Dealing with Differences

This is my simple religion. There is no need for temples; no need for complicated philosophy. Our own brain, our own heart is our temple; the philosophy is kindness. ~Dalai Lama

I thrive on challenge. Anyone who knows me can attest to this. Both professionally and personally, I am constantly seeking out thrills and new situations that will push me to an edge of some sort. Professionally, this has helped me grow as an educator because I have worked in various schools in various grades and have a plethora of experiences under my belt. As for my personal life, this thrill seeking has left me single. Ha ha Being here in Ghana, at this specific college, in this specific community, is going to provide me enough challenges to last a lifetime.

I am in the minority in so many ways here. First, I am living and working at a Catholic college. I practice no form of religion and generally tend to side with the Dalai Lama – just be kind and be a good person. However, here in Ghana, everything is about Jesus. I have prayed more in the last three days than I have in my entire life combined. Also, I have been told about how important God is, how I need to read the bible, and how worship and belief is the only route to eternal life. Though I have been exposed to Catholicism throughout my life, I have just never truly bought in to it all. I honestly feel that everyone has the right to his or her own beliefs. To each his own I always say. However, it becomes uncomfortable to me when others try to push their beliefs onto me. Earlier today I told someone that I don’t go to church, and he gasped and looked at me as though I were the devil himself! Just call me a heathen! It will be an interesting challenge, to say the least, to quietly try to slide under the Jesus radar and simply nod my head and respectfully engage when asked to.

Apart from religion, I am one of two white females currently living in this community of about 5,000 people. There are two male volunteers here at my college, one American, one Japanese, and also a female Peace Corps volunteer at the school for the deaf down the road. Being one of few persons of a different race is a brand new experience for me. Additionally, I don’t speak the local language. Though English is Ghana’s official language and is spoken in schools, within the community people speak Twi. All eyes turn towards me wherever I have gone, and I can’t say I love all of that attention. I’m generally more interested in going unnoticed. Forget that thought here! You love challenges Amy, well here are several specially prepared just for you. Children are mesmerized by my white skin and smile with intense curiosity. Most men and women greet me and kindly say hello, but a few men here and there gawk at me like I’m a pork chop for their pleasure. In Chicago, I always felt like a teeny tiny minnow in a really huge pond because there are so many strangers among you. It’s easy to walk down the street and have absolutely no one even glance in your direction. However, here, I feel like the large whale in the pond that everyone is stopping to check out because it’s just impossible to miss. Thankfully though, I feel very looked after. Richard, one of the administrators at the college, showed me around town this morning and again reassured me of how important my safety is to them. I’m being well taken care of, but that slight twinge of anxiety is still festering inside of me. Simply walking out of my apartment here is a challenge loaded with thrills, so looks like I’ve gotten what I asked for!