How’s work?

The end is coming, for real! I have only 2 full weeks left at work. TWO WEEKS. I keep repeating myself, but this is just insane, how on earth I have been here over 2 months already? Every time I have lived abroad, time has gone fast. But never this fast, and its breaking my heart. Getting emotional every time I think about the fact that I have to leave this place soon.Haven’t really had much of inspiration (read: I’ve been feeling lazy) to post anything, but now I’ll share some updates from work. So this time no photos or stories about beaches and sea, but about school and teachers!

Work has been great. I have facilitated 4 workshops so far, and I have 2 more to go. I have been working on the development report for the school, and been planning my thesis interview. I reeeaaally should start conducting them asap, but somehow I struggle with finalizing the interview questions. Soon, soon..

Few weeks ago I organized refreshment day for the teachers. It wasn’t all fun and games since I made teachers to work a bit in a form of a workshop and two brainstorming sessions, but tbh most of the day was about having fun and relaxing. This was the first time when these teachers spent time with each other outside the school context, or even the first time they ever had this kind of refreshment day. I was quite nervous - first of all, I organized this day on their holiday, so it was not compulsory for teachers to attend. So I wasn’t sure if anyone was actually coming. Or if anyone was going to be in time for the pre-organized bus transportation, I mean this is Ghana anyway and nobody seems to follow any kind of pre-set schedules. Secondly, I had no idea how teachers would feel to be together outside the school premises, and what they would think about the games and activities I had planned for them. 

Turns out, I was worried for nothing. Only 2 teachers couldn’t attend, and everybody was on time. And teachers were on such a great mood, they were all taking part in the activities and they seemed to love the games we played. The day was filled with laughter and the atmosphere was just incredibly relaxed. It was amazing to watch teachers to do teamwork together, to relax at each other’s company and to have so much fun. This day made me so happy, and the best part is that teachers liked it, gave me good feedback and the school headmaster came to tell me he was very pleased of how well this thing was organized AND from now on he wants to start organizing days like this. So, hopefully, I have started a new, lovely tradition at this school. Yay!

Another nice thing that has happened was a visit to public school. I’m working at private school, which is totally different environment compared to a public school here in Ghana. I have heard so many stories about public schools in Ghana: crazy big class sizes (there may be even 80 students in one class), no books, no other teaching or learning materials and overall no money for anything ”extra. 

The public school I got to visit was only few minutes drive from my workplace, but the difference was remarkable. No whiteboards, not even windows or doors in the classrooms. I can imagine it makes teaching quite challenging, when there’s no modern teaching and learning materials at all. Teaching ICTmust be one of the trickiest ones - try to teach how to use a computer or other digital devices from a book, to students who may have never used a computer in their life.Anyway, the visit was short but interesting. Naturally, people at the school were hoping that we would bring money or equipment with us, I sometimes feel that since I’m obroni, people see me here just as a bag of money or other resources. If they’d check my bank account they’d change their mind! 😅

Sweet home Takoradi

I just realized I haven’t really introduced the town (city?) I’m living in, and I have been here for already over a month! So, I guess better late than never, here’s little info package of my lovely hometown in Ghana.

I live in Takoradi, also called Sekondi-Takoradi, as this is city connecting twin cities, Sekondi and Takoradi. Takoradi is the capital of the Western Region of Ghana, located at the coast of Ghana. We are about 4 hours from Accra (by bus), and 1-1,5hrs from Cape Coast. Pretty nice location, right next to the sea, far enough from the busy capital, but still big enough city to not to be boring.  Close to awesome surfing spots, close to beautiful nature and empty beaches, which seem to be getting more and more beautiful after one another.

Takoradi, such as most of Ghana I guess, is funny when it comes to landscape and environment. One moment, you are in the dry and dusty area of the city, where everything seem to be mix of grayness and red sand (which is everywhere) and soon-to-collapse-looking buildings, and then next minute you reach the beach and are surrounded by baffling greenness, palm trees and the sea. Our apartment, sort of in the middle of nowhere but still quite close to everything, is surrounded by such a lush garden! Palm trees, cocoa trees, grass, colorful flowers and so on. So pretty. Then, 2 minutes in taxi and you are in area that seem to be like a different world.

We live about 10km from the city center, so not too far. I feel like nothing here is too far, everything is accessible by trotros and doesn’t really take long. Except, when there are traffic jams due to heavy rain or  unknown reason, as it sometimes (regularly) happens.

Market circle is located in the city center, sort of like the heart of the city. From market circle, one can find anything needed. Fabric. Tomatoes. Chili. Spices. Credit for phone. Cleaning stuff, clothes (new and second-hand). Bread, jewellery.. anything, you name it. Okay, except milk products. But anything else, seriously, can be found from the city center and especially from around  market circle.

What else. Well, then there’s the beach I just recently discovered, super lovely! Then, KFC. Amazing, huh? But here, KFC is fancy restaurant – not a shitty fast food chain, but relatively expensive restaurant and unknow concept. Probably in 10 years one can find also McDonalds, Starbucks and garbage like that.

Oh, airport. Takoradi has an airport, expected to be international airport one day in the future (I wonder when). With about 80€ one can get flight to Accra, which takes about 40 minutes. Quite tempting option to hot and sweaty 4 hour bus ride.

Mall, of course we have a mall here. Takoradi mall has just opened recently this year, and is still waiting for it’s full bloom. Grocery store Shoprite is there, that’s where I can find the milk products and all the other stuff that isn’t sold at the market circle. Besides Shoprite, Takoradi Mall is filled with empty business space, with only few spots occupied with random stores. One of them is selling wigs, one electronics, one seems to be perfume store, and then there’s hairdresser/nail salon. And café, which did not have coffee last time I asked.. Or they did, but instant one, so that does not count. And PIZZERIA! Like, real, proper pizzeria from which you can get actual real pizza, I had chance to try one slice the other day and was so surprised. Pizza is very expensive though, so I guess I can live without pizza for few more months...

Then there’s Coffee Corner, love that place. Decent coffee, decent sandwiches, air condition and free wifi. All I need on the days when I work on my thesis or do work stuff. 

Then, there are few hotels and bars. I have been only to Stellar Lodge and Raybow Hotel, which both have nice bars. Champs bar at Stellar Lodge was actually a party bar, with karaoke and so on, and entrance fee later on the night. Fun vibes, but super rude staff! Raybow Hotel's bar seemed to be more chilled, live-band and drinks sort of outdoor bar, liked it a lot! Another bar, where I have actually been only during daytime, is Vienna City Beach. Chill bar/restaurant right at the beach, they also have a pool which is nice addition! During the days it's pretty quiet, which makes it perfect place to work, if I don't want to stay at my office. No wifi though. During the evening, at least on weekends/holidays I guess, the bar gets more crowded and I'm sure it's fun place to have a little outing at!