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Published: February 1st 2008
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Washing - Ghana style
Nana and Eugenia - not a machine in sight !! Hello
Well my third week has been a real topsy turvy one.I almost packed my bags and headed to the airport after 2 unsavoury incidents at the stadium on consecutive nights but upon reflection these are indicitive of a small minority in the world and not a true reflection of the majority of people in Ghana.More of this later.I am adding the blog today as the electricity supply has been very erratic this week.I have also managed to add a few pictures as well.
Sweeping
Ghana would definitely win a gold medal for sweeping if it was included in the Olympics.Maybe I should introduce them to curling?!? I walk to training in the mornings with the rhythmic sound of sweeping resonating around the place.It is not only adults but the children as well.I feel it is a lost cause at the moment as the harmatan winds that blow throughout the start of the year mean that everything is covered in a fine dust.It does take the edge of the temperature though which is a blessing.
Football
Monday was a good day for Ghana.They beat Morocco 2-0 to head the table and march into the quarter finals.In the last
The family !!
Some of Nana's nephews and nieces Africa Nations Cup they only came 11th so have already improved on that performance.It was a good game for Essien of Chelsea and Muntari of Pompey.They combined for each of the goals,Essien scored the first and Muntari the second.Essien was also awarded man of the match.It was by far the teams best performance and the win was celebrated wildly again.I was escorted from our tro tro to and from the stadium by Adjaty,the under 17 goalie, and good job too as he managed to snatch back my camera after it was taken from my bag.It was only when I got home that I realised that my bag had been slashed open so I got off lightly.
Tuesday saw the Ivory Coast play Mali and we got tickets for 4cedi - about gbp2.Unfortunately the stadium was only about a quarter full which was a shame.Drogba scored the first goal in a 3-0 win which puts the Ivory Coast through as well.If all goes according to plan Ghana will play the Ivory Coast in the final but a long way to go yet.After this game my back pocket was actually unzipped as I walked away from the ground.I turned round fists flying
A responsible adult ??
This is Chris (Sly) the junior coach.As you can see he is the shy retiring sort !! and then 2 of the older boys set upon the man as well.He ran away sharpish.I had not taken a bag after the night before and all that was in my back pocket was my torch and a few bourbon biscuits.
On Sunday Ghana play Nigeria in a tough match.It would to be at the stadium but you can obviously understand my slight reservations about that.I have threatened to attend any future games in my underwear to deter any would be thief though !!
Secret room
On Sunday night Nana said she wanted to show me something.We walked through her bedroom and she opened a second door behind which was an en-suite bathroom.I though I had died and gone to heaven!! No running water but that is being ultra picky I joked that I would sleep in it.She also had an oversized baby bath so I can now heat up hot water and have a mini bath.I was really ashamed when I saw the colour of the water when I got out the first time.I am now unsure whether I do have a tan or whether it is just a covering of dirt.
Holiday
Steph has decided she
Spot The Tourist
Before the Ghana victory against Morocco - Go Black Stars !! would like to visit and has booked to join me from Feb 21st - 29th.This will enable her to see what I have been doing with the academy and then we will head along the coast so I can re-charge my batteries before my second project.We will visit the turtle project, which Explore are using as a base for one of their volunteer holidays, and then move to the Cape Coast area.It will nice to see a friendly face.I am coping with the very basic conditions and erratic schedule but I do miss my friends.I can text and e mail but it is not the same as having a good catch up.
Questions
In answer to the many queries :
Yes
No
Definitely not !!
Kate - Yes I do miss Costa hot chocolate and marshmallows - make mine a large when I get back.
B,J,K... The family had a nice dinner and went home !!!
Dave- I think the academy has lots of stars and their work ethic is incredible.I can't think of many English teenagers who would train from 6-8am before work 4 days a week.Most of the kids are from Ghana but a few from Togo and Nigeria.A lot of Chelsea supporters and Man U,Arsenal and Liverpool but no Pompey fans.
Janet- A food parcel sounds good but I am hoping the fridge will be fixed soon so that at least I can keep stuff cold.I am eating quite a bit of fish now and the pineapple is lovely.I wonder what the other project will bring ??
Lifesavers
I have enjoyed the marmite - thanks Steph- especially now that I can get Heinz baked beans to have with it.
Torch- Helen it is great and as it is dark when I walk to training I am using it in the morning as well as the
evenings.
Travel towel - Barbara , a present for my Oz trip but invaluable here,thanks.
I pod speakers- Jo , a real bonus and good to hear some of my music.
Thats all folks - tune in next time for more trials and tribulations in West Africa
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GILL
non-member comment
hello
hi coral you sound as if your having fun outside a few hicups!! keep up the good work, bet the people love having you around, so full of life. have fun be safe will