Spain and Ghana

So I got back from Spain last week, a week earlier than planned due to the Ghana High Commission, having an 'oversight' and forgetting to sign my visa!!!! Ergh!
Well Spain was great, lots of relaxing, sleeping, walking about and just general mooching.
I went to the Contemporary Art Museum where there was there were dancing robots!



In the evening in the centre there were always lots of street performers including these drummers who so reminded me of Brazil!

.

The weather was pretty cold all of the time and it did rain a bit, there were a couple of nice days though.

One of the nice days


This also gave Ruben the chance to show off his skills.



There were some beautiful sunsets though!





So my next adventure is GHANA!!! I took my 1st malaria table yesterday which means it is 3 weeks until I go!! I can't believe it. I am so excited and can't wait to find out what my placement will be!

I will be travelling for 2 weeks afterwards and these are my tentative plans.....



I will be staying in Hohoe until February 20th, then travel back to Accra.
Then down to Cape Coast for a few days and visiting Kakum National Park.

Then up to Kumasi for a few days,, then its about a 7 hours bus ride to Tamale. Then another 5ish hours to Mole National Park. Then travelling one the bus for 13 hours back to Accra to come back to the UK!!!

Of course this is all completely subject to change once I arrive in Ghana, as I will be there volunteering for 6 weeks, so I may visit some of those places at the weekends but I know I definitely want to visit those places anyway!

Last day at CCS HQ! :(

Well, yesterday was my last day at CCS HQ. Although I didn't cry as much as I did at the staff meeting it was still really emotional!!!

I honestly had no idea that me placing a $275 deposit in 2005 would lead to me have an amazing and life changing experience in Brazil, then lead me to moving to New York to actually work for the organization!

It is crazy to think that my first job straight out of university was a working for this non profit in NYC that does such amazing and inspiring work. I am so proud to have worked with CCS. I remember how I felt when I was in Brazil and the fact that I have been able to facilitate that feeling and experience for over 700 people makes me happy.

The people at CCS are amazing, selfless, passionate and inspiring people who truly believe in what they do and the vision, mission and values of CCS. I know I have been incredibly spoilt here and will NEVER find another work place like this.
Where else can you say oh my job sent me to Costa Rica, Guatemala, Colorado, Toronto...
Professionally, I learnt so much and gained so much experience, I know it will be a great stepping stone for even better things.
Personally, I have grown in confidence, maturity and know that I can pretty much achieve what ever I want!

It was so hard to make the decision to leave but I am ready for my next challenge in life and excited for new opportunities! I have Ghana to look forward to and hopefully lots of exciting opportunities to work in a more creative field.
CCS was just the beginning and has opened up so many doors and I am extremely thankful for that.

This is definitely not good bye CCS or NYC, its just a see you later!!

Don't be dismayed at goodbyes. A farewell is necessary before you can meet again. And meeting again, after moments or lifetime, is certain for those who are friends. ~Richard Bach

Ghana, Ghana, Ghana

So all I can really think about at the moment is GHANA!
I have been researching what I want to do and where I want to go.
I came across this blog which has some very essential tips

You have to read it!!! Click HERE to read it!


On side note, was at a bar last night, you bought your drink and were given a ticket, you then took your ticket yo the back of the bar, handed it in and..... got a free pizza!!!! I think it is my new favourite bar! I heart the Crocodile Lounge!

Anyway that's all for now, off to go apple picking!

Pole Dancing, Cheese, playboy bunnies and Ghana!!!!

Well.....
Last week Libby and I went to a pole dancing class - it is HARD work!!!
I managed to do a few moves bgot a HUUUUUGE bruise on my leg!
I then went to Wisconsin to a cheese festival. I do also have friend who I met in Costa Rica who lives there but the cheese was a pretty big draw!



The night before said cheese festival we went out fora few beers and dinner.
One of the advertised drinks was PBR (the cheapest beer ever) with a pickled egg in!!!


The main thing the Wisconsin is known for is fried cheese curds, this is cheese.. friend in beer batter... could there be anything worse for you that tastes so good?!



Last weekend some of us from work went out in New Rochelle, who knew New Ro could be so fun!! We went to Silkies The owner claims to have been a play boy bunny and has had the most plastic surgery ever. But she is sooo much fun. We were the only ones in there and we had the juke box on and were singing with a microphone swiftly provided by by Silkie.



But.. the big news - I am going to Ghana!!!! I will be volunteering with CCS in the Volta Region in Hohoe (pronounced Ho-way) in January

Birthday Party!

So Laura, Cass and I all have birthdays around the same time, so decided to have a joint Birthday party, a joint KIDS birthday party.

Saturday Laura and I spent time filling the piñata


We then baked our Birthday cake



Actual day of the party.....


We had egg and spoon races


...pass the parcel


Pinata


Wizards, Elves and Giants


Birthday cake


Party bags, water ballon name games - that end up bursting on me and LOTS LOTS more!


It was soooo much fun and great way to celebrate me turning quarter of a century!!!

Brazilian Day!

So this weekend was full of Brazilian festivities! It was BRAZILIAN DAY!
Jon, Jay and I went and checked out Little Brazil and the huge street festival there.


We then wandered into Build Bear Factory I definitely could not get over how you could buy themed outfits, shoes, sun glasses, mobile phone, all kinds for the bear - even boxer shorts!


In the evening, I went to Sounds of Brazil there was a Brazilian Band playing called Banda Eva


They were really good and it was good because it was a small club and we were really close! I even got a photo with some of the band members! they played a reaaaaaaaaaaaaaally long set for at least 2 and half hours!

After them, there was this great drumming band.



It completely reminded me of being back on the streets of Salvador!!!

Another Fun weekend!

So Friday night a few of us went to Coney Island to see the Brooklyn Cyclones Baseball team.


I don't really get baseball but it was fun to people watch!



Then we had fireworks afterwards.



I have a new camera that has a video on it so expect lots of videos in this post!


A few weekends ago we were sitting on our balcony (otherwise none as the fire escape) and these guys went past and shouted up to us that they were having a roof top party next door. So being good neighbours we went over. This guys apartment was super nice. I t was 2 levels and had sliding doors to private roof top access.

So he was having another party last night and we felt it was again the neighbourly thing to attend. It was the perfect night and we stayed out on the roof until about 1.30. I made lots of new friends from Turkey, Denmark, India and some Americans. We then headed to the lower east side to a Solas





After dancing until we got kicked out we went to Mamoun's Falafel Restaurant before getting to bed at exactly 5am.

After a few hours sleep Libby, Natalie and I got some breakfast and went to eat it in central park.

On one side was a hug kids party, the other side was a group of Extreme frisbees players and on the other side was an African Dance class!



We then wondered over to the East side of the park to a Turkish Festival.


There wer lots of traditional Turkish crafts, food, music and... Traditional Turkish Oil Wrestling.

This totally warrants some of the MANY videos that Libby took!!


I also think it definitely warrants some photos too!

Fun and Games

Well,
Last week was pretty packed with fun and games!
On Thursday I went to Shimmy on the Hudson. There was an Arab meetup and a belly dancing meet up. The cruise went around NYC and under the Brooklyn Bridge. It was really good fun - considering we had managed to get free tickets. It was a little bit rocky and I definitely didn't have my sea legs on!

On Friday there was a tornado warning for New Rochelle! This was something exciting on a Friday afternoon which was completely dragging anyway!



It was really raining and really windy with these huge flashes of lightening.



Libby acting out what would happen if the tornado came inside!
Unfortunately me and some friends had to make the normally 3 and half hour drive to Maryland which ended up taking 6 hours because of all the flooding and road closures!!

So we finally got to a beautiful cottage in the middle of no where. Unfortunately a tree had fallen across the drive way, fortunately we had 3 pretty strong men with us - or so we thought. These guys were brought up in the Bronx and don't really have much experience in the country, so after moving the tree, ran back to the car like scared rabbits.
When we were outside a deer ran pass the car and they all nearly refused to even step out of the car. It was the funniest thing ever!!!


Finally at the cottage!

The cottage was right on the Chesepeake Bay it was sooo beautiful and so nice to be out of the City.

Friday was full of games and we didn't end up going to sleep until 6am so we managed to see the sun coming up.



The rest of the weekend was spent:

Eating


Relaxing in the hammock after swimming in the river


Sitting on the dock



watching the sun set


and camp fires


It was just soooo relaxing, that we realy didn't want to leave.


Libby, Laura, the 20 pound water melon, Natalie and Me

DanceBrazil

Last night I went to summer stage I saw this fantastic dance group called DanceBrazil



They amazing, part from the fact they were extremely fit Brazilian men, the dance moves were amazing!!



Yay Brazil! (And Brazilian Men!)

Fire Island!

So yesterday was beautiful!
I went to Fire Island with one of the girls I met in Costa Rica.
It was about an hour and a half car ride and then about 40 minutes on a ferry.


The journey over

It was sooo nice to sit on a beach, nap, drink beer, paddle, nap, drink beer, nap.


There are no cars on Fire Island and it is this tiny beachy island with cute little bars. I felt like I was on holiday!


The sunset on the ferry back.

Florida Pics!

Martinis with the ladies


Dancing!

Universal Studios!


Me and Jay at Universal Studios

Florida!

Well....
Florida was great!!
I was here for a Kiwanis Convention to promote CCS and that part was ok.

But what was great was the fact I got to met up with all my Guatmala Buddies!!!

I got in on the Wednesday and Mariana and Cathy picked me up from the airport, took me to the OCCC and helped me set up.

They then took me out to dinner to Gaylord Palms the food was fantastic as was the sangria and company!!

I was back at the convention on the Thursday from 8 - 3 and then summer flew in that evening.

We had some very nice martinis at the cheesecake factory and caught up some more.

I was back at the convention on the Friday from 8-3 and then had a meeting in the evening.

Sommer, Cathy, Mariana and I then went to downtown Orlando for Dinner, we went to the Monkey bar for a few more martinis and then wandered over to another bar where we literally danced our socks off!

We had sooooo much fun, I was literally laughing so hard all night my jaw hurt!!!

Saturday I was at the convention centre from 8-1.20, packed up, got picked up and whisked off to Universal studios. Went on a couple of rides there and that also was lots of laughs!

Today we went to a Gospel Brunch. This was amazing. The were gospel singers and a women who was signing everything. It was fantastic and all you can eat southern food.

Now I am at the airport and my flight has been delayed by an hour - booo!
But I have had a amazing time and it has been so great to catch all my the people I met in Guatemala!

Photos!

The Group



Nuestra Señora de los Angeles Basilica


Work in Progress!


Irazu Volcano with the Girls


The last day, the kids did a dance and song show for us!


The AMAZING Staff


The final result


Bye Friends :(

The End is nigh......

So my week in Costa Rica is coming to an end....

As I expected the week has been amazing. The School I have been working is such a fantastic place. The kids that come to the school come from abusive and/or extremely poor backgrounds. The school is their safe place where they come to be educated in the hope that they can build a better life for themselves.

We painted a mural, did recreational activities with kids and just hung out with them.
The teachers at this school care for the children so much and really want to help make a better future for them. It is amazing.

My group were equally as good and as usual on a Cross-Cultural Solutions program I know I have made some life long friends.

I have been to an organic coffee farm, a volcano, had salsa lesson, Spanish lessons, cooking lessons. There has been so much packed into this week.

This week has been exactly what I needed!! Seeing the impact the volunteers have on the partner programs we work with is amazing. Hearing about the changes in the volunteers and how it impacts their lives is equally amazing and makes me extremely proud to work for CCS. It is so hard to forget what we do working in a office and participating in a program refreshes why I chose to move half way across the world to work for them!

I cannot rave about the staff enough. They are FANTASTIC. They are so dedicated and care so much about the volunteers and the partner programs, that it leaves me in awe of them.

We had a meeting this afternoon, where the got all the staff together, we had coffee and ice cream and they made me feel so special!! When it is them that do all the hard work!!

So now I am sitting in Jose's apartment (listening to Dancing Queen by Abba!!!) getting ready to go out in San Jose, hoping that tomorrow doesn't really come. I am hoping that when Santi (the Program Coordinator) said the office called and said I was to work form Costa Rica and move in with him that is was true.

It has been a wonderful week and of course I am sad that it has to end but I must get back to reality!

Pura Vida!!!

Photos later.. many photos later....

COSTA RICA

So I am in Costa Rica!!
I made it into San Jose on Saturday, I got picked up and taken to my super hostel!
I then went for a wander around town and got caught in the rain!!
They are having the cow parade here at the moment so there were all kinds of cows. Pole dancing cows, taxi cows, ALL KINDS!!
I then got completely lost and it took me to hours to find my way back to the hostel!
I had forgotten how empowering it was to travel and this was the first time for ages that I had travelled by myself. I love the fact I can just wander round and take in the sights. It was great to have some me time and do what I wanted to do. With no work, and no one else interfering.
Ok So I don’t know the language and don't really know where I am going but it’s all fine and the survival instinct kicks in and everything’s ok!


San Jose


The Kids at my placement

We have done all kinds of exciting things, but I have better things to do than spend time on the Internet. So will update either later or when I get home.

Off to Salsa lessons!!