Humble Reunions

 There's just something about Ghana that will always keep bringing me back. Today that "something" became a lot less of a mysterious inexplicable feeling and much more of a concrete reality. It's the people. Since arriving in Ghana just two days ago, I have been settling into my home stay, meeting up with old friends, and preparing for my research which starts tomorrow. My first few days reacquainting with old friends and having deeply humbling experiences with new ones has given me a perspective that I have been lacking in the past few months back in the states--fostering a sense of gratefulness and humility toward all that life has to offer. 

The most prominent quality of Ghanaian culture is its hospitality. A foreigner could not step foot in this country without feeling completely welcomed. Upon my arrival, I was overjoyed to be invited back into my Ghanaian home by my host family. They have treated me incredibly well and are an amazing testimony to the phrase that is engraved upon the entrance to their home: “In God We Trust”.

One of the most meaningful conversations that I have already had in Ghana is meeting my new, younger Ghanaian host sister. Her English name is Bridget, but both she and I are very fond of her Ghanaian name: Melenya.* Just last night we spoke for about three hours in bed about Ghana, our goals and dreams, and about life in our respective countries. Despite the misfortunes of her life, Melenya embodies a sense of gratitude, but more importantly, joy. Her optimism is infectious and her curiosity is a pleasure to encourage. Her attitude towards life and her giggly and unassuming demeanor reminds me of the kind of perspective that I want to have when interacting with everyone I meet. She reminded me that it is not enough to just claim that I “don’t want to judge a book by it’s cover.” It means meeting people and not just giving them a chance to make a good impression on me but to actively bring out the best in them and to help to cultivate what they view as their best attributes, not what I think such attributes should be. I look forward to many humbling moments with Ms. Malenya in the future—our girls nights may just become a tradition.

A similar meeting with a little girl that continues to blow me away was a reunion with Giftie. I met the sweet girl when I made the mistake of putting African braids in my hair last summer while in Ghana. Needless to say, the braids did not last long, and Giftie and her hairdresser mother had the task of taking them out. Upon meeting Giftie, I was astounded by her intellect. She was an avid story teller and would not stop asking me questions. In fact, her asking an abundance of questions reminded me quite a bit of myself. I quickly became good friends with this girl, visiting her every other day and taking silly pictures and recording videos for her to enjoy. Upon leaving Ghana last summer, I vowed to call her on Sundays and to become her pen pal (See Picture).

Today was a big day for Giftie and me. I decided long ago that I was going to surprise her with my return to Ghana. The reunion was an incredible one. Her mother brought me into their house, and I found Giftie watching Tom and Jerry on her television set. She jumped up, started tearing up, and leaped into my arms while exclaiming “Auntie Jessie’s back”! She then ran into her room and showed me all of the things she has been collecting to give me. She gave me letter after letter with stories and drawings on them. (See picture). She even completely filled up the coloring book that I gave her last year with detailed drawings and colored pictures on every page. Her dedication was so high that she even colored to the point of using up ALL of the crayons that I gave her, rendering them useless stubs. This girl is one of the most brilliant girls that I have met—with proper education she could go so far. I am excited to watch her grow and to continue our friendship. The last thing she said to me made me emotional as I was leaving her home this evening: “Auntie Jessie, you have made me the happiest girl in Ghana—no you have made me the happiest girl in the world.” As I was walking out of the house and clutching the hundreds of pages of work that Giftie has dedicated her free time to give to me, I looked back to Giftie and realized that she has made me feel the exact same way.

*Melenya wants me to tell you all that she is very excited that I told her I would be writing about her in my computer blog :)