I thought I’d skew away from my standard self-indulgent posts to comment on a practice here that I have been taking note of recently. Whenever people are eating, they invite those around them to join in. They will say, ‘you are invited’, and the others will then thankfully nod. I don’t think I have ever seen anyone actually accept this invitation, and dig into the food, but it is a mere formality to be polite. Its kind of like how we say, ‘how are you’, and the other person generally responds with, ‘I’m good, thanks’. No one actually ever says how they really feel. "Oh, I had such a crappy day…"You’d never be able to get anywhere if we actually told people ‘how we were.’
So I totally know this is a practice, and I normally am pretty good about inviting those around me to share my food, but sometimes it slips. The other day at work, being one of those days, I was called out on it. I was told that I should bring this practice back home, so my way of doing that is to post about it. I guess im latching onto this blog more than I had initially thought!
A great example of the necessity of this practice was in a taxi yesterday. After bargaining for the price for about a minute or so, and after having agreed upon a price that was 3 cedis (the currency) lower than his asking price, we were driving along and he invited me to his food. So not only had we just gotten into an argument, had he tried to rip me off big time, and I obviously sneered and rolled my eyes at him for treating me like I just walked off the plane a day earlier, he still invited me to his meal! Another example was at gym the other day. I was listening to music, running away and in my zone, when I was interrupted by Chris (the trainer), to say, "come let’s eat." I graciously declined, and began thinking a lot about this custom. I tried to picture this ever happening at gyms in Canada, and I simply could not. We are so use to an environment where people are always in their ‘zone.’ Campuses, subways, busses, streets and gyms, people are listening to headphones in their zone, and if they are not listening to headphones, they are still in their zone. When we walk around, we have strict places to go, people to meet and things to buy. We have an agenda for every aspect of our lives (or at least I do!) and we work furiously to accomplish this. The pace of life is different here, and although it takes some time to adjust to, you just have to adjust. People walk slower here, even if they have somewhere to be. And then I notice myself, speeding by people on sidewalks, even though I am in no hurry at all. Students on campus here seem way more relaxed and less…manic. Often I see obruni’s (foreigners) walking around campus with their Ipods glued to their ears, and I hate to say it but they look really foolish and out of place. They are walking around alone, madly swiveling their thumb around the dial, and I can’t help but think to myself, we ought to invite people in more often. When I think of McGill’s campus (especially during exam time…), it is the complete opposite. Pretty much everyone has white cords coming out of their heads, speeding from the library to class to get more coffee…myself included. Im not saying this is ‘bad’ or ‘wrong’, but when I am so far removed from that kind of environment, its hard to not to think about alternatives. Now, I know this is the standard, ‘no hurry in Africa’ type argument, and I don’t mean to be so cliché, I swear, but the whole idea of inviting those around you to join you, got me thinking.
Alright, im off to the immigration office as i realized that my visa expires today....and i dont really want to be deported just yet.
Monday, November 30, 2009
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Hi all,
So I have been getting a ton of pressure to update more. I think many of you think my life is way more exciting than it actually it. But I will try to fill the void. Work is actually great! As I mentioned in an earlier post, it was slow at the beginning, and although I expected as such, it was hard to deal with. I spoke with the professor (head of CEGENSA) about getting more work and she was super responsive. And I am now overloaded! The main thing that I am working on is research for a sexual harassment project. I have been given loads of data to analyze, and I will also be conducting interviews with students on this topic as well. We are also in the midst of planning an event, which is next weekend, which will present the winning song from a contest that presents women from a positive light. The idea is that the majority of songs that are played in Ghana (and around the world…) present women as either sex objects or as wives. CEGENSA is striving to change this image, which is why this contest took place. The winning artist will not only receive an outstanding ovation in their honor by the wonderful CEGENSA and guests, but they are also being awarded a music video to accompany the song. The song is obviously about women, and a major element of it is representing some of the influential African women leaders, both past and present. There is a photo in the office of all the CEGENSA staff, and the video producer wanted to emulate the photo. So last weekend, we all were to dress in white and we stood in a formation similar to the photo ( and I obviously got the spot of the previous white intern…). We all had to learn the chorus, and sing along with the artist. Needless to say, it was hilarious. One girl asked if we were allowed to dance, and the producer replied with a stern ‘no dancing’, but he let us sway and move our hips, phewf! Haha
Earlier this week, I made a visit to the Buduburam Liberian refugee camp where I use to live/work. When I was about to leave last time, there was a beginning push to clear out the camp. The UN had essentially left years prior, yet there were still thousands of Liberians living on the camp, with no assistance. Life was tough for sure, but unfortunately many people had more stability in Ghana than they did in Liberia. So as I was saying, when I was on my last month in the country, the Ghanaian army had a mission to clear out the camp. This involved raiding the space and searching everyone for UN issued ID cards. People fled into the bushes and those found without a card were put into jail. The UNHCR then re-emerged and gave people the option to either repatriate to Liberia or reintegrate into Ghana. For weeks there was a strong UN presence, checking people’s ID cards, and if they had one, they were eligible for the free transportation back to Liberia. Sounds great. I then learned that a very large percentage of people did not have a UN ID card, because the UN was only issuing them when they were still working on the camp – prior to 2005. This being said, way too many people arrived after 2005, meaning they were technically living there illegally, and were therefor not eligible for the free plane ride home. So now what? That’s the question. This whole process is now over, yet there are still so many Liberians living on the camp.
I did not mean to just give you all a whole rundown of the situation, but once I get going on this, its hard to stop. But where I was going with this is that I went back to the camp this week to visit some of the people I use to work with. I think when I lived there, I was so jaded with the whole situation, that nothing really phased me anymore. But now, I am living in Accra, in a great house, and im working at the University, with the upper crust of society. This being said, traveling back to the camp was a real shock. It seems as though nothing has changed (and I mean how can it? There is no money and hardly any assistance from the outside). Walking around as a foreigner, I scream wealth, luxury and abundance, which is a feeling I hate. My old colleagues are great people, with great intentions, but I just don’t have the time, money or patience to put towards the camp. I went there that day to visit, but I was immediately asked to lead workshops on the weekend and support (financially) their projects. I came back to Ghana for myself. As selfish as that is it’s the truth and I need to stand by that. The work environment that I am in now is so great, and being back on that camp reminded me of that. The staff here treat me as an equal, and never single me out for having money. That being said, they are a very lucky percentage of the population. But it is just so refreshing to be working for a place that actually gets shit done! They have the resources, support, experience and ideas to really generate change. And that is so exciting. Walking through the camp, so many people remembered me. It was nice to see old faces, but at the same time, just walking around brought back some not so great memories. It sounds so awful to vent about how much I hated it there, as it was still my ‘choice’ to be living there. I always had the option to go into town for dinner, shopping etc, yet I am the one complaining. This time around, I think I just need to separate myself from the camp, as there is really nothing that I can do. The problems are so huge in scope, and really the only thing people need is a serious change…which I simply cannot bring. Yes, doing workshops are no doubt beneficial, as the lack of education is a serious problem, but I am not really prepared to spend my weekends on the camp, presenting workshops on topics that I googled the day before.
Sorry this post is so long! I have yet to find a happy medium! So things in general are pretty good! I’m surprisingly busy and at the end of the day I am so exhausted. This is really the first time where I have a 9-5 job everyday. Its great! I love that I can come home at the end of the day and have no work to do! Ahh the joys of no longer being a student. But my life is beginning to reflect one of a 45-year-old. I go to the gym in the morning, go to work, buy groceries, meet friends for a drink, make dinner, and am in bed by 10:00. And do it all over again the next day. I’m only 22! Scary, I know.
Hope your all is swell!
P.S. The power is off right now (‘lights out”, as it is called here), so we are sitting around the office listening to gospel/sappy songs about love and Jesus…so great!
So I have been getting a ton of pressure to update more. I think many of you think my life is way more exciting than it actually it. But I will try to fill the void. Work is actually great! As I mentioned in an earlier post, it was slow at the beginning, and although I expected as such, it was hard to deal with. I spoke with the professor (head of CEGENSA) about getting more work and she was super responsive. And I am now overloaded! The main thing that I am working on is research for a sexual harassment project. I have been given loads of data to analyze, and I will also be conducting interviews with students on this topic as well. We are also in the midst of planning an event, which is next weekend, which will present the winning song from a contest that presents women from a positive light. The idea is that the majority of songs that are played in Ghana (and around the world…) present women as either sex objects or as wives. CEGENSA is striving to change this image, which is why this contest took place. The winning artist will not only receive an outstanding ovation in their honor by the wonderful CEGENSA and guests, but they are also being awarded a music video to accompany the song. The song is obviously about women, and a major element of it is representing some of the influential African women leaders, both past and present. There is a photo in the office of all the CEGENSA staff, and the video producer wanted to emulate the photo. So last weekend, we all were to dress in white and we stood in a formation similar to the photo ( and I obviously got the spot of the previous white intern…). We all had to learn the chorus, and sing along with the artist. Needless to say, it was hilarious. One girl asked if we were allowed to dance, and the producer replied with a stern ‘no dancing’, but he let us sway and move our hips, phewf! Haha
Earlier this week, I made a visit to the Buduburam Liberian refugee camp where I use to live/work. When I was about to leave last time, there was a beginning push to clear out the camp. The UN had essentially left years prior, yet there were still thousands of Liberians living on the camp, with no assistance. Life was tough for sure, but unfortunately many people had more stability in Ghana than they did in Liberia. So as I was saying, when I was on my last month in the country, the Ghanaian army had a mission to clear out the camp. This involved raiding the space and searching everyone for UN issued ID cards. People fled into the bushes and those found without a card were put into jail. The UNHCR then re-emerged and gave people the option to either repatriate to Liberia or reintegrate into Ghana. For weeks there was a strong UN presence, checking people’s ID cards, and if they had one, they were eligible for the free transportation back to Liberia. Sounds great. I then learned that a very large percentage of people did not have a UN ID card, because the UN was only issuing them when they were still working on the camp – prior to 2005. This being said, way too many people arrived after 2005, meaning they were technically living there illegally, and were therefor not eligible for the free plane ride home. So now what? That’s the question. This whole process is now over, yet there are still so many Liberians living on the camp.
I did not mean to just give you all a whole rundown of the situation, but once I get going on this, its hard to stop. But where I was going with this is that I went back to the camp this week to visit some of the people I use to work with. I think when I lived there, I was so jaded with the whole situation, that nothing really phased me anymore. But now, I am living in Accra, in a great house, and im working at the University, with the upper crust of society. This being said, traveling back to the camp was a real shock. It seems as though nothing has changed (and I mean how can it? There is no money and hardly any assistance from the outside). Walking around as a foreigner, I scream wealth, luxury and abundance, which is a feeling I hate. My old colleagues are great people, with great intentions, but I just don’t have the time, money or patience to put towards the camp. I went there that day to visit, but I was immediately asked to lead workshops on the weekend and support (financially) their projects. I came back to Ghana for myself. As selfish as that is it’s the truth and I need to stand by that. The work environment that I am in now is so great, and being back on that camp reminded me of that. The staff here treat me as an equal, and never single me out for having money. That being said, they are a very lucky percentage of the population. But it is just so refreshing to be working for a place that actually gets shit done! They have the resources, support, experience and ideas to really generate change. And that is so exciting. Walking through the camp, so many people remembered me. It was nice to see old faces, but at the same time, just walking around brought back some not so great memories. It sounds so awful to vent about how much I hated it there, as it was still my ‘choice’ to be living there. I always had the option to go into town for dinner, shopping etc, yet I am the one complaining. This time around, I think I just need to separate myself from the camp, as there is really nothing that I can do. The problems are so huge in scope, and really the only thing people need is a serious change…which I simply cannot bring. Yes, doing workshops are no doubt beneficial, as the lack of education is a serious problem, but I am not really prepared to spend my weekends on the camp, presenting workshops on topics that I googled the day before.
Sorry this post is so long! I have yet to find a happy medium! So things in general are pretty good! I’m surprisingly busy and at the end of the day I am so exhausted. This is really the first time where I have a 9-5 job everyday. Its great! I love that I can come home at the end of the day and have no work to do! Ahh the joys of no longer being a student. But my life is beginning to reflect one of a 45-year-old. I go to the gym in the morning, go to work, buy groceries, meet friends for a drink, make dinner, and am in bed by 10:00. And do it all over again the next day. I’m only 22! Scary, I know.
Hope your all is swell!
P.S. The power is off right now (‘lights out”, as it is called here), so we are sitting around the office listening to gospel/sappy songs about love and Jesus…so great!
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