Musings from a Whirling Dervish

Beauty!

This weekend I bought some gorgeous flowers and made this arrangement. I love it! And the white flowers are making my house smell so wonderful. Mmmmm

Judge Judy

So earlier this week, I went for a morning walk, leaving my exceedingly large house to walk the streets of my exceedingly lovely neighborhood. I turned a corner and up walked two young boys in white shirts, green vests and litte grey shorts -- clearly students at one of the upscale private schools in the area. This was the second time I'd seen them, tripping along to the bus stop. Slogging behind them were not one, but two nannies -- yes, one for each little boy! -- each carrying a matching backpack, with one of the nannies also awkwardly juggling a large sports bag with a tennis racket sticking up out the top. I couldn't hold back. "Hey children, you aren't carrying your own backpacks?" "No," with a sheepish grin. "That's just not right," slipped out, as my head started wagging side to side.

And is it any more right that I live in my exceedingly large house in my exceedlingly lovely neighborhood when the average Kenyan lives in a one-room wooden shack?

Lazy Sunday

Feeling a little melancholic. A lazy Sunday followed by a lazy Saturday and wishing I had more to do. Or to be more honest, more invitations to do more with others!

I seem to often feel down after socializing. Had three good friends over for dinner Friday night and had a great time with conversation flying all evening long. And then felt flat and a bit letdown the next day. I wonder why I find it so difficult to find and maintain rich, rewarding consistent relationships here in Nairobi.

In the meantime, I'm off to stock my cupboards and then will try Ultimate Frisbee at 4 pm today. It's a good crowd. Now if my legs and lungs can just keep up!

A Change of Perspective

So the other day I was visiting a hospital that provides HIV services in Tanzania. Another group was visiting too, so the director took us around for a joint tour. After introductions, one of the other visitors asked us to all stand together for a picture and then jumped in front of us as we walked along taking a snap here, a snap there. I was thinking, "What in the hell does he want my photo for? A trip report? A collage at his office showing his team with the white blond?" And then I realized that this is probably exactly what so many of the East Africans think as I take a shot of them in a field or cooking a meal or sitting around talking. A good opportunity for me to take a look at my own reflection in the mirror.