Some definition?

Today I attended the second part of the conference. I certainly found parts of it interesting, but I also had trouble staying awake for others. Some of it was just too technical for me. But I now have a great understand of GILLBT and what it does. I also got to talk to Paul, the director of GILLBT, a little more and now have a better idea of what I am going to do. I will be staying in Tamale through next week. I will be visiting two microfinance sites and learning what has worked and what hasn't in the villages. Then, I will head down to Accra and stay there for a week.

I should probably describe things so far since I have yet to post any pictures. It is flat here, with few hills. Dan told me this is the Savanna. The dirt is very red (at least compared to ours) and the trees don't reach above 20 feet or so. There are some palm trees a little higher, but not many. The town reminds me so much of Nicaragua. There is trash everywhere and people ride a lot of bikes and motorbikes. Many speak English, but there are plenty that don't at all and only speak in a "mother tongue."

Tamale is primarily Muslim, as is evident by the main mosque in the middle of town and the many smaller mosques that surround it in the.. "suburbs." It can be quite annoying - the call for prayer is very loud and goes on for 10 minutes or so during the day and evening. However, I have never lived in a primarily Islamic area and to see men kneeling on mats all facing the same direction each day is very fascinating.

I have learned that a handshake (of which there are many, including some where you snap your fingers after) is the method of not just introductions but also hello and goodbye. I thought my church at home hugged alot.. Ghanians shake hands a TON. I think I shake 20 hands or so each morning and evening. You must use your right hand (I think I mentioned that.. I suppose I should stop posting so late I am too tired) for your left hand is dirty. I could never be royalty because you must be right handed.

Economically, I have discovered Ghana, and Africa's, predicament. It is too fragmented of a society. See, North America, Europe, Asia all had tribes long ago. But as time passed the groups of people slowly merged together (if not peacefully) until large groups unified under one leader or group of leaders existed. Africa has never gotten past that stage. And yet, their condundrum is that they now see the modern world and all it offers and so deeply desire it. Yet they cannot even get a unified nation! Certainly, Europe is to blame in part for the colonization and the problems that has lead to in a few countries (Sudan, Congo, Nigeria) but all in all, the Africans need to unite. Sounds cliche and obvious, but it will be more difficult than the formation of the EU. Once they have grouped together, they can learn similar languages and finally agree on the direction of the nation they want. But not one Ghanian wants to give up their native tounge. Nor do they want to have to learn another's. See the challenge this proposes? It is so frustrating, especially when you can see the beginnings of economic developing occuring in this nation but know that that is as far as it will get until the atitudes of the people change.

Today we passed slowly by a bunch of young chilrend who all started smiling and staring at me and calling me "white man." Dan translated and told me that is what they were saying. They all laughed and stared at me. They most likely have seen white people before but it is a rare thing, unlike Nicaragua. Moreover, I stick out more here than I did in Nicaragua.

I wrote a lot more today, I hope you gpt this far :)