a guide to better understanding

I have now been in Ghana for almost 9 months if you can believe that. When you first come to a new place, there are so many different stimuli, that it’s impossible to receive all the information that is being thrown at you. This is particularly true when you are in a place so different from what you have ever experienced; part of your brain goes on vacation without you even realizing it. But soon, this part of the brain comes back, and starts to notice all the things that were lost when you first landed.  When this happens, you start to take on the traits of those around you, mostly subconsciously, only realizing what has happened when you are with others who are going through the same things. For example, those of us who live in Ghana know that there is are 70+ local languages, each of us knowing a certain one or even two of these. But there is one language that we all begin to learn just by interacting with every Ghanaian we meet; this is Ghanaian English. Here are some examples that I find myself and others who have been here some time:

1.       Small small- this can mean many things and used in most sentences…it will take time, it’s a small thing, I like something only a little,  etc.; Ex: I am hungry small small

2.       Somehow- this one creeped up on me, and I did not even know that I was using it till the other day Ex: somehow, we will get food today, somehow

3.       O, WHY!!- This is often said with great vigor and passion; usually used when something bad has happened or something you don’t like; Ex.  you get to your tro that you are supposed to take to get home, and a women cuts in front of you to get the last spot…WHY….

4.       Fine- when I first got to Ghana, it felt odd to say Fine  to every comment or question someone threw at you, but now it feel normal; ex. How are you?    Fine…

5.       Sorry-o- adding O to the end of words is common here, and kinda fun…. Ex: a women trips and instantly you hear a string of “sorry-o’s”

6.       Please- this is one of my favorite things, anytime you have a question or ask anything of anyone, you start the sentence with please…so polite

7.       Dis Ting- this is a common phrase heard that is in reference to just about anything…Ex: O, have you seen my dis ting? You know the dis ting….. (they are meaning to say this thing)

8.       Come and go-  this is said in two different ways; a. someone says it to you, meaning you will leave and come back, b. this is said by you to someone to get them off your back about the fact that you can no longer stay and chat, it’s the polite way to say I’m outta here

9.       I’m coming- this is said each time you are leaving a place; it took some time for me to get used to it. Ex. I am going to the restroom to urinate-another thing they say here often..hate that word…so I would say I’m coming…

10.   You are invited- this is said each time you might see someone eating; whether in their home, on the street, in the market, anywhere; when someone comes to talk to you and you are eating something, you should always invite them to whatever you are eating; most times they don’t really mean for you to eat with them, but just a way to be nice and polite.

11.   Small boy/girl- this is generally called out of younger members of the community who are than asked to do small jobs for whoever had called them…ex: I want some pur water, so I give my money to a small girl to go get me one… and they do this without a sneer or complaint like one might expect in America; it’s just part of the culture to respect and obey the people older than you. Or you might get called small boy if you are in fact….just small in stature…

There are a ton more, but those are some of my favorite and most commonly used. I’m sure some of you, that have talked to me on the phone, have heard some of these slip out, and know you can better understand what I am saying. 

A run through the African Bush

Twas the night before my run, when all was silent, other than the bats and rats in my ceiling and my cat clawing up my body, that i had a dream, a dream that i was flying, but i was not really flying, more it was like when i jumped, i jumped Real high and ended up at a very far distance. Upon waking the next morning, i knew that it was going to be an excellent day for a run. I had set my alarm for the very early time of 5:30am, so that i would get out before the heat and the villagers.
I sat on the edge of my bed, listening to the sounds of morning in my village, the girls in my compound cleaning, the birds waking up, the guinea fowl Squawking, and now the sound of me putting my shoes on and warming up before my run. Because of the dream that i had, i chose to take a route that i had not traveled yet, into the bush.
It is a path that i had once walked for a small time, but did not make it to the end, well that was my goal, to find where this bush path ended. I started out on slower pace, working my way up to kicking my butt. All was fine, the sun was rising, i had the whole bush to myself, hitting the hard packed red dirt with a satisfying Thump, each time my foot fell. I was looking down and up and all over the place, just happy to be out and seeing the world. I took a few turns, thinking nothing of it. The hills formed by the Volta on my right and the flat expanse of savannah on my left. After running for around an hour, i succeeded in my goal of finding where the path ends; a small fishing village along the lake. I stopped for some small time to talk (and when i say talk, i mean a lot of hand gestures, and smiling and laughing, cause i had no clue what anyone was saying) to the villagers, than i was on my way.
I decided to take my time on the way back, looking around, and this time....really not paying attention to where i was going. Soon I found that i was unsure of where i was, but never fear I have taught a class in tracking (animals that is), and decided to track myself...or my footprints, and try to find my way back to site. I was feeling good and proud of myself....till i realized i was following the wrong footprints....this put a small glitch in my tracking idea. The sun was up by this time, and i was near out of water, when a man comes thundering through the bush, half naked and carrying 4 large bush birds (as he called them) and offered to sell me them. I said i had no money but thank you; he then proceeded to call me beautiful and ask me to be his wife. Much to his dismay, i had to turn down the offer and ask if he knew the way back to my site. He said he did, and led me back..A completely different way than i had originally come...and i made it back to site, after 2hr 30min journey. I thanked the man many times over, and went my way to my compound.
This is my life, in Ghana, crazy......