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