At this time in two weeks, I will no longer be Obruni and I will no longer be Madame.

As I believe I’ve made clear, I could take or leave the first, with a somewhat exaggerated emphasis on the “leave.” The second, however, has grown on me. Sure, it derives from a stiff, artificial formality in the Ghanaian school system that tends to exist at the expense of real relationships and which I therefore can’t stand. But it’s become who I am, with my kids. And of all possible permutations of myself in Ghana, that continues to be the one I like best.

And I can’t use “Madame” while teaching in the U.S., or it’ll just look like I ripped off Esme Raji Codell. Hmph.

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