http://www.travelblog.org/Bloggers/Ricki05/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from Ricki05 en-us Mon, 06 Oct 2008 21:53:40 BST Mon, 06 Oct 2008 21:53:40 BST Here are some photo's of my trip back to Ghana. http://www.travelblog.org//Africa/Ghana/Volta/Ho/blog-277344.html Today was my last full day in Ghana and I thought I would just relax and say goodbye to a few people. I should know by now that nothing goes to plan in Africa I spent most of the day in the hospital from hell. Stephen that I know has a second cousin or some kind of relative that lives beside him. He is only 5 years old and called Johnny. Over the last 2 weeks I have seen him going about and thoug http://www.travelblog.org//Africa/Ghana/Volta/Ho/blog-275813.html Only 5 days left in Ghana I knew that 2 weeks would go past too quick. There's so much I could do here or places to visit but not enough time. This time next week I'll be back at my desk at work there is no comparison to life hereWhen I was here last year I randomly met an artist called Kofi who I bought some paintings from. I remembered roughly where he lived so on Friday morning I set off http://www.travelblog.org//Africa/Ghana/Volta/Ho/blog-275408.html The locals often say to me 'Don't you worry......' After typing my last blog I headed straight for the hotel swimming pool to cool down because it was so hot. After the rain storm on Monday the skies cleared and the heat has been unbearable. I was just getting ready to dive in the pool when I realised there was no water in it The pool was being repaired. 'Don't you worry.....' said one of the http://www.travelblog.org//Africa/Ghana/Volta/Ho/blog-273765.html I'm finally back in Ho 1 year and 2 months after I left I've made it back. When I first came to Ghana in January 2007 I thought it would be a one off that I would never do it again but after 8 weeks I knew I would have to come back one day. I met so many great people and had such an amazing time at Prince of Peace school and the SWODC orphanage that I had to come back.There has been no inter http://www.travelblog.org//Africa/Ghana/Volta/Ho/blog-272879.html Dancing KidsSchool BandThe orphanageGhana PeopleChrist Prince of Peace SchoolHere are some video clips from Ghana.....You need to click on middle of video first then click on the play button at the bottom left corner http://www.travelblog.org//Africa/Ghana/Volta/blog-157094.html Diary of a volunteerGhana 2007lsquoThis volunteering is bloody hard work Both mentally and physically.rsquo This entry from my travel blog more or less summarises my 8 weeks of volunteering. On 6 January 2007 I left behind the cold weather in Scotland and the comfort of my home and set off for Ghana in West Africa.My voluntary trip was organised by Cross Cultural Solutions an American based http://www.travelblog.org//Africa/Ghana/Volta/blog-156801.html More photo's from Ghana http://www.travelblog.org//Africa/Ghana/Volta/blog-138332.html I've been back in Scotland for 5 days now and I am still getting used to 'normal' life During the last couple of weeks in Ghana I thought I was ready for home but now I am home I want to go back I had to adjust to life in Ghana and now I feel like I have to adjust to life in Macduff againWhen I first arrived home my house seemed very strange. I'm not used to seeing houses with living rooms http://www.travelblog.org//Africa/Ghana/Volta/blog-135920.html Various photo's of Ghana. http://www.travelblog.org//Africa/Ghana/Volta/blog-135232.html Here are some photo's of the local children. http://www.travelblog.org//Africa/Ghana/Volta/blog-135225.html Here are some photo's of children at the orphanage. http://www.travelblog.org//Africa/Ghana/Volta/blog-135215.html Here are some photo's of Class 2 as promised http://www.travelblog.org//Africa/Ghana/Volta/blog-135000.html I had a difficult day yesterday it was my last day at the school and orphanage. At school we spent the day in class drawing pictures which I will take home to give to a class in Scotland along with the letters we wrote before. We then played games all morning we had pass the parcel and musical statues. I only did musical statues so I could watch the kids dance againI received a few gifts http://www.travelblog.org//Africa/Ghana/Volta/blog-134209.html Back to school on Monday morning I'm going to the school everyday this week apart from Friday and another volunteer has taken over teaching the three kids at the orphanage. I'll still go to the orphanage before I leave but just not to teach.The pupils have been running riot this week the teacher has been away practising for the parade next week so it's just me left in charge The kids know http://www.travelblog.org//Africa/Ghana/Volta/blog-133411.html I remember watching a programme in July last year about the Live 8 concert that took place in 2005. It was showing video clips of children in Africa and although I am not 100 certain I think it was watching this that made me decide to find out about going to do voluntary work in Africa.Once the idea was there I did not think I would actually do it. I thought it would not be possible or I would http://www.travelblog.org//Africa/Ghana/Volta/blog-132789.html I made it to church this morning I'll have to note the date of this historic event. The church is called Living Spring Ministries and is more like a big warehouse than a church. Although it was decorated nicely inside.Church had started when we arrived but we were given an envelope to leave a donation in and shown to a seat. Today's topic was all about forgiveness and whether you are religious http://www.travelblog.org//Africa/Ghana/Volta/blog-132786.html Just back from Lake Volta it's a massive lake about 1 and a half hours drive from where I am staying. It has been so hot today so the trotro ride there was as uncomfortable as usual. I went with 2 other volunteers and the local boy who I will be helping over the next couple of years. To get to the lake you have to take a taxi to a town called Kpong which seemed quite normal at 3pm this afterno http://www.travelblog.org//Africa/Ghana/Volta/blog-132472.html I was back to the cultural market in Accra yesterday Accra is the capital of Ghana. There was no school well there was but the class went to watch some teams playing football for the entire day. And again today. We got a taxi there which took about 2 and a half hours from Ho. The market in Accra is absolute madness I thought I would be better prepared for it this time but it was just as cra http://www.travelblog.org//Africa/Ghana/Volta/blog-132109.html I was just saying in my previous blogs that being in Woe gave me the opportunity to witness some real poverty when it has been staring me in the face all along.There is a local lad who helped me buy the beds and matresses for the orphanage in fact I doubt I would have managed without his help. He is only 19 years old and lives quite near the base. He lives with his 89 old father in what can on http://www.travelblog.org//Africa/Ghana/Volta/blog-131511.html