Volunteering
Trip Start
Sep 05, 2008
1
20
43
Trip End
Jan 01, 2009
Akwidaa,
Ghana
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
We went across the street to the private school. We were there right on schedule but your main village contact was not there and was supposed to be helping us with the entire thing. One of the teachers, Emmanuel, who also works at the lodge doing turtle conservation, stepped in and did a marvelous job of organizing the children. He got them to sing loudly, marching to the drummers he placed in the group, holding up their signs. He also made some signs on wooden planks for his students to hold
Parade video
. It was an impressive sight when the chaos went into a perfect march along the street. Soon the younger children in the village were joining in, singing and dancing all around us. When I pulled out my camera to make some videos of the parade, the young kids came running to me, begging for me to photograph them. So I know have plenty of pictures of the village children.At one point I took out my water bottle and was swarmed by kids wanting some. I shared it around them and then made sure I didn't get it back! The children were lovely and enthusiastic but surrounded by all sorts of nasty diseases so I wasn't taking any risks.
The parade lasted about an hour before we thanked Emanuel for all his help and headed back to the lodge. Here, little critters scurry around from tree to tree. Nothing scary, just geckos and colourful lizards. Sometimes they chase each other, or get in our rooms and give us a cheeky look when we see them sneaking in.
Living on the beach has its disadvantages. I have only been here for two days and already I can't get the grime off my body. Sand gets everywhere - in every crack and crevice, my clothes, my bed
Making wildlife awareness signs
. Even my flip flops already look filthy even though they get a shower every time I do. But it is all worth it for the scenery. I catch myself zoning out, gazing at the natural beauty surrounding me. Palm trees grow lush and thick along the fringes of the beach, and surround the bar and huts. The sand stretches for miles in either direction with no sign of human life on it, and the waves crash melodically all day and night. Near the shore there is a light, steadily blowing breeze to keep youcontently cool and dry the sweat on your body when you return from a trip inland. It is paradise.
We get three excellent meals a day. The dinner menu changes often and I look forward to trying new things. You have to order dinner in the afternoon and tell them when you want it served. I quickly noticed that this is fairly pointless, as it is always at least 20 minutes late and they always serve us three volunteers at the same time, regardless of what time we had requested it. I guess that is because we are usually sitting together. So I have been ordering it for 6pm but don't see it until 7pm if one of the girls asked for a 6:30 serving.
I have been showering twice a day, when I get up and after my afternoon swim in an effort to remove the sand from all the spots it has crept on to (or into - gew). I don't think I am every completely clean, and then immediately have to apply sunscreen and bug repellent, making my skin all sticky again so it quickly attracts sand and dirt.
