Today we took some of the home kids to the beach! It was myself, Grannie, the head of the Alkot Development School (the bit of the children's home I'm working in) Janet and a volunteer called Emily who is studying in Accra and volunteering on Wednesday's and Thursdays. We were supposed to go at around 9 but actually probably got there around 2 but hey this is Ghana time! Unfortunately this meant my carefully applied suncream had worn off so I am a bit pinkey/red at the moment but I hope it will pass!
So there were around 17/18 kids - all permanently living at the home - and I can't describe how amazing it was just to go to the beach! Some had never been before I think. One girl in particular did not go in for ages but by the end she was splashing and smiling which was great to see! Janet said she comes from a village and used to never speak or anything but she said "water" in Ga or Twi and I think really enjoyed herself! The kids were all splashing and running and jumping in and just having so much fun it was just so cool to see them enjoying themselves so much. I think on Monday we are taking the other children who come from around Accra to the school (for example two girls have parents who have a stall selling fruit very close to the school) so I will remember to take more suncream this time!
Cephas, my little project, also had a great time. He really seems to be trusting me now and I gave him a piggy back across the sand because he had left his shoes at the home and the sand was sooo hot, and on the way back he sat on my knee in the taxi (with 6 children and Emily crammed into the back!). This morning I also had a breakthrough with him! He understands VERY little English and I have been trying to teach him the alphabet but it has been slow going. However, to mine and Grannie's delight Janet unearthed one of those small whiteboards with a pen you can rub off and it is the most AMAZING thing ever because the kids can actually write the letters and then rub it off (as they can't write in some of the books Grannie brought and some kids like Cephas who are new and very behind do not have workbooks so they just sit there in class doing nothing most of the time!). Anyway so one of the books is plasticy so we can use the "magic pen" to trace and letters and Cephas absolutely LOVES it. After he traced a letter (so Aa for example) I would point to other letters and say "yes or no is this an A or a?" and after some repetition he GOT IT and went through a whole 10 letters saying yes or no! Oooh we were so proud and when I gave him a hug and high five I can not describe how happy he was - he has the cutest giggle ever!
Wow I'm writing more than planned!
So tomorrow Kat and I are going to Kumasi to meet Katrina an other volunteer which is good. We have been keeping busy going into Accra central for numerous errands even if we do have to endure a long, sweaty tro tro ride! Today when I went to work I was on a reeaally long one as the tro tro "mate" was determined to fill the thing before we went aannyyway. And it get so hot just sitting there squashed next to strangers!
Pictures to come soon I promise. I did plan to do it tonight but annoyingly my pc has no USB. Bleh!
I would love some emails off people - my email is sal.greenwood@gmail.com and my skype is supersal22 :)
Sal xxxxxx
Thursday, 25 February 2010
Tuesday, 23 February 2010
Muddling through!
So, this is definitely one of the hardest things I have done so far! I think that my emotions are like a yo-yo but generally if I am busy as much as possible then I can get through the day!
Over the weekend we didn't really do that much. On Sunday Katharina, Maria and some of Maria's Ghanaian friends went to play football on the beach (Em and Sara I thought of you two and how much you would have enjoyed it!) The boys were really good, some are professional?, but I obviously am not so hot at the football and sat down in the sand to take some photos! Luckily it is slightly cooler by the sea (I say slightly...) so it wasn't too unbearable. The rest of the day me and Katharina just lazed about in the spare room thing that we have. Unfortunately the ICYE Ghana people shut the room yesterday but today I had more orientation at the office (just around the corner) but I persuaded them to allow us to have the room open. The main thing really is just to have someplace to sit and relax after work and in the evening, because with Katharina and I having the top bunks there is no where to really go (and the mozzie net makes everything succchhh an effort!).
I started work yesterday. Initially I went in for 7am with Katharina so I knew which tro tro stop to get off at. 7am is okay actually as we are going to bed before 10 most nights and it gets hot and light around 6 and most of Ghana seems to get up then - including the next door neighbours and their radio! so I have been waking very early. Katharina works in the nursery and I wasn't due at the school until 8 so I helped there. I found it quite upsetting, because as you'd imagine there are a lot of little babies lying in their cots and lots of very young children from ages 1 to 2 ish in these big, mishapen tshirts. Some were crying a lot, mostly out of want of attention, but others just sit there in their mini chairs... We helped the aunties and fed them this thick drink thing - also heartbreaking to see these teeny kids holding these huge plastic cups and spilling it all over themselves. After this they all got popped on potties and then got showered down with a hose whilst Kat and I prepared to dress those going to school. I then walked a few over to the school area where it was CHAOS and many of the little ones just lay on the floor and went to sleep!
Needless to say I get attacked by children the moment I go anywhere or do anything - especially if stationary. There are five rooms in the school bit with like an open compound in the middle for playing in. Despite getting there for 8 school doesn't start until 9 so I can arrive later from now on I think (although I woke early today and got there for 8) and before they do their lessons they have "assembly" where they sing the national anthem and say the lord's prayer which is adorable! However, this is the only time that the children are calm... the teacher's are the only people who hold authority so it is a struggle to do anything with all the children in a class. I am at the moment in with ages 5-6, but they are of very variable abilities. Mostly they make their letters and numbers in little books but some of the newer or less able children don't have the books and therefore just mess around or do very little. BUT my guardian angel at the moment is Grannie, a 75 year old volunteer from Arazona. Grannie has been at the orphanage before - two years ago - and is very highly respected by the teachers. She is great. These past few days we have been doing one to ones, or nose to noses as Grannie calls it, and going in to an empty room at the back with one child and trying to make some headway with some books. Luckily, Grannie brought loooaads with her (we discovered more today which is great!) so although we wont be able to write in the workbook we can at least go through it. The children respond really well to the one to one, although they DO get VERY distracted, especially as the other children are banging like crazy on the door to get in! We had to lock it in the end as the disruptive children just walk in. There is one girl called Ruth who drives us crazy with all of this.
Lunch is at 12 and then a kind of nap time that me and Grannie use for more one to ones. But when they are all eating Grannie goes to a place nearby and gets a cold drink and it is truly amaaazing to get a cold coke!! When I get back from work Katharina and I are trying to keep busy and we're going to Kumasi this weekend which will be good I hope?!
love, Sal xxxx
Over the weekend we didn't really do that much. On Sunday Katharina, Maria and some of Maria's Ghanaian friends went to play football on the beach (Em and Sara I thought of you two and how much you would have enjoyed it!) The boys were really good, some are professional?, but I obviously am not so hot at the football and sat down in the sand to take some photos! Luckily it is slightly cooler by the sea (I say slightly...) so it wasn't too unbearable. The rest of the day me and Katharina just lazed about in the spare room thing that we have. Unfortunately the ICYE Ghana people shut the room yesterday but today I had more orientation at the office (just around the corner) but I persuaded them to allow us to have the room open. The main thing really is just to have someplace to sit and relax after work and in the evening, because with Katharina and I having the top bunks there is no where to really go (and the mozzie net makes everything succchhh an effort!).
I started work yesterday. Initially I went in for 7am with Katharina so I knew which tro tro stop to get off at. 7am is okay actually as we are going to bed before 10 most nights and it gets hot and light around 6 and most of Ghana seems to get up then - including the next door neighbours and their radio! so I have been waking very early. Katharina works in the nursery and I wasn't due at the school until 8 so I helped there. I found it quite upsetting, because as you'd imagine there are a lot of little babies lying in their cots and lots of very young children from ages 1 to 2 ish in these big, mishapen tshirts. Some were crying a lot, mostly out of want of attention, but others just sit there in their mini chairs... We helped the aunties and fed them this thick drink thing - also heartbreaking to see these teeny kids holding these huge plastic cups and spilling it all over themselves. After this they all got popped on potties and then got showered down with a hose whilst Kat and I prepared to dress those going to school. I then walked a few over to the school area where it was CHAOS and many of the little ones just lay on the floor and went to sleep!
Needless to say I get attacked by children the moment I go anywhere or do anything - especially if stationary. There are five rooms in the school bit with like an open compound in the middle for playing in. Despite getting there for 8 school doesn't start until 9 so I can arrive later from now on I think (although I woke early today and got there for 8) and before they do their lessons they have "assembly" where they sing the national anthem and say the lord's prayer which is adorable! However, this is the only time that the children are calm... the teacher's are the only people who hold authority so it is a struggle to do anything with all the children in a class. I am at the moment in with ages 5-6, but they are of very variable abilities. Mostly they make their letters and numbers in little books but some of the newer or less able children don't have the books and therefore just mess around or do very little. BUT my guardian angel at the moment is Grannie, a 75 year old volunteer from Arazona. Grannie has been at the orphanage before - two years ago - and is very highly respected by the teachers. She is great. These past few days we have been doing one to ones, or nose to noses as Grannie calls it, and going in to an empty room at the back with one child and trying to make some headway with some books. Luckily, Grannie brought loooaads with her (we discovered more today which is great!) so although we wont be able to write in the workbook we can at least go through it. The children respond really well to the one to one, although they DO get VERY distracted, especially as the other children are banging like crazy on the door to get in! We had to lock it in the end as the disruptive children just walk in. There is one girl called Ruth who drives us crazy with all of this.
Lunch is at 12 and then a kind of nap time that me and Grannie use for more one to ones. But when they are all eating Grannie goes to a place nearby and gets a cold drink and it is truly amaaazing to get a cold coke!! When I get back from work Katharina and I are trying to keep busy and we're going to Kumasi this weekend which will be good I hope?!
love, Sal xxxx
Saturday, 20 February 2010
Ghana chapter one!
Okay so this will be a proper blog I hope! I will try to include everything.
*warning - very long blog!!!*
Right so I was picked up from the airport at half 4 by Sheila who is an ICYE representative. In the taxi she told me I would be living in Accra with other volunteers and working at Osu Children’s home! The other volunteers are Maria and Anna who are from Germany and have both been here six months already so they really know the ropes! Anna is travelling at the moment so I have not met her yet. Then there is Katharina (Denmark) who has been here two weeks already and is here for another three and a half months so I’m really pleased that there is someone knew to share everything with! As well as us four there was Katrina (from USA) and Frederika (from Italy) who arrived a few days before me but have both gone to Kumasi today to start their projects. Katrina is here for six months too and when me and Katter travel we hope that we will be able to visit her!
I guess if you imagine everything about living in Ghana then you will not be far off from how I am living now! I never thought I would take air conditioning for granted, but I do, and as it is just SO hot I am just constantly sweating!! It means I am pretty much dirty all the time as it is dusty on the roads and everything just floats and sticks to my suncreamed arms and legs! The heat is okay but it is just so constant, and you can’t escape it! Sleeping is the worst because I am on the top bunk and there is no ladder so once I’ve got up and fixed my mozzy net into bed I am sweating more than ever! But last night was much better than the first night. The bed shakes too which isn’t great so we’ll see what happens when Anna returns!!
So anyway back to the house…. When you go in there is a small little entrance bit with a table where we sit. There are the two rooms where we sleep and a kitchen and then a wash area with separate shower and toilet. Of course there is only occasionally running water so we have three HUGE water containers, one for the kitchen and two in the wash room, and we have to just pour the bucket over our head to shower and pour the water into the toilet system to flush it! Actually that is okay, and the shower I had yesterday was actually amazing because it cools you down for about 30 mins after so it is totally worth it! I am already looking forward to my shower for today!
In terms of food we get lunch and dinner made by this cheerful little Ghanaian woman who lives about 2 mins away called Gladys. We have to walk with this yellow wash basket and cloth to cover the food with as apparently it would not be right for us to just walk with the tupperwear on show! I do not know why!! Next door there is a lovely woman called Hetty who shares the yard with us and is always our sweeping and calling to us by name and asking me whether I know Twi yet! Through the fence there are two (or three?) little boys who always call “hello how are you!” when we go by! In fact, lots of people do that. You can get stopped and get your hand shook so many times, and we got honked at all the time but then again everyone honks like crazy here. They drive mad!
So the ICYE office is round the corner and I had a few language lessons but I think I will just try to learn the basics at first as everyone does speak English so it’s okay. Today I got my allowance which is good because I was having trouble withdrawing money but today I MANAGED IT!! So I am just so pleased about that!
I went to the project with Annie (ICYE representative) and met the director lady. She is everything you would imagine a director to be – all stern looking with glasses! – but I really warmed to her because she asked me if I was affected by the credit crunch and seemed to find this really funny, but I have no idea what I had written on my application to make her say that because it was such a long time ago!!! She also asked me about Romania and then after said that I should be in the school part teaching so I was totally happy with that. I went to the school part too and met the Ghanaian teachers and saw there was another volunteer from Sweden and an American lady who they called “granny” but who is 75!! She is leaving in 2 weeks and said she would show me the ropes. She seemed totally mad and good fun!
This is turning into a right long essay but I want to write everything down so I have covered everything for this blog and then I wont need to write so much after this! I suppose I should say that things are obviously hard and I go up and down like a yo yo! At the moment it’s weird because I have no drawers or anything to put my clothes in because the other girls are using them so my clothes will probably just stay on the floor or on my rucksack. Also because I am on the top bunk there isn’t really anywhere to go to chill out. Luckily the volunteers who left today were in this big room with only mattresses on the floor so that is where me and Katharina are chilling out now and we really hope they wont lock the room. I am going to plead my case if they try to but it is where all the short term volunteers stay and those volunteers who have arrived but are going someplace else so they want to keep it empty I think…
So me and Katter went into Osu today which is the area that we are in. We went to a kind of western supermarket and got icecream! From the house the orphanage is only about a 10 min ride on a tro tro and is in the “circle” which is basically the immediate area. The tro tro is a crazy experience in itself actually… they are mini buses that are so broken it is untrue! There is a driver and then a guy who waves his hand out the door to indicate where they are going – a twisty wrist means the circle and a pointed finger means central Accra (I went yesterday with Annie and the other new vols). This guy then jumps in when the thing starts moving and drags the door shut (normally affixed by some rope with the metal exposed and broken and twisted!). These things fit 17 people in at full capacity with two by the driver and all the foldey seats in the isles used! But they are cheap and hilarious!
So I’m going to finish this now! I am actually writing this in the house on Katter’s laptop because whenever I’ve been to the internet café I’ve had headaches and felt too weary to type so much. We are going to bed early and I will be starting work at 7 or 8 so I will be tired come evening. I really look forward to starting work as I really need to just settle in and get into the swing on things!
If anyone wants to text me on my Ghana sim my number is ¬+233 546703714 (I think that is right!).
I’ll write again in a few days, after I start working for real!
Sal xxxx
(p.s. if you have snow in the UK then thing about how I sweat all the time and how hot it is and pile on the jumpers!! I’m not saying I want the freezing cold but I’d sure like air con!)
(p.p.s the water comes in 500ml bags, it is really weird!)
(p.p.p.s now I have money I am really looking forward to buying loads of pineapple and mango and basically living off that!)
*warning - very long blog!!!*
Right so I was picked up from the airport at half 4 by Sheila who is an ICYE representative. In the taxi she told me I would be living in Accra with other volunteers and working at Osu Children’s home! The other volunteers are Maria and Anna who are from Germany and have both been here six months already so they really know the ropes! Anna is travelling at the moment so I have not met her yet. Then there is Katharina (Denmark) who has been here two weeks already and is here for another three and a half months so I’m really pleased that there is someone knew to share everything with! As well as us four there was Katrina (from USA) and Frederika (from Italy) who arrived a few days before me but have both gone to Kumasi today to start their projects. Katrina is here for six months too and when me and Katter travel we hope that we will be able to visit her!
I guess if you imagine everything about living in Ghana then you will not be far off from how I am living now! I never thought I would take air conditioning for granted, but I do, and as it is just SO hot I am just constantly sweating!! It means I am pretty much dirty all the time as it is dusty on the roads and everything just floats and sticks to my suncreamed arms and legs! The heat is okay but it is just so constant, and you can’t escape it! Sleeping is the worst because I am on the top bunk and there is no ladder so once I’ve got up and fixed my mozzy net into bed I am sweating more than ever! But last night was much better than the first night. The bed shakes too which isn’t great so we’ll see what happens when Anna returns!!
So anyway back to the house…. When you go in there is a small little entrance bit with a table where we sit. There are the two rooms where we sleep and a kitchen and then a wash area with separate shower and toilet. Of course there is only occasionally running water so we have three HUGE water containers, one for the kitchen and two in the wash room, and we have to just pour the bucket over our head to shower and pour the water into the toilet system to flush it! Actually that is okay, and the shower I had yesterday was actually amazing because it cools you down for about 30 mins after so it is totally worth it! I am already looking forward to my shower for today!
In terms of food we get lunch and dinner made by this cheerful little Ghanaian woman who lives about 2 mins away called Gladys. We have to walk with this yellow wash basket and cloth to cover the food with as apparently it would not be right for us to just walk with the tupperwear on show! I do not know why!! Next door there is a lovely woman called Hetty who shares the yard with us and is always our sweeping and calling to us by name and asking me whether I know Twi yet! Through the fence there are two (or three?) little boys who always call “hello how are you!” when we go by! In fact, lots of people do that. You can get stopped and get your hand shook so many times, and we got honked at all the time but then again everyone honks like crazy here. They drive mad!
So the ICYE office is round the corner and I had a few language lessons but I think I will just try to learn the basics at first as everyone does speak English so it’s okay. Today I got my allowance which is good because I was having trouble withdrawing money but today I MANAGED IT!! So I am just so pleased about that!
I went to the project with Annie (ICYE representative) and met the director lady. She is everything you would imagine a director to be – all stern looking with glasses! – but I really warmed to her because she asked me if I was affected by the credit crunch and seemed to find this really funny, but I have no idea what I had written on my application to make her say that because it was such a long time ago!!! She also asked me about Romania and then after said that I should be in the school part teaching so I was totally happy with that. I went to the school part too and met the Ghanaian teachers and saw there was another volunteer from Sweden and an American lady who they called “granny” but who is 75!! She is leaving in 2 weeks and said she would show me the ropes. She seemed totally mad and good fun!
This is turning into a right long essay but I want to write everything down so I have covered everything for this blog and then I wont need to write so much after this! I suppose I should say that things are obviously hard and I go up and down like a yo yo! At the moment it’s weird because I have no drawers or anything to put my clothes in because the other girls are using them so my clothes will probably just stay on the floor or on my rucksack. Also because I am on the top bunk there isn’t really anywhere to go to chill out. Luckily the volunteers who left today were in this big room with only mattresses on the floor so that is where me and Katharina are chilling out now and we really hope they wont lock the room. I am going to plead my case if they try to but it is where all the short term volunteers stay and those volunteers who have arrived but are going someplace else so they want to keep it empty I think…
So me and Katter went into Osu today which is the area that we are in. We went to a kind of western supermarket and got icecream! From the house the orphanage is only about a 10 min ride on a tro tro and is in the “circle” which is basically the immediate area. The tro tro is a crazy experience in itself actually… they are mini buses that are so broken it is untrue! There is a driver and then a guy who waves his hand out the door to indicate where they are going – a twisty wrist means the circle and a pointed finger means central Accra (I went yesterday with Annie and the other new vols). This guy then jumps in when the thing starts moving and drags the door shut (normally affixed by some rope with the metal exposed and broken and twisted!). These things fit 17 people in at full capacity with two by the driver and all the foldey seats in the isles used! But they are cheap and hilarious!
So I’m going to finish this now! I am actually writing this in the house on Katter’s laptop because whenever I’ve been to the internet café I’ve had headaches and felt too weary to type so much. We are going to bed early and I will be starting work at 7 or 8 so I will be tired come evening. I really look forward to starting work as I really need to just settle in and get into the swing on things!
If anyone wants to text me on my Ghana sim my number is ¬+233 546703714 (I think that is right!).
I’ll write again in a few days, after I start working for real!
Sal xxxx
(p.s. if you have snow in the UK then thing about how I sweat all the time and how hot it is and pile on the jumpers!! I’m not saying I want the freezing cold but I’d sure like air con!)
(p.p.s the water comes in 500ml bags, it is really weird!)
(p.p.p.s now I have money I am really looking forward to buying loads of pineapple and mango and basically living off that!)
Thursday, 18 February 2010
Hot and Tired!
This title says it all. I am both of those things! I don't have the energy for a long post but I am safe and sound and am in my little Ghanaian house in Accra living with other girls. There are three others that I will live with all the time; two germans and one girl from denmark. At the moment there are two other new girls but they are going to kumasi soon. I will have a few orientation days I think and then head to the project next week some time. All the girls in the house are at the same project so I think that will help me get into the swing of things!
Anyway I'll try to write a good post soon when I've slept. Everyone, please wish me a good sleep because I have never needed to sleep so badly before!!
Love, Sal xxxxx
Anyway I'll try to write a good post soon when I've slept. Everyone, please wish me a good sleep because I have never needed to sleep so badly before!!
Love, Sal xxxxx
Tuesday, 16 February 2010
23kg
It's great, because here I am sitting with the fire going and I look outside and it's snowing. Proper, big flakes. This morning I woke up and the fields were white, and it was a funny feeling because it's kind of like England is saying "seeyaaaa Sal here's some good old English weather to REALLY contrast with what you're gonna get soon!" I've already changed the setting of my laptop to Ghana weather, even though I'm leaving it behind, so that everytime Dad turns it on he'll see the little weather gadget on my desktop and see what it's like where I am. At the moment it is 33 degrees and sunny. A lot of the time it shows thunder storms but after hearing someone refer to the rain in Africa as liquid sunshine I am trying to change my naturally negative attitude!
Today is my last full day at home. Tonight will be my last proper sleep in my lovely bed! As my flight is at stupid o'clock (6.30am) on Thursday Steve is going to drive me down in the wee hours of the morning so I look forward to a night of terrible sleep full of butterflies and anticipation...
Currently, I am halfway through packing... That is, my huge rucksack is full of clothes and medical bits and bobs and my bed is still covered with toiletries, important-documents-to-take, many books, photos and other miscellaneous items. This isn't too much of a problems, as my allowance is two bags of 23kg and whilst I don't fancy actually taking two bags of 23kg (and indeed getting them into Ghana and around Ghana!) I think I will be seizing the opportunity to check another bag in. My plan is to fill either a small wheely suitcase or medium-weekend-trip-away sized rucksack, and that way I will be able to not only take everything that I want to but also add in a few luxuries (a pillow, my Nottingham hoody! Possibly a pair of heels?) The main attraction of this is that I will be able to take a few more books!, although Steve has been great and is lending me his ipod onto which he has packed some songs, a few films and the Wind in the Willows as read by Kenneth Grahame so even if I run out of books I will still have some forms of entertainment!
For those that are interested Steve has set me up with a lovely skype headset and my name thingy is supersal22, so all I have yet to do is work out how to use the thing and I'll be good! Also whilst I am away I would love to receive post/letters/photos or anything off lovely people so once I have a firm address I will be letting you know!
Goodbye, everyone; goodbye, snow!
Love, Sal xxxxx
Today is my last full day at home. Tonight will be my last proper sleep in my lovely bed! As my flight is at stupid o'clock (6.30am) on Thursday Steve is going to drive me down in the wee hours of the morning so I look forward to a night of terrible sleep full of butterflies and anticipation...
Currently, I am halfway through packing... That is, my huge rucksack is full of clothes and medical bits and bobs and my bed is still covered with toiletries, important-documents-to-take, many books, photos and other miscellaneous items. This isn't too much of a problems, as my allowance is two bags of 23kg and whilst I don't fancy actually taking two bags of 23kg (and indeed getting them into Ghana and around Ghana!) I think I will be seizing the opportunity to check another bag in. My plan is to fill either a small wheely suitcase or medium-weekend-trip-away sized rucksack, and that way I will be able to not only take everything that I want to but also add in a few luxuries (a pillow, my Nottingham hoody! Possibly a pair of heels?) The main attraction of this is that I will be able to take a few more books!, although Steve has been great and is lending me his ipod onto which he has packed some songs, a few films and the Wind in the Willows as read by Kenneth Grahame so even if I run out of books I will still have some forms of entertainment!
For those that are interested Steve has set me up with a lovely skype headset and my name thingy is supersal22, so all I have yet to do is work out how to use the thing and I'll be good! Also whilst I am away I would love to receive post/letters/photos or anything off lovely people so once I have a firm address I will be letting you know!
Goodbye, everyone; goodbye, snow!
Love, Sal xxxxx
Monday, 8 February 2010
The Packing Battle
Today, I brought some stuff for Ghana. I now am the proud owner of an impregnated mosquito net, three bottles of mosquito spray, bite cream, an "adventure" first aid kit, a padlock, some sun cream bargains from Boots and a razor. I also collected my malaria tablets from the doctors. Last week I purchased a whole load of linen stuff and strappy things, and the other day I riffled through my draws to identify t-shirts that have the potential to not only cover my shoulders (either from sunburn or to prevent cultural mishaps, you decide!) but also that can be rolled into the smallest ball imaginable to fit into my rucksack! In fact, I should have started this blog with the statement "today, I finishing buying stuff for Ghana" but this brings with it fears of forgotten necessities, money unspent and the flashing neon sign currently hanging over my head that says Not Long Now!
I still have no idea how I plan on winning the packing battle. It is malaria that is the problem point! When I have finished putting in the mosquito net, the mozzie spray, the bite relief stuff and the anti malarials I doubt I will have much room for my sleeping bag and the essential linens and strappy things mentioned previously, let alone the "smart stuff" I have been advised to bring - should I take a paid of heels? Or just pack more tops!
AND don't get me started on my books... or photos, or my camera, journal, toiletries or tons of those little bubble things that were left over from work that I thought would be a nice thing to take for the kids...
OH, I've just remembered I have yet to replace my broken sunglasses.
AND, and I forgot to buy sudocrem from Boots ... and paracetamol ... and diarrhea tablets (although part of me thinks I am tempting fate by mentioning these and I reaaally don't want to get sunburn/headaches/diarrhea (lovely))
AND, I haven't got a wash kit type thing yet as the one in the shop was too expensive and I already had a small pile growing on the shop counter... hmmm...
OH, I also meant to get hand cream.
Okay, so I am clearly not done quite yet!
10 days :)
Sal xxx
I still have no idea how I plan on winning the packing battle. It is malaria that is the problem point! When I have finished putting in the mosquito net, the mozzie spray, the bite relief stuff and the anti malarials I doubt I will have much room for my sleeping bag and the essential linens and strappy things mentioned previously, let alone the "smart stuff" I have been advised to bring - should I take a paid of heels? Or just pack more tops!
AND don't get me started on my books... or photos, or my camera, journal, toiletries or tons of those little bubble things that were left over from work that I thought would be a nice thing to take for the kids...
OH, I've just remembered I have yet to replace my broken sunglasses.
AND, and I forgot to buy sudocrem from Boots ... and paracetamol ... and diarrhea tablets (although part of me thinks I am tempting fate by mentioning these and I reaaally don't want to get sunburn/headaches/diarrhea (lovely))
AND, I haven't got a wash kit type thing yet as the one in the shop was too expensive and I already had a small pile growing on the shop counter... hmmm...
OH, I also meant to get hand cream.
Okay, so I am clearly not done quite yet!
10 days :)
Sal xxx
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