We are in Kumasi right now and we are going to return home to Wiamoase when we are done here at the internet cafe. I am excited to get home. I've had enough of the city for now. Even though when we get home we have to deal with 500 little kids chasing after us screaming Bruni.
I don't like that I am starting to get a little cynical. I am just tired of the attention that our skin is drawing to us. Not to mention the fact that people alot of the time treat us like walking ATMs. They say G-d bless you for coming to help Africa, and then they ask you for money. Its a little frustrating, however I am learning to deal with these situations in a really composed and mature matter. Wheras a month ago I would be awkward.
The only thing that makes me really uncomfortable here is all the praying. They stay up all night, stand in prayer circles wherever there is room and pray and talk in tongues. I don't at all feel threatened by them, or like they are offending me. I just can't, in anyway relate to that kind of faith.
My theory on faith, and on life is that you should strive to help those around you. If we are all G-d's children as basically every monotheistic religion claims, I would think that he/she wants us to help each other. Most emphasized on in Christrianity is the fact that you should model your life and choices after Jesus.
So whats with all the praying?
In my eyes, its not conductive, and its not helping anyone. I can understand grasping onto religion as a guide and as a matter of comfort, but relying on G-d or a "higher power" to resolve your issues is NOT congruent with how I see the world. I think people need to take more responsibility for their own actions.
We met Rikke, Elisabet and Caro in Kumasi and Agreek last night. G-d, I missed Elisabet. She keeps me so realistic and grounded. She is such a great person, and I am so glad that I know her.
Its funny because I don't really miss home that much, but I miss the people that I've known for a month that are here too. I think its because I am being to realistic to allow myself to miss home too much. I really just don't want to ruin this experience with thinking about home all the time. Its not worth it.
Our project is alot slower than I would have liked, but at the same time its awesome for two reasons:
1) we can pick our own hours so we are allowed to travel and do our own thing alot of the time
2) we have the opportunity to work in the community and other communities in need so that we can stretch our impact from just the people in this clinic
I really want to build a soccer feild (build a soccer feild....ya I don't really know) for the kids in the community. I would just need a week, 12 soccer balls and 2 nets and I could figure something out. Not to mention there is 4-5 schools in a 10 mile radius of Wiamoase where I'm sure I could help tutor English and Math for kids who need the help. I just want to do as much as I can while I'm here.
I can't necessarily change the world, but I can impact people positively and thats really all I need to feel like I got the most out of this trip.
This is a short update but I really want some pizza and we gotta get to Kejetia to hop a trotro home and Kejetia is hell.
Saturday, September 09, 2006
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