There are so many things that I need to get use to while I’m
here… We went to the Madina Market again yesterday. This time it was just
Kelly, Emma, Avery, and me. Four white girls and we made it. Did the TroTro
thing all by ourselves. I felt rather accomplished when I got done. But Madina
Market is very overwhelming, tons and tons of people. There is so much to see,
and hear, and smell. There is a lot going on. People hissing at you to get your
attention or saying, “Bruni, Bruni” which means white person in their local
language. They also break that personal bubble we make as Americans. They are
tapping your shoulder, reaching and grabbing for your arm. It really is overwhelming,
especially for a girl who grew up in little old Tomah, Wisconsin and this is
her first time out of the states. But I’m doing it, and getting more use to it
every day.
I know the Bruni thing seems to bother some people, but I’m
okay with it. Maybe it is because one of the first days I was here a little
girl came up to me with a big smile on her face and her hand waving in the air
for a high five screaming “Bruni, Bruni!!”
It is really amazing how nice Ghanaians are. They really are
welcoming, and as long as you are nice to them they are extremely friendly and
helpful. Whenever you asked for help, you get it. And if you try to speak in
Twi, the local language, they get even more friendly and smiley. It does make
me nervous though, because you need to be careful. There is a bad apple on
every tree, and you can’t trust everyone. They have told us about these people,
they call them professional friends, who hang out by the international hostels
that we live in trying to make friends with foreigners in order to get invited
into their dorm room and steal their things. Theft is not prohibited it Ghana.
It is surprising how open the markets are, it would be very easy to steal
something from a stand, but it doesn’t happen. If someone were to try to steal
something they would be chased down and beaten by locals. Ghana is a somewhat
self governed, in that sense. I was also told sometimes thieves will run to the
police station to be arrested to be saved from a beating. I have not witnessed
any of this; it’s just what I have been told. I remember one of our student
guides talking about how when a thief steals they shouldn’t just have their hand
cut off; they should be killed. And as far as I could tell she seemed very compassionate
about that. I’ve also been told if someone is making me feel uncomfortable I
just need to make some noise and people will be there to help. I really do feel
safe here, just not safe enough to do something stupid.
I want to tell you a little about Ghanaian culture, because
it is so interesting. First off, the hissing I talked about earlier is very
normal. Everyone hisses at each other to get their attention. So instead of a “Hey!”
that you hear in the states, you here “SSSSSS”. Another thing is that it is
apparently extremely rude is to use your right hand. For example, when I raise
my hand in class I’ve been advised to use my right hand, or I will most likely
not be called on. It has something to do with the way tribal robes were worn.
Cloth was always draped over the left hand, leaving the right free. When you
use gestures while speaking, it is more polite to only use your right hand. Another
thing that gets me is how quiet Ghanaians are! They talk in very soft voices. I
always have to lean in to listen and ask “What?” about three times. Usually the
volume and their accent play a factor in how hard it is to understand them. I need
to work on my volume, because I’m kind of loud for an American, so I’m really
loud for a Ghanaian. I also talk too fast. Ghanaians only talk loud and fast
when they are mad. I need to be careful not to give the wrong impression, so I
just smile a lot.
It’s the little things that keep surprising me. I saw a woman
driving a ford f-150 the other day, and thought to myself, I’m not that far
from home. Oh and Obama is like God here… I’ve even seen a hotel named after
him; Obama Hotel.
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