Dear Diary... (day 28)

No more clichés, you know what I’m thinking.

I come back to this every week and I always feel the same- I can’t wait to get home but I don’t want to leave! But it’s worse now that I’ve finished my placement as it has really put things into perspective- I’ve actually completed the task that brought me to Ghana after so many years. What I hadn’t anticipated, however, was just how overwhelming this experience would be and how what I’ve seen and learnt extends way past my work at Korle Bu Teaching Hospital. I didn’t expect that I’d get on with my cousins half as much as I have, nor did I expect to fully embrace skipping gutters or lights out (don’t know how I’ll live without it…) but 28 days later, I can’t imagine what it’s gonna be like when I get back to SE5.

For now, if you need me, I’ll be enjoying my last few days in the sun.

Dear Diary... (day 14)

It's pretty much halfway through my time here and I hate to whip out a cliché in the very first sentence but time flies!

Having said that, I cannot tell a lie, I am a little homesick.

I miss the pace of London, the constant buzz, the urgency.

And yet, in a way, it's exactly this that I don't miss- the urgency, the rush, the lack of time.

"I don't have the time..."
"I ran out of time..."
"If only there was more time..."

Here, time is not of the essence.

It's more like a guide to the time of day things kinda sorta should happen (as demonstrated at yesterday's wedding which started at 12.30pm though the invitation said 10am start...)

Anyway, I'm rambling.

What I'm trying to say is that the things I miss about London are also the things that kinda drive me mad.

E.g.

The weather.
The people.
Public transport.

So I guess today's post should've been called "The Grass Is Always Greener" but instead it's the standard seven day review "Dear Diary" entry.

I'm rambling again.

Let's try one more time.

It's been another brilliant week in sunny Accra (though it did rain today- torrential!) and I guess the lesson I've learnt this week is to always be grateful for what we have, no matter how small or insignificant it may feel at the time (with special reference to my post on Day 11).

This week, I'm on the Obstetrics wards.

Many a story about many a newborn baby to follow, I'm sure.

Dear Diary... (day 7)

What a week.

Admittedly, I found the first few days tough. The heat, as I've said a thousand times, is exhausting, but the shops don't seem so far away any more and I’m actually sleeping all the way through the night (yes, I know, I sound like a baby…).  The meals no longer lead to cramping (initially, my tummy found it difficult to adjust to multiple palm oil based meals) and even the early mornings heralded by our cockerel don’t seem as bad.

I’ve enjoyed being reunited with my cousins, travelling independently (esp. my visit to Kokrobite to see Oskar) and making new friends (everyone seems to know there’s a Londoner in Dansoman). The people are just brilliant (full of life, eager to please and incredibly hard-working) and it’s great being so close to the sea (I also really can’t complain about the weather).

From gutter skipping (I'm a total pro) to sipping on "minerals" (Ghanaian term for bottled soft drinks), riding on tro tros (ok, just the two are mentioned in Day 6) and attending a Sunday church service (it was really long- there were more than 1000 people present and each reading was read, first in English and then in Ga.), it's been a fantastic start.

Tomorrow, I start my placement at Korle Bu Teaching Hospital- I’m sure I’ll have stories to tell.