Ghanaian Hospitality
· In Ghana, there are many types of people. This is about the people who ask for money between the people who as for help. I have noticed in Asikuma, where I work/live during the week, that very few ask for money. I walk down the streets and people greet me with smiles and ask me how I am doing. The people of Asikuma try to build friendships with me, and welcome me with open arms. In contrast, many people in Cape Coast, where I reside on the weekends, ask me for money. I wander the markets and children ask me for spare change, and others present me a false campaign to “raise money for their sport team”. I have gotten use to the differences between the people in Asikuma versus Cape Coast. As I climbed into my Cape Coast taxi, I remained silent as usual, avoiding conversation with other passengers. The man next to me, wearing all black (for a funeral), started a conversation with me. Usually when this happens, they ask to marry me so I can bring them to America, or ask for my contact info so we can “hangout” before I leave. Without fail, the man next to me asked for my contact info, but I denied as usual. My answers became short with him, as I am frustrated to have people talking to me just to offer frivolous marriage proposals. Finally it was my stop to get out of the taxi, but as I went to pay the driver, a hand stopped me. The man next to me in all black thanked me for the conversation and said that he would pay for my taxi fair. Even though I denied him a marriage and my contact info, he was still friendly to me and showed Ghanaian hospitality. I left the cab feeling a little guilty that I was not friendlier to him. Still feeling a pit in my stomach, I got into another taxi to complete the rest of my journey. The driver told me it would be 5 cedi, which it is normally 4. I was a little frustrated because I thought he was trying to cheat me, but I agreed due to my experience just moments before. As we drove down the road covered in pot holes, we passed young children who were patching up the holes. They looked so dirty and exhausted from working in the sun, it sent another pitiful feeling to my stomach. While observing these children, I here the clinking of change hitting the ground. I look to my left and the driver is holding his hand out the window and slowly letting change fall to the ground as we drive. I look in the rear view mirror and now see children with dirt covered smiles on their faces and coins in there hand. It was such a beautiful sight to see. It has changed my perspective on everything I do here.