When I first heard about this trip I was so excited

When I first heard about this trip I was so excited, I’ve always wanted to do some volunteer work in another country. So I started going to the weekly meetings and began found raising the £1500. It was a challenge at first as I am in college and have a part time job however I made time and raised the money. It finally hit me, I was going to Ghana for a month with six people I’ve only known for 5 minutes. 

After 6 months of talking about it, I was finally in Ghana with the hot weather, nice people and beautiful landscape. But it was only like this for a few days until I started missing my family and saw my placement. I knew I was coming to Ghana for one reason and one reason only, volunteering, however 2 days before I’m about to go home I feel like I’ve got so much more out of this trip.

I thought I came on this trip as one person however others saw differently. It hit me when Michael said  “ I’m lazy and I’m cruising ” this got me thinking and I realised when shit gets hard I always seem to hide behind someone. So am I really one person or am I just a shadow?

I was angry at first, how are these people I’ve known for 5 minutes going to tell me I’m not one person. So one night I went for a walk and got thinking. I know I haven’t got the best confidence in the world and I know I find it hard to hold a conversation with someone I don’t know, but come on.

The next few days I could see a change. I started conversations with people in the group I don’t normally talk to, I went to the shops on my own, I taught at my placement and I finally learnt my own way through the refugee camp. I know it doesn’t sound like much but for me it was. People in the group started telling me the good change they’ve seen in me which made me feel better.

I’m so glad I came on this trip, not just for the volunteering but because I have learnt so much more about myself. Maybe I have been hiding away as someone’s shadow for the past 17 years because I’m scared of what people might think about me but I know I’m going back home as one person and I’m ready to find out more about myself. Thank you Mo!!

Officially a baker!!

 

Today at work everyone in my class baked their own cakes. I do this at home all the time but I was kind of nervous because they use different materials. At home I would use a whisk but they would use a wooden spoon, I would use a measuring scale but they would use cups. I got stuck in straight away and ended up finished before everyone else J then all the students started clapping for me. Loool. And tomorrow I will create butter icing and decorate it.

After work I came home and had a nap and got woken up my Aaron, telling me all the young people are having a meeting. At first I was confused but they started talking about sending someone in the group home and I clocked on. Not writing any name but I don't want them to go home.

But now I'm sitting in the dark listening to Jessica singing, then I'm going to have dinner and get ready to go to some party on the beach J

Getting to know the locals.

Getting to know the locals.

I woke up in a good mood today as my mum text me saying "good morning, love you." I was going to call her but I didn't want to hear her voice and get even more home sick.

I arrived at my placement with Kebbeh and started baking straight away. They gave me an apron and hat which made me fit in a little lol. As a group me baked a ginger cake and more sin omen rolls, they tasted soo NICE!!!

Kebbeh picked me up from my placement at 1oclock for lunch and we went and met Jessica at a restraint. We was waiting for Aaron and at one point me and Jessica was thinking he might have got kidnapped but a few minutes later he showed and we were so relived.

Me and Alex got in a cab on our own back to the hotel and when we got back, we went to my room to check on Paris as she didn't go to work due to a bad belly ache and being sick. Me and Alex decided to go and meet the locals from around our hotel. We rang Mo just to make sure it was okay (just me and Alex). We both walked down the rocky roads and it was a surprise there was no one looking at us funny. After visiting a few sweet shops we came back to the hotel whilst making a video of our travel J I brought some Ghanaian lollypops for my nephew which cost 2cidis for 12. Back home they would have been about 6p each woooooow!! That's very good!!

So, overall I had a good day and hope to have even more.

Icing on the cake!

Icing on the cake!

Last night I completed my homework set which was to practice icing design for my final cake on Friday. I was excited to use their equipment which was a metal nasal and a plastic bag from the water they drink. I know they drink water from a bag; anyway I tried different designs (picture) and show my supervisor the next morning.

I didn’t wake up in the best mood today as I had a really bad belly ache and didn’t want to go to work were there where know proper toilets. (Hole in the floor). But I “sucked it up” and jumped in a taxi. I arrived at my placement and started baking my cake. No lying, I was stirring the mixture for about an hour. I felt kind of bad because three of the students there had to help me lol.

Tomorrow I will be designing my cake and have to sell it to buy materials for the students at my placement. I’m hopefully going to finish work early tomorrow so me and Aaron can go to one of the school in the refugee camp and play games with them J

Overall I’ve had a good dayJ But I’m gonna have to love ya and leave ya because I’ve got to hand wash my cloths and go with Aaron to get his hair cut. Where also having a movie night!!!  X x x x

PS Mum I love you x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x

It wasn’t as bad as I thought!

Yesterday was my third day in Ghana and it hit me hard!!! Apart from missing my family, the food and weather change


I finally met my supervisor and went to see my placement in the women’s refugee camp.My first thoughts on the camp were “This isn’t safe and why is everyone looking at me”. Well I gathered everyone was looking at me because I was the only white person (spot the white kid) lol, but I’m slowly getting used to it. After a ten minute walk to my placement I was tired and wanted to go home. I felt lost and lonely ! I had to jump over holes in the floor, climb through tiny paths and dodge all the chickens and
lizards. Every little thing I saw or heard just reminded me of people back home

Make the world a better place

Hi my names holly and I'm 17 years old. I am currently in college studying btec art and design which is a two year course.I am also in a part time job as a cateering assistant.
In the future I am hoping to be in the art and design industry. I would also like to be doing some charity work all other the world to try and make the world a better place :)
I decided to do international volunteering to get a great experience and learn about other cultures.
Hopefully the experience will help me gain more knowledge on Ghana, as well as my self confidence. :)