Who are you, who who?

I think I'm on my way to being well integrated into the Kpandai community. I've made a lot of friends, I'm hearing less "father"/"siliminga"/"obruni" and more Sister Yaa. Strangely, though, it still feels as if no one really knows me. Most people only know I am American and I teach science at Kpansec. As an American, I seem to define myself above these categorizations. I think we all define ourselves through our values and identify with others through our interests. I'm beginning to think that it's not quite the same here. I've met very few people who do have their own interests and hobbies. After giving them a second thought, I suppose they come from more affluent parts of the area. For most people, their lives consist of work. Wake early and clean, wash clothes, cook food, go to market, sell some things, cook more, bath, farm, and sleep again. There's not a lot of time, or perhaps much financial freedom, to develop any substantial hobbies or intellectual interests. Maybe it's that I'm living in a village. I'm sure things are different in the big cities. It sometimes feels empty talking to people here, because what is there to say? Oh that washing today was rough, how about yours? People relate to one another differently here. I'm still not entirely sure how. I think a large part of the relations is that when there is time to rest and take a mineral, people truly want to relax and can all share in that tranquility.

There are people who talk about people, people who talk about things, and people who talk about ideas.  Most people here fall into the former category.  I prefer to spend most of my time in the latter, especially living in a foreign country where my own values are constantly challenged, stimulating all sorts of ideas about life and whatnot.  Perhaps because we are not burdened with lives that largely consist of monotonous manual labor we as Americans are able to fall into the latter category.  I think one of the challenges that I am to overcome here is to learn how people in other cultures relate to one another.  I so simply thought that we could all relate as humans, but I am beginning to see how basic of a generalization that is.  I have made a few friends here who seem to truly be on the brink of something great, and often they pursue fabulous idea-based conversations.  These people are truly the ones who will change their country, if not the world.

Some days I just want to dish about some new music, or put together some art project, and there's not really anyone to do that with.  I'm showing them slowly what our American lives are like, and they're slowly showing me what Ghanaian lives are live.  I guess that's one way we do relate.

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Headed down to Kukurantumi this week for a big PC conference.  The elections are on Sunday, so we're all being gathered for safe-keeping.  It's going to be strange to be packed together with so many Americans again.  Should be good times though.  I'm also going to visit my homestay family for a night on Thursday.  Ia am so so so excited to see them.  After the conference I am probably headed to the beach with Diana and Meg again.  Definitely looking forward to that!  I should be back to Kpandai a few days before Christmas.  I am still not entirely convinced that it is December.  Where is the snow?  Where is the rain?  December is not supposed to be this hot.  I hope you're all enjoying the fabulous cold weather.  Cheers.

P.S.  Very cool article