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8.05.2011
1.18.2011
one world cafe, baltimore
one world cafe!
veggie monday 1.17.11
veggie monday 1.17.11
this week for veggie monday we opted to hunt down tasty vegetarian cuisine in the city, rather than make it ourselves.
(i'd done nothing but cook all weekend and needed a break, and we'd heard one world cafe was absolutely delicious. i was looking forward to trying one of their cheese "steak-less" subs!)
i stole this picture off the internet, because i forgot to take one. i apologize to the person to whom this picture belongs - i offer you my gratitude.we wandered in, and were quickly seated by our hostess, who was wearing an awesome headband. we even got the tiny corner table we wanted - half the seating was booth-style, with cozy pillows. the interior colors were bright and eclectic, giving the entire cafe a zesty, energetic feel.
while waiting on a friend (jess, whom dani has known since elementary school), we sipped organic red wine and a steaming chai latte, and ordered both falafel and french fries as appetizers. *
* our waitress was terribly slow, with vacant eyes. we briefly discussed the possibility of her being possessed by a demon, but ultimately decided she was just tired. she didn't improve throughout the course of the night, which detracted from the really great ambiance of the cafe itself. however, as we had a good time and are extremely willing to go back, it didn't dampen our enthusiasm very much.
falafel! minus one (i'm not sure who ate it and spoiled my picture, but if i figure it out, you're dead). after a lengthy discussion, we agreed the lettuce and tomato were on the plate in case you wanted to make a mini falafel sandwich with the pita chunks (jess's suggestion, and dead-on, i'm sure!)
french fries! hot and crispythe falafel wasn't fantastic, but i'd eat it again if forced. in case you couldn't tell, the french fries were sprinkled with
which all marylanders know is an essential seasoning.dani and jess both opted for the baked macaroni and cheese, which was served with a fresh, vibrant side salad.
the salad dressing was scrumptious.my cheese "steak-less" came gorgeously hot, with corn chips.
grilled seitan strips and onions, melted provolone ... wonderful!we washed our food down with a second glass of wine, and in jess's case, a sierra nevada.
this definitely is the sort of place which invites lingering over a cup of hot coffee or tea, and i can picture myself spending years on one of its plush couches. in fact, jess often does - she brings her books, and spends hours studying with their bottomless coffees.
we're looking forward on going back - crispy tofu with pineapple and vegetarian chili are waiting! oh, and more organic wine, of course.
join us next monday for vegan blueberry pancakes!
1.11.2011
homemade thai-style curry
veggie monday 1.10.11
welcome back!
this week for veggie monday, we made thai-style curry sauce from scratch. it's easy - and really delicious - so grab your food processor, the ingredients (below), and get curry-ing!
quick thai-style curry
(from robin robertson's vegan fire & spice - sense a theme? her books are tasty, tasty)
2 teaspoons crushed red pepper
1 tablespoon fresh ginger
2 garlic cloves
1 tablespoon light brown sugar
2 tablespoons curry power
1 teaspoon paprika
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon ground coriander
1 tablespoon soy sauce
2 tablespoons canola oil
1/4 cup water
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
1 13.5 oz can of coconut milk
1 pkg sliced baby bella mushrooms
1 package firm tofu (use 1/2 to 1 package, depending how much you think you'll eat or how many people you're preparing for ... OR ... two boneless chicken breasts, cut into small pieces. you'll either want to fry your tofu or cook your chicken in butter until slightly browned.
1 or 2 packages of indian naan
* robin robertson's recipe did not call for mushrooms, chicken, or tofu. we improvised with those things. robin, we're sorry for bastardizing your recipe!
look at us! we're mushrooms!
1. put the pepper flakes into a bowl and cover with boiling water. soak for 15 minutes!
2. while the flakes are soaking, saute your mushrooms in butter, then set aside. begin cooking your chicken (if you are a carnivore) or your tofu (if you are an herbivore).
tofu army!
3. drain the pepper flakes, then toss them along with the garlic, cumin, curry powder, ginger, sugar, coriander, and paprika into a food processor and blend into a paste.
4. add the oil, soy sauce, and water and blend.
5. throw the paste into a saucepan, and bring to a boil. once boiling, reduce the heat to low and simmer for five minutes, stirring frequently so it won't burn.
6. remove from heat, add the lime juice and coconut milk. don't feel you have to add all the coconut milk - just enough to make it into a smooth, creamy sauce.
PAUSE to grab a beer from the bucket ....
or a glass of wine ...
or both. while you're at it, pull some chicken aside for the dochee, because he's hungry too.
dochee dish, and ...
... dochee!
7. toss the mushrooms into the mixture, and heat on a low to medium heat until ... well, hot.
8. put your naan in the oven. if you are so inclined (as we were), slather the naan with melted butter and freshly minced garlic.
8. finish! put your chicken and/or tofu on your rice and/or noodles, and douse with copious amounts of savory, delicious curry sauce.
chicken! noodles! curry sauce!
tofu! noodles! enough curry sauce to drown a small child!
welcome back!
this week for veggie monday, we made thai-style curry sauce from scratch. it's easy - and really delicious - so grab your food processor, the ingredients (below), and get curry-ing!
quick thai-style curry
(from robin robertson's vegan fire & spice - sense a theme? her books are tasty, tasty)
2 teaspoons crushed red pepper
1 tablespoon fresh ginger
2 garlic cloves
1 tablespoon light brown sugar
2 tablespoons curry power
1 teaspoon paprika
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon ground coriander
1 tablespoon soy sauce
2 tablespoons canola oil
1/4 cup water
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
1 13.5 oz can of coconut milk
1 pkg sliced baby bella mushrooms
1 package firm tofu (use 1/2 to 1 package, depending how much you think you'll eat or how many people you're preparing for ... OR ... two boneless chicken breasts, cut into small pieces. you'll either want to fry your tofu or cook your chicken in butter until slightly browned.
1 or 2 packages of indian naan
* robin robertson's recipe did not call for mushrooms, chicken, or tofu. we improvised with those things. robin, we're sorry for bastardizing your recipe!
look at us! we're mushrooms!1. put the pepper flakes into a bowl and cover with boiling water. soak for 15 minutes!
2. while the flakes are soaking, saute your mushrooms in butter, then set aside. begin cooking your chicken (if you are a carnivore) or your tofu (if you are an herbivore).
tofu army!3. drain the pepper flakes, then toss them along with the garlic, cumin, curry powder, ginger, sugar, coriander, and paprika into a food processor and blend into a paste.
4. add the oil, soy sauce, and water and blend.
5. throw the paste into a saucepan, and bring to a boil. once boiling, reduce the heat to low and simmer for five minutes, stirring frequently so it won't burn.
6. remove from heat, add the lime juice and coconut milk. don't feel you have to add all the coconut milk - just enough to make it into a smooth, creamy sauce.
PAUSE to grab a beer from the bucket ....
or a glass of wine ...
or both. while you're at it, pull some chicken aside for the dochee, because he's hungry too.
dochee dish, and ...
... dochee!
8. put your naan in the oven. if you are so inclined (as we were), slather the naan with melted butter and freshly minced garlic.
8. finish! put your chicken and/or tofu on your rice and/or noodles, and douse with copious amounts of savory, delicious curry sauce.
chicken! noodles! curry sauce!
tofu! noodles! enough curry sauce to drown a small child!1.04.2011
hot tamale vegetable pie & brussels sprouts
hello again!
we know you've been waiting breathlessly all week for another vegetarian monday post, and who are we to deny you the pleasure of reading one? see below and feast your eyes out! (then go make this. it's very tasty)
veggie monday 1.3.11
hot tamale vegetable pie
(taken from robin robertson's 'vegan planet')
2 cups frozen corn kernals, thawed (at least partially)
1/4 cup minced red onion
1 4oz can diced green hot chilies
(it'll be okay if you accidentally forget to drain these ... )
3 tablespoons chopped canned pimentos
(i threw them in as is without the chopping. whoops)
8 oz soft tofu, drained and crumbled
1/4 cup yellow cornmeal
2 tablespoons unbleached all purpose flour
1 teaspoon chili powder
1 teaspoon sugar
3/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 teaspoon baking powder
freshly ground black pepper
fresh salsa
(the most amazing salsa recipe EVER can be found here - i will never, ever make another salsa as long as i live. ree drummond, you are a wonder)
1. preheat the oven to 375 degrees (while pre-heating, chop!)
2. in a large bowl, combine the corn, onions, chilies, and pimentos. set aside.
3. in a blender or food processor, combine the tofu, cornmeal, flour, chili powder, sugar, salt, baking powder, and black pepper (to taste) and process until smooth.
a look down the gullet of a blender.
4. fold into the vegetable mixture, stirring to combine. transfer to a lightly oiled 10 inch pie plate and smooth the top.
do not be put off by its vomity-look. it transforms itself in the oven!
5. bake until firm and golden brown on top, 30-35 minutes. let rest for 5 minutes before cutting into wedges - serve topped with salsa.
6. this step should have probably gone up a bit higher. while baking, make the salsa! it's so festive and fresh and lovely.
now, i was feeling a bit ambitious, so i'd brought a bag of brussel sprouts along in my purse. dani was game, and i'd found a recipe for brussels sprouts on epicurious.com which i was hoping would turn out well.
1 pound brussels sprouts
1 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
5 cloves of finely minced garlic cloves
1/4 - 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1/2 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
1. trim the brussels sprouts, clearing off any old-looking or discolored leaves. if they're large, cut them into quarters, if they're smaller, cut them in half.
2. bring some salted water to a boil, then dump the sprouts in. cook them for about 5 minutes, or until they're mostly tender but still a bit crunchy. don't overcook! then drain them.
3. heat the olive oil, then add the garlic and red pepper flakes. saute for about one minute.
the smell of this gorgeousness wafting through the kitchen was scrumptious!
4. add the sprouts and nutmeg and cook for another minute.
5. sprinkle on the parmesan cheese and toss the sprouts until the cheese is mixed in.
* we did not have any freshly grated parmesan. instead, we had this:
i would recommend the freshly grated.
overall:
tamale pie - very tasty. if you make it quickly when no one is looking, you can hide the fact there's tofu in it, and trick people who would otherwise be wary of tofu into eating it. i know this because we have now done it twice, with great results.
brussels sprouts - still an acquired taste, but worth trying. nice and spicy! dani's review of the sprouts: "they taste healthy." you can't ask for more than that!
we know you've been waiting breathlessly all week for another vegetarian monday post, and who are we to deny you the pleasure of reading one? see below and feast your eyes out! (then go make this. it's very tasty)
veggie monday 1.3.11
hot tamale vegetable pie
(taken from robin robertson's 'vegan planet')
2 cups frozen corn kernals, thawed (at least partially)
1/4 cup minced red onion
1 4oz can diced green hot chilies
(it'll be okay if you accidentally forget to drain these ... )
3 tablespoons chopped canned pimentos
(i threw them in as is without the chopping. whoops)
8 oz soft tofu, drained and crumbled
1/4 cup yellow cornmeal
2 tablespoons unbleached all purpose flour
1 teaspoon chili powder
1 teaspoon sugar
3/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 teaspoon baking powder
freshly ground black pepper
fresh salsa
(the most amazing salsa recipe EVER can be found here - i will never, ever make another salsa as long as i live. ree drummond, you are a wonder)
1. preheat the oven to 375 degrees (while pre-heating, chop!)
2. in a large bowl, combine the corn, onions, chilies, and pimentos. set aside.
3. in a blender or food processor, combine the tofu, cornmeal, flour, chili powder, sugar, salt, baking powder, and black pepper (to taste) and process until smooth.
a look down the gullet of a blender.4. fold into the vegetable mixture, stirring to combine. transfer to a lightly oiled 10 inch pie plate and smooth the top.
do not be put off by its vomity-look. it transforms itself in the oven!5. bake until firm and golden brown on top, 30-35 minutes. let rest for 5 minutes before cutting into wedges - serve topped with salsa.
6. this step should have probably gone up a bit higher. while baking, make the salsa! it's so festive and fresh and lovely.
now, i was feeling a bit ambitious, so i'd brought a bag of brussel sprouts along in my purse. dani was game, and i'd found a recipe for brussels sprouts on epicurious.com which i was hoping would turn out well.
1 pound brussels sprouts
1 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
5 cloves of finely minced garlic cloves
1/4 - 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1/2 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
1. trim the brussels sprouts, clearing off any old-looking or discolored leaves. if they're large, cut them into quarters, if they're smaller, cut them in half.
2. bring some salted water to a boil, then dump the sprouts in. cook them for about 5 minutes, or until they're mostly tender but still a bit crunchy. don't overcook! then drain them.
3. heat the olive oil, then add the garlic and red pepper flakes. saute for about one minute.
the smell of this gorgeousness wafting through the kitchen was scrumptious!4. add the sprouts and nutmeg and cook for another minute.
5. sprinkle on the parmesan cheese and toss the sprouts until the cheese is mixed in.
* we did not have any freshly grated parmesan. instead, we had this:
i would recommend the freshly grated.
overall:
tamale pie - very tasty. if you make it quickly when no one is looking, you can hide the fact there's tofu in it, and trick people who would otherwise be wary of tofu into eating it. i know this because we have now done it twice, with great results.
brussels sprouts - still an acquired taste, but worth trying. nice and spicy! dani's review of the sprouts: "they taste healthy." you can't ask for more than that!
12.29.2010
vegetarian mondays!
in july of 2010, i decided to go vegetarian. it was a combination of always feeling lethargic (i thought a diet change was in order) and reading skinny bitch.
i loved the idea, but the reality of cutting out all meat, including using scrumptious bacon to flavor things, was so much harder than i expected.
all the vegetarian/vegan cookbooks i've read make claims as to how you don't have to cut out your favorite things, just alter them a bit. this is crap. yes, you can make chicken parmigiana with fake chicken cutlets, and tasty as it might be, it is not the same. you will have to cut out your favorite things, especially if your favorite things include slim jims and crispy bacon.
(hint: vegetarian bacon is not a good substitute. picture fluorescent pink strips with a white line down the center to give the appearance of a 'marbled' bacon strip)
however, even though i've had to give up flavorful, heavenly things like savory homemade beef stew, juicy sizzling steaks, and bacon dipped in maple syrup (notice a theme with the bacon?), i've found vegetarian food can be amazingly delicious. i've noticed a difference in how i feel, as well - i have more energy, i feel more clear-head, and i actually lost about ten pounds over the course of five months, which is always a bonus.
dani and i have decided to christen mondays 'vegetarian mondays' and make a different vegetarian (and in some cases, vegan) dish every monday, and share our experiences with you. this includes you, too, all you carnivores out there!
vegetarian monday 12.20.10
udon-shittake stir-fry with sake and ginger
(adapted from robin robertson's 'vegan planet' cookbook)
12 ounces udon noodles
2 teaspoons sesame oil
3 tablespoons sake
3 tablespoons tamari (or other soy sauce)
2 tablespoons organic blue agave sweetener (or another natural liquid sweetener)
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
2 shallots, finely chopped
3 3.5 oz packages fresh shittake mushrooms, stems removed & caps thinly sliced
1 tablespoon peeled & minced fresh ginger
1.5 small bok choy stalks, chopped
1 small package of fresh snow peas
1 large jalopeno, finely chopped
1 bunch of broccoli cut into small pieces & pre-steamed
salt, pepper, & crushed red pepper to taste
1. chop your veggies.
jalopeno, shallots, & ginger!
gorgeous veggies.
2. cook the udon noodles according to package directions. drain and place in a medium sized bowl. add the sesame oil, toss to combine, and set aside.
3. combine the sake, tamari, and agave syrup in a small bowl until well-blended, then set aside.
4. heat the oil in a large skillet/wok over medium-high heat. saute the shallots for approximately 5 minutes, until translucent. add the mushrooms, bok choy, snow peas, broccoli, jalopeno, and ginger and stir-fry for 5 minutes, or until the veggies are tender.
5. stir in the sake mixture and udon noodles and cook, stirring, until heated - approximately 5 minutes or so. serve hot!
* feel free to add a spicy sauce, like sriracha, if you're a fiery sort!
overall: we weren't wow-ed, but it was tasty and filling.
i loved the idea, but the reality of cutting out all meat, including using scrumptious bacon to flavor things, was so much harder than i expected.
all the vegetarian/vegan cookbooks i've read make claims as to how you don't have to cut out your favorite things, just alter them a bit. this is crap. yes, you can make chicken parmigiana with fake chicken cutlets, and tasty as it might be, it is not the same. you will have to cut out your favorite things, especially if your favorite things include slim jims and crispy bacon.
(hint: vegetarian bacon is not a good substitute. picture fluorescent pink strips with a white line down the center to give the appearance of a 'marbled' bacon strip)
however, even though i've had to give up flavorful, heavenly things like savory homemade beef stew, juicy sizzling steaks, and bacon dipped in maple syrup (notice a theme with the bacon?), i've found vegetarian food can be amazingly delicious. i've noticed a difference in how i feel, as well - i have more energy, i feel more clear-head, and i actually lost about ten pounds over the course of five months, which is always a bonus.
dani and i have decided to christen mondays 'vegetarian mondays' and make a different vegetarian (and in some cases, vegan) dish every monday, and share our experiences with you. this includes you, too, all you carnivores out there!
vegetarian monday 12.20.10
udon-shittake stir-fry with sake and ginger
(adapted from robin robertson's 'vegan planet' cookbook)
12 ounces udon noodles
2 teaspoons sesame oil
3 tablespoons sake
3 tablespoons tamari (or other soy sauce)
2 tablespoons organic blue agave sweetener (or another natural liquid sweetener)
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
2 shallots, finely chopped
3 3.5 oz packages fresh shittake mushrooms, stems removed & caps thinly sliced
1 tablespoon peeled & minced fresh ginger
1.5 small bok choy stalks, chopped
1 small package of fresh snow peas
1 large jalopeno, finely chopped
1 bunch of broccoli cut into small pieces & pre-steamed
salt, pepper, & crushed red pepper to taste
1. chop your veggies.
jalopeno, shallots, & ginger!
gorgeous veggies.
2. cook the udon noodles according to package directions. drain and place in a medium sized bowl. add the sesame oil, toss to combine, and set aside.
3. combine the sake, tamari, and agave syrup in a small bowl until well-blended, then set aside.
4. heat the oil in a large skillet/wok over medium-high heat. saute the shallots for approximately 5 minutes, until translucent. add the mushrooms, bok choy, snow peas, broccoli, jalopeno, and ginger and stir-fry for 5 minutes, or until the veggies are tender.
5. stir in the sake mixture and udon noodles and cook, stirring, until heated - approximately 5 minutes or so. serve hot!
* feel free to add a spicy sauce, like sriracha, if you're a fiery sort!
overall: we weren't wow-ed, but it was tasty and filling.
11.17.2010
1. Away we go to Ghana
The plane ride to the layover in Atlanta was punctuated by the airplane dropping in mid-air. My passport, which was tucked into the pages of a book I was reading, disappeared and was found under a neighbor's seat. People screamed. I thought it was the end. The plane was from the 1950s- had all of us died, our souls might have become trapped in some sort of time warp. Arriving at the Atlanta airport, I was whisked away to zone E by the trains running throughout the airport, where I gorged myself on vegetable soup, fruit salad, and a tasty looking Caesar salad (which looked good in the display, covered in the Parm cheese, but when I got to it the lettuce was brown so I didn't eat it). Sitting at gate E2, a creeper came up and started talking to me. Even responding in one word syllables didn't stop his endless tirade about the slave trade and how interesting it was. While waiting for a flight. Full of Africans. Then he started talking loudly about Obama and how Africans love him, how he didn't vote for him, and he likes to visit old plantations in Georgia.
Side Note:
Creeper is mine and Katie's word for creepy old men. It can apply to younger men as well, but generally the older variety.
Texting to Katie during said conversation:
DANI: No first class :( at least I am on the aisle seat. This guy keeps talking to me and it's creepy.
KATIE: that is sad. make up a language and only speak in that, no english.
DANI: Haha KATIE: tell him you're an alien!!
DANI: I don't think that will work unless I pull out a laser gun and take first class by force.
KATIE: oh, well i meant to ward off the creepy guy, but i also think that is a good idea.
KATIE: do you have anything that looks like a laser gun?
KATIE: did you bite his hand?
DANI: I should have!
KATIE: stupid flight! maybe you can sleep
DANI: I hope so, the plane from dc to Atlanta was 100 years old, and there's a crying baby
KATIE: ew. i bet it'll be newer. smother the baby
DANI: heh
KATIE: i am full of this sort of practical advice
I hopped on the red eye(s) to Ghana, an 11 and 1/2 hour flight. I tried to bump myself up to first class, asking if it was possible to upgrade, but the woman at the desk told me it would be anywhere from $1,000 to $12,000. I told her I'd giver her $50. The ride in coach wasn't too bad for 11 hours- I actually ended up sleeping for quite a bit of it.
I gorged myself in Atlanta so I wouldn't have to eat the airplane food, but to my surprise there was a midnight snack bar with Milano cookies, small turkey sandwiches, yogurt, bananas, and orange juice. Also, there was no one sitting next to me, and sitting in a row of 3 seats, a really cool guy named Ed sat on the opposite end. His wife was supposed to be sitting there, but cancelled at the last minute. He works for a company called the Rafiki Foundation, and had been living in Africa for the past 10 years. Rafiki means 'friend' in Swahili.
http://www.rafiki-foundation.org/
When I arrived at the Ghana airport in Accra (pronounced acraw) the air was humid and hot, and there was a haze over everything, but a strong wind blowing in from the water. A bus picked us up and drove for about 29 feet where it dropped us off in a small open air room where I went through customs, and there was no one waiting for me with a sign as promised. I ended up taking a taxi (recommended by a guy at the airport who kept trying to take my bag, and when I finally let him carry it the last 5 feet to the car, he wanted a tip) to the Congress Hotel.
When I arrived, a guy walked in and told me he was he driver who was supposed to pick me up at the airport, He had a wide toothy grin. I said, "Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't see you there. Were you there waiting for me?" He turned to look at me with the same toothy grin. "No" he said, and promptly began asking me if this was my first time in Africa. African time- what can you do.
As soon as I got unpacked, I took a taxi to the IFPRI office that is just down the street. I meet everyone, went over what was going to happen the rest of the week, and with evening creeping on, walked down the street to hail a cab. As soon as several kids from a small street stand saw me, the ran out to touch my arm and ran back grinning. Adam (who will be driving me around tomorrow to take some video) told me I would stand out being white, so in some spots he might have to take photos instead because it would be too conspicuous. Also, when I told the guy in charge of the IFPRI office I needed B-Roll of migrating birds, he told me there are bats that fly out near the hospital every night that look like birds.
Time for a shower.
Side Note:
Creeper is mine and Katie's word for creepy old men. It can apply to younger men as well, but generally the older variety.
Texting to Katie during said conversation:
DANI: No first class :( at least I am on the aisle seat. This guy keeps talking to me and it's creepy.
KATIE: that is sad. make up a language and only speak in that, no english.
DANI: Haha KATIE: tell him you're an alien!!
DANI: I don't think that will work unless I pull out a laser gun and take first class by force.
KATIE: oh, well i meant to ward off the creepy guy, but i also think that is a good idea.
KATIE: do you have anything that looks like a laser gun?
KATIE: did you bite his hand?
DANI: I should have!
KATIE: stupid flight! maybe you can sleep
DANI: I hope so, the plane from dc to Atlanta was 100 years old, and there's a crying baby
KATIE: ew. i bet it'll be newer. smother the baby
DANI: heh
KATIE: i am full of this sort of practical advice
I hopped on the red eye(s) to Ghana, an 11 and 1/2 hour flight. I tried to bump myself up to first class, asking if it was possible to upgrade, but the woman at the desk told me it would be anywhere from $1,000 to $12,000. I told her I'd giver her $50. The ride in coach wasn't too bad for 11 hours- I actually ended up sleeping for quite a bit of it.
I gorged myself in Atlanta so I wouldn't have to eat the airplane food, but to my surprise there was a midnight snack bar with Milano cookies, small turkey sandwiches, yogurt, bananas, and orange juice. Also, there was no one sitting next to me, and sitting in a row of 3 seats, a really cool guy named Ed sat on the opposite end. His wife was supposed to be sitting there, but cancelled at the last minute. He works for a company called the Rafiki Foundation, and had been living in Africa for the past 10 years. Rafiki means 'friend' in Swahili.
http://www.rafiki-foundation.org/
When I arrived at the Ghana airport in Accra (pronounced acraw) the air was humid and hot, and there was a haze over everything, but a strong wind blowing in from the water. A bus picked us up and drove for about 29 feet where it dropped us off in a small open air room where I went through customs, and there was no one waiting for me with a sign as promised. I ended up taking a taxi (recommended by a guy at the airport who kept trying to take my bag, and when I finally let him carry it the last 5 feet to the car, he wanted a tip) to the Congress Hotel.
When I arrived, a guy walked in and told me he was he driver who was supposed to pick me up at the airport, He had a wide toothy grin. I said, "Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't see you there. Were you there waiting for me?" He turned to look at me with the same toothy grin. "No" he said, and promptly began asking me if this was my first time in Africa. African time- what can you do.
As soon as I got unpacked, I took a taxi to the IFPRI office that is just down the street. I meet everyone, went over what was going to happen the rest of the week, and with evening creeping on, walked down the street to hail a cab. As soon as several kids from a small street stand saw me, the ran out to touch my arm and ran back grinning. Adam (who will be driving me around tomorrow to take some video) told me I would stand out being white, so in some spots he might have to take photos instead because it would be too conspicuous. Also, when I told the guy in charge of the IFPRI office I needed B-Roll of migrating birds, he told me there are bats that fly out near the hospital every night that look like birds.
Time for a shower.
día nueve
as we had to get up at 230am, we'd gone to bed at 630pm after scarfing down some candy bars and packing our things. when the alarm went off, we rolled out of bed, grabbed our pre-packed bags, and caught a taxi to the airport. surprisingly, there were loads of people already inside. after yesterday, we were expecting the worst, but made it through check in and security with no problems.
after this follows a lot of boring-ness about our flight to bogota, and the harried dash to catch our connecting flight to dc (including another security check in which we were frisked - i guess the us isn't taking many chances when it comes to international flights, although really, it's getting to be a bit much).
6 long hours later, we arrived in dc. we were met by an enormous line to get through customs, but the second our passports were stamped, we made a break for it. we practically ran out of the airport and onto a shuttle bus, which took us to the focus (jym) who was patiently waiting in the green lot. dani called rod, who in turn ordered us a pizza, and we drove merrily away from dc - breathing in the fully oxygenated, crisp fall air, excited to be home.
el fin.
sus amigas,
daniela y katerina
after this follows a lot of boring-ness about our flight to bogota, and the harried dash to catch our connecting flight to dc (including another security check in which we were frisked - i guess the us isn't taking many chances when it comes to international flights, although really, it's getting to be a bit much).
6 long hours later, we arrived in dc. we were met by an enormous line to get through customs, but the second our passports were stamped, we made a break for it. we practically ran out of the airport and onto a shuttle bus, which took us to the focus (jym) who was patiently waiting in the green lot. dani called rod, who in turn ordered us a pizza, and we drove merrily away from dc - breathing in the fully oxygenated, crisp fall air, excited to be home.
el fin.
sus amigas,
daniela y katerina
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