tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1398355306324764376.post3759359709171487613..comments2023-03-26T02:29:25.843+00:00Comments on The Whitest Girl in Africa: Relationshipsthewhitestgirlinafricahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02532518999370677084noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1398355306324764376.post-85298241659344272742010-03-26T15:16:43.291+00:002010-03-26T15:16:43.291+00:00Hmmm, interesting. I can see how that's true ...Hmmm, interesting. I can see how that's true and I would add that books can also give an interesting insight into cultural norms about relationships. Though I'm not sure that I'd go so far as to say that TV and movies always show an "ideal" -- sometimes it seems like they represent exactly the opposite, a perfectly bad relationship (like in many soap operas).<br /><br />But, I've definitely found the one book I've read by a Liberian author, <i>Murder in the Cassava Patch</i>, to reinforce my statement that relationships are very, very different here (summary of the book at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murder_in_the_Cassava_Patch) -- although it's definitely not about an "ideal" relationship in any way (spoiler alert: he kills her). <br /><br />Anyway I guess another point I have to make is that everyone's individual idea of what a "relationship" is or should be is so different that it's hard to make distinctions (I mean, just think of how many different movies and TV shows and books are out there, each with a very different point). But I still think there's kind of a spectrum of ideas within a culture on what a relationship is, and that the middle of that spectrum varies between Liberian and American culture.thewhitestgirlinafricahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02532518999370677084noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1398355306324764376.post-34205479447477522952010-03-24T19:17:56.616+00:002010-03-24T19:17:56.616+00:00Very interesting line of thought, and one that I c...Very interesting line of thought, and one that I contemplate a lot. I've found that, when I think of men in terms of nationalities or cutlures, I just end up not wanting to marry anyone. I mean think about what you would classify as typical "American guy". Or a "Penn State guy". <br /><br />I think though, when it comes to stereotyping nationalities/cultures, TV and movie relationships from that area can add an important level of understanding. It can show what the "ideal" of that culture is, which is usually (although not always) a little better than many of the ugly situations that you come across and can't help but focus on.Heatherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01415053962382159223noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1398355306324764376.post-42120180273457297932010-03-21T04:17:08.602+00:002010-03-21T04:17:08.602+00:00I've been following your blog for awhile now. ...I've been following your blog for awhile now. I'll be coming to Liberia in June to teach English, and it's nice keeping up with another woman in country currently! I'm starting to think about packing and compiling lists of what I'll need, and I was hoping you could provide some guidelines :)<br /><br />I'm mostly concerned about a few things in particular: appropriate clothes for teaching, appropriate shoes for teaching, how much of my clothing should be waterproof, etc.<br /><br />THANKS! :)Jessicahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03944519873518899357noreply@blogger.com