There's no denying it, these bloggers are bound to make you jealous. Whether it's their guts, their energy or their tan you admire, overseas volunteers have got plenty to share with you about their remarkable work in fascinating countries. Read on to find out what you could be missing.

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Monday Jun 26, 2006

trials and tribulations...but its all worth it.

well only 2 days and then I'll have finished my A-levels! I really should be reivising, but thought it was alowd to take a short break!

Fundraising is coming on slowly, have got another £80 banked from friends and family, just waiting for a bit more to roll in, I hope! But thought I would take a walk down memory lane and talk about the problems I've had durring volunteering. Obviously the most troublesome volunteering was in Ghana. I threw myself into a completly different culture on my own at 17...I never take the easy route.

The biggest 'problem' in Ghana was the 1st day I arrived. The woman I was volunteering with had been out there for a day or two already, but she was a very reserved, 'proper' private school geography teacher who seemed continually clean in the mucky surrounings, and uncomfortable with any boundary breaking of any sort.

I went to meet the headteacher of the school where I would be helping out, and had all the children shouting "Abruni" at me (which means white person) In the first game we tried to play the kids sat terrified in a corner, they had never seen a white person before, we shared hardly any language and both sides were absolutly terified. we tried to teach them songs and dances, or see some of theirs, to break the ice, but they didnt understand, as their lessons usually consist of repetition and copying off the black board.

We gave up, and returned, defeated to the headmaters office...(a broom cupboard in a different life) I realised I had left my bag in the room we had been teaching (or trying to) and walked back to pick it up. At the door way (note; no door) all the kids crowded me but at a distance to not touch my "Freaky" skin! I put out my had to a young girl of about 8, and after some tentative glances at her friends she reached out and touched my fingers. I smiled, which I realised I hadnt been brave enough to do yet, and with that the kids smothered me...huging and shouting and laughing and all desperate to touch me. After we establised my skin didnt rub off, and that I was REAL I collected my bag and went back to the office un-able to detach the little hands grabbing my clothes, and every part of me.

It was amazing. I felt un-belivably accepted, and relaxed. I dont know if I cried, but I do everytime I think about it now. That experience will stay with me forever, and it was the most representative moment of all the time I spent there. 

It was un-belivably difficult for the first 4-6 hours, thinking that it wouldnt work, why had I come?, they wont accept us, but when I put my-self out there, and showed the real me...with a big grin, I knew I had found acceptance, and felt imediatly at home. After that language didnt matter, I communicated through motions, stupid faces and laughter- I grew very attatched to everyone at the orphanage in only 5 weeks, and hated leaving them.

This was taken one the second or third day when every child in the area wanted to see the "aubruni's":

If you ever encounter problems, or trials with comunication in volunteering all I can say is put yourself out there...show a side to you that makes people laugh and smile...pull a face, make a stupid noise....anything; Even if it doesnt help it will definatly release your tension!

Posted by Emily ( 12:04 PM )
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