Tag Archives: Kenya

Kicking a bad [American] habit

This terrific essay via The Atlantic reminded me of the moment when I knew I needed to make a change.

It happened in Kenya. Little girl

Almost all of our meals were served buffet-style. Each day, our tent camp put out a spread three times. I found myself taking a little of this, a little more of that and subsequently sampling it all. But when I finished eating, my plate usually still held food. Sometimes as much as one-third of what I had taken from the buffet.

Kenya made me aware of this bad habit. I was so embarrassed by the food I wasted. Now I try to take only what I’ll eat and eat what’s on my plate (within reason–American portions are HUGE).

When I read Tim Walker’s essay about breaking American habits living in Finland, I laughed and cringed simultaneously. #3. Yes.

What’s your bad habit and what forced you to acknowledge it?

Today is #GivingTuesday

There’s #BlackFriday and #SmallBusinessSaturday. I find #CyberMonday particularly enjoyable, but let’s talk about the really important day: #GivingTuesday.

Particularly after my snarky post yesterday.

But I do have a heart and today I’m reminding you what’s in it.

First, Kenya. I think of those beautiful kids I met in July every single day.

Jen kids crop

 

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With humor, from Kenya

 

During our last day in Kenya, we visited our host Mercy’s sister Rose’s home in Nairobi. Rose organized a lovely luncheon for our gang and invited some of her friends to join so we could get acquainted with some non-Maasai Kenyans.

 

While I was at Rose’s house, I transferred some items between my backpack and my suitcase, apparently losing a precious shopping bag full of jewelry bought at Kazuri Beads, a store run as part of a women’s empowerment project. I was crushed when I got home and realized my purchases hadn’t made the trip with me.

Fortunately Rose found the bag and kindly shipped the jewelry to me via DHL.

 

The jewelry arrived wrapped in newspaper. Somehow one blurb caught my eye.Kenya newspaper

 

 

I will never think of the phrase “Sweet Spot” the same way again. Pervert.

If you’re in the U.S. or Canada and would like to check out Kazuri, here’s the link to their North American site.

More about Kenya: how we spent our days

Apparently you want to hear more about Kenya. How cool!

This post will help put part of our activities into perspective.

Friday, July 11 – Saturday, July 12

Fly from JFK to Dubai (approximately twelve hours) via Emirates. Most of us thought the long flight was painless, I think. It helped that the flight wasn’t full. Julie and I had an empty middle seat between us.

I read, watched three movies, checked out the plane-mounted cameras and slept a little. Oh, and we drank wine.

During a three-hour layover, we visited the last Starbucks we’ll encounter, and the Heineken bar. In spite of it being 8:30 am local time.

Starbucks

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Did you have a good weekend?

The best word for describing my weekend:

Freemans

Yeah.

I had pancakes at brunch at Freemans with Adrienne. Dinner of chicken parm and pasta from Max. Pancakes again at brunch at Spring Natural Kitchen with my Kenya trip friend Caroline.

Spring Natural Kitchen

By the time I woke up Sunday morning, I had gained two of the pounds I lost during the gluten-free experiment.

My honest reaction after eight days of feeling sad about food was “Oh well.”

I’ll worry about exercise tomorrow.

Are you sick of hearing about Kenya?

Diana and friends

Serious question: are you sick of hearing about my trip to Kenya? I ask because I have a lot more stories I can share, if you’re into it.

 

I won’t be mad if you say “yeah, enough.” Actually, I won’t know if you said yes because it’s an anonymous poll

 

Things that are hard to explain to a Kenyan teenager

You may have read this list elsewhere. However, this is an edited version with new! exciting! items. OK?

Some things are hard to explain to Kenyan teenagers.

  • Skyscrapers
  • The subway
  • A dog as a pet versus one who herds cows, goats and sheep
  • A dog wearing a coat made for a dog

dog in a coat

  • Snow (which is how I ended up showing them the picture above in the first place)
  • Why I have pictures of food in my phone
  • Being child-less and husband-less
  • Not living with my parents (which is where Kenyan singles live)
  • Being an only child – polygamy is the norm, as are large families
  • Seamless.com
  • Same-sex marriage

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It’s good to be home

Although to be honest, I keep thinking about Kenya. It made a big impression on me.

But my weekend in NYC was fun. On Friday, I took a Pure Torture Barre class and later, had dinner with visiting friends.

On Saturday, I grabbed cocktails with other friends at Cafe Colette.

Cafe Colette

Delicious French fries too.

Cafe Colette

There are lots of exciting things happening in NYC this week including this and this.

How was your weekend?

Post-Kenya

Last night, I didn’t have to use a flashlight when I got out of bed to go to the bathroom.

Ibises and hyraxes didn’t wake me up at 4 am.

 

I didn’t have to tiptoe through an unfamiliar tent so as to avoid waiting my Kenya roommate Julie. (not that she ever complained; I highly recommend Julie as a travel companion!)

I didn’t need a hot water bottle to keep me warm as I slept.

HWB

I wasn’t greeted by several hundred children singing WELCOME OUR VISITORS! without having consumed an iced latte.

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Airport shopping in Dubai

Hi friends! I have missed you.
I’m in Dubai on my way from a wonderful time in Kenya.

Don’t worry: I didn’t buy any of these.

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I also considered buying a hookah just to see my friends’ reaction as I boarded the plane. But cooler heads prevailed.

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I also didn’t buy any Arabic lady fiction (because I will be asleep all the way to NYC).

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