SOMEWHERE IN AFRICA

WE APPLAUD CREATIVITY !

http://www.culturalcollaborative.org

ADINKRA

"Greenie", an inspiring teacher at the Francis W. Parker School in Chicago, comes to Aba House every summer for an art "fix". Not trained as an artist she just needs a little help getting started, but once on the right track there's no stopping her. Here are a few photos of ADINKRA being taught in "Greenies" classroom. 

ADINKRA is a good hands on way to introduce students of any age to African culture. The stamps are easy to handle and each has a meaning based on an African proverb.

We sell the stamps. Our best customers are artists and teachers.

Interested? Contact us  aba@culturalcollaborative.org

more from Lou

If you're wondering what it's like to shop in Ghana,here's a dispatch from Lou:

Now I'm feeling much more at home in Africa. We took a taxi through all parts of crowded Kumasi to a street that has some bikes in front of the shops in addition to all sorts of hardware and housewares. Some shops sold new bikes. The taxi driver was somehow able to double park amidst the chaos while I haggled with the guy over a cheaper 18 speed mountain bike called a Sportek that had stuck shocks and  looked to still have some life left in it. People were loud and I mean the place was hectic with shoppers and small taxis. With Ama's help my price was $65.00. After 10 minutes the shocks started working so I am happy. I found a way back to the hotel that we first stayed at so that I can get on the internet without needing a taxi.
I'm soaking it all up because it sure is different from where I live.

Honeymoon at Aba House

Lou and Ama came to Aba House for their honeymoon. Ama is from Kumasi, Ghana and Lou from Idaho, USA so they both experience living in two different cultures.

This is an excerpt from something Lou wrote on a trip to Ghana. If you'd like to read more about him his website is floufox.net

Many years ago a friend told me he was planning to go to Africa for the soul he was searching for. I understand now and I feel it. And as much as I want a piece of that, maybe it would be best to just pass through and not try to live with my values in it for very long. There is an African personalty, perhaps caused by the heat, that sucks the energy out of people who want to dig down and get things done.
So I go through the culture shift - not shock - of loving the place while thinking I'm in a big amusement park of amazing venues.
Come and see for yourself and enter the world smoothly with a guide like Ellie. You will feel welcomed by Ellie at Aba House, not far from Ghana's capital. I sure was. Cross Cultural Collaborative immerses you in the culture and Ellie's background as a teacher keeps one's curiosity alive.