Adeline Fluteau: Volunteer in Ghana

Dalia and I had a nice week in France, reminding ourselves all the good times we had in Ghana! I really had a great time and already miss the people and the culture! Thank you for the great experience you made us live, it’s so much better being there as a volunteer than as a tourist! Being back in France was very weird, and it’s very hard to describe and explain to your family and friends how exactly life in Ghana is!

So I attached my impressions of the trip on the email, I hope it’s fully complete!

Did we do enough to prepare you for your experience?

I think the handbook that we got before the trip is very detailed, that way we didn’t have too many big surprises! There were definitely a lot of informations! We knew marriages proposals for example were very common, or that waiting 2 hours at a restaurant for your meal was the normal ghanean pace! And then it was nice having the list of things to do around Kpando, such as the monkey sanctuary or the pottery workshop.

How was your host family / accommodations?

The host family was very nice, it was fun playing with all the kids (it was a very crowded family! ), and Dalia Sarah and I felt at home right away. It was weird though not being allowed to help out around the house! Our host mum was very sweet, she would make the food we wanted to try, or called her personal taxi driver if ever we wanted to go somewhere. Of course we had to get used to shower with buckets, but we adjusted pretty quickly. The taste of Banku was harder to get used to! Then we had our little nightlife with the small bar next to the house, or the huge screen where people watch soccer (not my favourite but it was cool anyway!)

How was your volunteer work?

I loved playing with the kids, it’s amazing how fast they integrated us! But I think the first week we were too many volunteers, we were 10 or so which was a lot compared to the number of kids! Then the second week was much better, we were less crowded and the kids got to know me better and so did I. We also got to teach at miracle school, which was very rewarding. I got to teach french, it was great to see how greedy they are to learn. I also got to learn a lot from the students, we sang gospel music and I learned a few ewe words! But then the organization was terrible, the teachers kept changing things around, sometimes we didn’t have any class to teach, it was a bit messy! But anyway, I think 2 weeks was too short, because once you finally get used to everything and build your way around, it’s already time to leave!

How was your local Coordinator?

Jessica was so sweet! We got to know her better especially at the end of the trip when we went to cape coast. We laughed a lot and considered her more as a friend than as a coordinator! We could just talk about anything with her.

Did you have any illnesses or injuries?

I did not have any injuries, but got diarrhea. Fortunately I had medicine I brought with me!

What was the best part of the experience?

The whole trip was the best! Everyday we got to learn more things about the country, and it’s just small things that made the trip the best. Such as trotro rides, waving to the kids, Ghanaian handshakes, plantains, “yevus”, blowing bubbles, market days, goats and roasters, taxis honking, “welcomes”, going on a canoe on the volta lake, giving out change, walking in the rain, having braids and much more!

What was the worst part of the experience?

I think the very last day was the worst. First because we were leaving, then when I realized I had my camera stolen (I still didn’t get over that, I’m so sad I lost all my pictures ), and then to make it even worst, Sarah missing the plane! It was definitely a bad day!

Would you be willing to email or talk to future volunteers about your experiences?

Of course!!

Any other comments?

« This is Ghana » =]

Adeline Fluteau
Orphanage Volunteer in Ghana