Wow, is it ever difficult to be culturally sensitive. Sensitive is not really the right word, though… moreso aware. For example, don’t raise your left hand, shake hands with the left, eat with the left, or give a thumbs up with the left. Supposedly, it’s the hand that does dirty work, so you do not use it when dealing with people you respect. That’s going to be a tricky one to remember.
The first couple days here reminded me of what it feels like to be a middle schooler. How are you supposed to force making friends? It took a long time for me to leave my temporary single room in the International Students Hostel and go eat breakfast in a crowd of white kids. It is interesting- I would feel more comfortable NOT sitting with a bunch of white kids because it is my duty to be an ambassador- not to mention I don’t like being just one of the “bunch”. But the thing is, these international students are from Germany, Canada, Norway, and the Czech Republic. Staying true to the theme of this blog, it is just as valuable to learn about the perspectives of these students – to hear of their expectations, their reasons for choosing Ghana, their thoughts so far- as it is to cultivate your own. I know with time I will meet many Ghanaians and feel more immersed in the culture.
I have spent the past few evenings at my host family’s house for dinner. They have a large, beautiful house that has seen 7 children throughout the years. What I have enjoyed most so far is bonding with the women. In Sierra Leone, I really missed learning about what it was like to be an African woman. Only hearing stories from young men does not provide the best perspective. The women seemed almost lost in that country, and it made me sad. I am moving soon to the graduate hostel, so hopefully a Ghanaian roommate will only add to my experience. I have already talked with my host family about music, books, and movies, and they are entirely familiar with almost everything I mention. They like to watch movies just as much as I do and have way more than I own. It’s funny how you can think cultures are so different, but somehow they share common themes. Then again, there are several ways of living within any country, be it Ghana or the US. I’m sure there are Ghanaians who do not have over 100 movies on their computer…
You know how parents always tell kids to wear sunscreen even when it’s cloudy because the UV rays will still hit you? Well that’s even more the case near the equator.
I keep telling myself the words that the Dean of International Programmes stated at an orientation for international students: “You knew coming here that this is Ghana. This is a developing country. It is your responsibility to represent this University well. Do not focus your conversations with your friends and family on the fact that there is no warm water, that the electricity goes out from time to time, that there is unreliable internet. You knew that coming here.”
While I have no problems with cold water and minimal working technology, I do find it stressful when there is a lack of information on how to register for classes, on how to bank, or on whom to talk with in order to get anything accomplished.
I knew all this ahead of time as well, but it doesn’t make the process any easier.
It is almost vital to have a Ghanaian help you out with logistics. Thankfully, the assistant Registrar at the International Programmes office has been taking good care of me, since “Ghanaians take care of friends,” as he says. He has helped me get help at the accountant’s office, dorms, banks, and the graduate school. Trust me, it is not easy to find out who you need to talk to or what form you need or where you can get that form... especially when almost every building is packed with people and it is always far from obvious who is the one in charge. Today alone, I walked about 4 miles back and forth all over campus to sort out registration. Everything always tends to work out though, so it should be fine.
I had my first “embarrassed to be an American” moment last weekend. At a dinner with the Dean of International Programmes, a representative from each country was given a minute to tell the rest of the students some background on his or her respective country. Three New Jersey girls (of mixed ethnicities mind you) stood up and stated that the US had none of the strict traditions or rules that the Norwegians just mentioned. In the US, you can pretty much do what you want. When asked why they chose to study abroad in Ghana, they explained: “Our school offered only a few different exchange programs, so there was either South Africa, which really isn’t Africa, or Ghana. So we’re here.” Then they proceeded to finish with “Basically, the US is the bomb!!”
I don’t counter them by telling people how nice and wonderful the US actually is; I contradict them by just being myself.
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