American girl in an African world

As you know I've been in Berlin, Germany for the past week for my cousin's wedding. Because my cousin is like me in the sense that both of our fathers are Cameroonian and our mothers are both from "the west." Her wedding should be beautiful because she is tying in both Western and African traditions. And no, there will be no jumping of the broom because the Bangwa people have never heard of it.
While I have been here, I have been learning a lot more about my culture and traditions. I mean I already knew that for the most part the women do the cooking and cleaning for big events. But I think I have washed more dishes here than I have in my entire life. There is also a lot of women talk in the kitchen. At first I didn't catch on to the talk because it was in pidgin, a combination of English and African dialects, and they were talking really fast. My pidgin is not as fluent, but I have gotten a lot better. So lately they have been sharing their wisdoms with me, mostly about men and getting married.
OKAY! Everyone who knows me that marriage is not in my plan for at least another 10yrs. Talk about an uproar! All the ladies tell me its in my best interest to get married soon. Don't put off marriage to someone you love because you can go to school and have a man. So I say, "I don't have a boyfriend." Talk about another uproar. You are smart, you are young, you are pretty, why not? I feel this is the international question of the year. And I am learning that "because" is not a good answer for people anymore. But talking to these women, I realize that I am WAY more American than I am Cameroonian as far as culture goes. But before my girls start going off about women's liberation and the such let me quote my auntie Teresa. "Couples nowadays in Cameroon carry equal load. Thats good. They still uphold tradition. Some people desire things to change and to exist as it does in the west, but more of us love it the way it is. We are happy."

Yes, I am updating my blog on my vacation. I had to...there is so much that I really need to say. For one, you all are familiar with the discussions about how as black people we need to be aware of the images we portray in media. A lot of times we only recognize the damage that these images cause at home. Fortunately, I have had professors that suggest that these images are not only harmful on American soil, but abroad. The theory made sense but I was not able to fully able to process this thought. For example, on my way to Germany on the plane, they started showing previews of music videos that were huge in Germany. Needless to say i was too hype to see Fantasia. Then they showed several different music videos, all the music videos with black artist, they were dancing and looking like thugs. These are everyday images on American tv, but somehow I was embarrassed watching it being one of the five black people on the plane. So then I get to Berlin where my aunt invites me to watch German television so that I can pick up on the language (yea right!) So I'm watching something similar to the WB, and I don't see one black face, not even on a commercial. Walking around in Germany I only saw two black people...other than mi familia. So I get on the subway and I they have this tv like thing going on. And then I see my girl Missy Elliot and Ciara dancing (on of the hottest dances ever) but somehow on this European back drop it was out of place. Then so I get to this place Alexanderplatz, a real hot spot. The only group of black people i see are a group of 4 teenagers dressed like they came str8 out of a music video. Is hip hop the culture for all black people living in a European world? Its not even hip hop at its purest form, it is the commercialized hiphop. Even as I sit here typing, I have heard my second 50 cent song. Just for stuff for us to think about...

Next discussion, the rise of the Chinese and their increasing investment in Africa...