Blogs from Sekondi-Takoradi, Western, Ghana, Africa
Proud of Ghana's newest First aiders!
Published: February 2nd 2012Africa » Ghana » Western » Sekondi-Takoradi
February 2nd 2012
all started out well... the class sailed through the tests. I always admire every single one of them as English is not their first language and they are learning some complex life saving information in a foreign language... this is not sonething you or I could do that is unless you speak another language fluently. I sadly do not! Then the stumbles started, unfortunately I had three people that had to start again because they were immediate fails when they commenced CPR on our breathing casualty. Of course I shouted STOP before any damage could occur but I was very upset when one did it but when three did it I then worried that it was my teaching and that I had not explained this to them right. However on speaking to them it seems that ... read more
February 2nd 2012
I was just lying in bed thinking over a conversation from last night and I thought, I must get this down or its going to rattle my brain all night and I will never sleep... Adoption Laws in the UK are changing, changing to make adoption easier as we have hundreds of children in the UK who wake up everyday and have no one to call mummy or daddy, in Africa they have ophanages and adoption laws are easy so why are the orphanages stuffed full with children? Gideon told us of a family member who was having trouble getting pregnant, Mike suggested adoption and straight away I could tell that Gideon was unomfortable with that suggestion and he said oh no no no... I asked him what the views were in Africa about Adoption and ... read more
Thought I was going to die...
Published: February 1st 2012Africa » Ghana » Western » Sekondi-Takoradi
February 1st 2012
Monday night started out well, Gideon and I had dinner, mine wasnt very nice but I find that happens quite often so I didnt think anything of it, one of the students joined us and we had a great laugh then Gideon took me for a walk around Takoradi town which I enjoyed. I did not take the camera as it was late at night and I was concerned about security. I made friends with some local children, I watched local women cooking kelewele on the side of the road (fried plantain not just a nickname for me when I was a kid - Kelly Welly) and wathed local people go about their business. My stomach rumbled loudly, REALLY LOUDLY and Gideon was tired so we headed back and that is when it started, I managed ... read more
February 1st 2012
Feeling much better today, munching on cream crackers and feeling exhausted but returned to work this afternoon, they all cheered and clapped me as I came in the door. The guys and gal are really good with their bandaging - they are naturals - I am really proud of them and I can see them flying through their exam tommorow, Mike and I however had a short memory lapse on slings, but we recovered - must practice those more! If you have followed my blogs you will know that priapism is a sign of spinal trauma, it is a permanent erection – that is until the doctor can do whatever doctors do to eradicate it. I was surprised that one of the students actually had heard of this, and after the class roared with laughter the ... read more
Annie almost died - properly this time and My dad is cursed by a Ju Ju spell from my mum
Published: January 30th 2012Africa » Ghana » Western » Sekondi-Takoradi
January 30th 2012
Gideon asked everyone to arrive on time at 7.30am so true to African time they arrived about 8.45 and we got started at about 9am and today we learnt about primary and secondary Survey as well as recovery position and CPR… so it was a lot of information! They all looked at me like I was nuts and they all looked worried and when I showed them Annie and said you will all be kissing her lots their eyes looked straight for the door! J They are all very wary of me – very much like Gideon – quite shy people – completely different to the Nigerian first aiders. When we came to practise the recovery position they looked at me and said “what on each other?” I said oh yes and get used to it ... read more
January 30th 2012
I have not seen the Indian Ocean... I have seen the Atlantic Ocean... doesnt sound so exotic now... read more
January 29th 2012
Hi all... arrived last night at 10.00 on a plane that bounced its way to Accra... we had the seatbelt sign on the whole way to Ghana, and then when getting off of the plane I waited an hour and a half in immigration! I sat with a chief and his daughter on the plane who prayed often during the flight (quite off putting to be honest) they had been to England because the chiefs son in law died of cancer but failed to tell anyone or take medication because he beleived that by praying that the cancer would leave his body - if only it was that easy.... it was nice to get to the golden tulip and have a cup of tea and a shower and some bed rest at 1am This morning at ... read more
July 5th 2011
About time for an update methinks! Last week we travelled to Prince's Town where we went to see Fort Gross Friedrichsberg and met Joseph, the caretaker. We had a new addition to our traveling party of four in the form of Marie, an Australian expat. working in a mining company here in Takoradi and also living on Beach Road in an old British Colonial house (which is gorgeous!). Our journey took us on some seriously sketchy roads and more than once we were thanking our lucky stars that we were in a 4 wheel drive and not my little Renault Clio-the poor thing wouldn't last a minute out here! Because it's the rainy season, the roads are worse than they normally would be. Obviously the tarred and paved roads are fine, it's when you get out ... read more
July 3rd 2011
Bert and I have spent the last few days being driven around by our now full-time tour guide, Tess, in her Nissan Patrol! We've had some hairy experiences on dirt tracks where the 4x4 has come in mighty handy when an ordinary car would have been swallowed up by the craters of pot holes they have here! Because it's rainy season, the roads are much worse than they normally would be. Since Thursday, we've been to Fanta's Folly Beach Resort, Green Turtle Beach Resort, Dixcove, Fort Metal Cross and Ankobra Beach Resort, "Where Africa Meets the World". The beach resorts aren't quite like the beach resorts we'd be used to in France or Spain, they're a lot more unique and...African I guess! They're all obviously on the beach and have gorgeous views of the ocean and ... read more
July 3rd 2011
Before I forget! At Green Turtle on Friday, we were happily sipping away on our cocktails when a Ghanaian guy approached the table. He greeted us and stated that he had come to request Beibhinn as his "friend"! After much small talk we found out that he worked for NorPalm and that he was working in the area but was currently taking a rest. He asked several times for Beibhinn to share her name and be his friend, both of which she managed to elude to...but not for long! He told us his name and after much deliberation we came to the conclusion that he was "Edwed". Ghanaian's seem to have slight difficulty pronouncing the "b" sound so Edwed thought he was now friends with "Kevin"! Marriage proposal number one for Kevin! At Han Palace, the ... read more
