Ghana Blong Entry Two: Who Am I And Why Do I Want To Go To Ghana?

Merriam-Webster defines culture as "the characteristic features of everyday existence shared by people in a place or time." It's a bit of a struggle for me to define what exactly my personal culture consists of because I consider myself to be a fusion of many different culture groups. I'm an Indian-American with strong ties to India, I'm also a typical American youth, and I have a very diverse group of friends whom I identify with. However, I can pinpoint a few things that represent who I am including my values, what I eat, what I like to do for recreation, the languages I speak, and my belief system.

1) When it comes to values, I'm a person who believes in the importance of caring for others, giving back to society, and striving for equality. Hence, my decision to double major in Social Work was motivated by my passion for social welfare. I've volunteered and interned for a number of organizations whose causes I believe in. Refugees, battered women, rural children in India, and youth in the inner city are some of the populations I've worked with. Since I have a strong interest in empowering underserved communities, and I hope the Ghana Maymester will give me a chance to learn more about social justice. I hope to work in the non-profit sector in the future, particularly with developing nations, and I feel that this program will expose me to the realities of a career in that line of work.

2) In terms of food, let me just say I LOVE trying new cuisines. My favorite cuisines include Mexican, Indian, Asian, and Middle Eastern food. Whenever I travel to a new country, I like trying food that is native to the place. Whether it is crepes in France, paella in Spain, chana masala in India, or tamales in Mexico, I'll eat pretty much anything as long as it looks good and is vegetarian. I've heard that Ghanaian food is spicy, and since I love spicy food I'm looking forward to trying it!

3) I like doing a wide range of things for fun, including listening to music, dancing, going out to eat, shopping, reading, meeting new people, being outside and visiting museums. I'm looking forward to meeting my peers on this trip as well as interacting with the Ghanian people. I'm also looking forward to going to authentic markets in Ghana as well as attending cultural events. Since I have an interest in history and anthropology, I think it will be very interesting and a moving experience to vist Kwame Nkrumah's museum and the Cape Coast Castles. Lastly, I think it will be fascinating to experience the outdoors in Ghana, ranging from the beach and the forests to the different wildlife that inhabit the region.

4) Another important aspect of my personal culture is the languages I speak. In addition to English, I can read, write, and speak in two Indian languages: Hindi and Tamil. India has 26 national languages and hundreds of dialects, and my family speaks two of them. I also studied Spanish for six years and I reached the intermediate level of Arabic here at UT. I have a passion for languages and learning how different people communicate with one another. I understand that while Ghana's official language is French, there are many dialects spoken by people in different parts of the country. I'm interested in seeing how language plays a role in the lives of the Ghanian people and understanding language trends among different groups.

5) The last aspect of culture I will discuss is my belief system. I am a Hindu by birth, and while I believe in many aspects of Hinduism, I also incorporate aspects of Zen Buddhism into my life. Both Hinduism and Zen practice encourage taking care of oneself (hence my interest in yoga), respect for all living beings (reason for my being vegetarian), and acceptance of others. I've always been interested in world religions, as exemplified by the fact that I'm currently taking Religions of the Middle East and The Dead Sea Scrolls. Additionally, I have friends of many different religions, and it is interesting to me how religion plays a role in each person's life. Among other things, I'm interested to see the influence of religion on the lives of the Ghanian people. I learned in my Intro to Modern Africa class that there are a wide range of religions practiced in Ghana, including various sects of Christianity, Islam, and indigenous faiths. I'm looking forward to seeing how these different faiths coexist.

Ultimately, all the aspects of my personal culture influenced my desire to participate in the Ghana Maymester. Throughout my life, I have always been interested in learning about different cultures and analyzing how they are similar or different to my own. I feel that Ghana will have a lot to offer me in terms of personal growth, exposure to a new place, and knowledge of the country's history and background. From a historical and sociological stand point, this program will teach me a great deal.