Series of firsts > First day in Primary school

 so its 1981

probably january 1981

i join class one

with me twin sis

we are in our shiny new uniforms!

with bright red sweaters

my other sis is in class 3

and she is a ball of energy

she drags our reluctant hands

to the class 

saying loudly

hello teacher!

here are my sisters!!

am scared

don't know what to expect

i remember the smell of freshly shaved pencils

and the smell of warm milk

in small colourful mugs

or was this a memory from kindergarten?

oh well

its a long time ago

:)

Series of firsts > First time in the Big Apple!

So...........

i was seated there

in the office

minding my own business

when an email from IEE came through

some forwarded email

for internship grants

am like...oh well....never hurts  to try!

and that's how i found my self

in the Big Apple

year is 2001 (i think)

interning at Equality Now

for 6 weeks!

Imagine that! 

and being summer, with the long days

i wondered around each corner of NYC 

solo traveler

every evening!

not even scared!

took the bus

took the train

went to Staten Island

went to Brooklyn

went to Madison Square Garden

went to Times Square

Sat in central park

went for dinner at the Twin Towers 

heck! i even joined a protest march!

Bliss!

Series of firsts > First time seeing the ocean!

 i love the ocean

endless mass of water

merging with horizon

the calming feeling of just staring

at the wide unknown

first time i saw this wonder

was in dar es salaam

circa 1993

we had gone to visit dad

it was a public beach i think

and he said

wash your face with the water

as a way paying homage

and i looked at it

with utter amazement

and realised why

in olden days

people worshiped the ocean!

 

Series of firsts > First flight

 So this February, I start a short story series on my first

My first flight

This was incidentally on Christmas day

We had gone to Dar es salaam to visit my father and he surprised us with a flight back to Nairobi

I was beside myself

We all wore smart!! since it was Christmas + it was  a big day for all of us using a flight for the first time

Cant even remember the logistics involved

All I can recall is being seated and staring around in wonderment!! (if that is a word!)

Wow...its so nice to enjoy that experience with family members

WFH!

 So a new term has gain traction this past year

WFH

Working from home!

I must say I enjoy it

I had a some 15months stint at WFH some time back and was BORED!

Main reason was because the work was limited and I had to be present and not go about doing my own thing

However, with this one for 2020/2021 I enjoy it immensely

But I always wonder whether a little distraction doesn't make me more effective

Whole of 2020 I was WFH at the same time being Assistant Teacher! 

and I was more effective!

Now that the house is SILENT since kids are back in school

I tend to less efficient

whats that about!!

---

Letter to me

Dear 21 year old me

I see you

I see you standing there my the door of your room...with a poster behind you done by an artist friend

Cant remember who took this photo

and why you removed your specs

Anyways, 25 years later everything is fine

Doubt if you imagined where you would be 25 years from this picture

But its all good

No harm in looking 5 years ahead

or even 5 years behind

and taking in all the lessons

just rise up

and show up

and be Thankful to God always!!

Living in the moment!

 Its nearly one year

Since the world was put on hold

Now more than ever

Just live in the moment