The Comfort of the Daily Routine

“I thought I said, I want my eggs sunny side up, and I want my water still and those fruits, who ever wanted them diced, I said sliced! I only ever have my clothes pressed a certain way, and who told you I wanted lukewarm soup? I have to have this day start off well, the same way I always start it, the same way I ever start it, and I shall have it my way today and every day,” said the lady of the manor roaring to a now abandoned castle – No wonder all her staff had fled.

My morning routine is not as rigid as the first sentence suggests, I am a lady, and I have a small manor (those who know the sizes of student housing in the US can chuckle to this) Once you learn it, you want to maintain that habit, especially if it brings you a certain level of success or creates a certain sense that you are on the right track. Throughout my formative years there was always a schedule, when to rise, what to eat, when to nap, homework and TV time, and also when you were meant to be outside playing, as children ought to. No wonder I was always to tired after a day, that routine kept a pace from morning until evening. Thanks 8-4-4 system of education and those brave parents who soldier through the system.

Now that I am a little older, I have to say that retaining some of that routine has become a desire, nay a need as acute as that for water for a parched throat. I have the same thing for breakfast every day, I never tire of a food that I enjoy. I have my wash up at about the same time every day early in the morning and then catch up on my readings and other things as I prepare for the day ahead. Often I have stopped myself in the middle and asked, what really am I doing. Going through the motions or really living.

If life is not a rehearsal, why do we spend time perfecting such a delicate balance of routines?  Are we practicing for a future day when we can showcase the perfect daily routine that we have. I lift my eyes to the wonderful azure sky and down at the snow that covers the ground – the blanket of snow seems to be permanent, but it too shall pass and melt. What of us, we do not have as much surety – that we have X-many days and we shall do these things – so shall we please I do something today that will create  meaningful impact.

When I want to think deeply on an issueget creative, it invariably calls for me to break the routine and go somewhere new. To fight writer’s block, sit at a cafe with other writers and take in some orange spice tea and tappetty tap on a keyboard. To fight boredom with the palate, to try a new cuisine. Many times however, I am not as fortunate with time, I need to have my mind made up fast. So goes the business of adulthood. I cannot imagine where this particular routine, of morning musings will go, but I am thankful that I can indeed break out of what I was doing this morning to share this with the world. This idea that you need to step aside from your daily habits and go and do!

Things About Kenya You Should Know

After a week and a half here, back from a much needed rest in Kenya, I have to say that the memories are as fresh and crisp as the air that greeted me as I got off the airplane. Not only was I thankful that my plane did not land in the Hudson River, but I am also thrilled that there was much more joy in my walk, having sat and broken bread with my dearest family and friends back home. So much has changed in Kenya in the last 18 months, and this post is a little about things that you should know about the country I call home.

1. Health – My heart was literally drawn and quartered by the state of our health. Like many countries with just a little biit of a middle class, we have neglected to care for ourselves, and discarded our traditional foods for the lure of the western diet, of very processed foods. It was a marked contrast for those of us who were so stunned by the presence and abundance of fresh fruit, vegetables and whole grains and tubers at such affordable prices. (Caveat: Here a single avocado at my grocery store costs $1) Many of those who have rejected traditional foods are faring badly, with everyone talking about the sugar disease (diabetes), exchanging the latest personal remedies for gout and taking in as much meat and alcohol as possible. Yes, there was a making-up for the lost holiday of 2007, but there was a bit too much of a cavalier conversation about food and eating right.

2. Mobile Talk Time Rates

Talk is cheaper than it has ever been. I am a young one, the furthest I can remember about prices of mobile calls was when they were KSH 45 a minute. Now, I was talking for Ksh 3 a minute and on the days when it was very pricey Ksh 8. All I can say is -tuendelee kuongea(lets keep talking)

3. Returning to Kenya after a long time – Peel your eyes.

There are no jobs waiting for you. You have to look for the abundant opportunities to be an entrepreneur and go for it. I mentioned this to some people who are interested in going to Kenya and there was a definite raising of eyebrows. If you can take an idea and creatively seek funding(legal means only please) you can return to Kenya. There was such explosion with many of the people who were not employed finding niche opportunities to apply their talents. Kenya is also the main source of labor for many of the African nations. Remember the part about having a substantial educated section. A small sample of where people are working Congo, Nigeria, Uganda, Malawi, Botswana. You name it, Kenyans are there.

4. Embracing African-ness

Here I am referring primarily to the clothing and artscene. No other time have I found such a thriving African product market. And there were young people using their talents to create artwork, there are several superb examples of Kenyan programming to replace the re-hashed and booooring sitcoms that flood every screen here. Shout out to Tahidi High especially, for my friend, you have represented the neighbor hood well. I digress. I wanted to carry back pictures of the clothing and the images, and the feeling in the fibres.

In with the new

Happy new year reader, yes, even as we wave goodbye to January and start the business of what happens after the resolution fever ends. Last year, there were some concrete resolutions that were made, to make Obama president, to have a prosperous 2008, and we again re-examine the promises we made to ourselves and try to wish again, or celebrate what happened. I think that even as the economy here tanked, we collectively sigh in relief that in these harsh economic times, we have hope. And hope is like oxygen, partially in the air, scarce, but necessary for living. My president looks like me. He is not one thing – but if the step grandson of a peasant can be moving into the White House, I see the power of dreams. There is a whole post about the whole linking him to his Kenyan roots, but how much more is there a general feel-good feeling about him? Aaaah, sweet.

This year started well for me. I was at home. It also started with much loss – with people transitioning too swiftly, old and young, men and women. May God who comforts, comfort those who are left behind. How indeed we have to cherish being here, and get on with the business of living. I tell you, the deeper questions of spirit, of a life that is filled with meaning, and missing them, those are part of what we are left to grapple within ourselves.

On that note, let me sign off. More on the Kenya trip to come.