It felt like a dream! That was the first thought that occurred to me when I woke up this morning in the single bed of my tinny hotel room. Everything about the rustic experience in Africa just seemed like the farthest thing away from the incredibly civilized Amsterdam. From the red dirt road to the old cobblestone roads, from the colourful mud huts along the country road to the narrow row-houses along the cannels, from the raggedy old tro-tros and taxies to bikes and smooth electric street cars, and from the Chop shops (stalls that sell home-made stews) to the beautiful restaurants and coffee houses, everything looks and feels a world apart. There is no doubt that Amsterdam is a charming city, and the standards of life here soars far above those of Ghana, but what came to mind is how the dichotomized worlds have shaped the people in it. Are the people in Amsterdam happier and more satisfied about their lives? Or has the privilege and excess of resources just increased people’s appetite for more? I am not sure if they are fair questions to ask, given that Amsterdam also had a time in the past that was as difficult as that of Ghana, but rest assure they won’t deter me too much from enjoying this beautiful city before I will wake up again in Toronto wondering if this was a dream also.
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