Offically Ghanian-Canadian

In the past, one of the most dreaded questions I used ot hear was: WHERE ARE YOU FROM? I didnt know how to respond. Truth be told I know I'm not the only one. I'm not the only person in the world that has many different origins, different places that you lived, or has a home in a place where you dont speak the language or look like a citizen. I think that its thanks to globalization, interracial love, and opportunity..why there are many people in our generation that feel the way i do.

My story is that I have been born to Ghanian parents, grew up in Canada (but did a hit and run--was there for one year of my life), lived in the US (texas) for seven years, then lived in the Middle East for ten years (Kuwait and Saudi Arabia). My whole life whenever anyone has asked me where I am from: I usually switch the topic or had no idea. I had never lived in Canada. Well, as for Ghana..I really didnt know. While growing up, I became disconnected from it. Didnt learn the language or the customs or traditions..and I'm not quite sure why. I looked Ghanian but didnt feel it. In my mind, it was just something that was distant from me. I never thought that I could be Ghanian. Never thought that I could be Canadian....cause I didnt live there. Or know anything about the country even though I must say that the passport rocks! Better than American!

So as a result of my confusion, one of my dreams was to go to Africa after university. To live and work there. Which is exactly what I'm doing through AIESEC in Cameroon. My choices were Ghana and CAmeroon. I chose Cameroon out of intuition as I felt like it was not the time to go to Ghana. I was definetly right. My identity and questions about it came out through a strong conversation with one of my very great friends in Cameroon Landry who's also my boss. He asked me one day weather I thought I was Ghanian and I said bluntly that I did not think it was possible because I had never been and didnt know anything about it. He looked me in the eye and said that you say you are not Ghanian because you choose not to be. Embarrasingly, I started to cry as my identity has always been a puzzle. I never knew where I was from. Confused children as my sister calls us.

I never knew that people could choose their identity. I thought that society told us what we should be. My whole life I've been told I'm not Ghanian cause I dont speak the language or know very much about the country. I've been told I was not Canadian cause I havent lived in the country for long. Thats what I assumed and thats what I believed.

After being in Oman, I have made my first important decision: I am a Ghanian-Canadian. I know where I'm from. This holiday was very important for me as it gave me a chance to figure out more about where I'm from and who I want to be. Solve this intriguing puzzle of my identity. After speaking to my parents about where I come from, the language, and some tradiitons I realized that yes...I may not know that much but this is a part of me that i need to accept. Somewhere along the line it was lost but...I can find it again. REading on the internet, emailing relatives, asking questions, looking at pictures. I can be African. I can be Ghanian.

Africa is incredible and after living in Cameroon and being in Oman I am so proud to be a part of it. Its so dynamic, so beautiful, mysterious, amazing...and I swear to god itll change your life. Its such a magical place. Stretches your limits of what is possible from women carrying pots on their heads, to the way people drive, to how people live, how people think..its very fascinating. But like I've been told this Africa of mine is full of beauty and misery...just a enormous paradox that I have decided I want to be a part of.

Most importantly, identity like everything in life is a choice. Its what we choose to be and its what we want it to be. Which is something i never knew. I thought that you had to have a lanague or behaviors..to be something. Which is important..but not necessary. Its our own personal connections to it that matter more than anything. If you believe it, then its true.

Im off to Cameroon in two days and I'm very happy to go back. Its been a weird expereince in the sense that my emotions have been ridiculous. Cried so much. Sad so much. Most of the time I couldnt even explain it to anyone around me. But After being here, I'm greatful for it because I know that Cameroon really prepared me for Ghana. At least when I go there, I'll be ready for it. REady to understand, to know and have the inner strength to know the place where I came from.

Until then I'll enjoy the last five months and work most of all to overcome my fear of the language of love: French. Something that I love and adore but have been to chicken shit to speak enough until. I need to be fluent before 25 so I better stop fearing and start working.

Offically a Ghanian-Canadian :) First important decision of 2007.

My dream is to live and work in Ghana some how. And just like everything else I've focused on in my life: Im going to do it. My sister and I put our heads together and we know some words of our language...which is cool!

Thank you Cameroon! :)