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I realise all of this is well chronologically out of date, but thought I might as well update it at some point!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