Balcony Adherence

Sunday walks by the Canal

I haven't been able to sleep past 8 A.M. since I have arrived, and I found a reason to be grateful for that today.  I am sitting outside on a balcony overlooking my neighborhood and it's refreshing. This is the first time that I have done this, but I think it will become a daily ritual. Why would I enjoy waking up early to sit? Well grandpas have it figured out. As I sit out here I can't help but feel such sweet harmony in the morning air. I can hear the humming of daily life outside of my  own chaotic and noisy NYU student compound that so often drowns out anything else. As I said before, my largest adjustment has been living in a large group of college students, and that has proved to be increasingly tricky to navigate at times. I haven't yet had a chance to hum along to daily Ghanaian activity because I have been in constant roaming with my peeps from New York.

But I sit here today with new resolve and purpose.

There is a gentle breeze that has a slight cooling effect from the sun that is just beginning to share its warmth with me. I watch the blanketed clouds slowly roll back for the sun and unravel the possibility of quality beach time later on today. Small chattering and distant passionate arguments make a shift through the air as well. I feel giddy sitting here. The sound of crunching gravel under neighbors' feet as they walk past my house on the road satisfyingly proclaims itself. But my ears are tuned in to the consistent melody of various tropical birds. This reminds me of home in the canyon, adding a realistic and comforting sound of the outdoors I know. Like I said before, I love Accra, and could easily find myself living here. If only living through the quiet rhythms of a Saturday morning in Accra was practical for every day living.

I think I have found a way to manage that.

Ralph Waldo Emerson once said "Adopt the pace of nature: her secret is patience". As my blog clearly states I am nomadic, a true wanderer at heart. Let me explain my thoughts on that further. I have often found in the middle of academics discussing the concepts surrounding  the notion of  racial, sexual, spiritual, and physical "outliers" as defined by society . As an individual that studies these topics of identity, I recognize the serious setbacks/pain many face as someone who only fits in those margins. Someone who feels they must shift and navigate new identities because the environment they are in does not accept them, often leaves people feeling nomadic and restless as they try to find a group of belonging and acceptance. In general, I feel that my identity as a white, straight, educated, able-bodied female, I am overall accepted by the mainstream. But what do we make of those nomads that come as a result of physical, not emotional navigation?

I have moved 24 times - 4 states, and a small amount of time in 2 other countries and can tell you the result is the same: restlessness and an eager sense of belonging in my travels. I would not call this frequent amount of moving  as a child damaging, but rather a circumstance resulting in good and bad components. As I said before it often leaves me impatient and quick to find more adventure and new people, leaving me at the threshold of adventure and blanketed in a life filled with the sweet taste of life on my tongue. I would call many instances of my life truly magical. Yet, these same instincts pull me away from my sweet family and friends that I love so dearly, hindering magical moments with the people I love most to happen frequently. And sometimes when I can't find my sweet spot of adventure, I become restless and dreamy for new thrilling scenery. I often experience life with my loved ones through Face-time screens, not face to face contact, which is often difficult for me. And I know that my fast speed can only realistically maintain itself in short spurts. So, Emerson once again has created a proverb that I am trying to adopt as key component of my life.

You da man Emerson.

So how does patience happen here in Ghana? Well first of all, God must be laughing (And that is how I know I am on the right track). I have once again been sent to a country that operates on a different sense of time. If  you say we will meet at 3 o'clock that really means 4 o'clock.GMT time does not stand for Greenwich Mean time but Ghana Mountain time I have been told.  Like I said though, the slow pace of time has been good for me, and quite refreshing. The difficulty here lies with my surroundings of other NYU students trying to acclimate. I find myself too quickly becoming critical of our groups as "stereotypical Americans" than I am patient and understanding of the discomfort caused for both parties in this cultural exchange. I need to find more patience for people from my own country, something that will benefit me anywhere I go.  As I sit on the porch today, I am reminded of that. Thanks again Emerson, you always know how to say it well.

His proverb also reminds me of something that I think will really improve my personal happiness. When I am most self-content  I am usually in nature. Finding a way to carve out quiet space to feel the rhythms of nature around me is one of the best ways I can find appreciation for myself and for god. I can testify that spirituallity can be found in loud and chaotic moments, but some of my most memorable spiritual experiences have been in the quite, simple, and serene times in nature. I guess that means just one thing.  Challenge accepted.

I'll let you know how it all goes. But for now
Yɛbehyia bio

Jessica

PS if you made it this far you deserve to look at a few more pics.... sorry for my novels!

Sunset Sky Lovin

Balcony View

ACOM .... yeauuh