Day Nine

Today we visited another university, where we had a lecture and got to visit with 23 students there. After the lecture we split into small groups and discussed questions we had for each other. They wanted to know our reasons for coming to Ghana, how we liked it so far, our opinions on the role of the West in Africa's development. We also discussed the lecture, which was about how civilization started in Africa. I wanted to know their opinions on the development of Africa, and we discussed the role of subsidies, international aid, and the Ghanaian economy. We all agreed America and the EU need to stop the inefficient and harmful practice subsidizing farmers instead of focusing so much on aid, and that ultimately Africa needs to be more in control of extracting and processing its own resources (did you know 70% of the world's resources are in Africa?). As one of the girls (whose Western name was Gloria, and I can't for the life of me remember her Ghanaian name--isn't it funny how we remember so much better the things we're used to?) talked about her ideas on the subject, I just thought to myself how incredible it was, being here in Africa, talking to a Ghanaian student about her views on the development of her country and continent. It was definitely one of my favorite moments so far. After the discussion we exchanged facebook and email information, and took some pictures together (yes, not only did we have the chance to meet but possibly keep in touch!). Then we had a lunch all together and there was a traditional song and dance performance. The performers were really skilled, some of them played music, some danced, and all along a traditional spiritual story line. At the end they made us all get up and dance with them in a big circle, I'm sure we looked slightly ridiculous, but it was fun anyway. Another funny thing was that two different students asked me if I was married because I wear a ring on my left hand ring finger, and one of them told me "you won't make a lot of male Ghanaian friends wearing that ring, men won't talk to you". I didn't quite know how to respond...

This evening we had readings on the impact of the slave trade and the role of Africentrism in social work with African Americans. Both very interesting. Tomorrow we head to Cape Coast to see the slave fortress at Elmina. We will stay there two nights and then stop at Kakum National Park on the way back. We'll be on the beach and staying at the Coconut Grove Resort. It should be a nice change of scenery from the city.