tafakari – Page 6 – callie daniels-howell

i have lived and am living

I’ve discovered that I love to read poetry while in Kenya. Somewhere during my junior year, in AP English, I found the beauty which poetry conveys (although I didn’t dare admit that at the time). During the horrendous ice storm of 2011, when I had recently returned from my semester in Kenya and school wasContinueContinue reading “i have lived and am living”

impossible reconciliation

My heart hurts and my spirit is heavy. These are my peers. These are my friends, my sisters, me. And I am furious. I am deeply, deeply sorrowful. Those who know me well (or who have read my writing) know that the aspect of my experiences in Kenya which has pained me, challenged me, overwhelmedContinueContinue reading “impossible reconciliation”

this business of “being called”

Last week at a meeting the Head Teacher at Mawego Girls Secondary School and a dear friend, Grace Ataro, told the room that it is as if I am “called to be in Kenya.” Just before the meeting, Mariah and I had been talking about the language of “being called” and how, though I don’tContinueContinue reading “this business of “being called””

i mean the words i say

We approach as a parade: first the primary student, then the LINK teacher, Umoja Project volunteer, us. Occasionally we greet others as we pass, speaking mostly to the teacher and volunteer as the students whose homes we are to visit trail behind, nervous and shy. It is the home visit routine, something we do atContinueContinue reading “i mean the words i say”

relish in the absurdity

There are times in Kenya when I just have to laugh. Most often, this is at myself. There are some situations that are just so foreign, so culturally different, so confusing and there are some situations in which I am just so clumsy, so stupid, so ridiculous that I just laugh to myself and takeContinueContinue reading “relish in the absurdity”

reactions

First, let me say that I am sorry the posts are few – internet has been slow and the days have been full, such that it is rare that I am awake and functioning enough to write a blog after 9 pm. It is not because I have not wanted to write, in fact IContinueContinue reading “reactions”

to the teachers, i thank you

After 3 days of planning meetings, orientation meetings, fellowship meetings and more meetings, I am left with a contented tiredness and an overwhelming admiration for the Umoja Project and all those in both Indiana and Kenya who work tirelessly to make it the beautiful organization that it is. All of the staff, volunteers, guardians andContinueContinue reading “to the teachers, i thank you”

i’m no expert

After a year and a half of missing Kenya more than I have missed anything in my life, I am back in this wonderful place. I hardly have words for the joy I feel to be back amidst my Kenyan family and friends and to be in this country which I love. This morning, afterContinueContinue reading “i’m no expert”

my journey continues

And just like that, my bags are packed (weighing in at 46.2, 42.6, 15.4, and 4.3 pounds), my passport is sitting at the ready, and my feet are antsy in anticipation. Tomorrow morning I will leave for seven weeks in Kenya. I go with 2 parachutes, 2000 toothbrushes, and an eager heart — keeping meContinueContinue reading “my journey continues”

suitcases

As I feverishly unpack from my first year at Kalamazoo College and repack for my summer in Kenya, I realize how different this experience will be from my semester in Kenya with Annie Garau and am struck by how emotional this realization has made the preparation. This is not to say that I am notContinueContinue reading “suitcases”