Someone could tell you, "I'm coming," in Ghana, and not show up for three hours, if at all. When I ask for anything here, I have come to expect things to take twice, maybe even ten times longer than I am used to at home. "Can I get some food?" "Please, I'm coming," someone will respond. Everyday I come into contact with my high strung Western Self, realizing how addicted to efficiency and receiving things as soon as I ask for them like what happens so often back at home. I remember thinking this in India as well, and even in South America. Things don't happen as suddenly as back in the States, and what I have come to realize is that, "I'm coming," doesn't necessarily mean that the person is actually going to come or do what you ask anytime soon, but that it is in their intentions to eventually do what you ask. Don't get me wrong - there are some very punctual and efficient people here, but the majority of people do not have the [sometimes neurotic] instinct of extreme production and fast movement in mind that many Westerners have. It has reminded me that people are actually humans here, and not the robots that we are sometimes forced to be.
In lieu of this common Ghanaian attitude of, "eventually, I'm coming," this is my explanation for the gaps on my blog writing. "Please wait, I'm coming." Being here, especially on campus at the University of Ghana and in the village of Wli Todzi, I have adopted a much slower rhythm and momentum of activity than I am used to back home. I find myself constantly late from stopping and chatting with people, taking time to stop and eat and not while walking, doing one thing at a time, prioritizing talking to people and making eye contact to really listen, sleeping when I feel tired, and having an awesome time just enjoying where I'm at. Ghana is a special place, and I feel lucky to be here!
On another note though, I just received notification this week that I was accepted into the American India Foundation as a 2011-2012 William J. Clinton Fellow for Service!!! I am going back to India for 10 months this coming September! I can not believe I got it. After an intense competitive process of a pretty extensive application with 10 long essays and a 45 minute skype interview and waiting for over 4 months to hear back, I got it!! But am I ready to go back to India, right after being in Ghana and Europe for 8 months? We will see. Just got to stay present right now. . .
