So, here’s something. I told my host family I like to wake up early (which is true) and told them I usually wake up at six (which is not true, but I said it because I felt bad that I overslept the first morning). They were very impressed, as my host dad wakes up atContinueContinue reading “she wakes up at six”
Category Archives: tafakari
Bienvenue à Dakar
written 12 September 2013 I have now been in Dakar for a total of about 65 hours. And they have been a wonderful, wonderful 65 hours. This week we are in orientation, so our days have been filled with touring the area surrounding our school and downtown Dakar, lessons on Sénégalese values and how thoseContinueContinue reading “Bienvenue à Dakar”
list-form thoughts of senegal
These are a few random reflections and thoughts that I have scribbled down at various times through my first few days in Sénégal. They are not especially profound or telling, but at the end of these first days I have been so [happily] exhausted that it all comes out in lists: – In the pastContinueContinue reading “list-form thoughts of senegal”
i am here
I write to you from Sénégal! After about 24 hours of travel, some insanity as the group was thrown into immersion French through the insanity of Dakar airport, our first meal, and a much-needed place to put up our feet, we have made it. Tonight we are staying together at a hotel in Dakar andContinueContinue reading “i am here”
it’s leaving time
It’s that time again… I’m off on another adventure! This Sunday afternoon I will jump on a plane that will take me (via a few stopovers) to Dakar, Sénégal in West Africa where I will be living, studying, and working for six months. My bags are packed (I have a thing about being hyper-prepared wayContinueContinue reading “it’s leaving time”
preparations
The following reflections were written over the past few days while I was enjoying the morning light by the lake at my family’s cottage in Northern Michigan and gathering my thoughts as my departure date for Sénégal (September 8) draws nearer. The compilation paints a pretty accurate account of where I am right now: aContinueContinue reading “preparations”
on such an anniversary as this, 2013
written August 14, 2013 On such an anniversary as this. Three years ago today I boarded the plane taking me to Kenya and to the discovery of myself. On this anniversary, I am thankful. Thankful for the immense honor and gift it was to live alongside, to learn alongside, my Kenyan family at such aContinueContinue reading “on such an anniversary as this, 2013”
a favorite
Go placidly amid the noise and haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence. As far as possible without surrender be on good terms with all persons. Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others, even the dull and ignorant; they too have their story. Avoid loud and aggressive persons, theyContinueContinue reading “a favorite”
courage/making it really good
When I officially started writing about my Kenya experiences during my independent study, as I described in my blog ‘i write’, I had the idea that I would independently publish a book. In retrospect, this idea was a little far-fetched. As were my prior ideas of starting a company, opening an art gallery, handcrafting clothing,ContinueContinue reading “courage/making it really good”
this piece of paper
In my AP Language and Composition class during my junior year of high school, our first assignment was to take an 8 ½” by 11” sheet of paper and use the blank space to somehow convey, as best fit our strengths, what we saw as motivating us personally to succeed in the class, during theContinueContinue reading “this piece of paper”
acquitted
I wrote these words just after learning of the verdict of the George ZImmerman trial. Now, after having had more time to reflect and process, my words may be slightly different — more polished, less raw. And so I share these words not as a political statement or as a representation of my full thoughtsContinueContinue reading “acquitted”
transition(s) and adjustment(s)
In many ways, my life and its surroundings are in transition. In many ways, my life is just smoothing out after eighteen months of constant transition. A list I’ve been making as I reflect on adjustment(s): 1. This is the first time I’ve at all slowed down since before I left for college. Really, sinceContinueContinue reading “transition(s) and adjustment(s)”
i write
I want to write.I am about to commence the last week of classes of my sophomore year of college. In the past two days, I have written twenty-six pages of final papers, research papers, academic papers, explanatory and persuasive papers. Tomorrow, I will write twelve more. By the end of this trimester, I will haveContinueContinue reading “i write”
the challenge is to stay
To this day, these are some of the most formative and grounding words I have ever read: “You know, the challenge is to stay. The challenge is to be present with that pain. As my mother was dying, I sat with her. You know, as my brother was dying, we sat with him. And there areContinueContinue reading “the challenge is to stay”
confidence in ‘senses of place’
I’ve been feeling self-conscious recently about how much I talk about or bring up my time in Kenya. I worry that I have become the “well, when I was in Kenya…” girl. Potentially this is manifesting itself because three fourths of the junior class at my school just returned from their various study abroad experiencesContinueContinue reading “confidence in ‘senses of place’”
maggie
A year ago today the world lost Maggie Harry. Maggie and I trained at the same dance studio, our paths crossing in classes, rehearsals, shows, and the often-hilarious, always-true conversation had over tying up pointe shoes and nursing sore feet. Maggie was younger than I and we often hung around different groups of people, butContinueContinue reading “maggie”
Hellen and Lucy
When I think of success stories of GET UP (Girls Empowerment Team of Umoja Project), I think of Hellen and Lucy. When Mariah and I were planning for our summer working with Umoja Project’s GET UP programs, we knew that we wanted to work with post-secondary Umoja Project girl students. In part, this was becauseContinueContinue reading “Hellen and Lucy”
anniversary
Two years ago on August 15, 2010 I arrived in Kenya with Annie Garau for the four most extraordinary, challenging, life-changing months of my life so far. One year ago on August 15, 2011 I had a panic attack in my mentor’s office about this one-year anniversary of the arrival into what my life hasContinueContinue reading “anniversary”
not an ‘if’ question
Somehow, impossibly, I am in Nairobi and in 7 hours will begin the 3-plane, 22-hour journey home. By 7 AM this morning we took our last breakfast with the family, said goodbyes at the airport, and gone through our first of many, many security clearances. By 11 AM we had flown to Eldoret, then toContinueContinue reading “not an ‘if’ question”
a list to give a glimpse
I was looking through my notebook today and found this list/poem/reflection that I wrote on June 23, about the day of our first GET UP (Girls Empowerment Team of Umoja Project) seminar at Bar Anding’o Primary School. I thought I would share, not because it is high-quality writing or profound, but because it gives aContinueContinue reading “a list to give a glimpse”
callie daniels-howell 