this weekend marks exactly 1 year since graduation and also marks my 3rd full month in kenya!!
last night i was up late wrapping up a project and really had some time alone to think, calm my mind, and breathe. the work i was doing was soothing and somehow satisfying. the project had nothing to do with computers or the internet, it was very hands on and provided me with an end result. Something as simple as starting something then finishing it to completion is amazing. when working on the internet and looking at my schedule i often get overwhelmed with the endless amount of emails and things i need to do...but the pure simplicity of using scissors, using my hands, and seeing a product at the end was a nice change.
but that also got me to thinking...how often in our days do we feel like we climbing a never ending mountain? i think it is so important to remember that there is an end result we are all working for. whether it is in sight or not, it is still there. after last night i am committing to integrating some sort of activity into my weekly schedule to make sure i do not lose sight of the simple things: starting a project (not using technology) and finishing it to completion.
on that note...try it?
yesterday i traveled to one of the slums (kibera) and took a yoga class at this small school one of the AYP teachers teaches at. The one room school made of mud was beautiful. With the benches pushed to the back of the room next to the chalk board, over 30 children piled into the room and onto the floor for yoga. Ages ranging from 3 all the way to about 15, combined with myself and 3 other visitors (another american, a swede, and a german), the room was quite a diverse group of individuals. But that is the beauty of it-yoga can really bring people together.
There is something really special about going to the yoga classes in the slums that i cannot explain in words but i will try...it is so easy and common for people to just come and 'visit' the slums to see them. I often hear people say 'oh i'd love to go see Kibera,' but what does that even mean? you want to go see it, take pictures of people and their living conditions, meet a few locals, then leave? taking pictures of just random people and walking around an area keep you on the outside-the yoga classes allow me and other visitors to really take part in a community event. these students come to class each week to practice yoga. in attending the yoga classes in the communities i'm constantly reminded that we all have something to share. we can share the dusty floor and lay in savasana with our eyes closed. where we go when our eyes are closed can be our own, but in that moment, when i was laying on the floor of this school (with no mat because to be honest all we need is the ground to practice yoga) next to all of these beautiful children, i felt more connected to them than i feel with most of the people in this world.
needless to say, AYP and the way this organization is connecting people around the world, continues to inspire me.
after writing all of this down i feel a bit foolish for how i've been thinking lately. i've been anxious and worrying about my future and the next few months, but i really need to take a step back.
i guess there's nothing like having things put in perspective after a cleansing yoga session with some awesome people.
the past few weeks have been incredible...exhausting, but incredible.
Rozan stayed with us for about 4 weeks and having her was such a blast. we really got to know one another and i think she is hilarious, fabulous, and very intelligent. the conversations i have with her were stimulating, grounding, and enriching...her perspective on everything from men to politics around the world to the best cities in the world to party in, she constantly challenges my opinions and educates me on different issues. she leaves today and i'm sad to see her go-she was such a great house guest and i know our paths will cross again in the future, its just always hard to say goodbye.
another person who is leaving kenya is my dear friend jessica-in the past month we've dined out in nairobi too many times to count, traveled to the coast, pool crashed at the tribe hotel, played parents to her fiances little brother, and became really good weekend friends. i've found that my friendship with her and jordyn allows me to have an out. our weeks are crazy and jam packed but we have been setting aside a night per weekend we get together and its been so nice. thank goodness jordyn will still be around this month while jess heads back to the states!
the camel people! i've been spending a lot of time with my friends who love camels lately which has fulfilled the randomness that i often crave in my life! sebastian, philippa, and alicia are traveling the world doing a documentary on camels-and are HUGE advocates for camel milk! these 3 are innovative, always thinking, and coming up with ways to move forward towards progress. billy and i spent an afternoon at their house doing some impromptu art activities, they came to kibera with me for yoga, and then they came to dinner and each time has been full of laughs, stimulating conversation, and random activities.
moving onward-Altitude for Africa Yoga Project!!! it is official-Melanie, Emily and I are climbing mt. kilimanjaro and fundraising for Africa Yoga Project while doing so! donate here if you want to support a great cause and motivate the three of us to work hard and train so we can conquer the tallest mountain in africa!!!
last night i was up late wrapping up a project and really had some time alone to think, calm my mind, and breathe. the work i was doing was soothing and somehow satisfying. the project had nothing to do with computers or the internet, it was very hands on and provided me with an end result. Something as simple as starting something then finishing it to completion is amazing. when working on the internet and looking at my schedule i often get overwhelmed with the endless amount of emails and things i need to do...but the pure simplicity of using scissors, using my hands, and seeing a product at the end was a nice change.
but that also got me to thinking...how often in our days do we feel like we climbing a never ending mountain? i think it is so important to remember that there is an end result we are all working for. whether it is in sight or not, it is still there. after last night i am committing to integrating some sort of activity into my weekly schedule to make sure i do not lose sight of the simple things: starting a project (not using technology) and finishing it to completion.
on that note...try it?
 |
| the very beginning of the project |
yesterday i traveled to one of the slums (kibera) and took a yoga class at this small school one of the AYP teachers teaches at. The one room school made of mud was beautiful. With the benches pushed to the back of the room next to the chalk board, over 30 children piled into the room and onto the floor for yoga. Ages ranging from 3 all the way to about 15, combined with myself and 3 other visitors (another american, a swede, and a german), the room was quite a diverse group of individuals. But that is the beauty of it-yoga can really bring people together.
There is something really special about going to the yoga classes in the slums that i cannot explain in words but i will try...it is so easy and common for people to just come and 'visit' the slums to see them. I often hear people say 'oh i'd love to go see Kibera,' but what does that even mean? you want to go see it, take pictures of people and their living conditions, meet a few locals, then leave? taking pictures of just random people and walking around an area keep you on the outside-the yoga classes allow me and other visitors to really take part in a community event. these students come to class each week to practice yoga. in attending the yoga classes in the communities i'm constantly reminded that we all have something to share. we can share the dusty floor and lay in savasana with our eyes closed. where we go when our eyes are closed can be our own, but in that moment, when i was laying on the floor of this school (with no mat because to be honest all we need is the ground to practice yoga) next to all of these beautiful children, i felt more connected to them than i feel with most of the people in this world.
needless to say, AYP and the way this organization is connecting people around the world, continues to inspire me.
after writing all of this down i feel a bit foolish for how i've been thinking lately. i've been anxious and worrying about my future and the next few months, but i really need to take a step back.
'the good times of today are the sad thoughts of tomorrow' -bob marleythe truth in this quote boggle my mind. here i am plowing through life at full speed but it is so important to really take in each day at a time. i've been nostalgic about missing my friends, and family etc but i guarantee that as soon as i return home i'm going to be telling the stories of going to the slums for yoga, traveling to the coast, the consistent calls from the Masai just to say hello, travels to amboseli, shopping at this market, shopping at that market, eating at all the restaurants around nairobi, sneaking into the pool at the Serena, impromptu photo shoots, etc. and i'm going to miss it. i'm going to crave kenya like i crave chocolate in the middle of each month.
i guess there's nothing like having things put in perspective after a cleansing yoga session with some awesome people.
the past few weeks have been incredible...exhausting, but incredible.
Rozan stayed with us for about 4 weeks and having her was such a blast. we really got to know one another and i think she is hilarious, fabulous, and very intelligent. the conversations i have with her were stimulating, grounding, and enriching...her perspective on everything from men to politics around the world to the best cities in the world to party in, she constantly challenges my opinions and educates me on different issues. she leaves today and i'm sad to see her go-she was such a great house guest and i know our paths will cross again in the future, its just always hard to say goodbye.
another person who is leaving kenya is my dear friend jessica-in the past month we've dined out in nairobi too many times to count, traveled to the coast, pool crashed at the tribe hotel, played parents to her fiances little brother, and became really good weekend friends. i've found that my friendship with her and jordyn allows me to have an out. our weeks are crazy and jam packed but we have been setting aside a night per weekend we get together and its been so nice. thank goodness jordyn will still be around this month while jess heads back to the states!
the camel people! i've been spending a lot of time with my friends who love camels lately which has fulfilled the randomness that i often crave in my life! sebastian, philippa, and alicia are traveling the world doing a documentary on camels-and are HUGE advocates for camel milk! these 3 are innovative, always thinking, and coming up with ways to move forward towards progress. billy and i spent an afternoon at their house doing some impromptu art activities, they came to kibera with me for yoga, and then they came to dinner and each time has been full of laughs, stimulating conversation, and random activities.
moving onward-Altitude for Africa Yoga Project!!! it is official-Melanie, Emily and I are climbing mt. kilimanjaro and fundraising for Africa Yoga Project while doing so! donate here if you want to support a great cause and motivate the three of us to work hard and train so we can conquer the tallest mountain in africa!!!
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