Monroe Chicken: The Crispiest Fried Chicken This Side of Africa!

One of my guilty pleasures (which there are FEW) here in Liberia is Monroe Chicken. To be honest, I am addicted - ADDICTED. And while this shop is two blocks from the house - I do my best to NOT eat Monroe Chicken every day - OMG SO CRISPY GOOD! 

the day of the Charles Taylor verdict I opted to play safe and stayed home - so why not have Monroe Chicken delivered! My pictures don't describe this crispy white meat super food! Monroe chicken has strips, they have sandwiches - wraps - salads - OMG! ALL of it is YUMMY!

Apparently, Monroe Chicken is "founded and owned" by a couple of Lebanese guys who went to America and worked for....Kentucky Fried Chicken. They came back to Liberia and opened this FANTASTICAL shop! Better than the Colonel - I MEAN BETTER! The only "fast food" shop in Liberia - it actually takes about twenty minutes to get your order because they make everything 'fresh to order."

And to help me wash down this "low-country" lunch I also have delivered from "Good Ju Ju" a week's supply of fresh squeezed juice! (not cheap btw) But imagine how refreshingly tasteful pineapple ginger juice is on a Hot Liberian day! OMG LUXURIOUS!

So whilst others are eating Potato Greens and some kind of meat item or dried up fried fish  - Mr. Pedersen is chowing down on some famous fried chicken and healthy beverage.

Graduation Ceremony at the Youth Agriculture Center

Farmer Graduates!

I was fortunate to be invited to the FIRST graduation ceremony of the Youth Agriculture Center. A simple enough ceremony that meant a lot for Liberia...Those present included a Senator, The Minister of Agriculture and the Famous Minister of Youth and Sports, the Honorable Verpileah (quite an intelligent and lovely man, who I hope runs for President of Liberia).

Chris Foyah, the Director of YAC

One of my favorite Liberian Politicians, the Honorable Verpileah.

You may remember I received a tour of this farm a few weeks ago, and excited to return to see the graduates on the hottest day of my journey so far!!

Not only did I get to witness this moment of history and visit with some amazing new "farmers," but I was able to experience "Life in Liberia." I was the guest of a Chief of Party of an NGO partnering with YAC. It was interesting in that we were the ONLY non Liberians present. Very good to see that Liberia can "work" without the constant meddling of USAID etc.


YAC is based on the Songhai model. An institution created by Fr. Godfrey Nzamujo of Benin. He was present to congratulate the students and to give the (extensive) key note address. His presentation was AMAZING, uplifting, and his gift for preaching transferred easily to his gift of presenting sustainable farming.

I want to visit Songhai, Benin so BAD!

Of course, if you know me, I was in tears most of the time during the presentation.

When this woman stood up in the crowd, and then
started singing her heart out about giving thanks to God
I was on my knees!
Just a flawless testament!

There were 127 graduates who made it through the 18 month training. All 127 were present and excited. Quite a spectacular day as these students are now charged to return to their respective counties and creating sustainable farming for their families and their communities.

Father Nzamujo - who was introduced as the
"Father of African Agriculture."

Everything from the opening prayer to the spontaneous burst into song by the graduates - or the gift soloist who sprang from the crowd and walked to the front of the line - the entire ceremony was filled with a spirit of Pride, Thanks, Burden, Hope...

I truly am blessed to have been able to witness this event (and eat the awesome fried chicken served at the VIP luncheon!)

Meeting and chatting with the Father of
African Agriculture - I am so wanting to go to Benin
and visit it his Institute!

Loving my little garden...

I am so NOT a photographer - so I do apologize to all the photo gurus who live for photography - in fact most of the time I just use my ol' cracked iphone 3G to take photos...I have been monitoring my little garden just to see all that happens each day..

Andrew brought this lily one day it was just a dried root he left on the ground, I finally put it in a planter and three weeks later VOILA! This elegant, gracious, lily blooms - absolutely brilliant

Under the lily, you can see Basil I grew from seed.
Quite the fusion garden,  eh?

I am having a few issues - one bed of sturdy looking tomato and squash plants completely yellowed and died within two weeks time - we feel the dirt had something to do with it - and hope that the rest of the plants in the other beds - will be strong!

The leaves of this tomato plant has something attacking it - but after consulting with the experts of Brambleberry Farm in Paoli, IN, I have learned there is nothing to worry about.

http://www.brambleberryfarm.org/

I have no idea the name of this tree/plant item - but if you have been following the garden this plant was one of many "dead sticks" that Andrew planted in the ground which now has come to life - and I am just utterly amazed at how this sturdy, African plant creates the tiniest, subtle yet absolutely stunning and intricate flowers.

Construction Site across the street....

Out my office window I have been watching the construction of a second floor on top of a previously constructed building. Our office sits a top Crown Hill, the second highest point in Monrovia -  I watch these guys from my "a/c" office every day work in FULL HOT sun a top a cement structure from 8:00am until I leave at 4:00pm. And they never ever stop....It just makes me feel LAZY.

So today I decided I needed to see the operation up close and one of our drivers, Prince, agreed to help me  get on the roof. Of course, being in a suit and being an expat, (this is the euphemism white people use for white people) gained me access. Immediately, I realized this may be dangerous - the stairs to the second floor were outside with no banister and covered in sand and dust - and I was wearing leather soled shoes...so the fact that I am still alive sans broken bones, I believe is a testament to my balance.

I watched sweat fall from the face of one of the workers as
he picked up these cinder blocks

Once a top the structure, we met a short middle aged Americo Liberian woman named Merita, the owner of the building. Merita, in fact, just arrived from the US the night before and is in town for a month to supervise the final construction of the apartment she is building on top her store front.

Turns out, behind the structure on the hill slope towards the river is her Liberian home. (she declined to be photographed, but let me tour and photograph the construction site).

My office is on the top floor in the building across the street .
(On the left side of Photo)

Needless to say it was SO HOT - SO HOT that the men were dripping sweat like a waterfall - and yet everyone of them was a happy soul - all smiles and work. A great feeling to be around a bunch of hard working souls without complaint even in the HEAT and dust and dirt. I think having a visitor complimenting them and enjoying their product made for a good visit.

Transporting Ice

If you are a spoiled rotten expat like myself - you have the luxury of a freezer, ice trays, and bottled water. All the ingredients for the uber luxury item: ICE!

Of course, not all Liberians, have freezers (nor electricity), ice trays, or even bottled water (or water - Lofa County this week ran OUT of water, all the wells dried up).

Here in city limits there is still a need for ice in the retails sector. Most wheelbarrow vendors (push-push vendors) who sell beverages or water sachets, use block ice to keep their product cool (and what they may not know - tantalizing! Even when I walk the streets and see chilled, wet, icy beverages I am tempted).

So of course one needs to get the ice from the "Ice Vendor" to one's own selling region. Here
are just a couple of snapshots of ice transport.

Hand made items are everywhere if you "catch them."

Like any city in the world, there are so many markets and shops here in Monrovia. The challenge is finding what "you want" when you don't even know all your choices!

When being driven around for work I am like a little kid, eyes peeled, glued to the window looking into each shop and scanning the sidewalks for unique and local items, shouting slow down SLOW DOWN. About once a week I stumble across one of those unique items....this week: handmade rattan chairs. I did not have the camera or the phone on me when spotting a woman carrying these rustic chairs on her head! About a dozen small chairs for children, tied in a bundle and balanced on her head!

When the driver and I asked if she made the chairs, we found out she was a retailer heading to her market stall..She, in fact buys the chairs from a man in Lofa county who makes all sorts of furniture. She sends for these particular style of chair and sells them at her stall in the women' s market. The chairs were different sizes but each one just perfect! Of course, I now regret not buying all 12 (I bought 3)! Oh the price? $200 LD or a little less than $3 US each.

These chairs are going to look great on the wall of my apartment back in Chicago!

Not one nail was used in making this chair...

Hand woven and just perfect!