Whenever I get bored at our offices (which can be very work-focused and stressed sometimes, or can be virtually dead with no one around) I sometimes take trips over to see some colleagues at the GES - the offices for the Ghana Education Service in this district. They may not always be seen to be working quite as hard as their INGO counterparts, but they certainly know how to have fun and a giggle. One of the first times I went to see the Gender Officer there, I...

Sunday evening reflections over what life is like since John and Bev left - I miss them dearly, but I have not had time to even worry that I might get even a little bit lonely here...in true Ghanaian style there is really not much chance of that! Since it became known that I was living alone in the house, I have had a never ending stream of visitors; it seems everyone and their dog wants to come and greet me and be friends and 'talk a while'! As soon as one lea...

I've had such a lovely end to the week this week, yesterday I even had one of those moments where it once again dawned on me ... 'I live in West Africa!'. After I wrote my last blog on Friday, some really exciting things came up at work that I have been asked to work on, including supporting some school appraisal meetings where advocacy is key, and supporting World Vision's programmes on raising awareness of child rights and educating communities on the in...

By the end of this week, I was feeling fairly flustered and perplexed. I think it's important to be honest and say that sometimes being a volunteer can just be sooo confusing!! Two major things were stressed to us during training before we came out to our placements... the first was 'be flexible', and the other was 'manage your expectations'. Well, I would now expand that to say, be as flexible as a ballerina doing a series of chasse's and brise's (basi...

This week I have been 'going solo'. Since John and Bev left and the house has become so quiet (aside from my bouts of insane singing only rivalled by that of the Anglican Church opposite), that I decided it was a good time to focus on my work, and attempt to really get stuck in. Well, it was a good idea and all, but with Monday being the day when no one ever really comes into the office, and Tuesday a Public Holiday, my motivation proved pretty futile. I h...