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Published: June 27th 2008
Greetings from Sunyani, capital of the Brong Ahafo region of Ghana, right near the border with Ivory Coast. So the internet may be down and out, but I am in high, high spirits. We just finished our first of two weeks of data collection, and it feels great to be getting out of the offices and theoretical realm of papers, and actually talking with people--and playing with their kids.
After the first three weeks in Ghana's two largest cities, I had a very incomplete perspective on this country, but that has changed this week. Every day me and six Ghanaian researchers (four students, two employees of the organization), meet up with a man they call "The General," who takes us in a taxi down a red clay road to some crossroads city, small town or other farflung community. We then meetup with groups of borrowers from the microfinance organization in that community, hold focus groups and do individual interviews, grab some lunch if a restaurant exists, and speed of in another beat-up old taxi to the next village.
Of course, all the interviews are done in Twi, the most common language in Ghana, and not one I speak. So my role while in the communities consists of: Get the sodas and biscuits to serve people after they complete interviews; Hold the digital recorder during the focus groups, while nodding like I know what's being said; bug the students when they say they don't want to do another interview and we are not at the daily quota yet; and of course entertain the local kids by being tall and white, which is about as common as snow in these places.
Today I was joined by Flanny, one of my best friends from home. He's been living in Ivory Coast for the past year, and so hopped the border yesterday to hang out for the weekend. This meant both research teams had their own Obruni to hold the recorder, letting two students begin individual interviews early, making us pretty damn efficient for a Friday. It is great to have someone from normal life here as it bridges the disconnect. Plus, we are going to a monkey sanctuary tomorrow, so you can't beat that.
Anyways, I have a lot more stories from the week, but this internet is painfully slow, so I gotta hurry before my hour runs out. All the best and thanks for all the comments, I read and enjoy every single one, even if it takes a week to find internet up here.
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laurie
non-member comment
you and flanny monkeys and kids!
wow, i am glad that you are there to hold the mic and get the biscuits. and that you can use your "baby magic" to charm the local kidlets. Yes, nothing like being out and about doing "work" to make your spirits soar. You and Flanny also happen to be SUPER tall Obruni which i am sure makes you very exciting. Much much love to you and Flan.