Kente weaving is an ancient art, its roots dating before 3000 B.C. This past week Drew, Adriana, and I visited the largest kente village in Ghana – Tafi Abuife. Every child in this village of 3000 is taught the art of weaving kente upon reaching the age of seven – as a birthright, responsibility, and means of making money. The ‘click clack’ sound of looms can be heard across the village.
From the fragrant aroma of oranges and mangos to the stench of smoked fish and grease, Accra is a roller coaster ride of sensations for the nose. Here’s a closer look – at the ‘good, bad, and ugly.’
Cape Coast Castle, a nearly 500-year-old slave castle, sits on the edge of the picturesque Atlantic ocean. From my seat in the Castle Restaurant, I gazed at the enormous waves crashing onto the rocky shore – while eagerly awaiting my bowl of coconut curry.
1. Birthdays: A certain optimist said the following quote regarding birthdays. “Birthdays are great, it’s when everyone tells you they’re happy you were born. Soak it up and be thrilled that you’re alive, that you’re so dank, that you have an awesome life and that it’s going to get even better.”
Tafi Atome Monkey Sanctuary is easily one of the most fantastic places I’ve been to in Ghana. After spending the night nearby at Wli waterfall, we bought $2 of bananas, hopped in a taxi, and made our way to the monkeys. These little guys awaited us…
For those of you who didn’t know, Mama spent her Spring Break visiting me in Ghana. She had only traveled out of the country once before (Israel when she was 17), so I wanted to make sure her trip was jam-packed full of excitement. Between touring slave castles, swimming in waterfalls, and playing with monkeys – I can now say mission accomplished.
While in previous weeks I might take the back seat in cooking classes to Ghanaian helpers, my ability to multitask has noticeably improved. Lately I have been able to take on more meal components and complete them with greater efficiency. I also broke down [half] of a chicken for the first time this week.
Daily Journal – March 11th, 2012:
During the final night of our three-day stay at the Green Turtle Lodge, our group stayed in a self-contained room due to the dormitories being occupied. The room featured two beds with an extra mattress on the floor for the extra person.
This past weekend, our Accra AFS group returned to the Green Turtle eco-lodge. This is my favorite place to relax in Ghana – it’s located right on the beach and has some of the best food in Ghana. During our first trip to Takoradi, we participated on a sea turtle walk to no avail. But with this trip, our luck took a change for the better.
After two weeks of making exclusively Ghanaian foods, I was ready for a break. In week three I learned how to prepare a hodge-podge of breakfast foods, and later catered an Italian feast for the birthday of my AFS friend Bany.
