So I realise I've been quite slack on the blog as of late. So much has happened and this week is very full with all my last minute things. I cannot believe that this time next week, I will be back in Australia. Where has the time gone? I keep moving between a whole range of emotions - from wanting to skip this week and just be home, to wanting to stay for another year or so :-P Luckily there are a few of us leaving, so we've all be chatting about it, but not so excited about the reverse culture shock I'm sure will hit me. At the same time, thats part of the whole experience and while I am going to miss so many people and so many things from this amazing place, the fact that I will be so sad to leave is an indicator to me of just how worthwhile this whole trip has been.
On another note, a huge thank you to some marvellous marvellous people who responded to my requests for moolah! Ended up with just under $900 AUS - WOW guys. You all rock :) Have to get my act together these next few days to get the money where it needs to go but am so excited that I can pass your generousity on to so many people :)
My last weekend was spent with all the other girls at a most deliciously wonderful place called Ada Foah. When I thought about travelling around Ghana pre-arriving here, I thought I would see many interesting places or many cultural places, but had no idea the number of breath takingly stunning places I would have the chance to visit. Ada Foah is a long sand bar/penisula to the East where the Volta River meets the ocean. We stayed smack bang on the middle of the sand bar, with the beautiful Volta Lake to one side, complete with its various islands and colourful fishing boats, and the wild, striking ocean to the other. Accomodation was no more than $10 for the whole weekend - woven grass huts lined up along the sand, right under the coconut tree grove, where we spent our few days hanging between the trees in lazy hammocks. Seriously, I can't explain how crazy amazing this place was! And you can only get there by boat so we got to cruise down the Volta taking in the wonder that is Ada Foah :)
My project in reviewing the IV program here is coming along really well. I've learnt so much about NGOs and the issues they face in getting their work done, which is such an awesome practical lesson to learn while I study the theoretical side of international development. I remember a friend saying sometime before I left, that this trip might make it or break it in as much as me discovering whether development work is something I do actually want to get into. And while I've realised its not nearly as straight forward or simple as I've thought, I definitely want a career in working with disadvantaged communities and individuals, building their capacity to support themselves and especially the needs of their children.
I will try and write some more this week, I have many stories to get out of my head and onto a computer screen! But if I don't get a chance, I will be home Monday night 10pm-ish after a ridiculous amount of time travelling (leaving here Friday afternoon!). Looking forward to seeing everyone - til then - Love you Ba-Bye!
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
randddddoooooommmmm
I just wrote this great little story but its still not finished, i'll publish when it is...but here are the basic details of my past few days.. I'm Aussie btw.
Dutchie bought a monkey. Monkey doesn't like us much. Monkey bit Frenchie. We all freaked out and read way too much about rabies. Frenchie called doctor friends as she hadn't had a shot. Aussie and Frenchie embarked on a journey into Accra to track down a vaccine. Aussie and Frenchie made it to the clinic, Frenchie got her shot, they left to the supermarket to buy overpriced Marie Claire magazines and many bars of chocolate to calm themselves down :)
Dutchie bought a monkey. Monkey doesn't like us much. Monkey bit Frenchie. We all freaked out and read way too much about rabies. Frenchie called doctor friends as she hadn't had a shot. Aussie and Frenchie embarked on a journey into Accra to track down a vaccine. Aussie and Frenchie made it to the clinic, Frenchie got her shot, they left to the supermarket to buy overpriced Marie Claire magazines and many bars of chocolate to calm themselves down :)
Please read :)
Haha, so straight up, this is a blog asking for money, nice and
blunt hey :) I'm asking because I see the need and have the access to
people that are needy. Many people gave me money before hand, and I've
put much of it to use in my first two months and will continue to use
it positively in my last few weeks here. But if you are interested in
helping, read below. Thank you :)
Sarah is a primary school student who lives with her grandmother,
mother and younger brother. Her father is an unknown figure in her
life, one of four or five rebels who raped both her mother and her
grandmother. Sarah's mother braids hair in the next town, often away
for a few days at a time. I'd like to believe them when they say thats
what she does, but often 'braiding hair' is a euphemism for something
much less innocent. Its common knowledge that many woman and girls
alike sell their bodies to keep up with the financial demands of daily
life.
Mary is a washing lady who cleans my clothes every week. She lives on
camp alone, her husband long gone and her two children living with
their grandmother in Liberia. Though being a refugee is never the best
option, for Mary, staying here on camp and having refugee status gives
her a one up on all the millions, no billions of underpriveleged
people around the world. She is part way through a Ghanaian nursing
course, a much better opportunity than anything she'd be able to do in
Liberia, and is desperately trying to raise funds for her last year.
Mercy is six. Just months ago she was buying her own food and cooking
her own meals. Her mother is a drug addict and abused Mercy, burning
her legs with cigarettes and leaving her to fend for herself. Luckily
Mercy is now fostered by a loving family that live just next door, but
with financial issues of their own, money is not always easy to come
by.
Faith has burns down her arm from an accident as a child. She is
thirteen, loud and friendly and always laughing, but often roaming the
streets with her best friend - Maria, 18 years old and a teen
prostitute. Faith isn't yet involved in prostitution, but with the
company she is keeping, I'm not being cynical when I say its only
time.
My name is Laura. I live in sunny Brisbane mostly, but for the past
two and a bit months, bustling Buduburam has been my home. Each of
these girls are people I see daily, girls that run around our house,
that play hand clap games with us, that invite me over for dinner. I'd
love to say that I adore these girls all of the time, but sometimes I
really don't. Faith is often too overbearing, Mercy can throw amazing
tantrums, Mary is my friend but I feel it could be just for the sake
I've got money, and Sarah's grandmother is not afraid to make the most
of her grandaughter's heritage for her own gain.
And yet, they are all in need in their unique way, as are many many
others. To give them money might help for a day, a week if they spend
wisely, yet in three weeks time when I catch a dreadfully long flight
home, they are still in need. So instead all of us, myself and the
others I live with, have been focussing on giving these girls, and
others, something worthwhile - an education.
School fees range from $10 - $40 for most schools. For Mary to finish
her last year at nursing college is $250. We've all been helping
students as we can, but I realise that I have access to people that
many of you may never meet, but people you'd be willing to help if
only you knew their stories.
So here's the thing, if any one is interested in helping I'm happy to
be your go-between. Drop me a line with the amount you want to give,
remembering that something small at home goes a ridiculously long way
here. Get the amount to my dad, if you'll see him, or pledge it to
give to me when I get home. I'll add it to the money I already have
here to get as many people as possible into some sort of education
program.
Thanks heaps guys,
much love
blunt hey :) I'm asking because I see the need and have the access to
people that are needy. Many people gave me money before hand, and I've
put much of it to use in my first two months and will continue to use
it positively in my last few weeks here. But if you are interested in
helping, read below. Thank you :)
Sarah is a primary school student who lives with her grandmother,
mother and younger brother. Her father is an unknown figure in her
life, one of four or five rebels who raped both her mother and her
grandmother. Sarah's mother braids hair in the next town, often away
for a few days at a time. I'd like to believe them when they say thats
what she does, but often 'braiding hair' is a euphemism for something
much less innocent. Its common knowledge that many woman and girls
alike sell their bodies to keep up with the financial demands of daily
life.
Mary is a washing lady who cleans my clothes every week. She lives on
camp alone, her husband long gone and her two children living with
their grandmother in Liberia. Though being a refugee is never the best
option, for Mary, staying here on camp and having refugee status gives
her a one up on all the millions, no billions of underpriveleged
people around the world. She is part way through a Ghanaian nursing
course, a much better opportunity than anything she'd be able to do in
Liberia, and is desperately trying to raise funds for her last year.
Mercy is six. Just months ago she was buying her own food and cooking
her own meals. Her mother is a drug addict and abused Mercy, burning
her legs with cigarettes and leaving her to fend for herself. Luckily
Mercy is now fostered by a loving family that live just next door, but
with financial issues of their own, money is not always easy to come
by.
Faith has burns down her arm from an accident as a child. She is
thirteen, loud and friendly and always laughing, but often roaming the
streets with her best friend - Maria, 18 years old and a teen
prostitute. Faith isn't yet involved in prostitution, but with the
company she is keeping, I'm not being cynical when I say its only
time.
My name is Laura. I live in sunny Brisbane mostly, but for the past
two and a bit months, bustling Buduburam has been my home. Each of
these girls are people I see daily, girls that run around our house,
that play hand clap games with us, that invite me over for dinner. I'd
love to say that I adore these girls all of the time, but sometimes I
really don't. Faith is often too overbearing, Mercy can throw amazing
tantrums, Mary is my friend but I feel it could be just for the sake
I've got money, and Sarah's grandmother is not afraid to make the most
of her grandaughter's heritage for her own gain.
And yet, they are all in need in their unique way, as are many many
others. To give them money might help for a day, a week if they spend
wisely, yet in three weeks time when I catch a dreadfully long flight
home, they are still in need. So instead all of us, myself and the
others I live with, have been focussing on giving these girls, and
others, something worthwhile - an education.
School fees range from $10 - $40 for most schools. For Mary to finish
her last year at nursing college is $250. We've all been helping
students as we can, but I realise that I have access to people that
many of you may never meet, but people you'd be willing to help if
only you knew their stories.
So here's the thing, if any one is interested in helping I'm happy to
be your go-between. Drop me a line with the amount you want to give,
remembering that something small at home goes a ridiculously long way
here. Get the amount to my dad, if you'll see him, or pledge it to
give to me when I get home. I'll add it to the money I already have
here to get as many people as possible into some sort of education
program.
Thanks heaps guys,
much love
Please read :)
Haha, so straight up, this is a blog asking for money, nice and
blunt hey :) I'm asking because I see the need and have the access to
people that are needy. Many people gave me money before hand, and I've
put much of it to use in my first two months and will continue to use
it positively in my last few weeks here. But if you are interested in
helping, read below. Thank you :)
Sarah is a primary school student who lives with her grandmother,
mother and younger brother. Her father is an unknown figure in her
life, one of four or five rebels who raped both her mother and her
grandmother. Sarah's mother braids hair in the next town, often away
for a few days at a time. I'd like to believe them when they say thats
what she does, but often 'braiding hair' is a euphemism for something
much less innocent. Its common knowledge that many woman and girls
alike sell their bodies to keep up with the financial demands of daily
life.
Mary is a washing lady who cleans my clothes every week. She lives on
camp alone, her husband long gone and her two children living with
their grandmother in Liberia. Though being a refugee is never the best
option, for Mary, staying here on camp and having refugee status gives
her a one up on all the millions, no billions of underpriveleged
people around the world. She is part way through a Ghanaian nursing
course, a much better opportunity than anything she'd be able to do in
Liberia, and is desperately trying to raise funds for her last year.
Mercy is six. Just months ago she was buying her own food and cooking
her own meals. Her mother is a drug addict and abused Mercy, burning
her legs with cigarettes and leaving her to fend for herself. Luckily
Mercy is now fostered by a loving family that live just next door, but
with financial issues of their own, money is not always easy to come
by.
Faith has burns down her arm from an accident as a child. She is
thirteen, loud and friendly and always laughing, but often roaming the
streets with her best friend - Maria, 18 years old and a teen
prostitute. Faith isn't yet involved in prostitution, but with the
company she is keeping, I'm not being cynical when I say its only
time.
My name is Laura. I live in sunny Brisbane mostly, but for the past
two and a bit months, bustling Buduburam has been my home. Each of
these girls are people I see daily, girls that run around our house,
that play hand clap games with us, that invite me over for dinner. I'd
love to say that I adore these girls all of the time, but sometimes I
really don't. Faith is often too overbearing, Mercy can throw amazing
tantrums, Mary is my friend but I feel it could be just for the sake
I've got money, and Sarah's grandmother is not afraid to make the most
of her grandaughter's heritage for her own gain.
And yet, they are all in need in their unique way, as are many many
others. To give them money might help for a day, a week if they spend
wisely, yet in three weeks time when I catch a dreadfully long flight
home, they are still in need. So instead all of us, myself and the
others I live with, have been focussing on giving these girls, and
others, something worthwhile - an education.
School fees range from $10 - $40 for most schools. For Mary to finish
her last year at nursing college is $250. We've all been helping
students as we can, but I realise that I have access to people that
many of you may never meet, but people you'd be willing to help if
only you knew their stories.
So here's the thing, if any one is interested in helping I'm happy to
be your go-between. Drop me a line with the amount you want to give,
remembering that something small at home goes a ridiculously long way
here. Get the amount to my dad, if you'll see him, or pledge it to
give to me when I get home. I'll add it to the money I already have
here to get as many people as possible into some sort of education
program.
Thanks heaps guys,
much love
blunt hey :) I'm asking because I see the need and have the access to
people that are needy. Many people gave me money before hand, and I've
put much of it to use in my first two months and will continue to use
it positively in my last few weeks here. But if you are interested in
helping, read below. Thank you :)
Sarah is a primary school student who lives with her grandmother,
mother and younger brother. Her father is an unknown figure in her
life, one of four or five rebels who raped both her mother and her
grandmother. Sarah's mother braids hair in the next town, often away
for a few days at a time. I'd like to believe them when they say thats
what she does, but often 'braiding hair' is a euphemism for something
much less innocent. Its common knowledge that many woman and girls
alike sell their bodies to keep up with the financial demands of daily
life.
Mary is a washing lady who cleans my clothes every week. She lives on
camp alone, her husband long gone and her two children living with
their grandmother in Liberia. Though being a refugee is never the best
option, for Mary, staying here on camp and having refugee status gives
her a one up on all the millions, no billions of underpriveleged
people around the world. She is part way through a Ghanaian nursing
course, a much better opportunity than anything she'd be able to do in
Liberia, and is desperately trying to raise funds for her last year.
Mercy is six. Just months ago she was buying her own food and cooking
her own meals. Her mother is a drug addict and abused Mercy, burning
her legs with cigarettes and leaving her to fend for herself. Luckily
Mercy is now fostered by a loving family that live just next door, but
with financial issues of their own, money is not always easy to come
by.
Faith has burns down her arm from an accident as a child. She is
thirteen, loud and friendly and always laughing, but often roaming the
streets with her best friend - Maria, 18 years old and a teen
prostitute. Faith isn't yet involved in prostitution, but with the
company she is keeping, I'm not being cynical when I say its only
time.
My name is Laura. I live in sunny Brisbane mostly, but for the past
two and a bit months, bustling Buduburam has been my home. Each of
these girls are people I see daily, girls that run around our house,
that play hand clap games with us, that invite me over for dinner. I'd
love to say that I adore these girls all of the time, but sometimes I
really don't. Faith is often too overbearing, Mercy can throw amazing
tantrums, Mary is my friend but I feel it could be just for the sake
I've got money, and Sarah's grandmother is not afraid to make the most
of her grandaughter's heritage for her own gain.
And yet, they are all in need in their unique way, as are many many
others. To give them money might help for a day, a week if they spend
wisely, yet in three weeks time when I catch a dreadfully long flight
home, they are still in need. So instead all of us, myself and the
others I live with, have been focussing on giving these girls, and
others, something worthwhile - an education.
School fees range from $10 - $40 for most schools. For Mary to finish
her last year at nursing college is $250. We've all been helping
students as we can, but I realise that I have access to people that
many of you may never meet, but people you'd be willing to help if
only you knew their stories.
So here's the thing, if any one is interested in helping I'm happy to
be your go-between. Drop me a line with the amount you want to give,
remembering that something small at home goes a ridiculously long way
here. Get the amount to my dad, if you'll see him, or pledge it to
give to me when I get home. I'll add it to the money I already have
here to get as many people as possible into some sort of education
program.
Thanks heaps guys,
much love
Monday, February 4, 2008
triedtopostthislastnightbutdidntwork,sameforthespacebaronthisnewcomputer
So much to say, so little energy to say it :) Here's the latest from the land of Laura:)
The past two weeks have been a bit quieter for me in terms of working...the beginning of last week I was rather ill, eating something bad and then vomitting it up in the early hours of the morning. It was the first time I've ever vomitted properly, quite a milestone in my life so thought I'd all share that with you :)
Instead of working last thursday, I went into Accra with Zeina and Sarah to watch the soccer. The African Cup of Nations is on at the moment, with none other than GHANA as the host country - now being the perfect time to be here! We saw Morocco vs Guinea and the first half of Ghana vs Namibia and it was totally insane! The stadiums were packed with crazed soccer fans, all singing and dancing and cursing the referee and it was mad to be in the middle of it all. We supported Morocco with about four other people in the entire stadium (40,000 i think), but suffered a devastating defeat - hence cheered ourselves up with a delicious meal at a lovely chinese place hehe. But honestly, this country is going mad with soccer fever, haha we are all sure that if Ghana were to lose any game from now there wouldbe full out riots :)Hoping to get along to the final near the end of Feb.
We spent the weekend on the coast at Kokrobite again, seven lovely ladies in one double room! The beach is so relaxin and I felt like the entire week was marvellously relaxing. This week was busier and really interesting. Our neighbours foster a little girl whose Dad is who knows where and her mum is a real nut case. There are continuous dramas with her case but as much as possible they want to keep it within the jurisdiction of the camp council - if it goes to the Ghanaians, she will end up in a Ghanaian orphanage, definitely not the ideal solution. I'm close with the family and the girl, as are the rest of us actually, so Sarah and I ended up going along to the Social Welfare Council with the family to sort out the latest trouble. The poor thing though, she was stressed out about it - we did our best calming her down with a remarkable medley of Disney songs, Bob Dylan and the Sound of Music haha. All ended well though and she's still with her foster family for now.
I've done a lot more thinking about this next month and are probably going to work on a mini project for CBW.They have conducted a review of all staff and departments in the past month, so I'm proposing to do a review of hte international volunteer program- desperately needed and hopefully a step towards improving things for future volunteerss, but more importantly, CBW itself. Looking to do some surveying atboth ends - with as many past IVs as possible, as well as local staff and then present some suggestions on how to move forward from here. The initial idea has been okayed from the key people so waiting to finalise a few things then get into it with a couple of the other girls. Going to be tutoring a few arvos a week, working with the beading project set up by a past Aussie volunteer through another organisation, editing some copy for the former child soldiers group and running a couple of workshops with the press club at the junior high school - all of which should keep me nice and busy - yay!
Made a trip on Thursday to Kofoidua, about 3 hours away from Accra and home to a large bead market. We needed to get more beads for the bead project I mentioned before (more on that soon), though I ended up mainly buying a bunch of beads for myself. They also had teh old slave beads that the locals used to trade with foreigners during the slave era - pretty cool but overly expensive so no buying for Laura! The bead project is a really cool project initiated by an Aussie girl. There are two groups of kids, one is a group of younger orphans and the other is a group of early teen boys who until now have been moving wheelbarrows all over camp (porters essentially) to make money for their families. The kids make gorgeous beaded bracelets that are to be sold back in Aus for a much better price than what is possible here, and funds raised cover their education expenses. I'll try ad find details for the groups website, I haven't seen it but it has more details on it!!
This past weekend has been one of the best - Allison Sarah and I set off for the Volta REgion in East Ghana. Much of friday was spent on squashy trotros and broken down taxis before we arrived at a gorgeous lodge, nestled at the foot of a small mountain range. The air is really hazy right across West Africa, partly because peopleare burning off, but also due to a Saharan wind that blows across the region...anyhow, it makes the mountains look really gorgeous! Saturday morning we got up bright and early (too early if you ask me!) and spent the next five and a half hours (yes thats right, five and a half hours!!) hiking up one of hte mountains to see West Africa's highest waterfalls - Wli Falls. Stunning I tell you, but a real killer, we almost turned back a third of the way up the hill because it was a truly difficult climb. But after many many breaks and a couple of attempts at breathlessly singing those get-up-an-go inspiring songs (think Eye of the Tiger style!) we reached the top and relaxed by the falls, dipping our toes into the chilly water and taking as many photos as possible. God was pretty cool when he designed Ghana :) Coming down was equally hard and its still an effort to make our legs move today, but there are also a set of lower falls that we walked down too,once again rewarding our efforts!
After the falls and a quick lunch we attempted to make a quick trip to Tafi Atome... of course nothing happens quickly here and we got half way there by dark, then had to try and find a lift to the actual village...no taxis aroiund and I think the effect of climing a freakin mountain that morning had definitely got to our heads...we jumped willingly into what the guys called a car...really just a shell with no seats or floor or back lights or anything a normal car has haha.. there were freak out moments that we may be being abducted but we ended up safely at Tafi. Woke up early again this morning for the main attraction - a tour of the monkey sanctuary! Hand fed the coolest monkeys ever, I can see why some think they are were we come from, such smart human like little creatures! From Tafi we made our way to the most middle-of-no-where place I've ever been to see where the majority of Ghana's kente cloth is weaved...really really really cool :) You'll havetowait for photosfor it to make sense, but basically they use the most complicated instrument/machine ever,but completely madeout of bamboo and rocks and thread.
Now back home, looking forward to getting a lot done this week! Have to walk from here at net cafe (top of camp) to the bottom where we live - my poor legs are really wrecked so wish me luck! haha love to all, mwah mwah mwah xx
The past two weeks have been a bit quieter for me in terms of working...the beginning of last week I was rather ill, eating something bad and then vomitting it up in the early hours of the morning. It was the first time I've ever vomitted properly, quite a milestone in my life so thought I'd all share that with you :)
Instead of working last thursday, I went into Accra with Zeina and Sarah to watch the soccer. The African Cup of Nations is on at the moment, with none other than GHANA as the host country - now being the perfect time to be here! We saw Morocco vs Guinea and the first half of Ghana vs Namibia and it was totally insane! The stadiums were packed with crazed soccer fans, all singing and dancing and cursing the referee and it was mad to be in the middle of it all. We supported Morocco with about four other people in the entire stadium (40,000 i think), but suffered a devastating defeat - hence cheered ourselves up with a delicious meal at a lovely chinese place hehe. But honestly, this country is going mad with soccer fever, haha we are all sure that if Ghana were to lose any game from now there wouldbe full out riots :)Hoping to get along to the final near the end of Feb.
We spent the weekend on the coast at Kokrobite again, seven lovely ladies in one double room! The beach is so relaxin and I felt like the entire week was marvellously relaxing. This week was busier and really interesting. Our neighbours foster a little girl whose Dad is who knows where and her mum is a real nut case. There are continuous dramas with her case but as much as possible they want to keep it within the jurisdiction of the camp council - if it goes to the Ghanaians, she will end up in a Ghanaian orphanage, definitely not the ideal solution. I'm close with the family and the girl, as are the rest of us actually, so Sarah and I ended up going along to the Social Welfare Council with the family to sort out the latest trouble. The poor thing though, she was stressed out about it - we did our best calming her down with a remarkable medley of Disney songs, Bob Dylan and the Sound of Music haha. All ended well though and she's still with her foster family for now.
I've done a lot more thinking about this next month and are probably going to work on a mini project for CBW.They have conducted a review of all staff and departments in the past month, so I'm proposing to do a review of hte international volunteer program- desperately needed and hopefully a step towards improving things for future volunteerss, but more importantly, CBW itself. Looking to do some surveying atboth ends - with as many past IVs as possible, as well as local staff and then present some suggestions on how to move forward from here. The initial idea has been okayed from the key people so waiting to finalise a few things then get into it with a couple of the other girls. Going to be tutoring a few arvos a week, working with the beading project set up by a past Aussie volunteer through another organisation, editing some copy for the former child soldiers group and running a couple of workshops with the press club at the junior high school - all of which should keep me nice and busy - yay!
Made a trip on Thursday to Kofoidua, about 3 hours away from Accra and home to a large bead market. We needed to get more beads for the bead project I mentioned before (more on that soon), though I ended up mainly buying a bunch of beads for myself. They also had teh old slave beads that the locals used to trade with foreigners during the slave era - pretty cool but overly expensive so no buying for Laura! The bead project is a really cool project initiated by an Aussie girl. There are two groups of kids, one is a group of younger orphans and the other is a group of early teen boys who until now have been moving wheelbarrows all over camp (porters essentially) to make money for their families. The kids make gorgeous beaded bracelets that are to be sold back in Aus for a much better price than what is possible here, and funds raised cover their education expenses. I'll try ad find details for the groups website, I haven't seen it but it has more details on it!!
This past weekend has been one of the best - Allison Sarah and I set off for the Volta REgion in East Ghana. Much of friday was spent on squashy trotros and broken down taxis before we arrived at a gorgeous lodge, nestled at the foot of a small mountain range. The air is really hazy right across West Africa, partly because peopleare burning off, but also due to a Saharan wind that blows across the region...anyhow, it makes the mountains look really gorgeous! Saturday morning we got up bright and early (too early if you ask me!) and spent the next five and a half hours (yes thats right, five and a half hours!!) hiking up one of hte mountains to see West Africa's highest waterfalls - Wli Falls. Stunning I tell you, but a real killer, we almost turned back a third of the way up the hill because it was a truly difficult climb. But after many many breaks and a couple of attempts at breathlessly singing those get-up-an-go inspiring songs (think Eye of the Tiger style!) we reached the top and relaxed by the falls, dipping our toes into the chilly water and taking as many photos as possible. God was pretty cool when he designed Ghana :) Coming down was equally hard and its still an effort to make our legs move today, but there are also a set of lower falls that we walked down too,once again rewarding our efforts!
After the falls and a quick lunch we attempted to make a quick trip to Tafi Atome... of course nothing happens quickly here and we got half way there by dark, then had to try and find a lift to the actual village...no taxis aroiund and I think the effect of climing a freakin mountain that morning had definitely got to our heads...we jumped willingly into what the guys called a car...really just a shell with no seats or floor or back lights or anything a normal car has haha.. there were freak out moments that we may be being abducted but we ended up safely at Tafi. Woke up early again this morning for the main attraction - a tour of the monkey sanctuary! Hand fed the coolest monkeys ever, I can see why some think they are were we come from, such smart human like little creatures! From Tafi we made our way to the most middle-of-no-where place I've ever been to see where the majority of Ghana's kente cloth is weaved...really really really cool :) You'll havetowait for photosfor it to make sense, but basically they use the most complicated instrument/machine ever,but completely madeout of bamboo and rocks and thread.
Now back home, looking forward to getting a lot done this week! Have to walk from here at net cafe (top of camp) to the bottom where we live - my poor legs are really wrecked so wish me luck! haha love to all, mwah mwah mwah xx
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
my teeth hurt..
...they do, from the cold of all things, and I don't have sensodyne toothpaste here, I'm in a really spot of trouble haha. okay, silly thoughts are floating round my head, this evening has been really lovely. A few of the volunteers are leaving tomorrow and the next day so we did a special dinner (someone found a cabbage at the market so we made salad! and andi's mum sent her packet mash potato and gravy, seriously that stuff is good!). A big part of this trip that I was looking forward to was meeting the other IVs, and being here two months, I can definitely say that they have played a huge part in making this trip what it is.
I've always lived at home, so I guess being here was a taste of independence, with a whole lot of cool benefits (like we have a cook and cleaner and washing ladies and maintenance men etc etc!). All of us are fairly different characters but that has only made things more fun - we've had some pretty cool chats about life and love and religion and poverty and politics and everything in between...including the nightly conversation of every single food we miss (cheese, green beans and brocolli are high on my list!). I've learnt weird arabic expressions and realised that newfoundland is so similar to tasmania, that french sounds really cool except when everyone else in the house can speak it but you, that dutch sounds even cooler, that no matter where in the world you are from there is a lot to learn from each other :)
my brain is a bit muddled and i had lots more to write but im super tired and have to be up at 6 tomorrow (we are going to spend countless hours on a tro tro to get to the big bead markets here!). but on a funny note, we have been a little bit naughty and taught the kids some funny things to say... 'suck it to me, sucker', or 'leave me alone or i'll bite your bum!' or 'sh#t man!' (which I had no involvement in I swear!), or telling hte kids that certain people's names are 'fatty boom ba' or so on...oh the laughs :)
I've always lived at home, so I guess being here was a taste of independence, with a whole lot of cool benefits (like we have a cook and cleaner and washing ladies and maintenance men etc etc!). All of us are fairly different characters but that has only made things more fun - we've had some pretty cool chats about life and love and religion and poverty and politics and everything in between...including the nightly conversation of every single food we miss (cheese, green beans and brocolli are high on my list!). I've learnt weird arabic expressions and realised that newfoundland is so similar to tasmania, that french sounds really cool except when everyone else in the house can speak it but you, that dutch sounds even cooler, that no matter where in the world you are from there is a lot to learn from each other :)
my brain is a bit muddled and i had lots more to write but im super tired and have to be up at 6 tomorrow (we are going to spend countless hours on a tro tro to get to the big bead markets here!). but on a funny note, we have been a little bit naughty and taught the kids some funny things to say... 'suck it to me, sucker', or 'leave me alone or i'll bite your bum!' or 'sh#t man!' (which I had no involvement in I swear!), or telling hte kids that certain people's names are 'fatty boom ba' or so on...oh the laughs :)
Friday, January 25, 2008
Blog titles really annoy me :)
I've been working with the HIV/AIDS department for two months now and am thinking of jumping into something different for my last month. Problem is, I'm not sure what... its been really interesting (and at times slightly scary!) to see how this organisation works. Definitely a huge wide gap between how I think things would be best done, and how they are actually done - though whose to say how I would do things would actually work. We have all been very frustrated with the organisation and departments across the past two months, and learning that this frustration has carried through the volunteers that have been here for a long long time. Part of the problem is us volunteers ourselves....well not us specifically, but hte role we play in the organisation.
Basically, our program fees fund the entire organisation, and our motivation/frustration is the driving force in getting things done. However, because IVs only stay a month or two, trying to achieve consistency and fluidity in changing things is really really difficult. Issues that IVs address one month reappear the following month when the old IVs leave and the new ones arrive. A perfect example is the way the HIV AIDS dept does outreach...we have a team of four local volunteers and as many IVs that decide to work with them. When we sit down with groups in the community to discuss the virus, transmission and prevention, it ends up being the entire group of us when essentially, one or two individuals could do the entire presentation. So we suggest that the team be broken into groups - hey presto, our productivity is increased three fold. But then we hear from a past IV still working on camp that they did the exact same thing...and yet once they left, things automatically went back to how they were. Its a small example,. but it appears to be the culture of the organisation.
There are a whole range of issues that need to be dealt with for this organisation to make a bigger impact than it current does. Its not that the potential isn't there - they receive significant funding (especially relative to costs on camp), they have a constant influx of talented, motivated, hardworking IVs, they have 70 local volunteers and departments working across a range of fields. We seem to be here at an important time in the organisation...they are in the midle of a review of all the local volunteers and the director is about to leave to re-establish the org in Liberia. The director himself is one of problems - at least many IVs have problems with him, as have the local staff. Seeing him leave will hopefully bring a breath of fresh air! The two guys second and third in charge will move up into the roles and have been chatting with us on our thoughts of improving and changing things to see the org really move forward. Which is really cool and I think part of my next few weeks will be spent suggesting solutions to problems and ideas for growth. But I guess always in the back of my mind is the thought that once I leave, once our group goes, everything could go back to how it was, and the whole cycle starts again.
If I could do this trip over (not that I don't like what I am doing, what has happened so far...but just if I could do it again!) I would have come and worked with CBW for a month then spent a good 6 months or so here connecting with other programs and projects and not constrained by just the one. There is a lot of need here, and its clear that there is a huge need for sustainable, well thought out projects that break the 'hand out' mentality that is running rife. As one girl working here said, in many ways Buduburam is a great example of what NOT to do in development. Its pretty cool though to see the reality of why things went wrong/dont work, but then see some groups and projects that are actually working. You realise though, if you want to put bread on the table each night here in camp, you either run alittle market stall, own an internet cafe (both which have limited demand) or set up an NGO and take your share of hte funding. Back to my original thought htough, it would have been cool to dedicate a more significant amount of time and energy to this place..never fear though, I haven't extended my plane ticket and will be back early Marach...all ready to jump straight back into uni haha
Well thank you if you got this far...its good to get some rambling thoughts out of my head. Oh and news from today, a real tragedy on camp, a young boy fell down a water well and died. He broke his neck and was left unnoticed in the water for too long..we dont know exact details and probably never will (rumours about everything and anything are the way it goes here) but its dreadfully sad. It happened somewhere behind our house, roughly in the same kinda neighbourhood though... :-(
Sunday, January 20, 2008
Over half way now...
You know sometimes when you just have one of those days? When things are frustrating and the weather is bad and you are just annoyed and grumpy and irritable and what not? Had one of those the other day, just getting sick of having faces ALWAYS staring in the windows, and sick of eating rice and fried chicken and cabbage stew, over the heat and the frogs and the mice and having no power etc etc. Thank God for our dear housemate Sarah, she brought along a video Ipod with the entire series of Grey's Anatomy...I'm now officially addicted. It eased the frustration but has made me a little more emotional (we just watched the end of season three and meredith is close to dead and christina's just got engaged and george got married and oh my goodness its been a rollercoaster of emotions!) Haha, but seriously, made me think I'd like to get some of my feelings about everything down in a blog, not just regurgitating up what we've done each day.
So here goes...
APPRECIATIVE to have this exprience, to be learning and seeing in reality what I've been studying in theory, to be rooming with some really fantastic girls from all around the world, to have the chance to hear the personal stories of a handful of people whose lives have been so much more full on than I could ever imagine, to eat fan-ice icecream, to be able to escape the camp on the weekends if things get too much, to be part of the journey towards something better for some of these people.
FRUSTRATED that there are no easy answers at any level - for the child that gets beaten at home, for the kids whose parents can not afford school fees even though they are no more than $10, for the families that have been split up over the past 17 years, for the girls who, in order to feed clothe and care for themselves and their children, must sell their bodies in a region with the highest AIDS infection rate, for the community of 40,000 people who are not accepted here in Ghana, are too scared to return to Liberia and live in false hope of leaving for the US, Canada, Australia etc.
IRRITATED that an entire generation are growing up with a handout mentality, that so many of the organisations that are here to help are either unable or unwilling to provide the extent of help needed, that Ghanaians are denying the refugees opportunities and jobs, but making money off them instead, that Liberian's themselves are making a profit off the suffering of their people, that I don't really understand how this place works and probably won't ever, that three months is not enough time to even scratch the surface of this unsettled society.
DELIGHT in the beautiful, smart, funny, intelligent, cheeky kids, in meeting individuals and getting to know them day to day, in being able to contribute even a little to seeing some good happen in this place, in trying some delicious food, in seeing an amazing country, in water fights with the kids, in seeing a bunch of boys brighten up when they hear they will go to school for the first time in a long while due to their own efforts in making beautiful jewellry, in eating nutella and brie and bread (sometimes all at once), in watching Grey's Anatomy :)
Sunday, January 13, 2008
Livin' it up!
So some exciting adventures have been had, and because sharing is caring, I thought I'd jot them down and share with you all - aren't I lovely? :-)
The past few days have been filled with glorious scenery and a real collection of new experiences. One of the most momentous moments occurred on Friday. Iris and I decided, rather late in the day actually, to embark on another trip into Accra. Iris' reasons for going were really quite trival matters - meeting up with a friend who is going to visit her in Holland, heading over to immigration to renew her visa and make sure she isn't kicked out of the country etc. My purpose, however, was a much more serious mission - the purchasing of a shiny glass jar of heaven, commonly known as Nutella. I won't share how much it cost us, I'm truly embarrassed, lets just say it'd be enough to buy my dinner with for near to three weeks. Ouch! But oh glory be, it is just delightful :) Another Accra moment was eating at a scrumptious vegetarian place owned by a Brisbane girl. Hommus to die for (but not as good as the nutella!)
Next highlight was trying to travel with eight others. We have a really great group, all girls and much fun, but it can get tricky trying to make plans...actually to make any sort of decision! As such, we ended up almost stuck in a forest, in the middle of no where, for the night. It was dark, we were too late to get accomodation and there was a general agreement that the night had a very Blair Witch Project feel about it. Thankfully we had trotro drivers who were happy to cart us to the closest accomodation (Hans Cottage Botel...yes thats botel not hotel, apparently it isnt just a spelling mistake but over all the uniforms and signs and what not).
We made the journey much more memorable with lime cordial and strawberry gin, however our minimal planning skills left us with out any cups - though where we lack with planning things, we make up for in resourcefulness - strawberry gin and lime cordial were mixed in an empty popper box, an icecream wrapper and a cookie packet. Hans Cottage was lovely and the restaurant was built over this small lake with real baby crocodiles in it - crikey mate!
This morning (Sunday) we packed up and returned to where we were almost stranded the night before - Kakum National Park. The park has Africa's only canopy walk, a rope and wood suspension bridge trail 40m above the ground and one of the most beautiful rainforests in the world. Its true, I'm scared of heights, but the beauty of it was overwhelming enough to forget any previous fear. If we can get our act together we are going to head back in a few weeks time and camp up in the trees on one of the platforms. Should be amazing! And being there in the early hours of the morning, you are more likely to see some African wildlife (we only saw butterflies...but very pretty butterflies at that).
After Kakum and some more trotro madness, we went to Elimina, a coastal town made famous by the ex-slave castle and fort on the shore. The castle is architectually beautiful and painted white all over with black shutters and trimming. However the place quickly loses its charm after listening to the tour guide. We visited where they held the slaves and heard about the tragic conditions the slaves, especially the women, were kept in. Historically, the coast of Ghana was spotted with slave forts, where the Dutch, Portugese and British (often under the guise of Christianity) traded other human beings, usually after destroying any sense of humanity held by these individuals. The moment that most disgusted me was walking in and through the church building right in the centre of the castle's courtyard. It made me think back to Amazing Grace, the film about William Wilberforce, and to actually be at a site so important to the trade - wow, very thought-provoking.
One disappointment was having a camera without charged batteries, but I'll definitely try and get some photos off the others. The view from the top of the castle was amazing, right along the coast and back to the township, all bright and colourful and busy, full of old style colonial portugese buildings and markets and gondala style boats along the river that weaves straight through the middle. Seriously, Ghana is beautiful!
Okay internet time is ticking away and my belly says its dinner time, so signing off for now but will be back soon as there are many more stories to share! much love, Laura xx
Friday, January 4, 2008
Early January Update
Here's some mini stories for you all...
In the cuteness stakes, there is a little girl that lives near the office that doesnt really say much but loves to be around you. We were doing hiv/aids outreach two days ago with all the new IVs, and I was holding the presentation props, including a fake penis, on my lap (waiting to blow everyone out of the water with the fantastic condom demonstration I get to do each day). The little girl came up and was fiddling with everything, pointing at the penis and trying to take it off me. She ran off for a few moments before returning with 5 peswas (cents) to buy the "candle" aka fake penis. It was very cute :)
The kids at our house wanted to see any photos that we may have, so Sarah brought out one of her and her boyfriend, to which all the kids, girls and boys alike, declared the boyfriend to be 'very very beautiful' and Sarah to be very lucky to have him. I have a few photos here, one being a big group of friends (that we took at church one night for steffs birthday, for those involved). The kids were keen to know who everyone was so i went through the whole group and told them the name of the person and how I knew them. One girl announced that all of us were very fat and should stop eating so much (nobody in the photo was really overweight at all!) though she thought Sam Gray and Dave Stay were 'so fine!' said only as an african girl can. Gave me the giggles :)
This is the gross story :) . Last night Iris and I rearranged our room to seat up a couple of chairs and small table to relax in in one corner. We were moving our bedside table across the room so I went to grab my pile of books off it (they were on the lower shelf and kinda in the dark). I went to grab what i thought was a bracelet off the top of the books but knocked it by mistake and everything fell on the ground. To my horror it wasnt a bracelet but the head of a very dead mouse, brains slowly falling out and no body to be found. I almost threw up and used at least 3 L of hand sanitiser hahaha. Almost as bad as the time I stood in a drain by mistake because it was so incredibly dark by the internet place. Drains here carry rubbish and water and sewrage and anything else you can think off, truly a disgusting moment that I do not want to think about again ever hahaha. unfortunately I got stopped by a ridiculous amount of guys on the way home and had my patience realllllly tested!
Speaking of guys, they are hilarious. All declare their love or interest in you, say some of hte funniest things and really don't take the hint. I resorted to telling htem all that Josh, one of last months IVs who only just left, was my boyfriend, or that I'm married with kids back home, but even then they suggest that you could have an African man and a husband back home. The best is when they pull out the 'I will pray and fast that God changes your heart' line, because 'I knew from the moment i met you that we are meant to be together, my heart believes it and I can not deny my heart'...oh the gold ones are 'I very very love you girl....and sorry what is your name again?' Apart from camp politics and finding dead bodyless mice in my room, the guys are probably the most frustrating thing here heheh. Oh and the new late night church sessions they are running about ten metres from our house.. good times hehe.
I think I may have mentioned the forest behind our house before, no? Where people go to get high or relieve their bladder..or both.. So a few of us went exploring a couple of days ago, lots of fun. Its this lovely rainforest style thing with a stream and all these dug out areas, lots of people playing board games or poker, a little veggie plot and its much cooler than the rest of camp. A friend of one of the guys led us around and then we reached all the stoned guys :) :) My favourite moments include :
Our guide friend was telling us, while smoking a joint, that 'the forest is a place for us to escape the frustration and congestion', while one of his equally stoned friends was off in his own world, stating in a chant-like, almost melodic manner, "frustration... congestion"...I half expected people to break into some disney Scar and the hyenas song routine, one of those moments you think 'holy crap im in africa on the other side of hte world in some random forest with a bunch of stoned guys and disney really wouldn't condone this but heck it'd be funny and why again am i here?'
Second moment was all of them telling us that 'we Liberians are peaceful people' but none of us really hearing a word their said cause a huge fight/yelling match broke out behind them :)
Last thing that is making me smile as I write this is thinking about our security guards, both nice guys but they are a little crazy, both completely sure that the other one is trying to kill them :) I guess that works in our favour though, both so concerned in staying awake all night for their own safety that they are sure to stay awake and keep an eye on our house.
And one last thing, I promise, the kids here are so adorable haha, their names are really something else hey, next door to us lives 2 year old Tigger, behind us lives 4 yr old Queenstar, up the road lives 13 yr old Fanta and other names include Push, Surprise, Prince, Queen, Queengirl, Nanna (poor little boy!) etc.
Wednesday, January 2, 2008
New Years
Happy New Years :) Thought I'd pop in with a quick update on the last few days...
We haven't worked for the last week and a half with Christmas and everything, so have had heaps of fun with the kids and everyone else we've met along the way. One highlight was a killer waterfight with half the neighbourhood and probably half our water supply for the week. BUT for the fun and heat relief it brought - totally worth it :)
Our last minute plans for New Years were to head into Accra. We stayed at this crazy little hostel right on the coast, literally perched on the top of the cliff. Great view, rooms were very basic but the manager was a lovely old rasta man with funky teeth and a passion for yoga. As always, my memories revolve around the food I've consumed - lunch was at a little smoothie place in Osu (the trendiest suburb) that has smoothies to die for. We stuffed ourselves silly at dinner time, dining at the most popular western restaurant, Frankies, and then stopped at a deserted bar for drinks. Half the country seemed to be in church, but there were a lot of people out on the main street in Osu, so we hung there for awhile, waiting for a count down that never came, hence we actually missed the turn over from 2007 to 2008. Once we got over our disappointment we kept moving, trying to find anywhere with some good music. That hunt led us to a gas station of all places, where the little eatery attached was playing cool reggae beats. There was probably a total of six others there when we arrived, but by the time we left we had attracted a small crowd (I'd like to say it was our good looks and charm, but i think it was mostly the delight of watching uncoodinated white girls try and dance reggae to Bob Marley!). There were some gold conversations that night - I ended up with a set of Ghanaian twins that were certain that my friend Zeina and I were twins (Zeina is a dark-featured Egyptian girl and I'm, well you all know how white I am!). While being way from camp is fun and often really needed, there is nothing like coming back to this place :) i can't post photos at the moment but if you do a google search (buduburam) i'm sure you'll find some sweet shots to get a better idea of what everything looks like.
The Jan IVs arrived yesterday and today, very exciting to have some more people around and cool to show the sweet places we've found on camp. I started working again today, doing hiv/aids outreach this morning and brainstorming with one of hte dept. guys on how to improve the work they do. I've got two months left and while I did get to do some cool things in the first month, much of my time was spent figuring out the basics of this place. I feel a lot more in tune with whats going on (always something crazy - we've had sick children and medication overdoses and ghanaian gangs on camp and the usual neighbourhood bickering!) and am looking forward to getting in and doing some cool stuff!
Internet time is almost out so I best be off - much love to everyone!! Oh and if anyone has the time, im desperate for news, like current affairs Aus and International, it takes too long to load websites and there are no newspapers here and as a journo student its killing me!! just a copy and paste of an article on anything (even cricket - yes i know thats desperate!) would be appreicated...esp. news on kenya!
love to all xx
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
