I hope your life is sweet and you are enjoying yourself.
Saturday, March 31, 2012
Sweetness
Justin said, "Life is sweet," as we were walking to Besease. I said, "Why do you say that?" "Because people are enjoying themselves." And in the settling twilight I could see kids chasing each other, laughing and falling as dust rose and settled around them. I could see women dressed in the colorful cloth of Ghana talking, holding each others' arms as they related something funny. I could see goats. Lots of goats. And hear laughter. Lots of laughter.
I hope your life is sweet and you are enjoying yourself.
I hope your life is sweet and you are enjoying yourself.
Fante
It is hard, really I should say frustrating, to be in a place where you can’t speak the language. I have already been in Ghana for three months. I have learned small Fante, but I have made many friends and I can’t understand about 98% of what they are saying when we all hang out.
I don’t want to be the dud that is constantly pulling someone away from the conversation to translate. And I definitely don’t want to say, “Speak English!” (which is what they are told all through gradeschool, and I am sure, somewhat resent). This isn’t my country, so why should they speak my language? And being the person I am, I don’t want to offend or intrude on another culture. I am here to learn another culture, not to force mine upon someone else. Also, my mind has decided that the language is like a secret door into understanding Akan culture. I feel somewhat like Gandalf at the gate to the mines of Moria, if I could just learn the secret word(s), the right things to say, and the proper way to say them, I could open the door and find behind it this wealth of understanding about the people, culture, traditions, behaviors and actions, and so on.
So, I am busting ass to learn Fante. And it’s difficult! I’ve learned some Spanish in school, but it’s nothing compared to this! They saying being immersed in the culture and hearing nothing but the language you want to acquire allows you to learn faster, but I think I’m more lost in this immersion than I would be if I were taking lessons at school. Maybe it’s my brain, and I’m just not good at languages. I have never had much of a desire to learn them, to figure them out, to be immersed in them (despite the fact that I love words and writing…). Also, I give up easily because I get frustrated easily, because I feel I should be better at this, quicker, and smarter (becuase usually I am quicker, better, and smarter than this.) It's a terrible trait to have, to be blessed with a quick mind and then to give up when your mind fails to be quick at something. How am I ever supposed to grow and learn that way? So, the more people talk the more confused I get: “Speak slower.” “Say it again.” “One more time.” “No, I have no idea what you just said.” And, to make it worse, I often find myself tuning out the conversations of others when they turn to Fante, and getting lost in my head without even realizing it. And what little I do learn, I don’t retain well. It feels that even my own mind is against me learning.
But I am going to do it. Even if it is a tough language. It reminds me of French (which I hate) because all the words run together and sound like one word even though it's possibly five separate words (which is why I hate French). And unlike English, which is like a shallow pool, having many words for one thing, Fante is a deep well having one word for many things. And it’s tonal. If I stress the first syllable and not the second, it could be the difference between saying ‘vomit’ and ‘home’.
At this point I sound like a three year old learning to talk. And oh, my friends laugh at me! They even come up with crazy schemes to make me into a comedy show that could make them millions. But it's also fun because I'm beginning to understand people better, so when the teachers start talking about me in Fante I can say, "Hey! I heard that!" And now, when people ask me why I don’t wear shoes I can say, “Min pe mpaboa.” They often think that isn’t a good enough answer (because who in their right mind doesn’t wear shoes?), but really, I just don’t like shoes.
I don’t want to be the dud that is constantly pulling someone away from the conversation to translate. And I definitely don’t want to say, “Speak English!” (which is what they are told all through gradeschool, and I am sure, somewhat resent). This isn’t my country, so why should they speak my language? And being the person I am, I don’t want to offend or intrude on another culture. I am here to learn another culture, not to force mine upon someone else. Also, my mind has decided that the language is like a secret door into understanding Akan culture. I feel somewhat like Gandalf at the gate to the mines of Moria, if I could just learn the secret word(s), the right things to say, and the proper way to say them, I could open the door and find behind it this wealth of understanding about the people, culture, traditions, behaviors and actions, and so on.
So, I am busting ass to learn Fante. And it’s difficult! I’ve learned some Spanish in school, but it’s nothing compared to this! They saying being immersed in the culture and hearing nothing but the language you want to acquire allows you to learn faster, but I think I’m more lost in this immersion than I would be if I were taking lessons at school. Maybe it’s my brain, and I’m just not good at languages. I have never had much of a desire to learn them, to figure them out, to be immersed in them (despite the fact that I love words and writing…). Also, I give up easily because I get frustrated easily, because I feel I should be better at this, quicker, and smarter (becuase usually I am quicker, better, and smarter than this.) It's a terrible trait to have, to be blessed with a quick mind and then to give up when your mind fails to be quick at something. How am I ever supposed to grow and learn that way? So, the more people talk the more confused I get: “Speak slower.” “Say it again.” “One more time.” “No, I have no idea what you just said.” And, to make it worse, I often find myself tuning out the conversations of others when they turn to Fante, and getting lost in my head without even realizing it. And what little I do learn, I don’t retain well. It feels that even my own mind is against me learning.
But I am going to do it. Even if it is a tough language. It reminds me of French (which I hate) because all the words run together and sound like one word even though it's possibly five separate words (which is why I hate French). And unlike English, which is like a shallow pool, having many words for one thing, Fante is a deep well having one word for many things. And it’s tonal. If I stress the first syllable and not the second, it could be the difference between saying ‘vomit’ and ‘home’.
At this point I sound like a three year old learning to talk. And oh, my friends laugh at me! They even come up with crazy schemes to make me into a comedy show that could make them millions. But it's also fun because I'm beginning to understand people better, so when the teachers start talking about me in Fante I can say, "Hey! I heard that!" And now, when people ask me why I don’t wear shoes I can say, “Min pe mpaboa.” They often think that isn’t a good enough answer (because who in their right mind doesn’t wear shoes?), but really, I just don’t like shoes.
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
Back to Ghana
Hi all,
So I am getting ready to start my second adventure to Africa, back to Ghana, and back to the village of Besease. I spent 4 months there last summer teaching science to highschoolers at the local public school and helping out an evening enrichment school called Star of the Sea.
I fell in love with Ghana and the kids I taught. When I left last summer to come home, I was just recovering from malaria and barely had a chance to say goodbye to anyone (I was crying too hard to be coherent anyway), so I promised the kids I would come back. So here I am, about ready to buy my ticket to escape this crazy Minnesota winter (which has completely lacked snow), to see the kids who taught me how to carry water on my head and my friends who helped me navigate a foreign country, and to help Star of the Sea become a better school.
Now I don't really like to ask for things, let alone money, but I really believe in this school and the good it's doing the children of the village. So I've decided to do a little fundraising for them. During the time I am there, I will be writing proposals and sending out letters to organizations and clubs and so on. But if you, any of you, feel the urge to help or donate as an individual, please don't hesitate! I would love so much, anything you could offer! Notebooks, soccer balls, pens, office supplies, books, laptops, cameras, and so on. Anything you can think of to donate would be great. Seriously, anything.
If you'd like to donate money, please use the donate button on the left, or email me at nickixadams@gmail.com with questions. If you'd like to mail something, the address is
PO Box cc1148
Cape Coast, Central Region
Ghana
Africa
I will keep you all updated on where your donations are going and about my mis/adventures in Besease! Stay tuned for pics and posts.
Here is a little bit about the school:
Star of the Sea is a free school that the children of Besease are able to attend in the evening. Besides being free, it is unique in that it has electricity, a working computer, and provides field trips for the kids (some of which have never left the village). It was started by a man named Sampson Yahans who happens to be my age. He has worked hard to make the school what it is today:
And facebook: http://www.facebook.com/staroftheseaschool
So I am getting ready to start my second adventure to Africa, back to Ghana, and back to the village of Besease. I spent 4 months there last summer teaching science to highschoolers at the local public school and helping out an evening enrichment school called Star of the Sea.
I fell in love with Ghana and the kids I taught. When I left last summer to come home, I was just recovering from malaria and barely had a chance to say goodbye to anyone (I was crying too hard to be coherent anyway), so I promised the kids I would come back. So here I am, about ready to buy my ticket to escape this crazy Minnesota winter (which has completely lacked snow), to see the kids who taught me how to carry water on my head and my friends who helped me navigate a foreign country, and to help Star of the Sea become a better school.
Now I don't really like to ask for things, let alone money, but I really believe in this school and the good it's doing the children of the village. So I've decided to do a little fundraising for them. During the time I am there, I will be writing proposals and sending out letters to organizations and clubs and so on. But if you, any of you, feel the urge to help or donate as an individual, please don't hesitate! I would love so much, anything you could offer! Notebooks, soccer balls, pens, office supplies, books, laptops, cameras, and so on. Anything you can think of to donate would be great. Seriously, anything.
If you'd like to donate money, please use the donate button on the left, or email me at nickixadams@gmail.com with questions. If you'd like to mail something, the address is
PO Box cc1148
Cape Coast, Central Region
Ghana
Africa
I will keep you all updated on where your donations are going and about my mis/adventures in Besease! Stay tuned for pics and posts.
 |
| Star of Sea School: Sampson is on the left and I am with the other volunteers in the back. And the rest of the buggers are the kids I teach! |
Here is a little bit about the school:
Star of the Sea is a free school that the children of Besease are able to attend in the evening. Besides being free, it is unique in that it has electricity, a working computer, and provides field trips for the kids (some of which have never left the village). It was started by a man named Sampson Yahans who happens to be my age. He has worked hard to make the school what it is today:
- A completely free school for those who can't afford the public school
- An evening school for the children who can't attend day school because they have to work on the farm during the day and for the children who need extra help with their studies at the public school
- A school with the technology to actually teach computer based classes
- A school that provides field trips that allow the students to dream big and open their minds
And facebook: http://www.facebook.com/staroftheseaschool
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)