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
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heyy
ReplyDeletesouns good, hopefully the burn will tn into tan! tats wat everyone always says. i think i would rather like to be in a nice ot country, gonna try an get mum to take me to venis at easter, got my bristol interview in that holiday which is prettyy annoying but nvm.
iv been using you diffuser btw, i think my arm has got stronger with holding it! but it makes me hair a little frizzy, nvm, more volume tho!
so tat good stuff.
but one of the hinges on my laptop broke yesterday so its kinda wobbly, hopefully it will stay working until September when i think i may hav to buy a new one, may hav to se yours if this one gives out tho!
sorry about the many spelling mistakes, iv got food under all of my keys so half of them ddont work, does my head in so i give up in the end...
hav a nice weekend visiting this person in that place!
x
this is from mum. not so much a comment as an updatee. i am on hattie's broken laptop. we are home again now, tho' poor dad has had to go to the hall to do the late (9-12 midnight). this is because he is now shortstaffed. we had a gd time in the lakes tho i have had the worst cold ever and had to sleep every afternoon. i have tonight sorted the internet issue as discussed this morning so hope that works. i will check tomo and put in 50 quid. take it easy Sal - get a hat, drink lots, rest up. i am enjoying your blogs. sounds quite enriching. this is a terrible keyboard and has been much abused.... the keys are not reliable! lot of love, from mumx
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