Olivia Liddiard
Hello from Ghana – An early email
Well where can I start. The last seven days have been a rollercoaster!
I started off by arriving in Accra, only 2 and a half hours late, and as I walked out of the airport I felt like a deer looking in to head lights, I couldn’t believe I had finally arrived and this was going to be my home for the next 6 months.
My first impressions of Ghana. After Frances and the driver had picked us up, were busy, chaotic and the surroundings were just completely different from what I’ve experienced before…you buy water from the side of the road and drink it out of plastic bags, as well as ice cream.
The Ghanaians are very friendly, if anything over friendly and are happy to assist you with anything you need. So far I’ve had 5 “I love you’s” and 4 marriage proposals, lol! Everywhere you go they shout Broonie, Broonie – to us that means foreigner, it’s quite amusing to hear it from a 2 yr old when walking along the side of the road.
The women here are amazing!! The amount of produce they carry on the head for hours on end is astonishing! and they do it all with babies strapped to their backs as they get on and off trotros that are crammed full and so tight…I felt sorry for the babies getting bashed around but by the Ghanaians attitudes with children, I think they must be used to it.
Audrey was the first lady who we stayed with, and it was very strange to see young children as house help. Children usually become house help out here when other family members are unable to look after them but the majority of them are treated well and still attend school to get an education.
Audrey was lovely and very hospitable, but I can not say the same for the beds, considering when two of us sat on one to go to sleep it broke! lol! However, after all the emails about water shortages I received before I went, I was quite amazed to have running water and a flushing toilet. It wasn’t until I reach Kumasi that I noticed the difference as I am currently showering out of a bucket – that’s including washing my hair, lol! and the electricity goes out about 6pm – 12am so eating dinner in the dark has become the norm.
My family in Kumasi are wonderful! Ma and Kofie are the parents. They have four children, one of whom is at uni, but MG, Nana and Sawo all live at home, including their two cousins Evette and Ivan and their uncle. Therefore the house is extremely busy, but it’s great to be around a big family all the time, I’m loving it!
The food is taking some getting used to, lots of carbs and very spicy, but Tim – the guy already here – is brilliant, he has lots of stories to tell about his travels and is more than happy to show me around. The two girls I’m with – Nicki and Holly – are lovely, although Holly is a little quiet for my liking, but sweet all the same.
The other day we all went for a trip to the Lake which was enclosed amongst lots of hills where you could see the women cooking dinner outside, as is commonly found in Ghana, usually on the streets. But guess who got burnt? – me and I am now in quite a bit of pain! I’ve just finished my first day at the orphanage and it was extremely difficult to see some of the sights and know how to deal with young children who have mental disabilities, I’m there for the rest of the week and am not expecting it to be an easy week, if anything it’s going to be very intense and emotionally draining!
I’m sorry if this email sounds rushed but my time is running out and the computer is very slow!
