Work, Work, Work

Hello Everyone,

Well, I guess the biggest news is that I was able to see a friend from Holland here in Cape Coast last night. Her name is Felice and she was part of my master's program. She completed her fieldwork here in Ghana and came back for a visit with her mother. It was nice to be able to see her and she may end up living in Kenya within the next few months so it also gives me an excuse to visit more of Africa!

Everyone keeps asking me what Ghana is like, and as I have mentioned I don't really have that much exposure to enough of the culture to really explain it very well, but I can give a few things I have noticed.

First of all, I believe Ghana is the most religious place I have ever been in. The loudspeakers next to Auntie Araba's house (where I am currently staying) seem to be constantly preaching to me, whether it be around 10-11pm at night, or beginning again at 5:30 am. Auntie Araba also seems to go to church at least 3-4 times a week and I suspect at other times when I am just not home to see it as well. Sometimes these deep religious values seem to clash for me. A few examples:

1. A Ghanaian man is legally allowed to take more than one wife.

2. It is also acceptable for men to "discipline" their wives.

3. I have been told infidelity is extremely common here.

In a conversation with George, a 23 year old who helps Auntie Araba around the house, I asked if he would ever marry two women. He replied that he did not think so, but as an African man it was his right.

I had an introductory meeting with the Director of the Ministry of Education. The first thing he asked me was "Are you very religious?" to which he responded that he had been wishing I would be very religious.

Auntie Araba has offered to have me baptized in the country and I have also received a lecture on the need for me to marry very soon. She does not seem to be put off by my explanations that in the United States I am still quite young and have plenty of time to marry, or that we must get to know the people we are going to marry for a while before we tie the knot.

This weekend will be quite busy. We are taking the volunteers to Kakum National Forest to do the canopy walk, we will learn how to make Batik, as well as take part in a drumming and dancing workshop. I am looking forward to doing something out of the office, but I am also beginning to feel as if my brain has been fried and I will need a day or two to just relax and read a book.

My new phone number as of tomorrow: +233278315083

I think that's about it for now, back to work.

(The picture above is of the market area in the center of town.)