More Stories

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Fortunately there are no other sad stories to tell this time ... an update on Abdoussalam though - he has been to the British Embassay and I think they are fixing him up with a Ghanian passport. I cant remember what I said about his mother and sisters but fortunately they are not dead but he cant find them in any of the refugee camps .. so he's still looking for them, he continues to smile and laugh though which is great!!

There was a bit of drama on Saturday night...the girl I'm sharing a room with, Rhiannon, was taken to hospital on Sat night with suspected malaria. I went with her and spent the night on a garden chair next to her bed while she was placed on a drip. She is fine now but it was scary for her and for me to be ill in a strange country without your parents. The hospital we stayed in was surprisngly very clean although we had to share a room with a 7 month baby who was recovering from Malaria..so definately not the best nights sleep ever!! The baby did form a little attachment to me!! I was the only person who she would let hold her without crying! ... and even though I was nowhere near the orphanage I still managed to get babysick all over me!!! So because of that I didnt really have a weekend! But this weekend coming we are planning to go to Cape Coast which is about 2 and half hours away from Accra...They have a canopy walk through the rainforest and the only slave castle still standing - so we hope to see all that.

I went to the orphanage alone yesterday and was quite proud of myself getting to and from the orphanage on my own without getting lost!! The children are as hilarious as ever - constantly making me laugh - though not always intended!

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Photos

Our street
This picture actually makes our street look quite clean...its anything but! There are no dustbins in Ghana so the people just burn their rubbish on the street and sweep it into the sewer! not nice!

Tro Tro
This is Ghana's public transport - basically like a mini bus with all the seats ripped out and replaced with sofa like chairs, no seatbelts...no speed limits and they all look as if they are going to fall apart!!
only costs 20 peswith to get to the orphanage which is 10p!

Andy,Si, Me and Rhi
This is Si and Andy, two guys from London who are on the same project as us .. absolutely hilarious guys, so glad we've met them...planning to go with them to Cape Coast this weekend. We are drinking Coconuts in this picture in their host families home...much nicer than ours...they even have a sort of servant/houseboy who does all their washing!!!

James and I
This is one of our host brothers James, very nice guy..he took us to the beach to show us around...sea is really rough here..feels like im back in Cornwall!

Baby boy
This little boy is 7 months old but is the weight of a premature new born. He was born with 6 fingers and 6 toes and is HIV positive. We cant take him outside because the slightest breeze hurts his eyes.

Comments

[richard]

19th Feb
thanks for the latest update Ruth and more pictures ,keep sending those as it gives a real feel for what the place is like .How about a picture of your house a nd a photo of the guy and his sister. Well done for taking care of Rhi last weekend it must have been very worrying .It is always an anxious time when someone is very unwell .Another experience to put under your growing hat!! Hope you have a great weekend exploring the coast and parts of Ghana's history .You look a lot better in the latest photos so the food can't be too bad and you are even getting brown ,but watch the sun (I am not jealous!)lots of love ,Dad and Mum

[millsy8]

hey
Awww sorry to hear about your room mate but glad they are recovering ok, the pictures are absolutely amazing and so glad your having an amazing time. The little boy is so cute and the buses they look mental probably a bit crazy but a bit of a laugh, well done on travelling to the orphanage must have been scary take care xx

[Auntie Catharine]

slight difference in temperature?
I was driving to work across the Fens on Tuesday morning, temp minus 6 degrees, freezing fog, icy roads and flurries of snow. It has warmed up by some 18 degrees since then, it was a balmy 12 degrees today but quite dull. Viewing your pictures gives a sense of the massive differences between where you were (and where I am) and where you are now: I can sense the heat, the noise and even the baby sick. How is Rhiannon now? Being in hospital in the Uk is scary enough, it must have been quite an experience for you both. The story of your 'future fiance' is incredible: I wonder how the agencies in Ghana can help to locate his mother and sisters? No pay cheque could bring the sense of self-fulfilment that you must have gained in helping this young man: life will never be the same again for you, Ruth. Lots of love from us all XXxxxxx

[Simon]

Drama Queen!
God is our life really that dramatic!?!? xx Ps thats for calling us 'hilarous guys'!!!!!

[Mum]

Spiders!
What a good thing your Grandma wasn't with you, spiders not being her strong point! I can't imagine how you managed to get any sleep that night, but what a reward for your endurance;an African dawn, monkeys in their natural habitat, breathtaking scenery - wonderful! I'm so happy that you have been able to have a break from the city, where to next weekend? Lots of love, Mum x