Embraced

  The warmth sleeps with the sun, Long summer twilight tapering to an imperfect dark. Tilted driftwood benches boast shadowed figures, Encircling an abusive fire: A belligerent heat that burns its worshippers,  Yet gifts a comfort they cannot live without. Tangling smoke stealthily invades fireside sweaters,  An artful stowaway concealed […]

The Culture I Saw

In Ghana, my name is Yaa. The spelling and pronunciation changes slightly depending on what region and language you’re in, but the name is always born from the same reason: I was born on a Thursday. And in Twi, probably the most dominant language in the Accra region, it’s Yaa. […]

The Food I Ate

Meals at Nancy and Siapha’s home in Accra are relatively normal for me, although I’ve probably eaten more rice in the past three months here than I have in the past year at home. Before I came to Ghana I wasn’t quite sure what my diet would be like, but was eager […]