Roland,
Good to hear that you are having a great time in Ghana. Man..that seems like one really fun discussion you all had over lunch. Who knew that cussing could be a good thing and that the thumbs up could be so bad! Now the gas passing…well when you gotta go you gotta go! LOL Everybody’s done it in public once in their lives….some more than others! LOL

Hope to catch you in your African garb tomorrow. Take some pics and put them on here. We’d LOVE to see that! Good luck with your speech.

Cindy…Ga.

Roland. I don’t know if you are into it or not but do you plan on doing any genealogy research while there?

When I was a People to People High School Ambassador we had a briefing by the State Department about what body language & gestures meant in the different countries we would be visiting. It was very interesting — a lot of what is acceptable here is considered insulting in other places, but not in all of the countries.

Interesting Roland,

The irony with the use of the curse words s-t and f-k is learned from the watching Hollywood movies. That’s how I have been introduced to them (my native language is Dutch). My fellow mates learned these terms after watching the movie “Scarface” and any movie with Charlies Bronson.

But unlike American TV, no other country is really paying close attention to censorship. May have to do with “Thou shall not Curse.”

I actually had to dis-learn these curse words by deforming them into “s-hoo-t” and “f-udge”.

Roland: It is always interesting to learn what is and is not acceptable in other cultures. But I have to admit I had no clue about the farting in public. Does this me burping is unacceptable too? Afterall, that is considered passing gas too, isn’t it? Good luck with your visit and the festivities. Sounds like you are enjoying it!

Jolene, St. Joseph, MI

You have to get it right Roland! I am a Ghanaian, and I will tell you that there is no “Se kingdom” anywhere in Ghana; no such “His Royal Majesty King Adamtey I” ever lived anywhere in Ghana or Africa, for that matter.
I could have been more uncharitable in my comments.

I visited my sister in Cote d’Ivoire several years ago and remember getting a crash course in language and etiquette. Inquire about the health of family members. Don’t extend your left hand to shake. Eat whatever you’re offered. Ask before taking pictures. It was a humbling, intimidating, and absolutely amazing experience.

Enjoy the rest of your trip. I look forward to seeing more about it.

I sure hope you get more of these jewels to share with us Roland - these are very entertaining. I love the part about passing gas - one of my brothers has a “problem” with this and we have often threatened to hook him up and let him produce alternative energy for us - he could probably power a whole state.

On the hand signals did they tell you what they meant or just that they were insults?

Annie Kate
Birmingham AL

Ah yes - dignity, propriety etc. etc. !!!

“…African Technology Conference…”

I got a good chuckle at that.

BTW, you don’t have to go abroad to experience “cultural friction.” I get it just about every day here in the Big Apple.

Roland,

You’ve been misled by a crook masquerading as a “king.” There is no such kingdom in Ghana called “Se.” In fact, Ghana has no kingdoms. Likewise, the crux of your message is a misrepresentation of Ghanaian culture. It is NOT f****g fine in Ghana..

Hope you enjoy trip, but please double-check your facts, though.

Mike C… (lived in Ghana from 1984-2007)