Things that Confound Me 10/23/2016
The top two things that confound me here in Ghana would have to be toilets and time. I don't understand how either of them work here and based on the signs I have featured in this post, I know I am not the only one here that is confused about how to use a toilet. Here I have urinated in female urinals, I have peed on tiled floors with a slanted foundation and a hole in the corner of the stall, I often find myself squatting in a puddle of urine, half mine, half who knows who else's urine it could be, equal parts splashing onto my open toed sandals. Toilet paper is non-existent. Things like sinks, never mind working sinks, and hand soap are luxuries that are hard to come by. It is like one long backpacking trip, only thing is I don't have to dig a hole. Only benefit to digging a hole, is that you can pretty much relieve yourself whenever nature calls. In rural areas of Ghana, you will find many people doing just that, minus the digging a hole thing. Since my snow-white little tush would stick out like a total sore thumb, I unfortunately am not afforded that opportunity. Proper bathrooms are few and far between out here, so I also developed a bladder that had the capacity to hold twice the urine as it had stateside.
Time and toilets transitions: People are not on time because they have to say hello to everyone they know. They also shake hands with everyone they know, but god forbid, you shake with the left hand! Because in Ghana, the left hand can be, is, used in lieu of toilet paper, perhaps, at times.
Time and toilets transitions: People are not on time because they have to say hello to everyone they know. They also shake hands with everyone they know, but god forbid, you shake with the left hand! Because in Ghana, the left hand can be, is, used in lieu of toilet paper, perhaps, at times.
If you are early, you are on time. If you are on time, you are late. If you are late, don't bother showing up. This thought process does not exist in Ghana because time does not exist here. That being said, I am still confused why 99% of the Ghanaian population wears watches and only 65% of those watches actually keep time. As I've said before, the folks here in Accra are impeccably dressed all the time, right down to their watches. You would think if so many folks wore watches that people might be on time for certain events.
For example; on a good day your professors will only be an hour or two late for class. Yes, you are expected to wait endlessly until they finally show up. Luckily, I was somewhat conditioned to this, as my professors never showed up for the first two weeks of class all together. I was so confused, especially because my home university was waiting on receiving a copy of the syllabus for course approval by my advisor.
To make a long story short, I learned a lot about patience. There was another huge life-lesson I learned. It wasn't letting go, it wasn't submitting, it really was "Hakuna Matata." Yup, quoting Disney here. No worries. Everything works out, perhaps not as you or I planned, but somehow it does.
As proof, I am sitting here typing this and you are sitting here reading this, so let's face it, good or bad, up until this point EVERYTHING has worked out. I can either stress about it, or I can just stop worrying and there's an excellent chance that by not worrying the end result will most likely waste less effort on stressing and will put more efficient energy into a more effective outcome.
For example; on a good day your professors will only be an hour or two late for class. Yes, you are expected to wait endlessly until they finally show up. Luckily, I was somewhat conditioned to this, as my professors never showed up for the first two weeks of class all together. I was so confused, especially because my home university was waiting on receiving a copy of the syllabus for course approval by my advisor.
To make a long story short, I learned a lot about patience. There was another huge life-lesson I learned. It wasn't letting go, it wasn't submitting, it really was "Hakuna Matata." Yup, quoting Disney here. No worries. Everything works out, perhaps not as you or I planned, but somehow it does.
As proof, I am sitting here typing this and you are sitting here reading this, so let's face it, good or bad, up until this point EVERYTHING has worked out. I can either stress about it, or I can just stop worrying and there's an excellent chance that by not worrying the end result will most likely waste less effort on stressing and will put more efficient energy into a more effective outcome.
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