Thanks for the welcome back, I'm happy you enjoyed the video! I just posted part 2 this week, so check it out!! Thanks so much for watching and leaving love in the comments section!!! Inspirations & Blessings, Nat 💕
Hey there, Nat! Great to see you. I was just thinking about you a few days ago, wondering when you were going to post again, as it's been some time since you told us you were heading to Benin. ! The heat!! LOLOL. I knew an evangelist who used to travel to Africa (an AA), and he said you haven't felt hot till you felt "Africa hot"! Definitely an adjustment! Your revelations were very informative; looking forward to part 2!!!
I really appreciate you making this video. As People of African decent many dream about having a chance to visit Africa so its wonderful that you have been able to realize that dream. Bartering- this was hard for me too when I first arrived. The skill is rarely used in american culture (occasionally at a flee market or garage sale). But to move into an environment where pretty much everything is up for bartering was a challenge to say the least. What helped me was realizing that it was me as the buyer who really set the price not the seller. If I talked to a few people to ask the real price before approaching a seller. I was better armed for negotiating. And if he continued to refused my fair price, it was his lost not mine. Its sure someone else would accept my money. This thinking helped alot. I felt less victimized Skin bleaching- this was a surprise for me too. You can go in a cosmetique shop and find one whole wall of skin whitening products. Weave - this was also a surprise. I came here as a loose natural and recently started on a loc journey. But what I learned is first the products that I was used to using on my hair in the US were not available or were 2-3 times what I paid for it before. Secondly, because of the heat even twist outs a braidout are more difficult to maintain in contrast a curly weave which will stay curly. Thirdly, I can’t speak for all of West Africa but here in Senegal-taking care of your hair is still seen as the specialty of the beauty salon. The diy mentality is not on the same level as in the US. So women find it easier to put in a weave or wig than dealing with their own hair. Again thanks for the video and I look forward to watching Part 2
OMGSH, thanks so much for your comment I loved every word lol. I will never be used to the bartering especially since I don't know what is considered a 'fair' price and/or when you're price gouging because I'm an American lol, but I appreciate your perspective and suggestion! I can't imagine attempting to find the products I use for my hair in West Africa, so your point about the DIY hair approach is taken and appreciated. And the heat is a serious factor so I understand using options, but since I've never been one to get a weave, it was odd. I would expect to see more braiding options. It was all a surprise for sure. The skin bleaching was a lot to take in, so I'm happy I wasn't the only one to have my shocked reaction lol. Inspirations & Blessings, Nat
Can't wait for part 2! I've never been but I could really feeeel what you were saying and understand the disappointment. I wonder how different it would have been if you were traveling with a bother instead of a sister? How did the men treat other men or women who were accompanied by men?
Yasss Ms. LaDy, you got it! I should've mentioned that the women that were traveling with men would defer to them to do the negotiations or 'deal' with other men. It would've been a totally different experience had I been traveling with a man and that isn't the kind of 'community' I want in my circles. A man doesn't validate me in any way. It was a true eye opener and I felt like I was in bizarro world since it's so far from my general experience! Thanks so much for watching and taking the time to send love in the form of a comment!!! Inspirations & Blessings, Nat ❤️
OMG, OMG, I don't really know you, but it was so nice to be missed and to see your wonderful comment that made me smile! Thanks so much for watching and sending some love my way!!! Inspirations & Blessings, Nat 💕
Hi sis!! You're right, it happens in the US, but it's not a huge industry where you see huge billboards and lots of ads in magazines so it's not at all on the same level! I was just taken aback as I wasn't expecting it since I don't see it here. Thanks so much for watching and commenting!! Inspirations & Blessings, Nat 💕
I'm Ghanian so I more/ less agree with you on certain things but ...about the skin bleaching part, think if it as the repercussion...Africa and Asia got the worst end of colorism and America got slavery. White ppl's reign didn't just disappear when they left. It isn't that they don't have pride in being African but rather the image of beauty ( tv , magazines, music videos) all have lighter skin has made a continual progression on the continent. On the brighter side Ghana banished skin bleaching nationally!
Hi sis! Thanks for watching and moreso for commenting. I didn't look at it from that perspective although I did figure out the celebrity photoshopping weighs heavily on this too! Thanks so much for your perspective and enlightening me! WAYYYY TO GOOOO Ghana, I'm so proud of that! And I recently did my ancestry and found out that the majority of my ancestry is from The Ivory Coast and Ghana so my people are setting precedents YASSSS!!!! lol Inspirations & Blessings, Nat 💕
Disappointed to hear of your experience during your trip. Would be really interested to know just how much you had researched about the country before your visit? Developing countries, as I prefer to call them (as opposed to "Third World" countries) are in every respect, just that, I guess ...
I had done some research (although no research would've prepared me for my experiences) and my sister had been living there for approximately a year so she had explained a lot to me prior to my visit. I get your point though... Inspirations & Blessings ~ Nat
Great video!!! Thanks for sharing!
Welcome back. Very informative video. Thanks for sharing. Looking forward to watching part 2.
Thanks for the welcome back, I'm happy you enjoyed the video! I just posted part 2 this week, so check it out!! Thanks so much for watching and leaving love in the comments section!!!
Inspirations & Blessings,
Nat 💕
SO good to see you!!!
Soooo good to be seen lol. Thanks so much for watching!
Inspirations & Blessings,
Nat 💕
Thanks for sharing. This was very interesting. I'll be looking forward for part 2
I enjoyed this. Thanks for sharing!
Heyyyy welcome back😃
Hey there, Nat! Great to see you. I was just thinking about you a few days ago, wondering when you were going to post again, as it's been some time since you told us you were heading to Benin. ! The heat!! LOLOL. I knew an evangelist who used to travel to Africa (an AA), and he said you haven't felt hot till you felt "Africa hot"! Definitely an adjustment! Your revelations were very informative; looking forward to part 2!!!
I really appreciate you making this video.
As People of African decent many dream about having a chance to visit Africa so its wonderful that you have been able to realize that dream.
Bartering- this was hard for me too when I first arrived. The skill is rarely used in american culture (occasionally at a flee market or garage sale). But to move into an environment where pretty much everything is up for bartering was a challenge to say the least. What helped me was realizing that it was me as the buyer who really set the price not the seller. If I talked to a few people to ask the real price before approaching a seller. I was better armed for negotiating. And if he continued to refused my fair price, it was his lost not mine. Its sure someone else would accept my money. This thinking helped alot. I felt less victimized
Skin bleaching- this was a surprise for me too. You can go in a cosmetique shop and find one whole wall of skin whitening products.
Weave - this was also a surprise. I came here as a loose natural and recently started on a loc journey. But what I learned is first the products that I was used to using on my hair in the US were not available or were 2-3 times what I paid for it before. Secondly, because of the heat even twist outs a braidout are more difficult to maintain in contrast a curly weave which will stay curly. Thirdly, I can’t speak for all of West Africa but here in Senegal-taking care of your hair is still seen as the specialty of the beauty salon. The diy mentality is not on the same level as in the US. So women find it easier to put in a weave or wig than dealing with their own hair.
Again thanks for the video and I look forward to watching Part 2
OMGSH, thanks so much for your comment I loved every word lol. I will never be used to the bartering especially since I don't know what is considered a 'fair' price and/or when you're price gouging because I'm an American lol, but I appreciate your perspective and suggestion!
I can't imagine attempting to find the products I use for my hair in West Africa, so your point about the DIY hair approach is taken and appreciated. And the heat is a serious factor so I understand using options, but since I've never been one to get a weave, it was odd. I would expect to see more braiding options. It was all a surprise for sure.
The skin bleaching was a lot to take in, so I'm happy I wasn't the only one to have my shocked reaction lol.
Inspirations & Blessings,
Nat
Can't wait for part 2! I've never been but I could really feeeel what you were saying and understand the disappointment. I wonder how different it would have been if you were traveling with a bother instead of a sister? How did the men treat other men or women who were accompanied by men?
Yasss Ms. LaDy, you got it! I should've mentioned that the women that were traveling with men would defer to them to do the negotiations or 'deal' with other men. It would've been a totally different experience had I been traveling with a man and that isn't the kind of 'community' I want in my circles. A man doesn't validate me in any way. It was a true eye opener and I felt like I was in bizarro world since it's so far from my general experience! Thanks so much for watching and taking the time to send love in the form of a comment!!!
Inspirations & Blessings,
Nat ❤️
OMG OMG I KNOW I DON'T REALLY KNOW U,BUT I MISSED U SO GOOD TO SEE U😊😊😊
OMG, OMG, I don't really know you, but it was so nice to be missed and to see your wonderful comment that made me smile! Thanks so much for watching and sending some love my way!!!
Inspirations & Blessings,
Nat 💕
Don't forget in the US. There is also skin bleaching issue there, probably not as much as other parts of the world.
Hi sis!! You're right, it happens in the US, but it's not a huge industry where you see huge billboards and lots of ads in magazines so it's not at all on the same level! I was just taken aback as I wasn't expecting it since I don't see it here. Thanks so much for watching and commenting!!
Inspirations & Blessings,
Nat 💕
I'm Ghanian so I more/ less agree with you on certain things but ...about the skin bleaching part, think if it as the repercussion...Africa and Asia got the worst end of colorism and America got slavery. White ppl's reign didn't just disappear when they left. It isn't that they don't have pride in being African but rather the image of beauty ( tv , magazines, music videos) all have lighter skin has made a continual progression on the continent. On the brighter side Ghana banished skin bleaching nationally!
Hi sis! Thanks for watching and moreso for commenting. I didn't look at it from that perspective although I did figure out the celebrity photoshopping weighs heavily on this too! Thanks so much for your perspective and enlightening me! WAYYYY TO GOOOO Ghana, I'm so proud of that! And I recently did my ancestry and found out that the majority of my ancestry is from The Ivory Coast and Ghana so my people are setting precedents YASSSS!!!! lol
Inspirations & Blessings,
Nat 💕
Wow, you went to all the West African countries ? 👍
Thanks for watching and no, I just traveled to Benin & Togo! I plan on returning for Nigeria soon!
Inspirations & Blessings,
Nat~❤️
Disappointed to hear of your experience during your trip. Would be really interested to know just how much you had researched about the country before your visit? Developing countries, as I prefer to call them (as opposed to "Third World" countries) are in every respect, just that, I guess ...
I had done some research (although no research would've prepared me for my experiences) and my sister had been living there for approximately a year so she had explained a lot to me prior to my visit. I get your point though...
Inspirations & Blessings ~ Nat