43. Back to Basics

Being in Ghana for an extended amount of time has revealed to me how excessive my American life is. I have a closet full of clothes I barely wear, supplies for those projects I hope to complete some day, and keepsakes, school work, trinkets and furniture that is really just stuff. I spend money frivolously and frequently act impulsively. While living life in Ghana I have been able to genuinely evaluate my lifestyle and mentality towards what's necessary.

Now granted, when working on a construction site, living somewhere between summer camp and village life, and having limited extra curricular or social engagements you require very little. In America- whatever I wind up doing- working, volunteering, building or all three- And wherever I wind up living, I will want to employ some of the lifestyle lessons I have learned this summer.

I will probably want, not need though, more than the 30 or 40 articles of clothing I have with me now. I plan to massively purge my belongings upon returning to the states. Donating clothes, selling furniture, finding rightful homes for the all the things I don't need. This is especially so since I have a lot of knew Ghanaian fashions to add to my wardrobe. The simple and slow life is what I crave- making things with my hands and taking the time to engage my daily activities- use them meditatively. If you have just a handful or garments you wear regularly- there is no reason you can't take an hour to sit and wash them by hand. Is there really such rush?

Or the need to be able to multitask? We typically throw a load of laundry in and do something else while it's running the same with dishes. But let me tell you there is a very satisfying feeling of putting a little bit of elbow grease into your clothes and getting the dirt out by hand.

Cooking has always been something I enjoy- and having all my meals prepared for me is nice after a long day on the site- but I quite wish I could work in the kitchen some evenings to help prepare meals for the volunteers. Especially to cook over an open fire! I will go back with a much greater appreciation for meal preparation. I also can't wait to have just a couple plates, cups, and utensils. Makes washing and storing more efficient.

Public transportation in Ghana has really surprised me. While working in Charlotte I would use the trolley and bus system to get to and from work. I would regularly look at the schedule and plan my departures and arrivals accordingly- I was a slave to the clock- making sure I was able to catch a ride home... Here there are buses called tro tros that run to and from specific places, but can drop you off anywhere along the way. There is no schedule, no time clock- there is just waiting and waiting and being ok with catching a ride when you can. You can stand at a tro tro stop, at a taxi station, or anywhere along the side of the road really. The tro tros and taxis for that matter are anything but fancy or a luxurious experience- they're usually a striped down vehicle with seats that are torn and parts that are broken. Sometimes the most entertaining part of the trip is the number of people squeezed in. I think the record from our group was 11. Two in the driver seat, two in the passenger seat, 4 in the back seat, 2 in the trunk and 1 on the front hood. This is very much a small village occurrence and you will not see this in a larger village or city with police. But it happens in Abetenim all the time and it's hilarious!

It has taken me a little bit to get used to this level of inconsistency- but it also quite nice to notice the little things along the way that you might not have if you were in a rush.

While working in a village quite a distance from home base, it was tricky to figure out transport. The group decided to hire a car that would talk all of us each day to and from the job site. Sulleman was our driver and he was really nice and I am convinced his car was one of the nicest tro tros in Ghana!

Notice the American flag! :)

I love getting dirty and scraped and cut and bruised. It's record of hard work, encouragement to get stronger, and reminder that we are sensitive creatures. I need more getting dirty.

I also need more time outside. As Americans- we spend about 90% of our time indoors. WHAT!? Why!? Makes no sense- even more to me now. I just spent 3 months of my life living 90% outdoors. I'm not sure I want to go back to being an innie.

Speaking of being an innie- who says you cant turn innie things into outie things- like showering!! I bless the rains down in Africa.

All these reflections bring me to report that I am a changed person. Not because I am new or different- but because I have learned more about myself. More about how I'm wired, and what I am truly like as a person, as a being, as a designer, as an occupant of this earth.