Day 1
Hello everyone as you already know we have arrived in the beautiful country of Ghana. Travelling here was very tiring but worth it when we arrived. When we got to Accra, we were excited but soon realised the massive difference in culture. Everyone wanted to help us, even if it was just to ask for money afterwards! We then had to travel on the bus to the hostel – driving through Accra opened our eyes to how differently people live here compared to us. When we arrived at the hostel, we were pleasantly surprised by how clean and tidy everything was. After we got our bags into the room, we were given sweet bread and sacks of purified water which were well needed! After a short briefing about our trip, everyone was happy to get into their beds.
P.S It rained today
Day 2
Today we were woken at 5 and got ready, even some had showers. We got on the bus to travel for two hours to get to the area we were eating breakfast. We ate on a long table under an open canopy. Our breakfast consisted of our new favourite drink, milo (hot chocolate), tropical fruit juice, scrambled egg, beans and bread. Here we experienced our first time without running water and flushing toilets. This is when we realised what we have to get used too for the next 10 days. Shortly after, we got back on the bus for another two hours drive to the Partner Ghana H.Q to hand over our valuables. After this we traveled to Kissi, it took half an hour in the bus. When we got there everyone was amazed at the standard of rooms, because Mr Kashafi made it out to be worse than it actually is. In our rooms we have working showers, although some don’t have curtains, toilets, fans in two out of four rooms and we have set up mosquito nets on top of the camping beds. We had tuna sandwiches for lunch but some people had bread and butter. After we settled in and sorted the rooms, we started to hear drums from a far distance that were getting louder and louder. Everyone gathered outside our accommodation waiting for the greeting ceremony. At first no one knew what was going on so this was a complete surprise. Over 100 pupils from Kissi Ebenezer school, the headmaster and teachers had gathered round the front gate to welcome us. A little girl gave Mr. Kashafi some flowers and the head master gave a little speech. Jacob K.H had written a speech for Joel to say to the pupils which was very inspiring (cheesy). Then we relaxed and had a heart warming meal of lentils in a spicy sauce, rice and red red (deep fried plantain). We decided to have an early night so we were well rested.
P.S It rained today.
Day 3
Today we got up at 6 AM and for breakfast we had scrambled egg with beans and toast. After breakfast the people on the washing up rota did the washing up (obviously). We played lots of card games to fill the time, then finally John (our leader) led us to Kissi Ebenezer school for the big 18th anniversary celebration. After taking a seat under the canopy’s amongst some of the students, we listened carefully to the headteacher as he started the ceremony. Everyone was surprised that they were using a microphone and had a bass guitar also a yamaha keyboard during the ceremony. After a lot of Fanti (their local language) and unclear English we were forced to get up and dance in front of the whole school. This made us look really silly because we are all bad at dancing (they laughed at us), so we did the conga instead. Then both Charlie’s, Micha, Fliss, Emma and Jacob K.H read a poem about sheep. Then because we are all up for anything we joined in with what the locals were doing throughout the whole ceremony -after a performance e.g. A dance , the audience would put money in the bucket to buy the pupil back and let them free, which everyone found very funny. So everyone that read the poem was left in the middle of the audience waiting for someone to pay the school to let them free. Joel payed for two of them but left the rest, then the local parents payed for the others to let them free. We walked back for lunch which was pancakes with corned beef/beans and then walked back to the school to start our projects. We went down to the school and met our buddies then started painting the classrooms and dug a hole. Finally for the last meal of the day we had chicken fried rice, salad and spicy sauce. After this we all had the opportunity to buy a fitted top for the boys or a dress/skirt for the girls. Then we went to bed.
P.S it rained today.
Day 4
Today we had an early rise of 6 AM and had french toast for breakfast with some fruit (this is the most fruit any of us have had in our lives). We went and did our projects in the morning with our buddies. For lunch we had tuna pasta salad then in the afternoon we went to Kakum rainforest for an amazing tree top adventure and our buddies also came. For tea we had yam mash with palava (like cottage pie). Then we went to bed.
P.S it rained today
