Adapting

July 19th, 2017

Im sitting in a tro-tro commuting to my first Pro-link internship day out in the field. I’m going to a side of Accra that’s totally new to me. Although I’ve been in this city for nearly 4 weeks now, with just one weekend venture out of town (to Cape Coast), this urban sprawl keeps throwing newness at me like it’s day one. The general grid of the city is more familiar. I can communicate confidently on a tro-tro, I’ve become aware of the boundaries of different districts, the slums, the beaches, the markets and main roads. But even when I start to get comfortable something else will take me by surprise. Everyday brings a challenge, but I’m learning the best way to tackle what comes my way is with a self-driven optimistic outlook. I’m not always successful at maintaining it, but I’m sure committed to the effort to strive for that positivity and will relentlessly continue to do so. Life is a lot more fun when you don’t take things too seriously.

But with that, I’ve been turning over what I’m really gaining from and going to take away from this experience. What makes Ghana study abroad different from the last? From travelling to other countries in general? I think staying put in one place for an extended period of time forces one to get comfortable. It feeds a desire to integrate into the local society. Learning and living in someplace new has forced me to adjust to what is normal in Ghana. Here are some aspects of life that I’ve needed to chill over:

The Ghanaian sense of humor. There’s a lot of poking fun, like my housemaid Abena who mimics the way I speak/my voice with an obnoxious and slurred tone, and although that comes across as slightly insensitive she doesn’t really intend to be offensive, it’s just a different way of joking.
Knowing when it’s necessary to say thank you and when not. People seem to reserve “thank you” for larger acts truly deserving of thanks. They laugh when I use it causually.
Dealing with polygamous marriage, patriarchy and a male-dominant society, and marriage proposals (a lot of people want an American visa)
Hearing “you people.” The very first time I heard this from my host mom it took my by surprise. It was almost rudely indirect. But now I love to hear that greeting! It’s like it recognizes our person-ness when speaking in plural.
Being a white American. This has made it extremely difficult to silently slip into society. Everywhere I go my skin makes a bright entrance–it draws attention. This can be extremely exhausting.

I’ve had to chameleon to the Ghanaian culture, shed much of my American, and be okay with it. But adaptability feels really good. Like I said before, life is a lot more fun when you don’t take things too seriously.

Some photos for the road: