Ada Foah Paradise

After the track meet, we selected the girls from the school who would be a part of the Kingsby team to participate in the city competition.  This meant that training became more intense, event-specific, and with a smaller group of girls.  This was great fun; it was nice to work on different aspects of training.  I found it especially rewarding to work with the runners.  The girls are naturally good and with small adjustments to their form and breathing habits we could see instant results.  I also got to do some coaching with the relay teams.  The difference in baton passing after training was huge; I could almost see the seconds melting off of their times.

Adding to the events of the last couple weeks was the arrival of two more volunteers, Liz and Christine.  It is nice to have some more company in the dorm and fun to help show the new Obrunis around.  As well as having the chance to explore Kof with them, their working at the orphanage gave me a chance to spend some more time with the kiddies.  It is amazing how the kids can grow up in just a couple weeks and it was so much fun to see them again.  Nothing brightens my day like those beautiful faces.

On the weekend, we travelled to Ada Foah, a small village sandwiched by the Atlantic Coast and Volta River.  We decided to stay at an estuary camp called Maranathas, and had very little expectations.  To get to the camp, we were told we had to board a boat on the Volta.  After calling the camp's caretaker to inform him we had arrived, we went to the river side to meet the boat that was "on its way."  Although that term is very loosely used and we ended up waiting an hour, it was great fun to see events taking place on the river.  Fishermen and villagers were in and out of boats, we saw men bailing vessels that rivalled Swiss cheese in construction, and woman carrying loads of shells on their heads to the market.

The boat trip was really nice. The slow-moving Volta River is so big that it feels more like a lake.  No rapids for us!  We enjoyed passing other boats, and spending some time in the sun!

When we got to Maranathas, I was more than excited.  It was perhaps the neatest place I have ever stayed.  We were shown to our hut, a small room constructed from palm fronds.  The floors were simply sand, there was no electricity or running water, and the background music was performed by the crashing waves.

Coming in off the beautiful Volta waters, I was unsure of how far the ocean would be.  I guess the definition of estuary should have tipped me off, but our camp was literally built on a small sand bar between the river and sea.  2 minutes walk to ocean waves and back to freshwater swimming.  It was so cool!

After unpacking (aka throwing our bags in the sand and grabbing our swim suits) we went to go look at the ocean.  It felt like we were in a painting! Well, a painting with a very strong undertow.

On the riverside, things were just as picturesque.  While both bodies of water were warm, the river had a little safer swimming.  The beach camp was set up really nicely, because the open lounge huts facilitated mingling with other visitors.  We got to meet some lovely people and had chats late into the night with volunteers and tourists from all around the world.

After the sun went down, the camp hosted a bon fire with traditional drumming and dancing. 

In the morning, we found an excellent soccer field on the flat, dampened sand bar.  The little kids were amazing players, definitely giving the Obrunis a run for our money.  We played for hours, with refreshing half time breaks in the river.

We were sad when it was time to leave Ada Foah, it truly felt like paradise!  However, it is always nice to come home to solid floors and sheets that aren't peppered with sand.  I was also excited to start more training with the girls for the upcoming track meet. 

I won't forget Ada Foah, though; if I get a chance, I will definitely visit again:)