Life lessons Hi Tay, I have followed your blog with intrigue. Its sad that you are bringing your adventure to an end and that you are preparing to leave Ghana. I m sure your kindness is very well appreciated by all. But I suspect you may have been overwhelmed by requests for assistance primarily because you are somebody who listens and show concern for the less fortunate. As an expat Ghanaian currently living in London I notice that the more I help people in Ghana the more pleas for assistance and I am sure its no different for you.
I can see why you struggle to understand ordinary people in Ghana. Like you, people always think that I have no problems whatsoever because I live and work in a developed country. The notion becomes reinforced especially if I tell people how much I earn working here. Often people look at what I earn in comparison to their current expenditure in Ghana and they conclued I am rich by earning that kind of money without any reference to my cost of living here. The truth is the major problem for most ordinar Ghanaians is the basic neccesities of food, clothing and shelter. They figure out that once these basic needs are met they will have no problems but you and I know is not true. As someone who grew up in Ghana and have experienced both worlds perhaps I may be able to shed more light on some of these issues to help you understand them better. Feel free to contact me by email and I can help explain some of these issues. I always to want to make a difference but you can easily be overwhelmed. Thats why its good that you've realised that you have to help yourself first before you can help others in need. Do not give up helping people and enjoy the remaining of your stay in Ghana.
You Rock! Hi Taylor,
I've thoroughly enjoyed reading all of your posts, thanks for keeping us all updated. I applaud you for taking on this challenge and having the courage to go after what you want. Your posts are always a great reminder for me that we need to think about more than our immediate reality and to remember the bigger picture. Thank you sooooo much for being you, YOU ROCK!
I'm still working at UCSC and really enjoying Oakes. How much longer are you planning on being in Ghana. I'm always trying to remind my four year old daughter how lucky she is, but I'm not sure if she's fully getting it. I thought it would be interesting to possibly start some type of fundraising or some other way of helping the people you work with. I would try to get her pre-school involved in some way. Let me know if you're going to be there for a while longer and maybe I can possibly working on something like that on my end.
Best,
Homayun
This Summer I also volunteered for this small scale and reading your blog brought back all those memories of hopelessness and searching for my purpose in life. The school has improved though from what you describe the local teachers are good and are not hitting the kids any more and it really is a worthwhile project
How so far with u I read all the stories u posted on the blog.
I want to know how far have u gone in search of what life can give u and how is Ghana so far in your objective mind
Wonderful writing Wonderful writing, wonderful insight for a young person. I wish I would have had such insight at such a young age!
WOW!
You are not in the universe, the universe is in you.
What if you are not thinking...you are being thought.
Amazing Hol just sent me the link to your blog. And I've just spent the last hour catching up on your journeys and experiences. Life is amazing, so colorful and so varied. Your insights are incredible. So many emotions, so much joy and so much suffering.
And if/when you are feeling alone....as you must at times as you span two worlds, two cultures....remember there are so many on both continents and that love you and hold you in the highest regard. I am with you tonight through your writing and commitment. Thank you for being there and being you.
Tomorrow is another day Hi Tay, I am an expat Ghanaian currently living in London. I found your blog accidentally and its awesome. I love reading about your adventures over there and its really awesome. You are really awesome. I am not just about to propose marriage to you so you can hold your breath ok? I need to get to know you first and in person!!! and that is not going to happen now and not even in the near future so you can be rest assured. Just that I admire your courage to venture back to Ghana to experience the life of and the daily struggles of ordinary Ghanaians in a way that somebody like me who lived in Ghana until i finished KNUST may not be able to cope in the way that you are doing now. Keep it up.
Service w/ 120+ Smiles It is so cool, fasinating and unexpected how different your experience is this time doing exactly many of the things you've now done in your 2 previous trips to Africa. And so fun to laugh w/ the direct honest sharing of raw human experience that is the cornerstone of a successful comedian. And talk about living your research paper on individual/cultural differences toward pain?! So newly released from your hospital hell w/ malaria or swine flu or whatever (diagnosis irrelevant since treatment is universal, huh?) you pop right out there into the crazy chaotic and unpredictable life that is so Ghanain -- like living a 24/7 imprompt to drama. I really like the way you seem to be much more into the flow of things, so different from the intense emotional highs and lows of your initial introduction to the magic and tragedy of Ethiopia, wow 5 yrs ago? Keep playing up the Lord deal -- I know it is extremely dogmatic and pervasive (and invasive!!) but I believe their faith is the core of what sustains and anchors them internally that they're able to so easily deal w/ the dire daily external hardships there with such Grace. You are so clearly embracing and allowing yourself to be swept along into that vast powerful river of your own powerlessness and the joy so clearly expressed in your writing is testament to the power of nonresistance. GO WITH THE FLOW KIDDO it's a crack up to vicariously share it w/ you (esp as I pout that my fax isn't working and my printer is out of ink, again! and isn't configured right, I'm out of fresh orange and carrot juice blah blah blah) Bless you for putting a smile on my face and a lightness in my heart. LOVE YOU PA! Your Maa
Oh Tay, I can't believe you didn't go to the private hospital you put me in when I was there, but NO QUESTION you are there to live the raw experience from the ground up. No obruni fluff for you my sweet brave girl. But you get Owusu! And for that I am deeply envious. I know my hospital stay was a hilarious highlight of my visit-- but then you stayed in my room 24/7 and I had all the comforts of home. Hopefully you'll have more humorous than horrible memories of this incredulous experience. Just next time (which hopefully wont be!) go to the damn private hospital and shell out the $40/night fee!!!! Love n Miss you! Mom
Door Closes, Another Opens I am so touched by the love an care you are getting, tho after just meeting them briefly last year I a//m in no way surprised. And given the loss of the loving, crazy. chaotic family unit you had your whole life here and never doubted it would be forever, I am brought to tears of deep joy that you are there w/ all the challenges universal to all families....and you are finding that true family is there for you. where ever you are... whether by shared blood, or hearts that beat as one. I love you so much honey
Unbelieveably Sweet You amaze me. So authentic, outrageous and funny. And I'm really pleased to see you totally present ALREADY and in the swing of the Great Ghanain Game of Great Expectations of Dear God, HELP ME NOT HAVE ANY EXPECTATIONS! The Secret to true happiness is to see the unbelieveable comedy there on a moment to moment basis. Wish I were there so much, sans heels of course.xoxoxoxo
Getting Rid of Bed Bugs Hey Tay,
Love reading your posts! Just wanted to let u know I successfully got rid of the bedbugs in our room here on the reservation... do u have a cell phone I can call ? I'd love to explain the details so u guys can stop suffering the itcH!
wow This touched me so deeply. Your eloquent expressions of confusion, joy, escape, hope, dispair, aliveness make me feel like Im in your body. What strikes me most is the absolutely certainty you are EXACTLY WHERE YOU'RE SUPPOSE TO BE. And my feverent hope for you (and me!) is that you find the secret to blending your two worlds, so you can perhaps teach me how to carry that wonder, joy, intense presence and connectiveness inside your heart where ever you are. Could also make you a multi millionaire in book sales and speaking engagements...at the White House! I love you and miss you but your joy radiates across the oceans and continents and lifts my heart. xoxoxoxxo
Good use of your time You are doing nice things and discovering what life has to offer. I'm glad you're doing this now in your young life. I wish you the best of luck and hope you discover all your strengths. I hope you get the medical experience you wanted. I'm sure the people there appreciate your contribution. Thanks for sharing your experiences.
Uncle Tom
You go, Girl! Dearest Taylor,
Though we've barely met on few occasions, I feel such kindred spirits with you. Charles has kept me informed of your adventures, as he knows how similar my passion is to yours for Africa. From the time I last returned from the DR Congo in March, 2006, I have planned to return to some part of Africa to do something. Your comments speak to the core of my own dilemma, of wanting to go and do, and being torn by the very issues you raise. I don't know where I'll go or what I'll do, but I know I must return to Africa to do my little part...it calls to me.
Thank you for sharing your experiences, as well as your "insightful rumination." I would like to be added to your email list, if you don't mind having an old-timer on your list. Your writing is absolutely exquisite!
Kindest regards,
Tari Vickery (Charles' mother)
Surrender I loved when you surrendered your mission or believed purpose and let the experience teach you. If only we could welcome each moment of our lives w/ the same open intention and willingness. As usual, your beautifully crafted narratived makes me feel like I've lived both paradise and hell with you, and as always, your unexpected pithy humor is hillarious punctuation to your profundity. Send us MORE!!!
After falling in love with Ghana during my third year of college studying abroad at the University of Ghana, I just had to come back for a nice long visit. I've learned Africa is a difficult place to make plans (as is life in general!) so I'm going with a loose goal to get some health care experience, deliver a cargo container of donations, and go wherever the dirt road takes me! To me, being here is the perfect place to continue finding out what I really want to do with my life, as it constantly transforms my perceptions of the world.... full info
Seth
non-member comment
Life lessons
Hi Tay, I have followed your blog with intrigue. Its sad that you are bringing your adventure to an end and that you are preparing to leave Ghana. I m sure your kindness is very well appreciated by all. But I suspect you may have been overwhelmed by requests for assistance primarily because you are somebody who listens and show concern for the less fortunate. As an expat Ghanaian currently living in London I notice that the more I help people in Ghana the more pleas for assistance and I am sure its no different for you. I can see why you struggle to understand ordinary people in Ghana. Like you, people always think that I have no problems whatsoever because I live and work in a developed country. The notion becomes reinforced especially if I tell people how much I earn working here. Often people look at what I earn in comparison to their current expenditure in Ghana and they conclued I am rich by earning that kind of money without any reference to my cost of living here. The truth is the major problem for most ordinar Ghanaians is the basic neccesities of food, clothing and shelter. They figure out that once these basic needs are met they will have no problems but you and I know is not true. As someone who grew up in Ghana and have experienced both worlds perhaps I may be able to shed more light on some of these issues to help you understand them better. Feel free to contact me by email and I can help explain some of these issues. I always to want to make a difference but you can easily be overwhelmed. Thats why its good that you've realised that you have to help yourself first before you can help others in need. Do not give up helping people and enjoy the remaining of your stay in Ghana.