Thursday, October 29, 2009

I’m clapping my hands


So last time I was here, the beginning month was tough. In an e-mail from my parents, I remember they jokingly said, ‘if your happy and you know it, clap your hands,’ and I responded that there was definitely no clapping going on. Slowly I started to get more into the swing of life here, so I replied to them, ‘I’m tapping one hand on my knee.’ And finally the day came when I was positively able to respond that I was yes, ‘clapping my hands.’ So I am now able to say again, that I am clapping my hands. Finally! When I first got here, I think I had written in my post that I felt like I was plopped back into my old life. That was indeed true, but I didn’t feel as generally happy as I knew I use to be. I was nervous that I had a romanticized vision built up in my head that did not pan out to be true. I felt comfortable and settled with life here and things felt totally normal, yet I wasn’t happy with it. I felt like everyone was always staring at me (granted they were, but it made me super uncomfortable, whereas before it didn’t), and I felt like everyone knew I was ‘fresh off the boat.’ I forgot how much common things cost, which made me uncomfortable and I had to re-learn how to get around. Work was slow, even though I expected that, yet it really frustrated me. Walking around the market (a place where I use to love just roaming around and talking to people, totally stressed me out!)But that passed! Phewf! I guess I assumed that since I already dealt with culture shock the first time around, I would be able to avoid it. But that was not the case. I guess it wasn’t really ‘shock’, but more of cultural re-adjustment. So yea, I’m clapping my hands! Maybe even humming along with the clap…

Work is really starting to pick up. The first two weeks were very slow. As I mentioned, I decided to be apart of the popular culture event. I thought this would be way more time consuming than it actually was. The few tasks that I had to do took me a total of an hour. So I managed to read a novel, sleep, catch up on phone calls and e-mails all from my desk! I wanted to meet with the professor to get some more work, but she was so busy that we were only able to meet this past Monday. So I have gotten on board with the sexual harassment unit, and as soon as I meet with the others who work with this section of CEGENSA, I will begin to work on the current research project. We had a colloquium on Friday for students at the University with the theme of ‘sex, sexuality and harassment.’ The University of Ghana does not yet have a policy against sexual harassment on campus, so CEGENSA has spearheaded a draft policy that is currently under revision. Obviously a policy like this is long overdue, but better late than never, I guess. In conjunction with this policy work, the sexual harassment unit is working on a research project to understand what students know about sexual harassment. The colloquium on Friday was in response to this, where we had various speakers from the University to address the issue - a med. School prof., a woman from the law institute to address the legal side, the student council reps, and members from a counseling center on campus. Some other staff and I had to write a report yesterday (12 pages!!) on the event. I am not at all a fan of group work, so working with 6 others to compile our scrap notes and write this report was a serious test on my nerves and patience! We (the royal ‘we’…I) began writing the document by hand and as I knew we (again the royal ‘we’…I) would be typing it after, I decided to scrap the pen and paper idea after about 3 pages, and go right to the computer. Much better! Although there was a moment that my co-worker sitting next to me, was leaning over my shoulder and was literally reading every word out loud as I was typing. I almost lost it. No joke.

This past weekend was my friend Jen’s (picture) wedding! I met Jen when I was here last time, and this was too when she met her now husband. They went to the registrar’s office on Friday, where the legal ceremony was performed. Myself along with one of the grooms friend were the witnesses. The man who performed the ceremony was not the nicest of people, as he was pretty snarky to Zein (jen’s husband), and in the middle of the ceremony, his phone rang and he said “oh its my sister from the UK”…only in Ghana! Saturday evening was a party at a beach hotel, which was really nice and a lot of fun! My friend Andrea is coming in this weekend, so that’s exciting! I keep trying to convince her to move to Accra!

So that’s that!

Hope all is well with everyone!

Sunday, October 25, 2009

getting going

Sorry its been a while since the last post. I am new to the blogging world, so I’m not to sure what the normal protocols are for how often one should write. But I have been getting e-mails from people asking me when the next entry is coming, so I am beginning to feel the pressure.

I spent last weekend in the eastern region of Ghana in a small town called Ho. The eastern region is very beautiful, with lush green mountains and a waterfall that is considered the largest in West Africa. I explored these tourist destinations last time I was here, and my time in Ho this past weekend was pretty relaxing. My friend Andrea works and lives in Ho, so we spent the weekend at her place relaxing, watching movies, reading and drinking a lot of wine! The water and electricity were intermittent throughout the weekend, so we decided not to venture into the heat all that much…in case there was neither necessities upon our return. It was great to hang with Andrea and escape the busy life of Accra for a few days.

I returned on Monday, and the next day I met with the professor/director of CEGENSA to discuss my experience and role with the organization. She explained to me the 3 research projects that are currently being worked on as well as other initiatives that I may be interested in getting involved in. A short-term project that I have decided to join is called the popular culture event. This event is co-producced by CEGENSA and the department of performing arts at the University. The idea is to present the winning 3 songs from an earlier contest, with the mandated in mind to change the traditional roles women play in music. This event will take place at the end of November, with the performance of the 3 winning songs, plus a music video awarded to the first place song (sponsored by CEGENSA and the dept. of perf. Arts), and some dances performed by students.

I expressed interest in getting involved with this initiative, so I later attended a board meeting to go over the winning 3 songs (previously chosen) and to discuss other details. The meeting was great and I am really looking forward to begin.

Other than that, not too much is new. The lock on my room door is broken, so if I close the door, I cannot get back in. So the past few days I have left it open, as the only other solution is for the “small boy” (the boy who helps out around the house) to go into another tenants room, climb over his bathroom, push out a wooden plank which is connected to my bathroom and then let me in (I guess thats where 'small boy' comes in handy??). Not the most convenient of options! I think today the carpenter is coming to replace the lock…I hope!

Wednesday, October 7, 2009

Finally here

So this is it. My first blog entry from Ghana. Its pretty crazy to be here, sitting in the same internet cafe that I use to come to all the time 2 years ago. That's pretty much been the theme of my last few days. Re-living all the things that were so normal to me. I am surprised how adjusted I am to everything. I mean I knew exacty what to expect, but I have not really experieced any culture shock, and I feel as though I am just plopped back into my old life. As I am writing this, I have been interruped multiple times by both the woman who runs the cafe, Harriet, to ask me when we are going to Church, and this small girl who use to always run to me when I baught banannas from her mother in the morning. She gets soo excited to see me, and then when I talk to her, she just stares. I ask her question, and every answer is "fine." Is prety cute!


So yea, things like that are super normal, and since I am living in the same area as last time, many peeople here remember me, which is nice. There is a intersection (junction as they call it here) right near my house where I use the internet, buy food etc., and I have somehow become friends with all of the women who work there. So when I walk to the tro tro (bus) in the morning to go anywhere, it takes me an extra 15 minutes to greet everyone. And if I try to hide, I am obviously spotted and my name is called.


The one thing that I do need to get readjusted to is the pace of life here...and the heat! I have had some minor frusterations getting started with my internship - which has yet to happen. The professor I am working with is super busy and she wants to meet with me formally to understand what kind of work I want to do. I briefly met with her today, and she seems like such a smart and powerful woman. She was pretty intimidating actually. But hopefully I will meet with her soon and thigs will get going. And the heat. Oh the heat! All I am going is i shower 3 tims a day.


Other than that things are great! My friend Andrea (who I met last time I was here, who is from the US) is also back in Ghana but she lives 3 hours away. She is so awesome and came into Accra for the weekend to get me from the airport and help me get settled in. I am going to go stay with her this coming weekend, and im pretty excited to get out of the city. The past few days have been good. I have been seeing old friends, which has been really nice, as well as getting settled and putting my room together. I was pretty jetlagged the first few days, but was busy that by Tuesday I crashed! And thats pretty much it! Nothing so exciting to report, but just wanted to touch base!


I will update once my work starts.

Hope all is well with everyone!