I was listening to this on BBC online today...thought I would share. Its not too long...about 22 minutes.

The Grass is Greener

Thanks Zee, I enjoyed listening to that. Very interesting.

Thanks Zee for posting this...I find this to be true to everything my husband has said about why he came to the States and why members of his family now want to come. There seems to be this misconception that the US is the land of milk and honey, so to speak. I ask my husband all the time why people living a relatively good life in Ghana (i.e. low stress, more freedom, stronger community, etc...) want to trade all that to come here and struggle?!! I guess the grass always seems greener on the other side...Lord knows, some days I would trade everything to go live somewhere with a slightly slower pace and less stress so I can understand the desire to pursue "greener pastures." Even though, those of us who live here know what the real deal is!

I would trade my life here for my ife in Ghana any day. The only thing is that I want to be totally done with my education first. Plus, my fiance was already going to come here to get his Masters, so we are going to be here for a little bit. But, the plan, for both of us, before we even met, was to settle in Ghana.

I have stopped trying to convince my cousins that life in the US is not all that. Whenever you tell them about how much things cost they either say "you're lying" or "take me there to see for myself". Nothing works. I have cousins who are professionals in Ghana who would give up everything to come here and wash dishes in some hole-in-the-wal because they figure that the $1 or $2 that they save can do a lot in Ghana. They don't see the extra costs of living in America. There is no concept of insurance of any kind, let alone how much we pay on utilities, rent etc.

This had me smiling. I know this to be true, but I think most Americans do not realize how great this desire is. I spoke to the family in Dakar today (they called me, by the way, as they always have and also warned me not to bring anything, just myself) and they were laughing when I said that we work so much that I fell asleep at a stoplight the other day. They couldn't believe that I could fall asleep while driving. They said, no, just come and live here. Since my husband has been traveling to Europe for years, they know well that it doesn't mean money. Still, they really like to ask me about it since everyone they talk to still tries to fill their heads with the nonsense. THe most argumentative people on the topic only have movies as their knowledge source. I realized I was arguing with people about where I live. How ridiculous was I? But you know on the serious tip, this topic is very personal to me as my husband's family comes from an area near the sea where hundreds of people die everyday on the boats (the pirogues, the gaal, little wooden canoes) trying to get to the Canary Islands (to get into Spain). There are countless families left without sons (a great majority of them die and those who make it are often put in jail for months to process and are returned). There is actually a lottery where women pool their money and whoever wins gets to have their son's boat voyage paid for. My students actually did a presentation on this topic last week and there were tears in the class. So, in order to understand the whole desperate-to-get-to-the-West phenomenon and the "greencard marriage" phenomenon, one has to understand how life is and how people think that their only hope is to leave, not rebuild. A lot of people die behind uneducated decisions based on what they hear from others, regardless of the truth.

I guess it is for these reasons that I can't stop trying to tell people how it really is. I keep explaining that my school and fellowship paid for my tickets. This next trip will be the first trip that I ever paid for myself and actually I only paid for half since the other half was covered by those frequent flyer miles I gained from my South Africa research trips. I have a hooptie car and $100,000+ debt. Even when I finish my education, I can hope to make a whopping $38-45K per year starting salary. They really don't believe me. I laughed when you said they didn't believe you Z, because you know most people think that you just don't want them to come and share in the fruits.

What bothers me the most is if one is consumed with the thought of leaving, how then could the creativity be generated towards a better future, creating a business and making some sort of life at home? I see young people who have been unable to go to school in Senegal but they are studying Spanish. I know what is next and I hate it. I hate it, hate it, hate it. We lost so many people to the seas during slavery and now we are on our second round of losing our youth to the seas en route to Europe. It's very painful. It's another reality all togehter...yes, we need to make spreadsheets of our income and what we pay out every month, rent, insurance, renter's insurance, electricity, water, sewage, internet, phone, cell phone, gas, gas for the car, food (my food costs more than the rent in Dakar), health insurance, prescriptions, doctor's visits, education, maintenance on what you have...show how we often live on credit to survive. If you have children then the daycare costs would blow them away. Here you have to often pay your relatives to watch your children and that just wouldn't happen there. I have to keep trying...for Africa's sake. Peace yall.

I saw a documentary about the Canary Islands and the people who risk their lives trying to get into Europe. Here is one of the clips.




Here is yet another.

Hey Zee,

I just had a quiet moment to sit down and listen to the interview. It is always good to hear different perspectives and to understand others plight. I agree Ms. Zee, that even after visiting Ghana only once, I would trade this constant grind for money, education and status-seeking here in America for some peace of mind in Ghana. I specifically remember my first morning waking up to the calming prayers of the Muslims. I have never felt so at peace.


Thanks for posting.


"Look to Africa, for there a king will be crowned."
Marcus Garvey

I was not born in Ghana and I would live there any day! The calm, the peace, the sanity, is something I have never experienced in my life until I was there. My fiance and I plan to settle in Ghana once he is finished with his masters degree as well. If you have decent money, you can live very comfortably in Ghana. He wants to give back and improve Ghana and so do I. I am excited for that day to come. Maybe I will see you there, Zee!

You know it girl

I'll be right around the corner in Liberia! So don't ya'll forget about me!

Who are you ?

I see how it is. Fine, I'll just come visit you guys in Ghana.

Make sure when you come that you give us no warning and stay as long as you want

LOL, I'll definately be sure to wear out my welcome.

We will have a Visa Journey reunion! LOL!