Glimpses of home

I always talk about the beauty of Kenya, and specifically the rolling countryside where I spent most of my life. So, here's some proof that it's not a desert! I didn't take these pictures, so I have to give credit to the brilliant and skilled photographer J. who I had the honor of meeting while I was home.



Waking up to this beautiful sight is practically a daily occurrence. The opposite of the miserable weather I have to deal with right now.




The road home...which was supposed to be tarmacked about 10+ years ago. It's probably a good thing it remained this way. I was once riding in the back of a pick-up truck along this road and almost fell off! It can be a bumpy ride.




Now, here's a great reason to go for a nature walk!

I am a Pig! This is my year.

So much has been happening around the world. And even though some of the news is "old" I'm gonna share my 2 cents.

Barrack Obama is making history. No matter what the outcome is. Wish I got a chance to see him in person, but don't have the budget for the exclusive events. The question whether he is "black" enough is so dumb that it doesn't even warrant an answer. Ati some black leaders were offended that he made his candidacy announcement on the same day as the State of the Black Union (never heard of this day till recently). Anyhow, Hillary has compe! If I could vote, it's clear where my vote would go.

Rats are found in a Taco Bell. I'm so glad I haven't eaten there in years! Ati,we used to hear about this place when we were in Kenya from people who'd spent their summers in the States. I used to think it was all that till I saw it for myself. It's on my list of "places to eat when I'm starving in the middle of nowhere." Even then, I'm sure there'd be a McDonald's around the corner.

The Chinese New Year was about 10 days ago. It is the year of the Pig/Boar. We didn't eat pork growing up because of religious taboo and tradition (I'd sneakily eat bacon on occasion). So, imagine our reaction on visiting a Chinese friend's house for a celebratory meal and being presented with a cooked pig in the middle of the table. I ate some to be polite. Plus I was curious. It was kinda tasty. I was given some lucky money in an envelope (leisee) by someone last year so I keep that as souvenir. I'm taking a class about Chinese culture and I've been struck by the similarities we have.

It just happens that I was born in the year of the pig some 20+ years ago. I'm reading about the qualities us piggies possess and I've got to admit some ring true, like I know a lot of people but few I'd call friends. Words like 'chivalrous', 'gallant', and 'loyal' make me think of a knight. Maybe I was one in my past life...

"People born in the Year of the Pig are chivalrous and gallant. Whatever they do, they do with all their strength. For Boar Year people, there is no left or right and there is no retreat. They have tremendous fortitude and great honesty. They don't make many friends but they make them for life, and anyone having a Boar Year friend is fortunate for they are extremely loyal. They don't talk much but have a great thirst for knowledge. They study a great deal and are generally well informed. Boar people are quick tempered, yet they hate arguments and quarreling. They are kind to their loved ones. No matter how bad problems seem to be, Boar people try to work them out, honestly if sometimes impulsively."

---adapted from the Chinese Cultural Center


Any fellow pigs out there?

Gifts and 5 Things

I am a weird person.
I don't like getting gifts unless they're from blood relatives or very close friends. Why? Because, then I feel like I owe the person something. I hate that feeling. And there are always strings attached. Very few people have the heart to give you something just for the sake of it. Especially if it's a guy. Am I too cynical? Or did I get converted to the individualistic, self-sufficient American way of thinking? The polite thing to say when somebody gives you a gift or a compliment is "Thank you." But what if you don't feel comfortable with the gift or don't believe the compliment? Is it rude to say so? But then, I'd have to launch into lengthy explanations which may not even make sense to anyone. Feelings and beliefs aren't always logical, but they can still be valid.

5 things that irritate/piss me off:
1. Hanging out with somebody who's constantly yapping on their cellphone endlessly on non-urgent calls.
2. Being put on hold for a long time while being forced to listen to bad music or commercials. And automated voice systems.
3. When a person states "That job is so easy!" yet they've never had any experience or in-depth knowledge of that line of work.
4. Married people or parents who think that life is so simple for those of us who aren't. While I realize there are heavy responsibilities when you're attached to another human for life, it's not like the rest of us don't have responsibilities. In addition to this, parents who take over the entire sidewalk with strollers in a busy area. Can't they go to the park or something? Just get out of my way.
5. Bad coffee.

P.S. There's Kenyatta Day and Moi Day. Will there be Kibaki day? Just wondering....

It's Over

The most hilarious Valentine's post this year is by Ichiena. Check it out! And
Modoathii had some wicked advice on avoiding the whole Valo drama.

Even though I didn't care to celebrate the day, I got a few messages wishin' me happy val's. The award for the earliest message goes to a dude in Nairobi who asked me to be his valentine a month ago. It was kinda sweet. Dude, how did you know I have a thing for guys in uniform? Thanks for giving me directions when I was lost. Doubt if we'll meet again.
Now,the one person I wanted to hear from yesterday didn't contact me. Not that I was expecting anything apart from a call or even a text saying "how r u." Even though the last time we were together, I was in a bad mood. Because of a situation that I was trying to handle earlier that day. When I say have things on my mind, it's usually quite serious. I have to make some decisions that will affect not only me but others around me. And there are issues going on that I can't control. I won't go into details. I don't like confrontations but I see one coming up. I'm not perfect and don't like criticizing but I have to express my views and feelings.

Jekyll/Hyde and Who's the Daddy?

What's with the shooting rampage lately? I mean non-gang, non-hunting related shooting. A business meeting in Philadelphia turns deadly. Even malls are gonna start having some serious security after the incident in Salt Lake City. “He was a such a good boy. I don’t know what happened” is what a relative said about the gunman. Don't we people always say that? So basically, all these good people just snap one day and nobody has a clue why they're frustrated enough to kill? I wonder if they plan it calmly or just act in the heat of the moment? Perhaps we all have a Mr. Hyde in us although the world only sees the wonderful Dr. Jekyll.

News stations tend to pick high profile stories and focus on them exclusively. I am so over the circus surrounding Anna Nicole's death. I barely watch tv but every time I pass by one, yet another dude has crawled out of the woodwork claiming to be the father of her kid. They should do that DNA test in a rush and conclude the affair. But the bigger question is about the huge fortune. I just want to know what happens in the end.

San Diego & Anti-Valentine's

Didn't make it to San Diego for the 7's this year. Just waiting to hear all about it from buddies who went. I first visited the city a number of summers ago and was so impressed. Stayed in the Gaslamp quarter, went to Balboa Park and Coronado island. Also crossed the border to Tijuana for a day trip; ate delicious food and drank lots of margaritas. Walking down the streets, some people would smile excitedly and yell out "Moesha", it took a while to figure it out though. I guess Brandy was the most popular black female in Tijuana at the time. It was amusing coz nobody looked like her. I'd rank San Diego as one of the best places to live in the U.S. out of the cities I've visited.

This weekend was somewhat productive: worked, finished an essay, and went to an Anti-Valentine's Day party. Of course there were couples:)The buddies who hosted it always have the greatest themed parties and they have a cool crowd of friends so you're sure to mingle with interesting people. In fact, I met a girl who lives 2 blocks away from me. What sucks about Valentines is that if you're a single female and everyone around you is getting flowers and chocolates delivered then you'll be wishing someone would send you some. (Come on admit it!) And if you're part of a couple (esp. a new one), the expectations may not be clear especially for dudes. If the guy doesn't do anything, he'll risk pissing of the chic coz it's seems that he's not acknowledging the relationship. But then again if he's a romantic and goes all out, maybe the chic doesn't even care for the whole flowers-chocolates-dinner routine. Seems like a sexist day, coz what gifts do the guys get?

I'm so into the song "Nibebe" by Nyota Ndogo featuring Nonini. Nyota Ndogo has such a beautiful, melodic voice. I read her life story (can't remember the link) about her family struggles and her journey to stardom. She deserves all the success coming her way.

By the way, there's a really catchy Kenyan song that goes "Najua unaipenda unaitaka pia..." Does anybody know who did it?

Directions

We all need directions at one point or another. It's great to have signs and symbols to guide us. But it seems like even the most obvious things come with directions. Like a drink that says "twist cap open and drink." But in this extremely litigious society, everything has to be disclosed and stated, even though it seems obvious. That's why the average person has to sign like 100 kinds of contracts and releases for everything. Not reading and understanding the fine print can totally mess you up as some of us learned the hard way. Or, if you don't ask certain questions,you just won't know. Information is a valuable commodity.

Decisions

Decisions.
We've all have to make them. I'm torn between some right now. I tend to overanalyze some things and then put off making a choice because I'm thinking of how it will affect future plans. However,I have to act soon and think about here and now as well as the future.

Superbowl Sunday

This won't be a replay of the game coz I didn't watch it but heard the Indianapolis Colts won. I just needed a catchy title:) I rarely watch tv, but I'm into Nigerian movies.

So I got through 2 swimming lessons last week. It's fun so far! Even though the water is cold ( thought the pool would be heated), you feel really great afterwards. I can hardly wait for warm weather.

School has started off quite well. Maybe I'm a nerd, but I really like school! Last sem was tougher coz of making the transition back to the academic world, but now I'm more comfortable and can find my way around. Plus, I'm taking some fun classes (in addition to swimming). One is a humanities class where we read lots of interesting books (including Things Fall Apart and The Brideprice). If I could get college credit for all the books I've read, maybe I could graduate sooner! The professor for this class is also quite a character. The class was packed on the first day (good sign) and when he was talking about his expectations, he'd say "I don't give a shit about..." He's very laid back and well-travelled, including to several countries on "the continent of Africa." I like that he's very knowledgable about non-Western cultures. It irritates me to hear people say "I went to Africa" as though it's one town. Please be specific, it's a huge continent, with so much variation and I've only seen a small portion of it.

On the other hand, there are also people in Kenya who don't seem to realize that the U.S. is a huge country! Some states are bigger than our country. Some people at home were asking me about their kids 'n relaz as though we're all neighbors. I rarely even see some neighbors and buddies are scattered in different places. If there's a major event, like the upcoming Rugby 7's, that's when most of us meet. When I went to apply for an ID, the dude there was asking me if I knew his nephew in Wisconsin (or Wyoming). I've never been to either one of those places. Furthermore, we all come from the same populous tribe with huge extended families. I barely know some of my own relaz so what's the probability of me knowing some random dude in Wisconsin?

It doesn't hurt to ask though, coz improbable things do happen. Like running into an old schoolmate you haven't seen in almost 10yrs on the streets of Nairobi. Yup, it happened to me. It was one of the few days that I was there, exploring the small section of the city that I know just coz it's close to my Uncle's office. I was so happy to reconnect with her. It's an amazing feeling to be somewhere where you have a history. It's a great feeling to belong and not have to constantly explain yourself. Home was different because most of my friends had left the country about the same time I did. And didn't stay in touch with others. So I know very few people around my age there. I was also on holiday after most people visiting had already left. It's too bad that I missed the KBW meetup. When you interact with people online, you start to guess what they're like in person. I read Half'n'half's post about why she missed the meetup and I can see where she's coming from. Although, unlike her, I think that my chances of already knowing anybody in KBW are slim to none. I'd enjoy meeting a number of KBWers in person. I'm a little shy with groups so I do better one-on-one. It's a funny thing, but sometimes it's easier to be more honest and real with strangers coz they don't have a preconceived idea of who you are and have nothing to gain or lose from your actions. If you do something that people who know you don't expect, they can get shocked. Does that mean that they didn't know you that well to begin with? Or they just don't know this side of you?