30th August, 2013. 7:59
Cape Coast
The world doesnt need someone to try and change it, it will evolve no matter what.
No one is made with superhuman qualities to come and "save" the world. Because it doesnt need saving. The greatest human quality is adaptation. Everyone is able to live with what they have, and if they cannot then maybe in their next life they can.
Im not going to try and play God, I do not hold anyone's life in the palm of my hand. All we need to do is teach others to be self-sufficient so they can continue when you are gone.
Im not here to "save" anyone. The only person im really saving is myself, from greed and naivety. Im here to see whats real and whats not, to experience a culture and pick and take all the good things to apply into my life back home.
So far it has been an amazing experience, but at the same time there have been moments when ive felt cheated and angry. But thats all a part of growing and understanding. My shell is hardening.
I realised that my greatest weakness is sympathy and I think my time here has really hardened me because some people try to use you, because you are white and so you must have money, they will try to cheat you. But ive learnt that you must always study a person before you can trust them. I will never forget what my friend Stephen said to me during my first few weeks here. He told me that "you have to show them that you are smarter than them" when a couple of kids were trying to persuade me to give money and sign a petition for their fake soccer team. I think this phrase is embedded in my mind and has been useful in many other situations during my time here.
The sooner we banish the idea of us white and apparently so fortunate people need to come save the third world, the quicker we may realise that we can learn some genuine life lessons from them.
To fight on no matter what, to respect the elderly, to mend instead of throw away, and the list continues to grow.
But also, the difference in culture means a difference in mentality. I dont think I could ever marry a Ghanain because our customs are too opposing. Its really weird here, everyone asks if youre married or if youve had kids but when you ask them theyre either unmarried with kids or theyre married but theyve cheated or have other kids with other women. Its a bit all over the place really. Its a bit of praying without preaching.
Travelling around the world really makes me appreciate home, the variety of culture and our open-mindedness. I used to be frustrated by the lack of Australian culture, but now i really value the spectrum of nationalities and accompanying traditions.
