Hello and a good month to everybody. Mine has been nothing but a nightmare of work work work, a harrowing one to be exact, hopefully the paycheck finds me sane. I can however, see a ray of success following this project I am working on and I will tell you all about it later.
The last you heard from me was in April and I was preparing for a vacation in the pearl of Africa. Lots of stories from then till today but I can only tell you bits and pieces.
It was just around the Iceland volcano eruption, so my flight was canceled until 5days later. I was very disappointed but also thought it a blessing in-disguise to be more prepared. Like most women, up until 3am on my departure day I was not ready. I'm not the fancy kind but I thought I would be doing America a disservice appearing to my folks as if I was coming from the deepest of my village, so I had stayed up all night polishing my nails (actually fake nails)and ironing the hair. The nails never made it off the plane; they all came off as I hustled with the luggage changing flights.
I had a lay over in Amsterdam, for some reason I got a rush of fear. Somewhat strange, considering it had been a long time since I last saw my family and friends, fear is the last emotion to feel but excitement. In fact, if it was not for my dear sister's wedding, I had to be in; I contemplated on not following through.
I was scared of the unknown,(actually known to me), maybe someday I'll have the freedom to write a book about those fears that I've have slowly conquered.
Well, I finally made it home, lots of family and friends awaited me, lots of food, changes and not forgetting the heat and the dust. Most of my friends already married with children or on that route. It was different but good
Except the last week, when I caught Malaria, I enjoyed my 5-week vacation, mostly my sister's wedding.
Even though I was happy vacationing, enjoying being waited on, I had to come back "home", heads on with a pile of bills.
As I waved goodbye to my folks, I thought of people who immigrate to different parts of the world. With all the pleasure to experience the diversity of both worlds, there is also the pressure to fit in both worlds and later on find a sense of true belonging. The thought gave birth to my latest project, to find ways of uniting and supporting immigrants in my community establish themselves, share the beauty of our culture and belong. Any suggestions? Have a good one.
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
Saturday, April 10, 2010
NOTHING FANCY BUT FINE.
Good evening all my friends. I hope you can still allow me to call you my friends after abandoning you for over a month. I beseech to be pardoned. Brich, forgive me for promising you air last weekend. I can make a list of excuses. The very truth is that I have been preparing for my vacation and I did not want to write anything without according it ample attention.
It's 12 midnight and I just came home from a very long day to a house that looks like it's just been hit by a tornado. Not planning on doing a thing except pull a sheet over my head and enjoy the state of unconsciousness yet alive,I stumbled over the clutter of my unpacked stuff on the floor.I clenched onto the dressing mirror for support and came face to face with my image.I must say, for a second I liked what I saw. In a loud thought, I whispered, God must not look bad since I'm in his own image; And so you are all.
Enough Blabbering. Up until I stumbled I was not sure what to write and then I thought I should share with you my preparation for my vacation. Among so many things I was concerned about was to find someone to sublet my apartment while I am gone so I advertised it a couple months ago.I finally found a good fit, a young woman and her boyfriend.They were in Japan so we made plans to meet as soon as they arrived in the country. Not that it's important but I was curious about their ethnicity so I could make appropriate changes but thought it rather awkward to ask. Well, They called last week for us to finally meet. I stayed up till 3am clearing out my junk, managed to put it all away but saved the thorough cleaning for the next day. Immediately after work I went shopping for a few things to give the house a better viewing, like flowers, lamp shade, fruit basket and whatever else to make it fancy. I drove home like a mad woman, went straight for the duster.I had not even taken off the shoes and they knocked on my door. I invited them into the house, apologised countless times for not being very prepared. They were very generous with their kind comments of how the apartment looked very nice bla bla bla....I really liked them,more so, they had company of a soft spoken fine young man.(Just appreciating God's creation, you know!!).Later after they had gone, I checked my account balance and I had over withdrawn my account to buy the flowers that I did not necessarily need. I have continued to learn that beauty has nothing to do with material because, I saw the beautiful image of Christine at her worst, after long hours of work, the meekness of the young man who accompanied my guests,the clutter-free apartment without the fancy accessories.I don't mean to say that accessorising is not a good idea but just being able to see beauty without the fancy.
I love my house sitting couple. Their ethnicity didn't matter after all. And I love you all.
It's 12 midnight and I just came home from a very long day to a house that looks like it's just been hit by a tornado. Not planning on doing a thing except pull a sheet over my head and enjoy the state of unconsciousness yet alive,I stumbled over the clutter of my unpacked stuff on the floor.I clenched onto the dressing mirror for support and came face to face with my image.I must say, for a second I liked what I saw. In a loud thought, I whispered, God must not look bad since I'm in his own image; And so you are all.
Enough Blabbering. Up until I stumbled I was not sure what to write and then I thought I should share with you my preparation for my vacation. Among so many things I was concerned about was to find someone to sublet my apartment while I am gone so I advertised it a couple months ago.I finally found a good fit, a young woman and her boyfriend.They were in Japan so we made plans to meet as soon as they arrived in the country. Not that it's important but I was curious about their ethnicity so I could make appropriate changes but thought it rather awkward to ask. Well, They called last week for us to finally meet. I stayed up till 3am clearing out my junk, managed to put it all away but saved the thorough cleaning for the next day. Immediately after work I went shopping for a few things to give the house a better viewing, like flowers, lamp shade, fruit basket and whatever else to make it fancy. I drove home like a mad woman, went straight for the duster.I had not even taken off the shoes and they knocked on my door. I invited them into the house, apologised countless times for not being very prepared. They were very generous with their kind comments of how the apartment looked very nice bla bla bla....I really liked them,more so, they had company of a soft spoken fine young man.(Just appreciating God's creation, you know!!).Later after they had gone, I checked my account balance and I had over withdrawn my account to buy the flowers that I did not necessarily need. I have continued to learn that beauty has nothing to do with material because, I saw the beautiful image of Christine at her worst, after long hours of work, the meekness of the young man who accompanied my guests,the clutter-free apartment without the fancy accessories.I don't mean to say that accessorising is not a good idea but just being able to see beauty without the fancy.
I love my house sitting couple. Their ethnicity didn't matter after all. And I love you all.
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
So loud but quiet.
It is so quiet today in my little apartment. It's just like yesterday and the other day.It's been like this forever. It's quiet, you could hear a pin dropping but also so loud with fear of loneliness. It's not lacking in supply of anything but also very empty of life. Boring and nothing much to do but my mind busy with a sea of thoughts.
What happened to the vision I had. I saw alot of people at my house eating, drinking and making merry. My fault, I'm busy with this and that or maybe everyone is as busy as I am.
I saw a crazy house of girls' sleepovers. That's why the big couch and the hide a bed sofa. Hmmm I don't know how I came up with that. All in my imagination. I cannot begin to tell of everything I tried to feel a saticifaction/ fullfilled.
Out of all of them, just this has worked, A very good work out and sleep in Sunday morning. Any better suggestions? Happy February.
What happened to the vision I had. I saw alot of people at my house eating, drinking and making merry. My fault, I'm busy with this and that or maybe everyone is as busy as I am.
I saw a crazy house of girls' sleepovers. That's why the big couch and the hide a bed sofa. Hmmm I don't know how I came up with that. All in my imagination. I cannot begin to tell of everything I tried to feel a saticifaction/ fullfilled.
Out of all of them, just this has worked, A very good work out and sleep in Sunday morning. Any better suggestions? Happy February.
Friday, January 15, 2010
New year resolutions
New Year resolutions
Happy, healthy and prosperous new year to you all.
The year is still brand new and most people including myself are happy to have kissed last year goodbye. In 2009, I met a girl who was struggling to finish her Masters programme. I'm sure there those who were struggling to finish elementary, high school and college. I met several people who had just lost their jobs; I met others whose salaries had been cut because of the economy, including my sister who was told that "when America sneezes, the world catches a cold". I met a family which was falling apart leading to a divorce and another family whose head of the family and the sole bread winner was dying of a liver cancer. I also met a mother whose son had been taken to juvenile jail. The list goes on and on. It was one of those years that tested my personal strength as a hard working young woman. It was as if I was chasing wind or worse still, pushing a wall. Alas, it's over and done away with. It's gone and only hoping it takes with it it's troubles and hardships leaving us with a peaceful 2010. Unfortunately, life is not that kind. We only have ourselves to be kind to us, so what are we going to do with the gift of life in a new year? I'm sure you all have To do lists written down, or inscribed somewhere in your mind. This is your time to shine even if it takes the next several years. Do not despise small beginnings. The rise starts now. Over the years, I committed myself to big resolutions that I definitely never followed through with, so this God given year I have resolved to make daily baby steps.
10 tips for a better year.
1. Get enough sleep
2. Eat at least 2 meals a day
3. Drink plenty of water as if your life depends on it because it does.
4. Smile, smile, smile. It is an ultimate anti-depressant, world peace starts with just that one smile, it makes you look more beautiful and if you run a business, it will definitely increase your sales.
5. Waste not your precious energy on the negative. It's not okay to worry because it doesn't help. No one wants to attend a pity party. It's okay though to be concerned and to find solutions. When things run out of hand, STOP! take a deep breath and count one to ten allowing yourself to think, act or react rationally
6. Rearrange your priorities at any given chance especially when at crossroads. It could be daily, weekly, monthly or quarterly. It makes it easy to make decisions on how to spend your time, your energies and your money.
7. Do yourself a favor, don't smoke your life away, and drink your self to stupor. If it's for fun, the morning will not be fun because the hangover awaits. If it's to escape troubles, whenever you are done, they will still be there unless you actually do something other than add on more troubles. They don't call them cancer sticks for nothing.
8. Money, technology, fame and fortune will not take care of you when you are sick and old but friends, family and even strangers will, so treat everyone with respect. You just never know.
9. Get off your butt and do something. Someone has to sow for anything to grow. We reap what we sow. Even if you do not feel up to anything, (you gotta do what you gotta do)
10. Get enough sleep( Please try it, you'll be amazed the value of resting)
Bonus
11. Before you go to bed complete the sentence: I am thankful for__________.
I wish you a better year than last year.
Happy, healthy and prosperous new year to you all.
The year is still brand new and most people including myself are happy to have kissed last year goodbye. In 2009, I met a girl who was struggling to finish her Masters programme. I'm sure there those who were struggling to finish elementary, high school and college. I met several people who had just lost their jobs; I met others whose salaries had been cut because of the economy, including my sister who was told that "when America sneezes, the world catches a cold". I met a family which was falling apart leading to a divorce and another family whose head of the family and the sole bread winner was dying of a liver cancer. I also met a mother whose son had been taken to juvenile jail. The list goes on and on. It was one of those years that tested my personal strength as a hard working young woman. It was as if I was chasing wind or worse still, pushing a wall. Alas, it's over and done away with. It's gone and only hoping it takes with it it's troubles and hardships leaving us with a peaceful 2010. Unfortunately, life is not that kind. We only have ourselves to be kind to us, so what are we going to do with the gift of life in a new year? I'm sure you all have To do lists written down, or inscribed somewhere in your mind. This is your time to shine even if it takes the next several years. Do not despise small beginnings. The rise starts now. Over the years, I committed myself to big resolutions that I definitely never followed through with, so this God given year I have resolved to make daily baby steps.
10 tips for a better year.
1. Get enough sleep
2. Eat at least 2 meals a day
3. Drink plenty of water as if your life depends on it because it does.
4. Smile, smile, smile. It is an ultimate anti-depressant, world peace starts with just that one smile, it makes you look more beautiful and if you run a business, it will definitely increase your sales.
5. Waste not your precious energy on the negative. It's not okay to worry because it doesn't help. No one wants to attend a pity party. It's okay though to be concerned and to find solutions. When things run out of hand, STOP! take a deep breath and count one to ten allowing yourself to think, act or react rationally
6. Rearrange your priorities at any given chance especially when at crossroads. It could be daily, weekly, monthly or quarterly. It makes it easy to make decisions on how to spend your time, your energies and your money.
7. Do yourself a favor, don't smoke your life away, and drink your self to stupor. If it's for fun, the morning will not be fun because the hangover awaits. If it's to escape troubles, whenever you are done, they will still be there unless you actually do something other than add on more troubles. They don't call them cancer sticks for nothing.
8. Money, technology, fame and fortune will not take care of you when you are sick and old but friends, family and even strangers will, so treat everyone with respect. You just never know.
9. Get off your butt and do something. Someone has to sow for anything to grow. We reap what we sow. Even if you do not feel up to anything, (you gotta do what you gotta do)
10. Get enough sleep( Please try it, you'll be amazed the value of resting)
Bonus
11. Before you go to bed complete the sentence: I am thankful for__________.
I wish you a better year than last year.
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