I have decided to smuggle this baby into the states.
This is baby Emerald from my homestay and I just had to post this picture.Sidenote: baby Emmie took a poopie in the bath moments after this picture was taken.
Monday is always my busy day so I am glad this past Monday was filled with some wonderful and just intriguing classes and discussions.
9-12 am Globalization and the African Continent. Everyday more and more the teacher reveals her extreme anti Western mindset. I believe that everyone has a right to their own opinion and obviously there are a lot of problems with the Western world's involvement in developing nations and elsewhere but sometimes her statements are contradictory or not based in fact. Simple examples range from her saying that a McDonalds should never and would never survive in Ghana because Ghanaians do not understand the concept of putting something inbetween two pieces of bread and thats just silly. Within the same class period she discussed how her family ate sandwiches for lunch most times and didn't have time for traditional Ghanaian food. Well I may be biased because I am an avid supporter of sandwiches but I think locals could grasp the concept of meat sandwiches and I do believe I see it in many restaurants already(Ghana really isn't closed off from the outside world.) She also felt that the concept of land being seen as a commodity could never occur in Ghana because it has always been communal element in their lives. She then went on to describe some people selling land for ludacris prices around the country. It is so important to be exposed to these types of opinions to know that they exist, even among the educated professionals. Analyzing why these ideas occur is just as meaningful to our education as anything else and it definitely spurs on great conversations and arguments.
12:30- 2:00 Twi Class. A struggle.
Here's a little taste of some tribal language lessons. I am providing an example of the bargaining process that is very much so an element of day to day life in Ghana.
Ankaa wura bra! Orange seller come here!
Mepe ankaa paa. I like oranges a lot.
MepaakyEw, wei yE sen? Please, how much is this?
Ne bo>(letter that doesn't exist on keyboard but looks like half circle facing left) yE den. It is expensive.
Te so! Reduce the price!
EyE dE? Abere? Are they sweet? Are they ripe?
Ma me sidi mmienu. Give me 2 cedi worth.
Sikanoni. Here is the money.
Madaase pii. Thank you very much.
The bargaining, buying, and interaction that is involved is a conversation unto itself. Lets just say that giving people the benefit of the doubt in most cases is a habit I have had to break since coming here. It is a sad truth that most times when interacting with a stranger you are either concerned of an ulterior motive or being cheated in some way. At times you wonder is this conversation genuine or is it just occurring because I look like an opportunity to cash in on? Many students share the same sentiments but it is just a reality you learn to deal with.
3:30- 6:00 Global Connections: Accra. My normal teacher who is actually the former mayor of Accra was in Germany on business so our substitute teacher was a fantastic Harvard professor. She taught a very thorough class discussing histories of many different tribes and villages in Ghana including her own families history(her father is Ghanaian and mother is African American). She also talked about many of the intricacies and quirks of the Diasporian relations in Ghana. Many stories are preserved through an oral history and she felt it was important to take note of where there might be alterations in the truth. In the case of her family history she mentioned how a stigma was developed in Ghana during the time of the civil rights movement of the US about having ancestors that were involved in the slave trade. This triggered her families' oral history to transform from having her ancestors be people who freed the slaves instead of actually being the people who captured them.
She believed that there is something behind every belief and that fact at times is overrated.
"Sentiment is a clue to deduce further cultural history."
"Never underestimate the impact of your own identity in the history or narrative you are extracting"
Phenomenal class and again more great viewpoints to understand and learn from.
6:00- 7:30 Screening of documentary analyzing the experience of bringing a multi ethnic group to Elmina Slave Castle(made by the associate director of the NYU in Ghana program). A heated discussion of course followed.
There is a lot to be said about how race plays into my time here in Ghana. Is this my first time truly being a racial minority of a country? Yes. First time being seen as a minority in almost every situation I encounter? Yes. Seeing my role as a white female here puts a whole different perspective on top of everything else.
A new context is needed for understanding our identities here. But it is so much more than that. Our identities in the States come into play as well. We are a diverse group of 41 students trying to figure out how we exist not only in this country with Ghanaians but with each other.
Every one's racial baggage may not get checked on the plane but it definitely chooses to come along for the trip whether you like it or not.
All for now.
Attempting to figure out plans for fall break in October ideas range from a trip to Kenya or Mali or adventures in Ghana. Maybe turtle conservation on a beach along the Western coast? Sounds like heaven.
All the best,
Ellie
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