Amsterdam

on the last leg home. Today we went to a traditional market and picked up a few souvenirs. There was much bargaining but not haggling in a threatening manner. Then the awesome task of getting everything to fit in the bags...

It has been an amazing trip and it is hard to digest all that we have experienced in the last 2 weeks. It has been wonderful to share so many new experiences with such a good humoured, jovial and enthusiastic bunch of people. Everyone approached each new day head on and I think we all go home richer for participating fully. Certainly we will laugh for many a day at the "ants in the pants" episode and some of us will recall in nightmares the rope bridge....but, mostly we will carry with us memories of the people we met. A country is its people and you'd go far to meet a more gentle and welcoming race.

Thanks to Anne, Dick, Geraldine, Denis, John, Brendan and Colm.

On the whole a great trip!!!!

Margo.

Kakum Rainforest Park

After Elmina Castle we walked around the fishing village with Fr. Francis, the place was heaving and we were bowled over by pungent odours from street sellers, cooking, fish and open sewers.

We drove to a cafe for lunch. This place is set in a pond with crocodiles in the pond. I kid you not, they were coaxed out with bits of raw chicken and we all got great photos until we noticed a stray croc coming up the path from behind. Needless to say there was a bit of running and hollering to safer heights. As if that was not enough excitement, the owners suggested we come and touch a docile looking giant croc on the water's edge (we had thought it a model!!). Well, up jumps the bold Geraldine to get a feel of a croc ... more photo proof available.

On to the forest. A steep climb through tropical scrub and then told GO. A series of 7, yes SEVEN rope bridges, just one plank wide to get to the other side. One at a time on each bridge, it was heart-stopping stuff. I sang hymns to get me across while gasping for breath. I could have rung out my clothes at the end. NEVER, NEVER again.

The Slave Trade

This is the tourist bit.

After a 7 hour drive and the only toilet a stop in the bush with cries of "watch for the snakes" we were very glad to reach the sea and a nice hotel. To bed and the next day (Weds) off to see the sights.

First to Elmina castle, dedicated to the memory of the slave trade. This was gruesome, horrendous and hard to take. During the slave trade era, 10,000 slaves per month left this castle to be boarded onto ships for America. The conditions of holding the slaves was inhumane and it is incomprehensible for us to imagine the treatment they received and especially the treatment of women. It is estimated that 15 million slaves were transported out of this and similar ports in Ghana from all surrounding countries firstly by the Portuguese, then the Dutch and the British.

This memorial is to educate us so that the likes of this may never happen again.

The Sunyani district

Hi all,

long time and no hear from me as we had no access for the last few days. All well.

The Sunyani district has been a great experience.

We visited St. James’ school which is where St Mary’s, Rathmines have their immersion programme set up. Myself and Geraldine visited an all-girl school, Notre Dame. We were very impressed, the grounds were immaculate, the campus covered a huge area and new building is continuing. This school has received overseas help from many contacts. It was the most prosperous school we have seen. We received a warm welcome from Madame Margaret, the first lay principal.

The Bishop of Sunyani invited us to dinner. It was a very pleasant evening and he was very hospitable even if he did manage to get a dig in about a primary school project that there has been difficulty with - mainly caused by himself.

We visited some really good projects in this area. In a very rural setting we saw how local women have become involved in a mushroom growing project to generate income to get their children educated.
This was the poorest region we have seen, people were dressed in rags. Their homes made of mud and thatch and it seemed that they had nothing. Anne had a look at a few of the babies and they did not seem well. We also went to see where the women got their supply of mushrooms from Bernard Bempah and saw other good enterprise schemes here including a breeding programme for grasscutters (bushrats) - not a pretty site!

From here we travelled on a 7 hour journey to Elmina on the Cape Coast.

School's out for summer

Yeah! I'm officially on my summer holidays. I finished teaching today and left the class doing a fine rendition of "roly poly roly poly suas, suas, suas...." I think I have it captured on film. A lovely send off, every event is full of formality and tradition and this was no exception. We were given gifts and many blessings and then had a soda with all the staff.

Then we went to Adamkwame, where Denis and Colm were teaching, for their send off. The chiefs of all the surrounding areas gathered and the head chief, all in traditional garb. Again much shaking of hands and welcomes, beating of drums and dancing.

Many thanks were paid to Aidlink (and Anne officially The Queen Mother) for all the help and plans were laid out for continuing partnership and development.

Afterwards I travelled with Brother Francis to a vocational training school being funded by Irish Aid through Aidlink. It is well under construction and looks very promising that it will be a great facility into the future.

So in this area we have seen projects relating to primary, secondary and now vocational (15-18yrs) programmes in place or well on their way. This is all good work and shows Aidlink's committment to education as well as continued support to ensure sustained development.

Today is our last day in Bantama. We will be sorry to leave as we have been made feel very much at home, especially as this was Fr. Dick's home for 10 years. Tomorrow we travel an hour further north to Sunyani and will spend a few days there visiting projects.

I don't know what the computer access will be like.

Before I finish...we had a lovely evening yesterday as we attended the baptism ceremony for Fr. Dick's good friend's new baby, Theresa. She is adorable.

Love to all,

Margo.

Revenge is sweet

Well hello guys,

A quick note today as I have been in school all day and I am whacked. I'm just glad that all those years ago I decided to go for secondary and not primary. Although the kids are good it is constant , unrelenting and a long day from 8am to 3pm.

There is a vast array of ages in the class as children are classed according to ability and not age. Mind you there seems to be a huge range of ability.



When we leave the school at 3 it easily takes 30mins to walk across the yard to the priest's house where we stay as many small children want to speak to us and shake hands and ask to be our friend and can they have our email address or home address. You could be sure that many begging letters would follow. So myself and Geraldine have decided to give the address of the Mercy nuns in Ballinasloe!!

We hear that the parents and students are protesting outside their house today because of the recent news that they won't allow first years unless the government can commit to a school built by 2010..

Regards to all for now,

Margo

First Day at School

Hello all,

just out of school. The day started early ... I was at 6am mass. Though it seems like a big deal let me inform you that the choir started practising at 4.30am and it was a case of curse them or join them. The sound is wonderful but the timing is way off.

Breakfast and then off to see assembly, all children line up and pray loudly and reverently and then pledge allegiance to Ghana. Then a march around the yard singing and into their classrooms.

Today I observed the lessons so I have an idea what to teach. This morning there was Religion , Maths and English and, in the afternoon, Ghanaian. I'll stick to the Gaeilge!

The children have some texts given out for the lessons but kept in school. They are very obedient and answer out loudly. Everything is taught in drill form and repeated over and over again. There are no facilities apart from a blackboard.

The classroom is very basic with walls half way up and then slatted wood to the roof which is corrugated iron. When the rain starts class has to stop. Even without the rain and because there is no glass in the windows the sounds all mingle from room to room and it can be difficult to hear.

The little ones in the kindergarten are fascinated by the white people and keep coming to the window to look in. Then they circle round when we come outside.

I feel the need of a siesta, how quickly we become acclimatised!!

Love, hugs and kisses to Clodagh, Meabh and Doireann and a big hug to you too Brendan.

Projects & a walk around Bantama

Hi Guys,

just had a long walk around Bantama. Streets heaving with people, coming from market, setting up stalls, carrying live chickens on their heads and young babies on their backs.

Saw some Aidlink funded projects today, small ones in rural villages. A borehole to get water and a row of community toilets. We were followed by young children amazed to see these very white people.

We then met the village chief to pass on our regards. He sat in a comfortable house in full traditional dress but is recovering from a bout of malaria ... I must remember to tuck in that mossie net tonight.

We are all very excited about tomorrow as we get to go to school, that's teachers for you!!

I will be in a primary school. The kids come at 7am and clean the school and grounds for half an hour, then private study until 8. Assembly at 8 sharp and classes at 8.15 sharp. Notice the use of the word sharp, they must have heard I'm from Doorus!!

Mass yesterday was better than any concert in Slane for entertainment level and sound effects. We danced up the aisle with our offerings, 3 different collections. There was a gospel choir and a charismatic choir, they laughed loudly at our feeble attempts to move our bodies.

A lady handed me a hymn book and it fell open at "What a friend we have in Jesus" I wondered was the same being sung in Doorus at the same time.

Living is basic, I am sharing with Anne as the Assistant Secretary Worldwide of the Spiritan fathers, a Ghanaian, decided to stay an extra 2 nights and one does not say we have no room to him.. no worries though.

Electricity is sporadic and will be off this evening for 12 or 24 hours so more news later.

Love to all,

Margo.

D-Day

Today is the day.

Off to Dublin this evening to stay in Bewleys. I would gladly opt out at this present moment. I hate the thought of leaving Brendan and the girls for 2 weeks (16 days to be precise). At least I know that I have finally switched on to going when I feel so lonely so it is good to be prepared.

Now I await the excitement to hit.....

My bag is so heavy, I think I have overdone the clothes...what's new but I think plenty of changes will be needed because of the humidity.

So over and out for now, til I get a computer and electricity. Could be dodgy!
Margo.

D-Day -7

7 days to go.

Do want to go now ! Thoughts of leaving the girls (and hubbie too NOT ).

Lots to do. Sort Malaria tablets - dig out the bag - do up packing list - get class plans ready - leave the house ready (maybe !) - work out how to get to the airport for 7:30 am - the list seems endless. Visitors all weekend so I can't really focus til Monday.

Hope the detail doesn't dampen the enjoyment.

Anyway - last thing I can do is spend hours typing this !!