Sorry everyone, I know it’s been a very long time since I’ve
last posted. I’m setting my goal again to post every week and you are my
witnesses. I guess I’ve been hoping our internet would be fixed before long…but
it’s been about two, maybe three months since we’ve had home internet…I think
I’ll just find another solution!
It’s been good for me to take a
break from blogging though because I’ve realized how very little I understand
of what’s going on around me. Most of us know that the culture we grew up in is
a very big factor in the shaping of our behavior. At least, we know that in our
brains. But when we step out of our culture, when we try to figure out someone
else’s, that fact has to come out of our brains and get written onto the
insides of our eyelids (so that every time I blink I’m reminded “Maybe this
doesn’t mean what you think it means!”
I am a little reluctant to try and
explain some of the things I see really, since many times I just see on the
surface, and have to ask for explanations later. Like the American leader who
came to Ghana and wondered why the women call their husbands “My Lord,” but
didn’t stay long enough to find out that husbands call their wives “My Queen,”
or “My Equal.” I’m afraid I will give you the same warped, arrogant, ignorant
point of view, and you won’t even know it.
But, I think someday that may change. Someday I may actually
understand what people mean when they say “You’ve grown fat!” Someday I may
even actually feel flattered by that statement (Now I know in my brain that it’s
a compliment, but it’s still hard to not feel offended!). That will be the day
when I know I really understand. Not when I actually know the reason behind the
behavior, but when responding appropriately will be easy and second
nature.
Here’s some cultural differences I’m working through:
1.
The way people talk here, it ALWAYS sounds like
they are fighting.
2.
Everywhere I go, people call me Obroni, the Ga word for “White man” or
“foreigner.” I’ve been told many times it’s not an insult, it’s actually
supposed to be a compliment, since people here admire and look up to westerners
(most of the time). But still... to complete strangers and friends, me and the
kids are “Obroni!”
3.
When you are at the top of the social,
corporate, financial ladder, you don’t do a lot of work for yourself. People
bring you food, sweep your porch, pour your water, run your errands, pretty
much anything you ask. At first, I thought everyone was just being really nice
to me, but now I have to actually insist on doing things myself.
There are other cultural
differences (LOTS of cultural differences), so I’m sure you’ll hear about more
of them as time goes on. And maybe next week’s post will feature a counter
argument on why fitting in may not be the right thing to do!
In the middle of all the
confusion inside and around me, I know Heavenly Father is still watching over
me and my family. He has a purpose for why we are here (including why I am
here, which isn’t clear to me just yet). He’s leading me on “small small” (little by little).
Here’s some family details!
Emmanuel is still working hard at the school. I really don’t
know how he juggles all the little details, especially since he does it without
losing the big picture. We had a rough couple of months when all of us were in
school because Iris and Dante kept getting sick. They had funny fevers and
vomiting episodes that’d last long enough to scare everyone, then act like they
were fine. We decided Iris is probably too young to be in school (DUH!) And so
now she’s home with me again! I love being home with her. I miss working at the
school a little bit, but I really love what I do now (which is funny because I
distinctly remember a time or two when I felt bored and frustrated! Blessing in
disguise: making me a working mom has made me value my family and home soooo
much more.) Dante’s kind of adjusted to school and is learning so much! He’s in
a writing explosion and it’s so fun to watch him write and draw and tell me
about when he’s written. I love it!
