Tag Archives: returning

wait

I learned to wait in Kenya, sitting in the shade of trees, being, breathing, until the time comes. Sometimes for the matatu to finally guzzle and cajole itself to a start, sometimes for the quorum to slowly make their way over the bulbous stones to the collection of chairs wobbling on uneven ground circled intoContinueContinue reading “wait”

hellos and goodbyes

A close friend sent me these words from Dr. Miriam Adeney yesterday, saying they reminded her of me: “You will never be completely at home again because part of your heart always will be elsewhere. That is the price you pay for the richness of loving and knowing people in more than one place.” ThisContinueContinue reading “hellos and goodbyes”

an ode to my suitcase:

As I pulled out my suitcase yesterday and began to fill it for my upcoming travel to Kenya on Saturday, I thought about all the places we have been together.  Together, we have made five trips to four countries in four years.  It’s safe to say I’m in love with my suitcase. Not only isContinueContinue reading “an ode to my suitcase:”

inconclusive

A week and some odd minutes ago, I was landing at Indianapolis International Airport, walking through the same entrance terminal to terminal B that I walked through 6 months previously, that time ‘departures’ this time ‘arrivals’. Since then I have filled my days with pots and pots of coffee, chunky sweaters and wool socks, naturallyContinueContinue reading “inconclusive”

dear senegal, jērejēf

Dear Senegal, Jērejēf. Thank you. Thank you for teaching me gratitude. Thank you for showing me out of the dimness of pity, frustration, and dis-satisfaction and toward the light of looking around the world in gratitude. Thank you for the multitude of thankfulness lists I learned and was given space to write and for theContinueContinue reading “dear senegal, jērejēf”

coming home

Walking home, it’s sunset. I meander down the road in the cool breeze, hear enlivened Wolof all around me, greet familiar neighbors. When I reach Papa he happily greets me, makes a joke about my favorite song, tells me so like family he’s going to the gym and will see me later. I walk towardContinueContinue reading “coming home”

a week of grace

I spent the past week in Richard Toll, a small town in northern Senegal as a part of my “Senegal River Valley” class. We spent the week visiting various agricultural projects taking place in what is one of the most fertile region of otherwise flat, sandy, and dry Senegal; we learned about sugar cane andContinueContinue reading “a week of grace”

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”

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)”

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”

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’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”