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nick.davies
Member
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Posted: 29 May 2007 04:40 pm |
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I am in Kumasi at the moment teaching in a school in the week and have been put up with a 'big-gun' doctor in his house which is really nice and although not in the centre itself has very convenient transport links to the centre.
I strongly recommend anyone who wants to do something like this to come to Ghana...the country is amazing (I am yet to go up north but have already seen some spectacular scenes in the more southern areas including an amazing and huge lake surrounded by beautiful landscapes...anyway its amazing!
If anyone is planning on coming then definately let me know (whether its when i'm still here or not!) and i can have a quick chat with you to just tell you useful things like what sort of clothes/accessories are useful and which ones are a complete waste of time etc before you spend an absolute load on useless gadgets like some people have done.
I can give nothing but positive feedback from the country itself...the people that changing worlds has linked with in Ghana are really nice and very supportive if there are problems etc and the family I'm with couldnt be nicer.
Definately give ghana a thought!...on that note i finish!!
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Olivia
Member
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Posted: 3 Jul 2007 01:56 pm |
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Hi nick, my names Olivia. I'm coming out to Ghana in september, when do you leave??
How is everthing out there at the moment?? what do you recommend to bring?
Liv x 
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nick.davies
Member
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Posted: 3 Jul 2007 02:50 pm |
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I will sadly be gone from Ghana in September and will be in Lagos but the chap i came out with (Tim) will still be here so you wont be one your own...assuming you will be staying with the same host family! (maybe not i dont know)
As for what to wear and bring it is much moe open than some people tell you. We are currently in the rainy season (although it only rains for about 5 hours a week) and so a waterproof jacket can be useful but by the time you get here it will be the dry season so you will basically just need a shed load of suncream and a lot of summer clothes. A mosquito net is useful...i dont personally have one and it doesnt bother me but some people are liked more tha others by mossies...i'm sure you will know where you stand on that level but in the dry season mosquitos are supposed to be much more scarce anyway.
When it comes to spendig money on gadgets and specialist traveling things...DONT. everything you will ever need is available here for about a tenth of the price and my only real advice is come with clothes and a GOOD medical bag (the usual african stuff...anti diahorea, headaches, rennies or the equivelant for stomach aches etc). You can buy a lot of it here but a lot of the medication sold is past its sell by date and not ideal!
Ghana is fundamentally an extremely balanced and westernised country (certainly in the area you will be staying) and so you dont need to go to camping shops and buy gas stoves,water purification tablets and all that stuff....it is not a military training exercise...laptops and ipods are fine to bring, a torch is useful because the electricity is very unreliable but you can buy a good one here for about 2.50 so again theres not huge neccesity.
To prevent this from turning into a gamble..bring a lot of summer clothes, comfortable shoes/flipflops, basic medication and a big smile and you will be absolutely fine!!
As for money...it is like any african country...you can live of what you have whether thats 50 dollars a week or 250 dollars a week. That completely depends on traveling. Food is very cheap and most is provided for you in the house. Most Money ends up on beers and travelling costs (hotels for example can be found for as little as 5 pounds per night or even less)!
Hope this answers most of your questions without too much repetition/rambling. If you wanna know anything else then either email me (David Gill will have it) or just post here and it sends me an email anyway which i can pick up on my phone.
Nick
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domzo
Member
| Joined: | 13 Aug 2007 |
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| Posts: | 2 |
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Posted: 13 Aug 2007 11:21 pm |
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Hi Nick, my name is Dom i am going out to Ghana in January 2008. I will be taching at a school somewhere in Accra. How old are the people you ended up teaching and what exactly are you teaching them? that's what i am still not too sure about for when i go out there, want to make sure i'm prepared for it. Are you still out there?
Dom
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domzo
Member
| Joined: | 13 Aug 2007 |
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| Posts: | 2 |
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Posted: 13 Aug 2007 11:24 pm |
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Hi Liv, how long are you in Ghana for? I'm going out in January
Dom
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paul199065
Member
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Posted: 4 Sep 2007 08:48 pm |
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Hi Nick (If you are still there)
I am intending to go somewhere in September 2008. But I havn't decided where to go yet. Should I choose Ghana? I want to teach in Africa, how much of a challenge is it? Also, is it worth the money? How good are changing worlds, as they seem to be cheaper than all other companies. Is there are reason for this? I am just concerned that often when things are cheaper, there is usually something wrong.
How much has it cost you overall. It seems to suggest it will be about 2 and a half grand. What are the hidden costs?
Last edited on 4 Sep 2007 09:21 pm by paul199065
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paul199065
Member
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Posted: 1 Oct 2007 07:41 pm |
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| Have you had any trouble with the universities? Is it considered a disadvantage to go on a gap year in the application process?
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nick.davies
Member
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Posted: 21 Aug 2008 07:59 pm |
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I do apologise guys...this is the first time i've checked the forum since i got back pretty much.
I am still very willing to answer questions but please send me an email instead as you are likely to get a much faster response.
nick.davies2@googlemail.com
PS: As time goes on, I am more and more pleased that i went to Ghana. As for the hidden costs...there are none. Obvuously you pay for any voluntary actions such as drinking/going out/extra travel etc but thats obvious.
Why is changing worlds cheaper?..probably because they are a smaller company with less of a reputation/less well known and so cant get away with ripping people off. Does the fact they are cheaper mean they are less good...Certainly not. They were faultless during my stay both from the UK and their contacts in Ghana who unlike some companies let you be independent and dont try and micromanage your time....BUT...are always there is you need them!
Last edited on 21 Aug 2008 08:06 pm by nick.davies
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nick.davies
Member
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Posted: 21 Aug 2008 08:05 pm |
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plus...I was in a school in Kumasi rather than Accra but i taught kids between about 9-14. You will discover though that in the same class there will be pupils ranging up to 2 or 4 years in age as some can only go to school when their parents have money and therefore take longer to pass each year.
For me this was the ideal age bracket....a developed mind but not the same age as i was which i would have found slightly bizarre (fairly sure you wont be teaching 18 yr olds unless you yourself are much older and experieced but you may well be given kindergarden aged kids if thats what interests you.
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