Great laughter when needed Greetings from Navrongo, Upper East Region, Ghana from a University of Alberta student's partner. We've just had a rough week of illness and adjustment issues in our second of six months here, and reading your blogs tonight was great therapy. I laughed tons and read a lot of your stuff to my partner (who's just getting over malaria). It's great to see this perspective - not hiding any of the discomforts of travel here. It's inspiration to carry on, write some good blogs, and to know we'll soon enough be eating croissants in Paris. All the best with your writing career. You've got talent!
edinburgh over glasgow if you have your choice, choose edinburgh; i just returned from 8 days in this beautiful city; the fringe festival is on; it's one of the best parties i've been to, not to mention the great theatre that's happening everywhere. go to the royal mile and just walk around - festival is all around you
... hope u remember me, even though i didnt bring u neither timbits nor sushi... ... hi Daniel, it's so good to read from u again. I was thinking of u and wondering where u are and how ur doin especially since i saw those that time strange pictures on tv in a hotel in ouaga. Strange cos the tv wasnt working that great, in picture AND in sound... and the little French i heard... well... i didnt understand. I'll be coming back to Toronto on August, 10, hope i can make it up to u for the timbits when ur back...
My cousin! Hi Daniel,
I enjoyed (and was a little horrified) reading your blog off of Aaron's e-mail. He tells me that you've been studying with my cousin, Rabbi Jonathan Mishkin - small world! If you are still studying with him, do say hello from me - Julie Tepperman!
Thanks for your AutoShow good wishes - it went smashingly. 5 "N's" in NOW, sold out crowds and the pick of the Fringe. Wish you could have seen it, but we'll take good wishes from someone in the Holy Land any day!
My best wishes for more adventures and a safe return.
~Julie
I find if you lean too hard in any direction, you fall over. Interesting isn't it? How people normally continue to do whatever it is they do wherever they are. I think that could possibly be attributed in part to the fact that people often really do very similar things. Everywhere. (Get back to me as to whether not playing bagpipes in Glasgow is considered highly unusual or not. You may completely disprove my point.)
I'm very glad to hear that you're doing well, despite your lack of knives. Sometimes I forget that you haven't fallen off the face of the earth, you're just on the other side of it. (It's a very big face). Things here have been relatively normal. I've done some travelling to foreign lands myself, as I am now on an extended stay at my father's house for the first time in over a year. The wildlife here is fascinating. Other than that, there have been various teenage soap opera dramas that I've been doing my best to avoid and cosequently have found myself right in the middle of. And that's about all, really.
I look forward to your return. We should get together for some kind of legal stimulant beverage once you're back in town.
catchin' up, skwarna-style Hey Daniel, I just read your last two entries, which I'd been meaning to do for a while. Referring to the second-last one, I liked how you tied what you had learned/discovered with what you had observed. So, it seems you have changed, but not because of the travel, but rather your clarity of thought. Travel doesn't change you, you change you, maybe? I don't know if that makes cents (or dollars) but it's great to read what you're doing and thinking. I hope you're having a good time in Israel - it's a shame about your camera, the pictures you took were really sweet. Good luck with your play.
xo, Naomi
Heart of Darkness wow! your trip makes me want to go to Africa, but the west of ireland will have to do. Hey, it's pretty wild there. Man! And it's got a dark heart too. Hopefully you'll visit the jungle of westmount when you return .
I wish I'd noticed before that one could respond to your blog.
Good luck . Gerry
Machete Violence Hi guys; thanks for writing stuff. It's Daniel (K; the other Daniel was a different Daniel; perhaps this is obvious). This note is in response to Judy's. Judy: my possibly controversial opinion? Life IS way better here (i.e. Canada, for example), and we ARE "better". Better: generally more educated, more tolerant, more organized, in a classical sense more moral. However. We are not responsible for being "better", we can take no credit for it, and I don't feel it would be a stretch to say we are obligated to justify it, by not worshiping it and by living morally - maybe. We are better because our upbringing was better, we are better because we come from a humanist tradition that values human life and the rights of the individual above all else, we are better because we are not hungry, we are lucky, though we are not entitled: we are not better inherently but by opportunity and by chance. I'm not saying that the human spirit is necessarily different in Canada or wherever, but the conditions are, and so our society IS without a doubt less violent, more structured, and more grounded. Sure, we have domestic violence and gang violence and whatever, but that exists where I was too; in fact certain types of domestic violence, including but not limited to beating your wife, are enthusiastically encouraged. A friend who's travelled before in Ghana told me early on that I "couldn't have" certain emotional reactions to casual violence I saw when I was volunteering, that I was "in a different place, that's okay here", but I can't function that way. I just can't do it. It's unnatural. No, you don't want to write off a country or its people, but you do make value judgements. You get angry. I certainly do. And I'm not so liberal-minded at this point as to be able to write off casual and public brutality, machetes or canes or fists, as only "different".
Writing with Guiness Halibut, I thought your last entry was just a wonderful piece of writing. I feel like a voyeur (what's the equivalent for someone who takes pleasure in watching someone write beautifully? an ecriveur?) What a privilege to read the thoughts and observations of a very interesting, sensitive, somewhat intelligent (kidding) young man from Toronot. If I drank Guniess when I wrote, would it help? I think the answer is yes because even if what I wrote was no good, methinks I might not care so much feeling that froth hit my lips :) Be safe, be well, be happy, be careful, be dreadlocked and above all continue to just be.
the machetes Hello.
It's funny how we always try to find an excuse to separate us from machetes massacres in Africa and the numerous genocides. You’re right, we kill too, but is it really the pace of life here that comforts us into to believing that perhaps life is way better here, or even that we are better? I often feel that we fool ourselves into thinking this way and that we make up for it, for example, by murders that are more discreet and completely unexpected. Of course, we don’t need three guards watching our house, as a friend from Zimbabwe recalled to me... The fear is definitely minimized. But the fact is that we still have fear. I just keep wondering if we all are making an excuse to justify our society as being a less violent, structured and more 'grounded' one than the other. In some ways, I guess they are just Different.
3 cheers and such hey daniel,
been reading your emails (blogs... you kids with your techmology and bruce springsteen music) for a while now. you get much more personal than i would dare, and i respect and enjoy that. sounds like youre living a good and worthwhile life over there. looking forward to chatting when you get back. im back from thailand and japan in the last week of may. ill be keeping thornhills electric suburbs warm for you.
cheers,
dan
Hey you! Hey Daniel,
I've been meaning to write to you, as I have been following along with all your blog entries, but have just sat down to do it now. Better late than never. It sounds like quite an adventure you've been having over there. What a trip! I'm sure you'll come back very changed... but still with some of the 'Daniel' we all remember. What you've gone through and experienced in Africa sounds extraordinary and I give you a lot of credit. It's great that you've taken this time to go and do this... although I know your family misses you and will be thrilled to have you back in T.O. Things will probably seem quite dull when you get back after your escapades there. Israel will be another great experience... enjoy it all! I don't want to make this too long so I'll bring it to an end. Just wanted to say "hi". Looking forward to hearing more from you. You'll have a new little 'stranger' to meet when you get back.
Love from T.O., Jodi (and Steve)
Kwaho Tafo Hiya, I have read your entries on Tafo with interest, as I spent 6 months there during 2004 and am hoping to return this summer to do some research for my undergrad dissertation (i'm studying social anthropology). I think I noticed a picture of Anna Sawiri there- did you stay with her? And did you meet Martin her son? Sorry for this barrage of questions but I had a few problems and am interested as to how the 'volunteer scene' is working. I love Anna very much and she truly nourished me but Martin took full advantage of having a single girl at his behest and I am interested to find out why volunteers are being sent to the town, when as you note the work really isn't all that substantial. Feel free to check out my blog from while I was there: http://charlie-faraway.livejournal.com/
The Ghana entries are the very earliest, from January 2004. Reading it now it seems somewhat facile but I always like to share what seemed strangely pristine experiences. Did you meet Charles Kofi Boafo? How is he? I hope your trip is going well, it sounds fabulous! All the best, Charlie
Shit? Hi Mazin, do you mean shit as in hard stuff or shit as in excrement? Because I wouldn't be discouraged from travelling here because of the....latter? I don't know. What do you mean? I think you should definitely come if you want to. Just come prepared. Whatever that means.
The shit in africa I've been thinking of doing some travelling in africa, but it's the kind of shit you describe on your blog which makes me think twice about it. I dream of the natural beauty there; but I have nightmares about the shit in every city and town.
Oh, I was the Ms. Anonymous, hmmm.. weird, didnt even think about putting in my name somewhere. I hope u remember me by this name though. As for the donuts... am not sure, they gonna be rockhard cos we first going to Germany on May, 1 and then coming over to Ghana on May, 8... but well... dont know how desperate u are ;). The Bofrot should do.
From the yellow brick road Kirill: don't be jealous. I've been ferociously bored here too, it's just a different breed of boredom, where you're bored and also worried you're going to need a toilet while on a bus. You're right about the completely different person thing though. I've made a business arrangment with a nice, honest gentleman I met down an alley here, swapped passports, changed clothes, given him all my money. I'm now a Nigerian gunrunner named Francis Awidah. That's probably the difference you noticed in the photos.
Rebecca: Hi. Thanks about the photos. Dogon country is photogenic. Yes, a lot has been happening, but actually devoting time to this and other correspondance is a great pleasure, because I miss you and everybody from home and keeping in touch makes me feel a little closer. So that's why I update this thing. I also feel a compulsive need to share some of what's happened because otherwise I don't know WHY it's happened, it sort of feels inexplicably strange and isolated and without sense, and putting into the form of story or what have you makes it feel more meaningful to me. So that's another reason.
Louise: I responded to your e-mail, but thanks for the tip, I'll look for that book when I get back.
Ker: yeah, it's like the bat thing, but it's complicated by the fact that I know I can't understand how a bat feels, I accept that I will never know the heart of a bat, and that's fine, that's natural. On the other hand I THINK I understand how a young guy my age functions, basically, not specifically of course, not in terms of personality or disposition etc etc, but there are certain very basic assumptions I make, and when those are entirely wrong I don't despair but I do question whether I want to spent long days essentially in strained silence with these guys. Do you know what I mean? Like, when you travel to a radically foreign place there's still the possibility of connecting and the possibility of not connecting with the people you meet, and so I guess having not connected in this case I had perhaps a slightly shittier time than I would have had among friends. Or something like that. And, by the way, I do know what it's like to be a bat. It's like being a chicken, only saltier.
hey Danny boy,
ah, the adventure continues. I have to say, these are the most amazing pictures I've seen so far from your trip; amazing. I love the Indiana Jones one, and the donkey one, and definitely the market one...they're all pretty amazing.
I see what you're saying about the inability to understand or "be part of them". There's an interestin gphilosopher who's name I forgot who talks about how we can study a bat, and understand that a bat sees the world differently, but we could never KNOW what its actually like to BE the bat. anywho, don't know if that made sense or was remotely interesting, but you reminded me of it.
keep trecking, I look forward to reading the next installment...
:) Ker
you speak of les faux amis wendy cecil forwarded this blob and the one about the jew in cape coast(?). i have just returned from 31 days teaching in kitase (between madina and buri) and know of what you speak. i never left the country as you did but traveled to akisombo and madina and accra and naunga by trotro, trying to ignore the obroni obroni name calling. kwame appiah has just written a book entitled cosmopolitanism. try and find it (if you read other peoples' works). he talks about what you are talking about. i didn't see sights in ghana - it is not a country i would go to as a tourist. with whom will you celebrate passover? louise levitt
Donkeys! Why did it have to be donkeys?! Now, see, if you're really going to be indiana jones, you have to be able to save your hat from imminent peril at the very last second. You also need to know the exact weight of a bag of sand vs. that of a very expensive artifact that is really better left where it is to begin with. Practice that, and we'll talk.
HELLO!! You're there! You exist! this is wonderful! How are you? I've been reading through previous entries and it sounds like you've experienced an enormous range of, well, things. I'm surprised you have time to devote to this, it seems like so much has been happening. I'm writing this from history class, where we recieve information about what has already happened, after it's been edited by the TDSB to the point where it's safe to assume it never actually happened that way. So it would appear that the going rate for running water and air-coditioning is uncensored information. Hmmm...decisions, decisions...
The pictures that you've taken, by the way, are absolutely, stunningly beautiful. I don't think I've seen anything quite like them. (um...we breifly interrupt this comment to bring you someone from my school saying hello to you. So, "hello to You".) Just the amount of colour and light in them makes me really really want to be there.
Anyway, that's about all I can think of right now. Good luck with your travels, and I really hope you don't get sick again. Oh, and try not to bug any snakes.
Trans-atlantically, transmutably, and transexually(?),
Rebecca
long way indeed, Dorothy. I've been keeping track of your blog and in a way, im quiet jealous that im sitting in my school, bored and you're out exploring the world. Right now, you lead anything but a mundane existance and i commend you for it.
Speaking of which, my sister was watching some TV show the other day and you were on it. And now you're in Africa. I find that interesting...by the pictures (and your look on the show) you are a completley different person. In the show, you're the karasik I remember. Here, you're the Daniel I have yet to meet.
Bonjour Adam: what are you talking about? You mean that isn't a giraffe?
Rita: thanks for the health wishes and everything. I should say that while this trip hasn't been the easiest or most fun thing I've ever done, I don't regret it or bemoan the difficulty, really, because it's given me quite a strong sense of what I want. Does that make sense?
Jeannette: I'll have a really rad tan.
Ms. Anonymous: Can you please, please, please bring me Tim Hortons donuts and some sushi? So what if the plane ride isn't so good for sushi? I know how to treat stomach problems. Thanks lots.
yvonne
non-member comment
i am a ghanaian and i am from ghana and i miss ghana