mention Friday night, which saw the TPA end of month party, postponed a week, because it coincided slightly with Halloween. After Becky's pleading, there was a Halloween theme, and every attendee, was meant to dress up. There was to be a prize for the best dressed - Becky, clearly desperate to either be the best dressed, or win this prize, set about coming up with an idea for the costume.

So we emerged with pumpkins as the most practical. Papermache pumpkins - over our clothes of course...but how to make them. We needed some pretty enormous ball size thing to papermache.
In Maxmart, we found what we were looking for; BEACHBALLS. So from last Tuesday, we searched for old newspaper, flour, and of course water, to make the mixture. Once this had dried, we covered the balls in PVA (so universal, even Ghana sells). By Thursday, we were painting in Orange, green and black. We even had hats!

It was a fabulous costume, and as we walked receiving EVEN MORE HARRASSMENT THAN USUAL, we anticipated a great reception.
Disappointingly; Accra let us down, with only Nickee and Elaine dressing up, and the word not spreading round the other regions. Still the pumpkins became a source of entertainment for the evening, particularly as a DANCING AID! And the Halloween theme, was still there - shades of Volunteers attempting to eat apples on string, without using there hands "its all about your technique guys!"
and typical Ghanaian style, waiting 2 hours for food to arrive.
All in all, a great night.

More Ghanaian Love

I'm really tempted to dwell on the weather, as I know that Britain is suffering a particularly nasty cold snap right now. Well Ghana, has turned from tropical and breezy, "chill-o't", to rather uncomfortable sweaty nights. Daytime, lush. Gorgeous, sun, my tan is getting buff. We spent SunDAY at Shangri-la, which just like La Palm, is a really nice hotel/swimming pool, with great Western Grub. Particularly Lebanese style food. (finally know what that involves, and BOY do I love it). Hommous...NOT Tesco value...proper stuff. K so Shangri-la also does Chinese, as you'd expect by the name ;)

This place is full of Chinese tbh. Can't figure it rele.

It's quite amusing that I'm writing about sun, when I was teaching O come all ye faithful WITH DESCANT to the kiddies today. AND Silent Night. I was slightly tempted to go for White Christmas, even Let it Snow! haha.
Tomoz is my last day at Mount Mary's.
I am really really REALLY gonna miss them. Especially the spontaneous bursts of "Jubilate!" or "We are marching..." they really do love those two...

I mentioned to the classes I had today, that I would be going, and they were in floods of tears. I think their only comfort was that they could write to me, and vice versa, as I am leaving my addy with the head. But with paper being an expensive material, and very hard to come by, I think it was fairly conclusive that they would never see me again. I know how that feels. I felt exactly the same when I got attached to friends older than me, who cared for me.

There are a few a boy and girl aged 13, and another girl aged 14 who really want penpals. If anyone knows of anyone who would be committed to doing this, and who is this age, or near enough; let me know. It's really good for your English (and their writing is exceedingly legible). as you have to think when reading the grammar! and it improves your own.

So now onwards, to the Orphanage. I can't believe I have been here a month, time has gone so quickly

Last weekend I went to a Charity fundraiser, raising money for the flooding up North. Headlining was John Legend, and Luciano. It was AMAZING!
So were the remaining reggae acts...and if I didn't feel I'd ticked the African music box, I'm going to see some more tonight, though quite what style it is, I haven't figured yet!

God bless

xxx

Ghana and school stuff

Kk, I have been very bad about updating this site. I do apologise...but there are costs involved.
Where do I start first? Well, the school is still delightful. We had this Monday off, as did a large part of Ghana, due to it being a Muslim holiday? Quite how that equates to a Roman Catholic school getting a day off, I'm not sure, but anyway, everyone headed for Labadi beach to improve their tans. Golly it was packed.
I am so glad that I have got the placement at the school. I have since learnt that Mrs Ezan the head, is the founder of it, and everything she does, she does for the benefit of the kids. I recently marked an essay (which Mrs E. explained that came from a choice of 4 set by the Ghanian Government on last yrs exam paper...or summit like that). The question was write a letter of complaint to the PTA, about the three bad things that teachers in your school do...a rather sneaky way of finding out what her teachers were up to.
I had my concerns - teachers tho I had never seen them use them, always had canes to hand - I wondered what would be the outcome should a child name a teacher in person.
However Mrs E. explained that she was pleased by the outcome of these essays, as children tell the truth. She has since confiscated all canes from the teachers, as the overwhelming bad thing done by teachers, involved the unneccessary caning (which is banned anyway).
I'm glad I get marking to do as well. The older kids are very creative - a story I was marking the other day was entitled "I woke up and realised it was all a dream"...creations involved ending up in forests, renditions of Jack and the Beanstalk, children even wanting to end up in the White House meeting George Bush (surely that was a nightmare???!)...but some were very touching, where children described their birthdays, having a cake, and food to share with all their friends and family, and music. Something we take for granted.

It's interesting how I pull them up on their grammar; my own has improved in doing this. Sometimes I have to think about one or two words they use. One word caused a certain amound of amusement, as a child had written about behaviour, and "comporting" themselves. I pondered over this, and not recognising the word "comport" thought about a suitable replacement, thus concluding "conduct" to be the better word. I have since learnt comport IS word, but English being English has several synonyms, many which we don't necessarily use daily. I also have a few chuckles over the old-fashioned phrases that get thrown in. I got "fit as a fiddle" the other day, amongst others. I can't mark them as wrong, only highlight them with an exclamation mark!!!

More Ghana

I realise all of this is well chronologically out of date, but thought I might as well update it at some point!

Hey, I'm here - didn't get a chance to log in yesterday...but whoah! Akwaaba, which means welcome to Ghana.

Tis hot hot hot. feelin' hot hot hot. Am drinkin tons of water to compensate, and am only on me first full day. maaan!
Am staying with some lovely people, a Bristolian, and an American, and there are some more volunteers living nearby. will be meeting up with a lot more tonight for some quizzy thing.

Shoulda sed this was gonna be a brief post - as this is a check-in the internet caf' as part of my induction...

anywayz, will catch up soon.
much luv xxx

so today was my first proper day in the school.

I went yesterday, but that was just as an observation, so I could meet the kids e.g. them come up, climb over me etc etc. I sat in on one of the other volunteers lessons, Dagney - she's also staying with me, which is dead convenient; went round as an assistant in that lesson. One of the tasks in the lesson was to write an "essay" on a job they wanted to do - think these kids were about 8/9...one little girl wrote about wanting to be a nurse, because she likes caring, and because she cares for her brother and sister at home.
The school is in Achimota, which is a poor area, we have to drive through a residential area to get there, and you really get a feel for the horrendous conditions the other half survive in.

A little girl came up to me today and asked if I could take her home with me - of course they don't understand that it isn't practical, but she meant it when she said it.

So today I took my first lessons - and the head teacher had previously asked me what my strengths were; I obviously said music, (particularly after Dagney had said she was teaching English Comprehension, and I thought ewwww, no!), the head seemed very excited by this prospect. I should add, that the head is the sister of Mrs Cudjoe, whose house I am staying in. Hence Mrs Ezan (head) picks us up for school etc.
Anyway, I am teaching music to all (or so it seems) and pretty much singing. I might teach them ABOUT music next week, but haven't exactly got a timetable - and they all seem so keen to sing.
Today they learnt the English to Siyahamba (We are marching in the light of God) - and this was sung in Assembly, with drums, in two parts!
We also learnt Jubilate, and some manage Open our eyes Lord - though I'd saved this primarily for the younger ones

The lessons did seem to go quickly - and though the 3/4 yr olds were very reminscent of my JCs! I eventually got somewhere, particulary when referring to steps and the voice. It helped that some of them could sing.

The kids are very kind - in every class, one will carry my bag, one will make sure the board is clean, that I have chalk - if I cannot get quiet in the class, someone will ensure that there is for me! Very different from England from what mum tells me!

Anywayz that's enough for one day
xxx

The First post

The day before I leave...infact as I type, a few hours before I leave - packing almost done, goodbyes almost said. This feels a little surreal
And yes, I've had my last warm, shower - at least for 2 months!!!

I'm feeling a mixture of feelings...excitement, because this is an adventure, and a continuation of the journey that God has planned for me. I'm so happy to be able to follow this path, and in doing so give so much to those in need.
But, its such a different adventure, and one I'm taking alone...and there are many fears along the way; what if my bag doesn't make it? what if I forget my passport? MALARIA!
And finding my way around London proved enough of a challenge, with my incompetant map reading skills (as Hester discovered haha)! An unknown city? What have I let myself in for?

I know that God will be with me every step of the way, carrying me when the times are hard; even if I see I GI-NORMOUS wasp (as Hugh was kind enough to let on, that they are HUGE in Africa...arrrrgh...and I thought the ones in St Augustine's were bad enough...)

With that terrifying thought put to bed, I too will get my beauty sleep, knowing only too well I am accepting the mad chaos of Heathrow, and inefficency of Frankfurt (WHY OH WHY did I opt to transfer?), at the unearthly time of errrm 5.15!!!

"My precious child, I will never leave you, never ever, through your times of trouble, when you saw only one set of footprints, it was then I carried you."

Love you all guys! xxx