The Art of Selling

We all do it while on vacation, especially in countries outside the U.S. - buying souvenirs while being harassed by more people trying to sell you souvenirs.  We've all been in this situation, whether we're on vacation or not.  Regardless of the place, it all happens kinda like this:

- Souvenir Guy: "This one is so nice, you should take it for your son."
- You: "I don't have a son."
- Souvenir Guy: "Oh, well perhaps you would like one for yourself.  I will give it to you for $20."
- You: "I don't want to pay $20, I'm going to buy it from the guy over there for less."
- Souvenir Guy: "Ok, give me $5."

Well huney, you ain't see nothing until you've been to the National Cultural Centre on the seafront (right next to the Kwame Nkrumah Mausoleum).  All I have to say is, it's not for the faint of heart - poor Roland from Sweden was being ambushed at every turn but "Auntie" Ann and I were pros.

Now the name is a bit misleading.  You think "Oh neat-o, a cultural centre in Ghana, surely there will be lots for me to see and a helpful curator to help me navigate it all."  Umm, not so much.  Picture the biggest, hottest swap meet you've ever seen in your life...and then multiply that times two.  LOL  And unfortunately for me, I wanted to buy up everything because Ghana is the first country I've ever been to where I have seriously considered leaving some of my clothes behind in order to bring back souvenirs.  The people were super aggressive, wouldn't take no (and no and no and HELL NO) for an answer, followed you around popping out the woodwork every now and again with the thing you briefly looked at while passing by their booth, put on performances ("My sistah, buy this drum, me and my brothers will play for you") and were just overall a hot mess.

But I kinda loved it a little.  It showed some spunk, some scrappiness, some "I-got-kids-to-feed-and-I-ain't-too-proud-to-beg" mentality - something that I think Americans could use a lot more of.  Now, I'm no stranger to selling stuff that people really don't need (read: part-time jobs at Pier 1 Imports and Swarovski Crystal over the years), but I ain't never done it like the people in Ghana do it.  And truth be told, we sure could use them in America - you know when it's time to get voters registered (popping up at your job with a voter's registration card), get people rallied together to stop the war (harassing people walking down the street to join the anti-war protest) or vote to keep the black people from getting kicked off Dancing with the Stars before Bristol Palin (going from door to door making people vote for Brandy and Rick Fox).  Now yes, yes, it was a bit much and over the top (especially the lady who followed us half-way down the street beating on the itty bitty drum and calling Roland "Papa"), but I ain't mad at them for trying to make an honest living.

But I have just one little word of advice to the people at the Centre selling stuff: Being desperate and pushy never gets the sale.  Stay cool, don't act pressed and I'm sure to spend every last one of my cedis at your booth.  The only guy I bought things from today was cool as a cucumber, easy-going, smiled alot, humble and knew God had his back whether we bought something or not...and I loved that about him.  You know, it's that principle we all use when trying to date: If the guy smells the desperation, that gives him a pass to treat you like crap, ignore you and go to your neighbor to get the goods...same concept here people!

So at the end of the day, I foolishly didn't go to the ATM before heading to the market (I didn't know what to expect either), so I have to go back to get a few things that I eyed while I was there.  I made a few promises to people at a few booths and love the stuff in this country so much that I will brave the market again to get it.  And when I get there, I fully plan on keeping my sunglasses on, marching right past the other souvenir pests, getting the rest of my stuff, hailing a cab, arguing the driver down to give me a good fare back to my hotel, praying the whole way back that his brakes continue to work as he tailgates the car in front of him and smiling a little on the inside the whole way.  HA!

P.S. I saw the most amazing thing today.  So we all have seen pictures or movies of Africa where people carry things on their heads.  Just so you know, it's completely true.  Since I've been here, I've seen all kinds of things being carried on people's heads - two large suitcases stacked on one guy's head, an entire "Sally's Beauty Supply" on one woman's head (combs, scrunchies, relaxer, the whole nine), a whole tabletop full of sunglasses, an actual TABLE, but today took the cake.  There was a young woman with a basket full of live chickens on her head.  Yes folks, LIVE CHICKENS.  And the funniest part is, one of them escaped and almost ran out into traffic.  So the girl's mother chased it down, picked it up, had the girl to take the basket with the rest of the chickens off her head, stuffed the escapee back in with the others (overlapping their wings to make sure they were in there snug), helped put it back on the girl's head and kept on stepping.  I was so in shock I couldn't close my mouth.  That takes the cake for the BEST scene since I've been here (and I wish I was lying about this ya'll).  LOLLLLL

Inside one of the shops in the Cultural Centre...the only place I bought something from.

As you can see, there's a LOT of cultural going on at this centre.  HA!

My newfound buddy Martin and his brothers play the drums for us as a way of saying "You-should-buy-it-now-that-you-know-it-works"

Look close people, blow this up to 500%, do whatever you have to do to get a glimpse of the chickens in the head basket.  The best scene EVER, so unforgettable.  I have video of the "chicken trying to cross the road" and will share on Snapfish.

All of this foolishness happened just steps away from the place where Ghana's first President Kwame Nkrumah is buried.