Ab-surd-ities

“Ebenezer, don’t speak in your local dialect please!”

“Thanks for carrying my books, Gladys”

Not exactly phrases you hear often in UK schools; more like “Chantelle, no texting in class!”, “Don’t hit him with that book, Taylor”.

I’ve been here over a month now, it’s gone so fast.  In my blog posts I’ll give an update on how I’m doing and try to give an insight on life in Ghana – which is pretty hard to express in words!  

Every day involves massive bugs, dirt everywhere, sweating 24/7, cold showers (which we are lucky to have), danger food, and talking s-l-o-w-l-y.

It’s a completely different world here, and I’m just about getting used to it.

Ghana is a developing country, and is full of contrasts:

Adverts for the latest Nokia Lumina sit atop a pile of rubble on the side of the road… The kids playing football with a coconut shell in the gutter are all wearing Chelsea or Barcelona shirts… Everything takes forever to happen, yet whole days magic by so quickly.

My placement is in Golden Gates Senior High School, something equivalent to a sixth form college, where some pupils are even older than me! There are many comforting similarities to the UK, such as pupils not bringing pens, and giggling about sex education.

And there is no place contrasts are more obvious than in school:

Education means everything to the students, yet there are still behavioural problems in the classroom… Pupils are instructed to learn hard and spend hours with their noses buried in textbooks. As a result, they can recall definitions to the letter, but often do not understand what they are saying or why. They are a product of a rote learning system, which is hard to reverse.

Typical classroom - often 2 to a desk

Life in school here is similar to how I imagine it was in 1960s Britain – the only punishment is caning, and classes of over 40 sit at tiny desks and listen to textbook teaching for 90 minutes at a time. And teacher is god.

Here, the education system is flipped: state schools are better funded and higher achieving. Private schools pick up the remnants of the state system that do not make the grade or are otherwise removed from school. Private school teaching staff are often paid poorly, so students are placing their unquestioning faith in someone who is often untrained and may be juggling 2 or 3 extra jobs to get by.

I had many initial apprehensions about going to a private boarding school (and meeting the equivalent of “rah” students in the UK). But being an extra teacher in a school where I can teach and tutor many students who struggle in basic Maths and Science will suit me fine.

I have taken a couple of classes of A-level equivalent maths, bringing memories flooding back of struggling with Surds, Series, and Circles myself years ago! I'm developing a bit of a love for maths here, especially surds. I need to be careful..

There is plenty of time here to relax and read, draw, talk about football endlessly to the students, or travel into Takoradi market and nearby beaches. I couldn’t ask for much more, really.

The students are also great to be around. . This is perhaps the biggest contrast of all - they are so thankful and humble here, with an amazingly positive outlook on life, despite their disadvantages and setbacks.

Over and out.

When in Ghana...

Hello from an internet cafe in Takoradi, Western Ghana. Ten days gone and it still feels weird that I am on a different continent!

I'm used to trying to blend in in a crowd of people, but when there is only one colour of skin for miles around this is proving difficult. There is nowhere to hide as an "Obrini" (white person), the upside being that locals know you are foreign and do their best to make you welcome.

Ghana is not a place to wear expensive shoes. Trudging through a stinking market place is a war on the senses; fish in the afternoon heat being sold in buckets, mud staining your toes, vivid African dresses, sweet maize cooking, and the sounds of a thudding bass and goats bleating everywhere.

In Accra we were treated to a Ghana/Western crossover style food - roast chicken, yam, foo-foo, and my favourite roasted plantain. So tasty.

One of the last days in Accra we spent in the central market, and had the most ridiculous shopping experience of my life. All the stalls literally grab you and try to take you to see their wares. It's just what the do. Bargaining is a big part of buying something here, and a big part of the fun - they are all used to tourists and very friendly - and I was able to get some great deals too! Ghana football shirt, multicoloured trousers, african shirts and jewellery. When in Rome...

We made friends with some local kids near our house - one of our group gave them a cheap football and it was pretty amazing spending time with them. And exporting the unique British brand of football, of course.

Wherever we went in Accra people were welcoming us and wanting to try out their English. They are so thrilled we are here to help teach their children. Here they also have a neat system of names based on the day of the week - mine is Yaw (Thursday). It's nice to have a name everyone can pronounce here!

On Sunday we travelled out to our placement in Takoradi, where the real stuff begins. The students at the school seem amazing and I've already taught a few maths and biology lessons after school, they are so eager to learn it puts us to shame.

I have had dodgy bowels a couple of times but otherwise am fit and healthy. Being hygeinic is proving a losing battle here, though, when I return I may be even more disgusting than when I left - and that is some achievement.

Anyway there is so much more I could say, but my hour of internet is up. I'll post some photos on my next visit.

Mahuye,

Yaw

What am I doing next year?

Welcome to my blog! If you want to find out about what my plans are for the coming year, read on...

What? Teaching

Where? Ghana, west Africa

When? September – for 4 ½ months

With who? http://www.lattitude.org.uk/ , a charity organising volunteer placements and working with communities across the world.

Why volunteer for free in a foreign country when you can get an NQT job in the UK?

Good question. I’ve wanted to take a year out and do something different for a while, but never had the money/opportunity. And why not? I've come to the natural end of a chapter in my life, and I really want to experience how different cultures work (especially African ones).

The last thing I wanted to do was “gap yah” style volunteering. The main reason for me going is to use a skill I am trained in (teaching) in a place where they really need it.

I’m looking forward to a whole new experience of education. Children in Africa are desperate to learn - it seems obvious but it is hugely important. Education for them is the key to a better life… an opportunity to dream to be lawyers, doctors, scientists, engineers, and to help their family and community.

The only ‘facilities’ available are a blackboard and chalk (if I’m lucky), which will be challenging to say the least! On the plus side, children will actually listen to me…that will be a new experience. 

I’ll be staying with a host family in the coastal town of Effiakuma, and hopefully integrating in the community as much as possible. Apparently the locals are football crazy, which sounds awesome! Maybe I'll bump into Michael Essien at some point.

The rough plan is to do some more travelling, before coming back to the UK for a job starting next September.

I find it hard not to sound pretentious when writing a blog, but this will be the best way to inform people who care of what I am getting up to. I hope to update this throughout the next year or so with amazing posts such as teaching calamities, sunburn stories, and the inevitable "cute African children" photos...

So there you have it, not sure what else to include…Thanks for reading! I’m really excited about the next stage for me. 

You may be hearing from me soon re fundraising for equipment and other things. Donations of factor 50 much appreciated.