A Chance Encounter
I love exploring the world from the comfort of my home. Technology provides us the opportunity to encounter people who are different from us with ease. We can talk on the phone, text, and video chat. We can experience real-time encounters across the globe to learn about other cultures and ways of life. We can go for a walk with a friend, while in two separate parts of the world – at the same time. We can share our historical sites, gardens, and local events. We can literally experience the world at our fingertips and on demand. The ability to travel the world in this way is a gift of learning, understanding, and exploration.
Last night I met Solomon. He is a gentleman from Ghana who enjoys sharing his country and culture with me. He enjoys that I am interested in his country and what makes it special. I enjoy that he so eagerly shares his knowledge of Ghana with an outsider.
Solomon is a Cool Guy
Solomon lives in Kumasi, which is the second largest city in Ghana and the capital of the Ashanti region. He shared that Ghana currently has 13 regions which function the same way each state in the US does. Ghana is known as the “Gold Coast” because of its abundance of gold as a natural resource. He also shared that Ghana is one of the most peaceful countries in Africa and that the people who live there are good and kind.
As Solomon and I chatted, I discovered that his favorite dish is fufu (a tart doughy bread) and palm nut soup, made with marinated meats and various spices. I learned that he used to have a pet monkey named Buddy. I also found out that he has four siblings, three of them from one father and one from another father.
Solomon has a brother in Germany. He is working on learning German so he can impress his brother with his new language skills. He wants to learn other languages because it is a challenge. He works as a shop keeper Monday through Saturday selling jewelry and accessories. He has a good life and values his way of living.
More About Ghana
I learned about the beautiful kente fabric that is a sacred cloth of Ghanaian culture. These beautiful woven fabrics of silk and cotton are gorgeously designed with brilliant shades of yellow, gold, blue, red, and green. Each color holds a special meaning and each unique design represents an ideological concept. While the kente fabric was originally intended for use by royalty, it is common for Ghanaians to wear the kente for celebrations and festivities.
Solomon was kind enough to share with me an interesting tourist attraction in Ghana. The Okomfo Anoyke Sword site in Kumasi is located at one of the country’s largest hospitals. The folklore he shared told the story of a priest who placed the sword in the ground and to this day, no one has been able to remove it. It is visited by many tourists and is an honored location.
I enjoy chatting with Solomon. He is respectful, funny, courteous and truly interested in getting to know me and my culture as well. He wants to know about my life as much as I want to know about his. It is a gift to encounter others who live differently than ourselves and I embrace the joy that comes with this journey.
Peace and love,
Jessica <3
❤️❤️❤️