Since the last time I wrote here are some developments in my life/mentality:
I moved to the island of Mombasa from the coast just north of it- to save money, be closer to friends and to be able to walk literally everywhere I need to go. It is basically a studio but the bathroom has a door and I have a little balcony. It is in Old Town so I hear tuk tuks zooming by, dramatic Muslim speakers talking about secret societies (while at other times singing Rihanna songs, or talking about Manchester United, all in Swahili) on the radio in the shop downstairs. I also hear people beating on the drums for sale at the tourist shop below me from time to time and always wish that it lasted for more than a few seconds. I am getting devoured by mosquitoes even though I sleep in a net. I have a perimeter of very confused and curious ants around my entire ceiling, which I have been told is "a blessing". I can see a strip of magical blue ocean from one side of my roof top. I shower with cold water, even early in the morning and after the first splash, I find that I enjoy it. Though the area has a very sleepy, old feel, I can walk to a pharmacist, a tailor, multiple cyber shops, the Old Port, my favorite garden, a local shop that sells milk and the essentials and a streetside stand that sells kibibi- my latest addiction which i need the recipe for (kind of like a spongy, pancake with rice flour and deliciousness bigger than my hand and costing less than 50 cents). I had three at a time for dinner three nights in a row with a bottle of yoghurt. Healthy, I know.
I have become less of a coward in using the Swahili I have learned. I am better at ignoring the people who laugh (in disbelief) and get a nice little confidence boost from the way I see the faces of strangers and friends light up when I casually blurt something out in their language and they aren't expecting it.
I successfully sprouted TWO Loquat tree seeds which I had picked from the ground in Central Province off of a gravel driveway in an office compound. If I can successfully find a safe place and transplant them before I leave they will cancel out my two previous failed attempts at tree growing in Africa (young Loquat tree I planted at G-BIACK, and avocado seedling I planted in Rwanda which also didn't make it).
I've given a brief overview of my version of what American politics look like to a handful of people and re-arrived at the conclusion that had I been born with a heart of stone and the ability to lie, I would have made one kick ass politician.
I booked a ticket back to California for December. It was a long time coming. It will be a long time going. I am crushed and ecstatic all at the same time. In the end, I know at this point in time it is the right step for me and by no means does it equate to me never coming back to this continent where humanity began.
Two more job opportunities -one here and one in California- bit the dust. So be it. Pitied myself for a night and then got back on the horse.
I have faced the fact that I am longing for a sense of community. Like minded people who think about how they use their resources, have hobbies similar to mine and like to share ideas, seeds, music and inspiration. Even un-like minded people who live responsibly and behave in recognition that those who live near them are human beings just like them.
I'm seriously considering going vegetarian again when I am back in the states. May or may not allow myself a couple weeks of carnitas, won ton soup, bacon and my mom's chicken tacos. I deserve that with no remorse. I could never kill a chicken, or a pig. Never. I know starvation can lead people to act all kinds of crazy but I swear to you, knowing my myself as deeply as I do, if I were starving and hanging out with a pig or chicken nearby I would just want to cuddle it and let my body succumb to its fate. And even if that's not true, I like to think it is. So just let me, please.
I started wearing loose, "cheap" dresses from the market. It is too brutally hot and humid not to and they are so lovely to wear since they feel like pajamas. And they make me feel so lady-like. I wish I could fly back to the states with a suitcase full of Mombasa dresses and leave my heavy, too tight jeans here. Yet I know I will arrive to temperatures that will make my bones feel like ice for months so maybe that's not an option.
For about a week in a row, I had extremely vivid dreams which were almost all good.
I got bangs. Well, sort of.
For the second time in my life, I faxed my election ballot in from Africa.
Obama was reelected as President of the United States of America.
Californians decided they would rather not know how their food comes into existence because it's more important to have lower taxes.
I've come to terms with the fact that living in Kenya has corrupted me into liking Celine Dion and Michael Bolton again. Embarrassing? No. They have fantastic voices regardless of their flaws like bad haircuts and egos.
I moved to the island of Mombasa from the coast just north of it- to save money, be closer to friends and to be able to walk literally everywhere I need to go. It is basically a studio but the bathroom has a door and I have a little balcony. It is in Old Town so I hear tuk tuks zooming by, dramatic Muslim speakers talking about secret societies (while at other times singing Rihanna songs, or talking about Manchester United, all in Swahili) on the radio in the shop downstairs. I also hear people beating on the drums for sale at the tourist shop below me from time to time and always wish that it lasted for more than a few seconds. I am getting devoured by mosquitoes even though I sleep in a net. I have a perimeter of very confused and curious ants around my entire ceiling, which I have been told is "a blessing". I can see a strip of magical blue ocean from one side of my roof top. I shower with cold water, even early in the morning and after the first splash, I find that I enjoy it. Though the area has a very sleepy, old feel, I can walk to a pharmacist, a tailor, multiple cyber shops, the Old Port, my favorite garden, a local shop that sells milk and the essentials and a streetside stand that sells kibibi- my latest addiction which i need the recipe for (kind of like a spongy, pancake with rice flour and deliciousness bigger than my hand and costing less than 50 cents). I had three at a time for dinner three nights in a row with a bottle of yoghurt. Healthy, I know.
I have become less of a coward in using the Swahili I have learned. I am better at ignoring the people who laugh (in disbelief) and get a nice little confidence boost from the way I see the faces of strangers and friends light up when I casually blurt something out in their language and they aren't expecting it.
I successfully sprouted TWO Loquat tree seeds which I had picked from the ground in Central Province off of a gravel driveway in an office compound. If I can successfully find a safe place and transplant them before I leave they will cancel out my two previous failed attempts at tree growing in Africa (young Loquat tree I planted at G-BIACK, and avocado seedling I planted in Rwanda which also didn't make it).
I've given a brief overview of my version of what American politics look like to a handful of people and re-arrived at the conclusion that had I been born with a heart of stone and the ability to lie, I would have made one kick ass politician.
I booked a ticket back to California for December. It was a long time coming. It will be a long time going. I am crushed and ecstatic all at the same time. In the end, I know at this point in time it is the right step for me and by no means does it equate to me never coming back to this continent where humanity began.
Two more job opportunities -one here and one in California- bit the dust. So be it. Pitied myself for a night and then got back on the horse.
I have faced the fact that I am longing for a sense of community. Like minded people who think about how they use their resources, have hobbies similar to mine and like to share ideas, seeds, music and inspiration. Even un-like minded people who live responsibly and behave in recognition that those who live near them are human beings just like them.
I'm seriously considering going vegetarian again when I am back in the states. May or may not allow myself a couple weeks of carnitas, won ton soup, bacon and my mom's chicken tacos. I deserve that with no remorse. I could never kill a chicken, or a pig. Never. I know starvation can lead people to act all kinds of crazy but I swear to you, knowing my myself as deeply as I do, if I were starving and hanging out with a pig or chicken nearby I would just want to cuddle it and let my body succumb to its fate. And even if that's not true, I like to think it is. So just let me, please.
I started wearing loose, "cheap" dresses from the market. It is too brutally hot and humid not to and they are so lovely to wear since they feel like pajamas. And they make me feel so lady-like. I wish I could fly back to the states with a suitcase full of Mombasa dresses and leave my heavy, too tight jeans here. Yet I know I will arrive to temperatures that will make my bones feel like ice for months so maybe that's not an option.
For about a week in a row, I had extremely vivid dreams which were almost all good.
I got bangs. Well, sort of.
For the second time in my life, I faxed my election ballot in from Africa.
Obama was reelected as President of the United States of America.
Californians decided they would rather not know how their food comes into existence because it's more important to have lower taxes.
I've come to terms with the fact that living in Kenya has corrupted me into liking Celine Dion and Michael Bolton again. Embarrassing? No. They have fantastic voices regardless of their flaws like bad haircuts and egos.
1 comment:
Yea for California in December! Yea for community, Swahili, cheap dresses,and Michael Bolton's voice! Boo for mosquitoes! Can't wait to see you! Hugs, Momma
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