How often do you just 'go with the flow?'
Our recent ghanaian experience certainly helped me slow down a notch or two.
I remember vividly our first evening after just arriving at our delightful seaside location. We settled down for a quick dinner before heading to bed, after ordering a simple meal we waited well over an hour before seeing our food. I could feel myself getting impatient and clock watching. Still very much in London mode! 'Why was it taking so long to make a salad and a bowl of soup' I kept asking my husband Col.
I realised quite early on that no-one really hurries at all, so you had to quickly get used to the 'laid back' attitude and just enjoy it. It's amazing how you soon adjust though. I also decided after a few days to ditch my watch and just go with the flow. Everyone else was.
By the end of our stay, I realised how much I had slowed down and how the 'laid backness' was rubbing off. The air con unit had broken in our room at one point, it must have been about 35 degrees that day. It was hot! We reported it to the maintenance guy, probably took about 48 hours before anyone came to look at it. I'd almost forgotten about it until we had a tap on the door however delighted when it was finally fixed.
The time away was good for many reasons, particularly a chance to reflect on life in London. I realised how busy life seemed at present, how we were filling our time with lots of activity and having little free time. I love the fact when you are holiday how you find yourself being more spontaneous and living in the moment. Good to bring that into day to day life too.
So, how often do you just 'go with the flow'? How spontaneous are you being these days? Why not take your watch off for a day and just enjoy the moment.
Who knows how much fun you will have.
Saturday, 12 February 2011
Thursday, 3 February 2011
Appreciating the little things
What do you appreciate the most?
We left the bustling city of Accra after a couple of days into our Ghanaian adventure and headed up north to the hills....a village called Obo.
The taxi journey was certainly an eye opener into ghanaian way of life. I loved the fact you could do most of your weekly shopping through the car window and incredible to observe how the street vendors carried produce on their heads in 35 degree heat.
Our lodgings in Obo had basic facilities, made me immediately appreciate our home comforts. No running water just a bucket of water for showering and flushing the toilet. It really was back to basics.
The biggest shock was going to a nearby fishing village the next day, probably the poorest in the area. We were taken around the local school which had recently been built. It literally was a shell of a building with chairs for the children plus a blackboard, no other resources available. As we walked around the outside, children were running up to us shouting 'What's your name?'.... 'Please come and teach us'. Four classrooms were full of children but no teacher. It was heartbreaking!
It was an impromptu moment where Col and I had to think on our feet. No curriculum and no resources, the children were mixed up depending on their ability rather than their age. Really bright adorable children who just wanted to learn! What an unforgettable experience..... we were soon known as 'Madame Rebecca' and 'Mr Col'. It was wonderful to see Col's dream of teaching Maths come to fruition! He was brilliant, the children loved him.
One thing I noticed after a few days in this fascinating country, was how happy the people were, they are still ambitious but make the most out of what they have in the present. The family unit and community spirit is strong, children can play in the street at night and they have a positive attitude about the future.
I came away with an interesting insight to life in Africa, perhaps slightly different to what I went with. I appreciate everything in my life that little more after the experience.... my upbringing, my education, my family and friends, my home and knowing that I can end each day with a good meal and a hot bubble bath.
I feel grateful I could have this African adventure and be able to share it with someone special.
We left the bustling city of Accra after a couple of days into our Ghanaian adventure and headed up north to the hills....a village called Obo.
The taxi journey was certainly an eye opener into ghanaian way of life. I loved the fact you could do most of your weekly shopping through the car window and incredible to observe how the street vendors carried produce on their heads in 35 degree heat.
Our lodgings in Obo had basic facilities, made me immediately appreciate our home comforts. No running water just a bucket of water for showering and flushing the toilet. It really was back to basics.
The biggest shock was going to a nearby fishing village the next day, probably the poorest in the area. We were taken around the local school which had recently been built. It literally was a shell of a building with chairs for the children plus a blackboard, no other resources available. As we walked around the outside, children were running up to us shouting 'What's your name?'.... 'Please come and teach us'. Four classrooms were full of children but no teacher. It was heartbreaking!
It was an impromptu moment where Col and I had to think on our feet. No curriculum and no resources, the children were mixed up depending on their ability rather than their age. Really bright adorable children who just wanted to learn! What an unforgettable experience..... we were soon known as 'Madame Rebecca' and 'Mr Col'. It was wonderful to see Col's dream of teaching Maths come to fruition! He was brilliant, the children loved him.
One thing I noticed after a few days in this fascinating country, was how happy the people were, they are still ambitious but make the most out of what they have in the present. The family unit and community spirit is strong, children can play in the street at night and they have a positive attitude about the future.
I came away with an interesting insight to life in Africa, perhaps slightly different to what I went with. I appreciate everything in my life that little more after the experience.... my upbringing, my education, my family and friends, my home and knowing that I can end each day with a good meal and a hot bubble bath.
I feel grateful I could have this African adventure and be able to share it with someone special.
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