On the Nitty-shitty

MARGERY: Margery showing off one of her designs in her workshop.There are so many things about Ghana that make me want to scream. Sometimes I think too many. But then I remind myself how much fun I am having and all the things I still have to look forward to. Let me begin with two lists. The first will detail all the things I am disliking/hating here in Ghana and the second will have a more positive tone.
Dislikes:
1. Rice. I am SICK of rice. Fried rice, jollof rice, white rice, rice with curry, rice with tomato sauce, rice rice rice rice! I think I’m turning into a grain of rice.
2. Humidity. The Harmattan is beginning to blow, signaling the end of the rainy season and the beginning of the dry season. Dry shmy. I’m still drowning in my own sweat and it’s getting worse as the temperatures rise. I’ve given up any plans to work on a tan.
3. The Ghanaian mating ritual. Oh yes, the young Ghanaian men are bad. In fact, it’s not only the young ones. I should have kept track of the number of marriage proposals I’ve had so far. I now truly understand the meaning of the words Sexual Harassment. I cannot even impress upon you all how incredibly vexing Ghanaian men with a mission can be…maybe one day you’ll find out for yourselves.
4. Disorganization. I have been living in New York for the past two years. I am a freak about punctuality. I think my blood pressure has increased since I’ve been I Ghana. I cannot relax. I cannot get used the fact that he simplest tasks take three times longer than they should take to be completed. Maybe the lackadaisical attitude of Ghanaians has to do with the heat? I don’t know…
5. The internet. You cannot even imagine how poor the connection is. The worst part is that sometimes it works very well and I think maybe it has been fixed for good and then the next morning I am rudely reminded that I am in Ghana.
Likes:
1. Pineapple. Always in season, always delicious, sweet, juicy. Pineapples in the states ‘aint got nothing on Ghanaian pineapples.
2. Cheap bars. Oh yes, they abound here in Ghana. Imagine drinking until you can no longer stand and paying only $4.
3. My professors. Though sometimes infuriatingly boring and long-winded, they are, on the whole, hilarious, incredibly wise and have funny accents and mannerisms.
4. The beach. Accra is on the Gulf of Guinea, and the nearest beach is less than 5 minutes from my residence. Though the main beaches in the city are more often used as toilets than for sunbathing, being close to the ocean inspires and calms me. Reggae night every Wednesday at Labadi Beach is another plus.
5. My dorm. Air-conditioning, a kitchen vastly nicer than the kitchen in the acclaimed restaurant I work at in New York, fantastic housemates, flat screen TVs and badass security guards (who am I kidding? They’re always asleep). I feel so lucky and slightly uncomfortable that I am living in such luxury smack in the middle of West Africa.
6. Margery. She is our seamstress and I swear, I love her. Ever since our group arrived she has been at her sewing machine for hours, but she claims she is happy to sew for us, happy for the extra income. I have had several dresses and a pair of pants made and she is currently working on my wardrobe for my fall break in Mali, which consists of close to ten pieces of clothing that I commissioned last night and need before I depart on Wednesday night.
Ok, so I guess the positives outweigh the negatives. I knew that would be the case. I just thought I’d use this post as an opportunity to vent. Don’t take the negative things I say to heart. I’m just a grouch. Truth is, I love it here.