WYPIPO

2 more days and it will be a month that I've been here in Liberia.  A large portion of my days are spent interacting with a large amount of white people. I have no problem with white people. I promise you, I don't. It's just, I'm in Africa. Liberia, West Africa. Monrovia to be exact. I'm a bit forlorn that I haven't interacted with more of us. This city, it's entertainment, it's economics, it's livelihood, seems to thrive on...white people by virtue of the large number of NGOs in town. No doubt my sphere of influence is dictated by the fact that I work for one of said NGOs and also cohabitate with work colleagues. I have found ways to carve out extra time chatting in the departments where more of us are sprinkled.  My immediate work however, doesn't regularly call for trips to finance, training officers, the kitchen, drivers, or security booth.  There are us everywhere. Heck, we may be the majority, even at work. Yet, I'm feeling encumbered by the whiteness  of my day to day. Perhaps I need to get back out in the field. Perhaps it's that I have no real refuge from the panda bear costume.  The gaze. The cultural "je ne sais quoi" of normative whiteisms  and inclinations cloaked in naivete. You have to understand I grew up the child of immigrants and what's not normal is barely seasoned chicken, or anything for that matter. Tasteless food = White people food.  Sigh High blood pressure be damned. Adobo Low Sodium still does the trick. I digress...The gaze. The young passerbys eager for the chance to speak to the white person walking next to me....Perhaps it's that I'm invisible and too visible at the same time.  My taste in food is "spicy" even when there isn't a habanero in sight.  I retreat to my room with my attieke because I'd rather not have to explain anything while I unwind and enjoy my culinary obsession. 

I'm aware it's only been a month. I'm also aware that I need to make more of a concerted effort to interact with family, friends and associates outside of work and I didn't realize it would take so much effort. (I live where I work)   I've seen and spent time with my uncle, two of my cousins, and a fraternity brother.  Yet, all the activities and entertainment I've been invited to thus far have been dominated by my white friends and coworkers. Game night, LIBASSA, poker night, Angler's... you name it.

I'm eager to get over this hump and see what it's like outside of the NGO bubble I seem engulfed by.  I'm trying small, small. If I have to force it, it will happen. I can't wait to code switch from Liberian colloquia to American English all up and down Monrovia if I have to. Better step my conditioning up. Ironically, I may take American up on his offer to show me the cool side of Monrovia.  Enshallah. 

For Fun See: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_Africans_of_European_ancestry

& This: http://www.thesuncanbeyellow.com/

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