That's the Way of the World

"And then there are things in life that you see that are just so incredibly beautiful. And how can we explain that?" Nathan and I were standing on his balcony. It was nighttime and the air was cool, but muggy. We talked about everything; how he is pretty positive that his girlfriend back home is the one, how I didn't know what I was doing with my life anymore, how we think we've changed since coming here. If there's one thing that Ghana has shown me, it's that life isn't as complicated as we make it.

My mind has been running rampant lately. Before coming to Ghana I pictured myself working for an NGO within the next two or three years. Now I don't. I feel really lost at this point. I'm wishing I would have gone into the arts. I'm contemplating making my Global Studies major a minor and then tagging on a Music Minor if at all possible. It seems as though that the only thing that has been constant in my life has been music. There's always been music. It's something that we can all share.. maybe we don't all agree on what is enjoyable, and what isn't, but we all share a love for music. The arts seem to be the only solid thing I see now. They're so integral to human creativity. It's humanity at it's finest.

I see so many different dynamics in Ghana. A guy on my floor drives a Jaguar, while across the street at the Night Market, the people who work at those stands sleep in their stands and their children relieve themselves in a nearby field. Nathan and I think it's strange how humans have set up things in the way that they have. Like the concept of careers. All we need is shelter, clothing, food, water. Why can't we just work for those things for each other? Why complicate it further? When I wonder how we would get all of these other things.. like electronics, cars, etc.. I really realize how materialistic I am. I've become angry with myself lately because I realize that I feel like I need these things. And I can't stop myself from feeling like I need these things. I really don't know what I'd do without my iPod. When I'm at home, I love to buy clothes. I know I'm not the only girl my age that does that, but I still feel terrible. I can't help myself. Even here I constantly wish I could just go clothes shopping. Well, it doesn't help that the girls on campus dress up way more than we do, but regardless. I was telling my friend what I was thinking, and he said that there are a lot of things that we can do to help others, but it seems like sometimes doing things like that wouldn't help anyone even if we didn't indulge.

The one luxury that I've struggled without here is my car. When I'm at home and want to clear my mind, I go driving. I drive and listen to music and just soak in everything. It really bothers me that I don't have that outlet here. I've come the conclusion that I would see so much more of Accra if I did have a car. I would just go drive everywhere, find out where everything is, see everything. As of now I don't have a clear map of the city in my head at all. I take public transportation so I just know some major roads and what some things look like. I feel I could experience so much more if my transportation was unlimited.

To clear my mind here I usually just go on my balcony, burn some incense, and sit down. My recent revelations on life have come in conjunction with meeting a specific person. Whenever I'm with this person I feel very carefree. Life seems simple and enjoyable. This person has had a lot happen to them in their lifetime, but doesn't let it keep them down. I just want to live life. I think that's what everyone really just wants to do. There are so many rules made by governments, religions, societies. And I think that a lot of them are unnatural. It just seems like a game of controlling the next person. That's the thing about humans. We hate to be controlled, but at the same time we try to control everyone else. Everyone deserves to just live their life. Take pleasure in simple things. Be happy with your immediate surroundings. We get so bogged down with societal pressures and other worries that we forget to cherish what we have in front of us.

The people I've met here, who are right in front of me now, are what have made my experience in Ghana. People from all different backgrounds, classes, races, nationalities, sexualities. Definitely there are things that I've learned from just being here physically, but it's mostly the people that make Ghana for me. Even after only being here for a short time there are people I feel I can tell anything. My eyes have been opened like never before. One thing that Nathan and I concluded on was that we've both loosened up a lot since coming here. Neither of us were very uptight in the first place, but we have relaxed quite a bit. Things we weren't able to tolerate before are now normal. However, we feel that when we get back to the States, we think we'll find that we can no longer tolerate other things that we did before. In particular, close-minded people. I know that I won't allow myself to be surrounded with people that can't tolerate difference. I won't have any patience for them.

I don't know what I'm going to do without the people that I'm with right now. I realize that my viewpoint on things is very different from everyone else going home after this semester. I don't know what I would do if I was only doing a semester. There are so many relationships that I've recently acquired that I want to expand on, and the fact that I'm coming back makes it possible. I don't know how I'll handle the end of next semester, though. I think the hardest thing in the world is to be physically detached from those you love. I feel like I've dealt with it quite a bit. And it never gets easier. You just have to believe that if you were meant to be together again, you will be. But you have to make that effort.


That's the Way of the World
by Earth, Wind, & Fire

Hearts of fire creates love desire
Take you high and higher to the world you belong
Hearts of fire creates love desire
High and higher to your place on the throne

We’ve come together on this special day
To sing our message loud and clear
Looking back we’ve touched on sorrowful days
Future pass, they disappear

You will find peace of mind
If you look way down in your heart and soul
Don’t hesitate ‘cause the world seems cold
Stay young at heart ‘cause you’re never (never, never, ..) old at heart

That’s the way of the world
Plant your flower and you grow a pearl
A child is born with a heart of gold
The way of the world makes his heart so cold