Dear African friend – did YOU know that Africa is not a country?

“Prejudice is a great time saver. You can form opinions without having to get the facts.”

                                                                                                                                         E. B. White

 

(this image is from http://teenskepchick.org/2011/06/13/logic-me-this-hasty-generalization/ )

This article represents the burst of some of the frustrations I have from my interactions with various friends/acquaintances of African origin! This article is dedicated to them – although I think they will not really get it until they will go out of their countries for a while (at least)!!!

Or maybe is more for me to make my frustration public in order for me to let it go and move on!

I am Romanian – but believe me I am in no way representing with my beliefs and life style most of Romanians. If you meet me you have a small piece of Romanian information through me but only that. I’m well aware of that and I am careful not to talk in the names of Romanians – “we Romanians are like that or like that” although maybe in some instances I might have some right to say stuff like that- when I do it – I try to have it based on as many facts and information as possible – and preferable as many personally experiences.

Now- Romania is in Europe as continent but Romanians are different than other people in Europe – that’s the way it should be, right? When I grow up I never had this European identity developed in me- the system I grow up in didn’t feed such feeling – for me Europe (from growing up in Romania) seemed always a very divers land and indeed once I started explore it with my work and my travels it proved to be exactly like that.

Yes- I follow the news, I want to know what is happening around me, the developments in various countries but what these news give me as information are maybe some aspects related to the political and social situations in those countries (which can be anyway biased or corrupted) and little to nothing about the culture of those countries.

After all these years of working and experiencing on different levels “Europe” (West, East, South, little bit North)…I have almost nothing that I could say “we Europeans are like that or like that”- not in terms of cultural aspects at least. Oh yeah – they are some similarities among some Eastern, among some Western, Nordics, etc. but then again that’s not all Europe no? Even those they don’t really apply so much to everybody!

 (this image is from http://ac2013.eu/annual-congress-2013/trainings/typical-european-coping-with-stereotypes-intercultural-communication/ ) 

 

First time outside of European continent I end up in “ASIA” –better said South Asia (Sri Lanka, India, and Bangladesh). In these countries the people I interacted with had a national identity quite strong (especially in India) but not a continental one (“we Asians…”) and I never felt I am in ASIA- Asia is like that or like that! Later I discovered other countries from Asian side of the world- once again never such feeling come to me and my own mental image for Asia doesn’t really include such generalizations.

I refrain myself from generalizations – doesn’t mean is easy, and doesn’t mean I always refrained. Somehow I think people tend (me included- especially in the past) to generalize more exactly the things they know the least –“never been there – 1 example then is good for all”. Once we start to have more and more experiences (and an open enough mind) then we realize in fact how little we know and how in fact nothing that you assumed about a certain culture could be really applicable to everybody.

For me was like that – once I travelled more and more and realized how complex, divers and complicated is this world and that most of the images I had were distorted, outdated, fake, stupid, not relevant, etc. and that in fact what I thought I knew I should just unlearn it (which by the way is very hard) and just continue to explore the world as critical as possible, with as least as possible expectations and to be careful in how I talk about my experience to the others. 

 (this image is from http://johnkapeleris.com/blog/?tag=mind&paged=3)

I am no “saint” in this being objective, sensitive, politically correct game – you can just check the posts on this blog from my first trips to Asia and Africa (2008 and 2009) BUT nobody is – the point is that is a continue process to work with oneself, to become more and more critical. I suppose I am now more intercultural sensitive than in 2008 and there is a long road ahead of me in what matters my sensitivity and intercultural competences.

So what about Africa? – You know that huge continent (wrongly presented on the maps and here), very rich, very divers, et.- is Africa a country? NO, of course not, even if,  let face it many of non-Africans (I know) might talk about Africa as a country – I did it in the past – I confess!

  (these  images is from http://www.ryot.org/dear-rick-ross-africa-is-a-continent-not-a-country/227809)

First time I been to Africa (yes to Africa I said- when I went to Sri Lanka I didn’t say _ I went to Asia) I was like – Africa here I come (like I was about to conquer the whole continent in the 2-3 weeks I spend in one country) and my limited experience that I had in Ivory Coast in 2009 didn’t stop me from talking to everybody about what “I did in Africa”, to name my photo albums “Exploring Africa” and so on.

Of course the people I meet there (in Ivory Coast) helped a lot in this – “so how do you like Africa?” “First time in Africa?” “We Africans are not like you whites/Europeans, we are like that and like that”, or to find souvenirs with the African continent, etc. – it was just feeding my distorted way of perceiving my own experience.

  

(this image is from http://blog.johnrchildress.com/)

In all these years, as I mentioned before I worked with myself, and with my own intercultural sensitivity and also I continued to travel as well in different countries in Africa (Ghana, Cape Verde, Togo, Tanzania, South Africa, Ethiopia, North Africa (Libya, Morocco) – not sure where the last 2 fit in the context of this article) and I broke that bubble of “Africa”- even if I had small experiences in all these countries I know something for sure - Africa is not the same and Africans are not same!!! Of course they are not – different history, different influences, different context, different people reflects in different cultures and cultural expressions – yes they do!!!(I know I am stating the obvious but this obvious is not same for everybody that’s the thing!)

BUT strangely enough my African friends do not know that! Most of them never traveled in other African countries BUT have absolute no problem in talking in the name of all Africa and Africans!!! No problem at all!!!

  (this image is from http://thyblackman.com/2010/09/24/an-african-identity/)

 So yes- here I am working with myself, to be careful not to generalize and to present as objective and contextual as possible the experience I have on the continent and guess what - my African friends/acquaintances don’t really mind!!! More than this they actually could potential reverse my own process and go back to the way I thought before – they talk about Africa like is 1 – so is ok no? (stay strong Andreea- they are not right- you know that!!!)

Is quite intriguing the following process

• I want to be sensitive, I try to be objective and contextual as possible, not to generalize what YOU do or say, to be careful on how I think and talk about YOU

• But YOU in fact want me to do that!!! YOU want me to generalize you to everybody in your continent, YOU want me to talk about you and your country and I can just replace with the word AFRICA, YOU want me to think that what I experience in another country applies to YOU as well (Or is just what is in your country applies to the others as well not the other way around? Hmm….I’m bit confused at this part)

  (this image is from http://lifeonwry.com/2012/11/16/are-you-sure-you-want-to-do-this-gratitude-experiment-day-93/) 

Now … my dear “African” friend, are you really not aware that Africa is not a country? Are you in some sort of denial? Do you really want me to explain it to you again? But how to do it as we talked about it many times and nothing changed!!!

You, that never travelled to other countries on your continent (or just to your neighbors), that you see some news on television (and not about all countries, and not about cultural aspects), you that not even in your own country you don’t know all the cultural aspects and diversity, you, that tell me that have the right to talk in the name of all Africa? Is that so?  So what gave you this privilege – just that you are born in a country from Africa? Amazing!!!!

How come you have such a strong African identity my dear? (is a mystery to me- I guess for you too as you never managed to explain it to me in clear enough terms)

You don’t know even know how much harm you do you your dear country/ sorry continent- you feed a general image which of course is not applicable to all its people, you encourage the travelers that visit your country to generalize to everybody and they will continue to do so!

Please go and travel – please go far away from your country – please go in all the corners of your continent- please stop talking about things that you never experiences, please be critical about the news you see, please think more critical about the consequences of the way you present your country, culture, PLEASE challenge yourself…and then let’s talk about what means to be African if there is such thing as African (besides somebody living in African continent)

  (this image is from http://ikale.deviantart.com/art/Open-your-mind-271889960)

 Until that stage could you do me at least a little favor? Please don’t talk about Europeans or whites (just from the perspective of the whites or Europeans that visited your country – they are really not representative – really they are not!!!) – Believe it or not – there is no such thing as white or European culture- sooner or later you will realize that (of course if you have an open enough mind)!!! The people that are coming to your country are such a minority/they are exceptions for the fact that they even end up in your country – do you know that? Don’t make any assumptions about their people back home based on them – they will probably be wrong!!!

 (this image is from http://lovelightlaughterandchocolate.blogspot.com/2013/05/am-i-ass-or-are-you.html)

 Done- I said it – is out here online, I'm ready for whatever will come after this ;)

Feel free to approach me and we can talk more about it – if you feel like me , or you feel that I am talking about you or you just don’t feel like anything from this article!

Theatre as a Tool For Change

A different world cannot be built by indifferent people.
– Horace Mann, Philosopher

It is true that in a nation the true power of change lies in its people! We can extend this to a global perspective and  say that the key for change in this troubled world it is in its inhabitants.

• What motivates people to decide to change something in their society/community?

• How can people discover and use their (inner) power for bringing about a change ? 

Read more

Peace Revolution

I use to live in Turkey…for a long time indeed. Manny Turkish people are very proud of Ataturk that founded the Turkish Republic and he had a very famous saying: “Peace at Home, Peace in the World”

When we speak about Peace Revolution, which is in fact a very interesting program with strong values that have long term mission to change the world is connecting with the same saying specially through the Inner Peace approach- Inner Peace-Outer peace. The core idea of this program is that if we are at peace within ourselves we will spread around us good energy, the choices we will make will be affected by it, and as the butterfly effect goes by we will directly or indirectly make other people more peaceful people, so on a long term we will contribute to a more peaceful world. The change is inside of us, and the change starts from each of us.

The focus is ourselves, and how we, if we want to, or if we realize that we can, we will influence the way this world will continue to be. If is more of us, then the effects will start getting visible much faster- therefore is an atypical revolution ;)

The method of this revolution is meditation: time to look inside of you, to stay there few minutes a day, to reflect on various aspects of your life, your thoughts and your emotions; to look at your past and present life and to reconsider the way you plan and live your live. It can be challenging and benefiting to follow a self development mediation program, to allow time to stay just with you, and no thoughts, feelings, doubts, worries and plans…do you think you can do that? In every moment we are thinking about something, try to be 10 minutes with no thoughts, no plans, nothing, just you going deep inside of yourself! It is challenging, and is also extremely interesting and revealing for what kind of person you are; especially when this meditation method doesn’t come by itself is also followed by reflection on yourself and your life.

I dare you to try 30 minutes today to go inside of you, where are no thoughts and no feeling – if you want some kind of guidance you can do that following this link.

Peace IN-Peace OUT ;)

Africa for beginners – Ghana

My previous experience on African continent (you can read also about here) showed me different aspects of African life (I didn’t include in those articles my experience in North Africa which I separate it because of so many cultural and historical aspects).

The sign: “Africa for beginners” on Ghana travel guides made me smile ;) and by saying this “promotion motto” to all the Ghanaians I met for sure they all smiled even more but in the same agreeing with it-myself as well after spending some time over there!

First time in Africa? – You can start with Ghana! Is a very easy going country, with peaceful and very friendly people, where you feel secure and not so much in the “zoo syndrome”. People are quite used with white people and have a very open and calm attitude towards life and other cultures.

Some of the reasons for what stated before are the following points

Ghana is the country of NGO-s and international volunteers! You will be surprised how big is the level of knowledge and awareness of regular Ghanaian people about volunteers (there already see them as a different category of people that are in their country: "are you a tourist or a volunteer?"). In every city and region of Ghana are hundredths and thousands of NGO-s and most of them are working with international volunteers. At the moment i can just dream to make people in Romania or even Turkey (where I lived so long) so aware and acknowledged about the civil society and international volunteering.

Of course to volunteer there means mostly to pay from your own money for accommodation and food and maybe some taxes to the people that are managing your local project but you can choose a very broad area or work : from helping build a school to deliver workshops for children or adults!

I even met some American friends that travelled and explored 14 African countries before deciding to develop a branch of an international NGO in Ghana – because is the most easy going country in terms as well of paper work.

I meet some of these NGO , some of them planed, some of them just in the bus , or on the beach (because I told you they are at every corner) and some of them exist only through international volunteering, sometimes with no local volunteers at all and in my perspective this is not sustainable at all and also not valuable for the local community.

For sure on such a good public opinion and huge network many things can be build – a base exists – the will is missing at the moment!

Ghana is the country of churches! Yes it is! And not only of churches, I think is the country of love for GOD! First , at every corner of every city you will find a different church (Pentecostal, Catholic, Orthodox, Methodist, Evangelical, Presbyterian, Anglican, Protestant, Baptist, Lutheran, Muslims, Charismatic Church, New Age, etc – and I am really sorry for not recalling all but for sure are much much more). I think for every 50 people is another church? I was in a village of 1000 people and they had 8 different types of churches .

Every Sunday everybody is on the roads going to various churches for the mass (some of them starting in the middle of the night in fact with the services)

As I said is not only about the churches, is about the love for GOD, almost every shop has a title related to some divinity actor: Jesus loves shoes! GOD loves you shop! Clothes from Jesus! Etc. etc. (I think i didn’t see any shop that didn’t have a divine title!

Obroni! Means "white" in some of the local languages and people will address to you by using this title : something like: YOU , white one ......! It can be fun at times, and annoying at other times , especially when you realize that for some people you are just a colour and not more ; they do address each other with friends, sister, brother (without even knowing each other) but they will not address to you like that! Maybe the most disturbing thing is that children learn that from small age, shouting to the white people on the streets: obroni, obroni, obroni! And their take cares are not explaining, telling anything to them! Is a different experience when you go in villages, where sometimes children will be terrified by you because you are white, speechless and curious – as a difference from cities where they have a lot of “superficial” contact with white people.

Non-formal education! I experienced and play with various methods with some NGO leaders and with some girls from a girl high school! None of these groups were familiar with non-formal methods, they were expecting lectures and one way information giving. For some of them was strange to ask them to involve in various games and exercises.

I had a very interesting and fascinating experience , and indeed growing for me as a trainer. Using the circle of stereotypes (where everybody has to show with they body – as statues various concepts and words) proved to be a very different experience then in Europe. With the groups I worked with in Ghana the concrete thinking was prevalent and the abstract one was a lower level. I tried to use same words like i do in Europe (some of them concrete: man, women, volunteers, American, villager, etc or more abstract: change, power, will, etc) and the results were most of them showing the concreteness of their first thoughts on those concepts.

Another interesting part was when i asked 4 groups of girls to create a small sketch where to show an ideal school. And all of them performed violence made by the teachers, strong discipline towards the students and between them. All the groups said that this indeed how they imagine an ideal school : with even more discipline and firm and tough teachers!!! Once again I was reflecting on the fact that I am just facilitating a process and not their results. Their lesson in that day from my workshop was that each of them are responsible for the discipline in their class!

Don’t imagine socking beautiful nature or safari opportunities ...Ghana doesn’t have to much of that ...the beauty and easiness of travelling around is coming from its people!