Ever since I came here I have been discovering new things that I never thought I would miss. There are the obvious ones like hot showers and washing machines. Things like the creature comforts of American food in general, and cheese specifically. Then there is the great comfort that I've grudgingly admitted to missing. With a mix of resignation and a little shame, I'll admit I miss my t.v. Yes that giant box of wasteful electricity that contributes nothing but the oh so welcome opportunity to shut off my brain for a while. My inner environmentalist hates me, but he'll get over it. This whole adjustment has made me re-examine the guilty pleasures. Things like driving and watching television may be wasteful, but they are so darn nice it's really hard not to miss them.
When I first came here I was really excited to declutter my life and live on a more environmentally sustainable level. It still brings me pride when I look around my room and realize that I was able to reduce all my stuff into two checked bags and a carry on. However, it has also shown me that I like my stuff. There are a few items that I brought with me that make me smile simply because I own them and they are nice. Living out here has shown me the true value things. Not just the important immaterial ones, but the less important material comforts too. The weird thing that comes with the realization of missing my stuff or the ability to get more stuff, is the acceptance of this. Maybe I'm a little more desirous of the consumer culture than I thought. I really miss amazon. Everything I could possibly want was a click away. Now, well, the market is nothing if not more interactive. Basically, I've learned that I do miss the things that made my life easier on a substantial level. Once I get back to civilization I will appreciate those things more and I think that's a good.
All my romantic notions of living a simple life have come face to face with the reality of living in a small undeveloped farming community. Life out here is rough. What makes it harder sometimes is that they know it. Ghanians know that there is a better (or easier) way to do things and they want a piece of the pie. Who are we to say that they shouldn't have it? It would be entirely hypocritical of me to say to a Ghanian, Well you can't have a t.v. because it's bad for the environment, but I'm too used it by now so I need one". Growing up in the rich suburbs of Boston makes it easy to see the wasteful side of development. However, as a Peace Corps Volunteer I've lost the luxury of being jaded. Here, they need development and it would be a good thing. We have the opportunity to start at the ground level and do it right. We need to develop a mentality of conservation before habits of excess consumption start taking hold. Furthermore, it could be argued that it is up to the developed countries to find a better way to have all our conveniences. You can't tell an American to throw out their washing machine and wash their clothes by hand, anymore than you can tell a Ghanian to stop dreaming about one. Conveniences are not necessarily bad in and of themselves, but we need to smart about them. Americans always find a way to have their cake and eat it too, so this shouldn't be any different.
While Ghana's technology may be behind, the modern culture of consumerism is in full force. Every purchase whether at a roadside veggie stand or in a store, comes with a black plastic bag. The majority of these end up tossed on the ground. The only means of disposal is sweeping up the trash and burning it. While this certainly hurts the atmosphere, I can't say for certain whether filling up landfills is a better option in the long run. Burn it now, or let it sit in a hole for eternity. There has to be a better way out there.
A lot of Ghanains looks to America as a country that has it all. When I talk to some of them, it's like I'm on Ellis Island talking to immigrants who came to America to find a better life. To them, America is still the land of opportunity. While we may scoff at the reality, it's still a testament to the image that the United States has in the rest of the world. The spirit that brought our ancestors to settle America is still alive. While the phrase "Living the dream" is often accompanied with a sardonic grin among my friends, the fact is that, in America, we are living the dream. It might be a Ghanian's dream, but it's a dream nonetheless. It really makes me appreciate the fact that when I go back, I'm going to have it made. That's a powerful realization. In a way, Ghanains have taught me to dream again. They are still dreaming despite the harsh realities they face everyday. It keeps them going. That's what dreams are supposed to do, and I'm incredibly lucky that I get to live them out.
