Clinics with the Narcissitic Chief & the Schoolchildren! Crocodiles, Rope Bridges & Slavery!

I have not been able to post for a few days - for all those reading I'm sorry!

I'll try and make this a super-blog and write as much as I can and maybe add some pictures, if it works.....

Below is the picture I promised I'd post of me holding a baby 'African style' , I've just realised that I haven't actually posted any photo's of myself yet!

Where was I up to???

Day 11 - Thursday 24th Jan.08

Went to a place called 'Akbomen' which I was told is a typical African village, with houses/huts made out of mud which during the rainy season some of the walls get washed away and have to be re-built!

After we arrived we started setting up clinic again, the same as yesterday. However, before we commenced seeing patients had to respect the village Chieftain and present him with some gifts. We were told that he loves looking in buckets of water at his own reflection, so we gave him: a small hand-held mirror, a football for the village children and some chewing gum! He seemed very happy and he was the first patient to be seen. I had my photo taken with him and as its digital he loved that he could see the picture straight away!!

I made friend's with a lady called 'Rebekah' who held my hand and alike most of the Ghanian's exclaimed, 'You are Welcome, You Are Welcome!'. She showed me around the village and took me into her home and introduced me to her husband and said that this was my home too. I think she and some other people came to the clinic because she didn't want to miss out on the action. Saw some really good classical signs and pathology at the village and took some pictures, which I will bore the medics with on my return.

We finished earlier than expected, it was a much quieter turn out than yesterday so one of the leaders decided that we go to the 'Aburi Botanic Gardens'. It is created by the British and has some vegetation, some ylang-ylang, cinammon plants and some other big trees and stuff.

Another Ghana football match tonight (they won 2-1), so a very long drive home in the traffic again as everyone trying to get to a TV for the match.

Day 12 - Friday 25th Jan 08.

Went to a place called 'Afienaya' today, a few hours away from where I am in Accra. We set up clinic at the bottom of a school playground, and had a huge audience with all the children. I think every one of us got mobbed by children at one time or another.

Saw lots of patients again today.

The 'Mission' team I am with are American's mainly from Florida, and belong to a religious denomination called, 'The Assembly of God'. Well I don't think I've mentioned it so far, but as well as having the medical tables they also have an area whereby they pray for the patients. All I am going to say is that they are quite interesting in their methods which are very overt! I guess I'm not used to their beliefs and ways, they have the power of the Holy Spirit to heal, God talks to them through people on the TV and they speak in 'tongues' (basically unintelligible gobbly-gook!) hope I've not been too judgmental in my descriptions!

After the long journey back in the mini-buses, it was nice to catch up with Becky and Steve. They ended up going to the Ghana match on the Thursday and they said that the atmosphere was amazing.

Day 13 - Saturday 26th Jan. 08

I am very grateful for the American's who have come to do their 'Medical Mission' as I wouldn't be doing the things I am doing if it wasn't for them. Also, as they invited me to go with them today to go to 'Cape Coast'. We had to get up even earlier than we have been doing in the week - like before 5 o'clock! After a very long and hot bus journey, where the bus broke down twice (thats a good day!) we ended up at our destination, the 'Kakum National Park Rainforest'.

It was a beautiful hot day so we walked around and then arrived at the canopy walk, which is a collection of about 7 rope bridges, (which swayed from side-to-side quite a lot), suspended in the trees approx. 700 metre long!

It was great - don't know how I managed it, especially as I always managed to be behind the 'bigger' Americans who when they walked made the whole thing shake and made me hold on for my life!! We saw some butterflies, birds, monkies but sadly no elephants!

We stopped off for something to eat at a hotel/restaurant called 'Ron's Cottage'. It had a lake all around it and crocodiles. I made up for the lack of animals at the National Park and was even brave enough to have my picture taken with a Croc!! If you look close enough you can see the terror in my face and the beads of sweat!

After my escape from the croc's we drove onto 'Cape Coast Castle' which is a very famous area in history. It is where orginally a lot of trading took place and was known as 'Britain's Gold Coast', however, it is probably better known for its mass export of slaves before the slave trade was abolished. It was a really powerful place, you got to walk in the dungeon's where thousands of men and women were shackled together. There is also a famous area called, 'The Door of No Return' where a tunnel lead from the dungeon's/cells to where they were shipped to 'the Americas'. It is now a very busy fishing port. The area is beautiful and it was lovely to be beside the sea. We had to leave before our guided tour ended, it was a shame as I would have loved a bit of extra time to explore the area a bit more.

Worked out had been on the bus in total for around 8-9 hours today!! Although, we had fun on the way back the American's trying to copy my accent and them teaching me how to speak American! I'm going to be coming back speaking half African Ga and American and I'm going to be confusing everyone!