The Ghana Way

A very low key day here today, so I've got time to write a bit. There are a few things I want to mention for future travelers. Easy to offend here without having any idea why!

1. Towels. Towels are EXPENSIVE here. If you get a towel in your hotel room, that's a win. Two towels? Well, that's luxury. Most hotel rooms will come with one towel that is expected to be shared by all room occupants. No wash clothes. Maybe a hand towel. Since towels are precious, someone may think something bad of you if they see it strewn on the floor or the bed. Or heaven forbid you should use it to soak up a spill! No! You must us a mop for that! Towels are to be kept as clean as possible. They really are expensive here. I priced a towel set over a year ago at over 50 cedis per washrag, hand towel, and bath towel. Good gift ideas for friends!

2. Titles: It's best to address anybody that is older than you as "sire" or "madam" or "uncle" or "auntie." Otherwise, they may think you think you are something special if you just call someone by their first name. Someone about the same age can be "sister" or "brother" or even "master" (said like "massa").

3. Ghanaians do NOT like to hear children crying. They assume that the child is spoiled OR the parents don't know what they are doing. Crying it out is not a culturally appropriate option here. Drives we Americans crazy! My advice? Do it "the Ghana way" until you get home and then go to town teaching your kiddo the American way. Ghanaians may not say anything, but if they see an American family with a Ghanaian kid, allowing the GHanaian kid to cry it out, they are THINKING something, and it probably isn't favorable. We had one Ghanaian who seriously asked why the family didn't just return the child because the child was throwing fits! Eh!

4. If someone offers you a drink--even a very poor person--take it. You will offend if you don't. It's hard for Americans to take a drink that cost the person 2 cedis when you know they didn't have that money to spend, but it hurts the pride of the Ghanaian person if you don't take that drink. Take it. Drink it. Say thank you. Do the same for your Ghanaian friend when they come to see you!

5. Favor culture. It's offensive here if you DON'T ask your friends for favors. By "friends" I'm talking about anybody you have met and spent more than 5 minutes with. You are allowed to ask them to wash your clothes, or help you get somewhere, or hem a pair of paints. There may be offense if you don't ask these things and they find out you have asked a stranger to do it. But it's like an investment game. The game goes, when they ask you for a favor, you are also EXPECTED to help them in whatever way they need help. Problem is, since you are American, the favor you're asked might be bigger than "Can you wash this shirt for me?" Be prepared!

6. When you offend someone, bite the bullet and humble yourself as much as you can. WAY more than you would in America. I mean, belittle yourself like crazy. "I'm just a stupid American. I need you to teach me the Ghana way. Your way is better. I'm just a small girl who didn't know better.", etc... Whatever. You're just here for a short time. Apologies like this help diminish the overriding attitude that some have that we Americans believe we are better than Ghanaians. It helps American-Ghanaian relations and will make your stay here better as well, if you've offended someone!

7. If you have a room with an air conditioner, and that air conditioner cools your room cooler than it would have otherwise been but not nearly as cool as you want it, that air conditioner is NOT broken by Ghanaian standards! It's probably just not powerful enough to cool the room completely.

8. Discuss all costs up front. Don't leave something as "I'll reduce the cost for you" or "We'll talk about it later" when it's a money matter. Know what your cost will be from the beginning. Later, the person might not give you what you expected as a rate.

9. If you ask for something extra in your hotel, know that the hotel might charge you for it, or think they are doing you a real favor! We got a talk today about how each room comes with ONE towel and ONE blanket and anything extra is a favor (or will come at a cost). It's not like America where we can ask for more and more and more towels, blankets, sheets, etc.. Just be aware of this. Might be worth your while to bring extra towels and a sheet so you don't have to mess with it!

10. Above all, remember that we need to dispel the "Ugly Americans" reputation! What is it to us, really, if we have to do things "the Ghana way" for a short while? Not much. But it might leave the Ghanaians you deal with with a better taste in their mouths about Americans. =-)