the top ten things I learned in ghana - 1

not all people are camera shy

In the United States, we have the tendency to avoid the camera at all costs (unless, of course you are like me and love having pictures of yourself....).  The worst is when people say, "don't take my picture, I'll look like an idiot" and they hold their hand in front of their face so that they look like an idiot. 

In Ghana, it's the exact opposite.  The people (except for the angry ones) love to have their picture taken.  They pose and look directly into the camera and are perfectly still.  No blinking.  No stirring.  Just big chocolate eyes staring me down as if trying to read my mind.  

It's beautiful.  

It's almost like we as "developed civilizations" have for some reason developed the inclination of being overly self-conscious. 

I'm ugly.  I'm fat. I'm not as pretty as the next girl. 

Maybe I'm too afraid to face who I am and embrace it.  

But the Ghanians love to see a picture of themselves.  They hang it up on the wall for all to see.  They stand so still and smile so big and they want to see what they look like on the back of the camera.  

They are proud of who they are.  

A few months ago I decided I was going to stop straightening my hair every day, but embrace the natural me and let it be wavy more often.  

I've come to the conclusion that I'm the most alluring when I'm done up exactly how I was made.