So much to say, and so little internets! This is the first time I've had unlimited internet since I arrived in Kenya so forgive my silence. Kenya is wonderful, and I've moved to Kilifi for my new job. I've started a blog, so you can read in detail what I'm going to summarize below. It's still rough - first drafts, and I haven't decided the privacy level yet, since some things are kind of sensitive but I just wanted to tell you guys about three things:
http://kilifiadventures.blogspot.com/
1. Kilifi is one of the poorest districts in Kenya. Hence Komaza, the non-profit. But there are ridiculously ostentatious resorts juxtaposed with mud huts!! And coz the 10 or so Komaza staff are expats, they tend to hang out in the touristy mzungu (white ppl) places. So I feel so guilty. Especially because I am Kenyan, and they're all American (and Canadian and English) and...
2. Yikes, its like society all over again! What have I gotten myself into? These 10 or so guys all graduated from HYP, Stanford, brown etc so they all seem to have that smarmy entitled feeling I hated in society. They're in Africa so they have some level of selflessness/adventurousness... But right now its all feeling very calculated, like this is their year off after working for Bain and before applying to Harvard Business School. (Which is literally what one girl here is doing). So yesterday we hired a van and went to Mombasa (2nd largest Kenyan city, a coastal tourist destination) to party. We had gin and tonics and vodka-redbulls, and were obnoxiously loud as we played drinking games in an almost all-white bar. So this is deja vu. I hope as I get to know them better, at least a couple turn out to be sincere about non-profit work.
3. One of the guys here is gay, and yesterday we may have been at a gay bar, which is extremely unusual for Kenya. Investigating this! There are also these weird sexual currents within the group, mostly surrounding the founder guy, a Brown '04. He's sleeping with one of the girls and was being bicuriously touchy-feely with the third guy in the group, and I think that came out only coz he was really drunk. So it was a really awkward first night (maybe just for me coz I wasn't as drunk as the others - clearly senior year raised my tolerance to ridiculous levels) and I'm curious as to what the dynamics are when ppl are sober. I'm the only one awake at this point, its about 10am.
Ok sweeties, love to hear more from you guys.
Monday, September 21, 2009
Saturday, September 5, 2009
finally!
HHHIIIIIIIII!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
So-- I overcame my fear of unknown technological realms.
Yes, even a blog fits into that category for me. Well, at least it used to- but now I'm writing in one! (for one? on one?)
It took much courage and clicking on wrong links, and typing in incorrect passwords and usernames, (and I think I opened up the third google account in two years) and becoming a "follower" of the blog (whatever that means) but I did it!
I know its lame to be proud of such a silly thing, but I am!
And now for some news:
Daniel, David and I signed a lease for an apartment in Park Slope, Brooklyn.
Its really nice, in a perfect area with lots of restaurants, bars, cafes, a few blocks from Prospect Park, and with beautiful architecture all over the place.
AND we have an extra room for anyone of you who comes to stay over!!!!!!!! (Its the studio in the meantime though...)
The rent is pretty reasonable compared to the prices of places we saw in Manhattan, and the bedrooms are big and full of light.
All that is great, but as soon as we signed I found a sublet to stay there for the month of September since I am, after all, broke. I am in NJ for now and am starting to really search for some source of income so that I may go back and live in my house on the 1st of October.
This is assuming that I don't commit a sad, suburban suicide before that time comes.
Other than that, the play went well. Had a couple nice revelations, and ended my summer in Boston nicely with Alisa (from New Blue) who came to watch and helped me move the last things out of my apt there and over to Brooklyn.
So- now the question is: and what about work?
I re-edited my resume (again), and am formulating a new cover letter (again).
I also started looking at the job postings on the websites of universities in NYC. I think thats the smartest way to go for now since if I get a job with an educational inst. it also comes with health benefits and access to all sorts of other nice treats (libraries, gyms, etc...).
I know its not a dreamjob, but if I can do that during the day and still have time to audition and take acting class, it might be worth it.... no?
One last thing- about the twelve tribes---
GOOD JOB MAGGIE!
but now, even after reading your list, I still can't remember them in order to make a comment on who we forgot... oh well.
So, how's Maryland?
And Maria-- HOW'S HOME?!
yay first blog post ever!!!!!
(don't worry, my next ones will be shorter...)
So-- I overcame my fear of unknown technological realms.
Yes, even a blog fits into that category for me. Well, at least it used to- but now I'm writing in one! (for one? on one?)
It took much courage and clicking on wrong links, and typing in incorrect passwords and usernames, (and I think I opened up the third google account in two years) and becoming a "follower" of the blog (whatever that means) but I did it!
I know its lame to be proud of such a silly thing, but I am!
And now for some news:
Daniel, David and I signed a lease for an apartment in Park Slope, Brooklyn.
Its really nice, in a perfect area with lots of restaurants, bars, cafes, a few blocks from Prospect Park, and with beautiful architecture all over the place.
AND we have an extra room for anyone of you who comes to stay over!!!!!!!! (Its the studio in the meantime though...)
The rent is pretty reasonable compared to the prices of places we saw in Manhattan, and the bedrooms are big and full of light.
All that is great, but as soon as we signed I found a sublet to stay there for the month of September since I am, after all, broke. I am in NJ for now and am starting to really search for some source of income so that I may go back and live in my house on the 1st of October.
This is assuming that I don't commit a sad, suburban suicide before that time comes.
Other than that, the play went well. Had a couple nice revelations, and ended my summer in Boston nicely with Alisa (from New Blue) who came to watch and helped me move the last things out of my apt there and over to Brooklyn.
So- now the question is: and what about work?
I re-edited my resume (again), and am formulating a new cover letter (again).
I also started looking at the job postings on the websites of universities in NYC. I think thats the smartest way to go for now since if I get a job with an educational inst. it also comes with health benefits and access to all sorts of other nice treats (libraries, gyms, etc...).
I know its not a dreamjob, but if I can do that during the day and still have time to audition and take acting class, it might be worth it.... no?
One last thing- about the twelve tribes---
GOOD JOB MAGGIE!
but now, even after reading your list, I still can't remember them in order to make a comment on who we forgot... oh well.
So, how's Maryland?
And Maria-- HOW'S HOME?!
yay first blog post ever!!!!!
(don't worry, my next ones will be shorter...)
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Shouldn't there be
some kind of coven or commune or something that just takes in unemployed people? Like a nudist colony but with less potential for melanoma?
Maybe we should form a self-sufficient community a la "The Village."
Maybe we should form a self-sufficient community a la "The Village."
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Unpaid? Sorry, I thought you said Utter Bullsh*t!
So, I was incredibly excited this afternoon to receive a call from an unknown number.
The reasoning: it immediately precluded anyone that I know and find annoying and who I'm trying to avoid. It could only have been one of two things: the Spanish-speaking woman who phones every week to sell me nail polish (I think) OR it was a job/interview offer.
Lo and behold, the phone call was about an internship to which I'd applied a few days ago. Apparently, I just made it and they wanted to schedule a phone interview with me. I can't even begin to describe how happy I was, seriously, there were celestial beings doing the hula in my room.
Validation! Finally, acknowledgement of my few marketable abilities! Somebody likes me, they really like me! Hooray.
Never mind that it was just a phone interview, I was already envisioning tottering up Fifth Avenue with a Blackberry and a copy of the Times in my hand ...or something.
Everything was going great until the woman said the U-word.
Wait - what? Unpaid?
Who, in this day and age, offers year-long, full-time, unpaid internships? In New York, no less? Isn't there another word for that....oh yeah, slavery!
One hour later...
I am still beyond horrified, and just plain confounded by the whole thing. It's pretty disheartening when this much-touted meritocracy engineers things in such a way that the only people who can do public service internships are rich kids who wouldn't bother doing this kind of thing in the first place! Phew, deep breaths.
Perhaps this organization thinks, as Sarah suggested, that I'm an African princess with scads of money, a bejeweled sceptor, and a sufficiently elaborate wooden crown. I'm inclined to agree with her, especially after reading #105 on Stuff White People Like: http://stuffwhitepeoplelike.com/2008/07/20/104-unpaid-internships/.
Here's hoping for a brighter tomorrow, and a ruddy job. Cheers.
The reasoning: it immediately precluded anyone that I know and find annoying and who I'm trying to avoid. It could only have been one of two things: the Spanish-speaking woman who phones every week to sell me nail polish (I think) OR it was a job/interview offer.
Lo and behold, the phone call was about an internship to which I'd applied a few days ago. Apparently, I just made it and they wanted to schedule a phone interview with me. I can't even begin to describe how happy I was, seriously, there were celestial beings doing the hula in my room.
Validation! Finally, acknowledgement of my few marketable abilities! Somebody likes me, they really like me! Hooray.
Never mind that it was just a phone interview, I was already envisioning tottering up Fifth Avenue with a Blackberry and a copy of the Times in my hand ...or something.
Everything was going great until the woman said the U-word.
Wait - what? Unpaid?
Who, in this day and age, offers year-long, full-time, unpaid internships? In New York, no less? Isn't there another word for that....oh yeah, slavery!
One hour later...
I am still beyond horrified, and just plain confounded by the whole thing. It's pretty disheartening when this much-touted meritocracy engineers things in such a way that the only people who can do public service internships are rich kids who wouldn't bother doing this kind of thing in the first place! Phew, deep breaths.
Perhaps this organization thinks, as Sarah suggested, that I'm an African princess with scads of money, a bejeweled sceptor, and a sufficiently elaborate wooden crown. I'm inclined to agree with her, especially after reading #105 on Stuff White People Like: http://stuffwhitepeoplelike.com/2008/07/20/104-unpaid-internships/.
Here's hoping for a brighter tomorrow, and a ruddy job. Cheers.
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Really, America?
Right now I'm feeling pretty rejected by America. Or rather, corporate America, all of which is apparently conspiring to keep me out of a job. I'm kinda getting sick of trying to prove my worth through applications and cover letters. And why am I trying so hard to get a job I know I'll hate?
So, right now my feeling is to go home and restrategize! reformulate! repackage! - or lick my wounds. And lately, maybe out of necessity, that feeling has taken on symbolic dimensions. Going home - a burst towards freedom, my liberation from constricting suits and hollow handshakes. My chance to do something meaningful, and put some truth in my answer for the standard Where-do-you-see-yourself-in-five-years interview question.
My latest adventure in nappy natural hair seems a natural outlet for this desire. Y'all know I graduated wearing this shiny bouncy wig (and are quite familiar with my wig adventures during Senior week!). But as the summer wore on, and I sent out more resumes in vain, I started ditching the wig and rocking my fro more often. Now I'm born again in natural hair. I love playing with my hair, touching the kinks and the curls and learning how to take care of it. (And coz this is me, finding online communities for nappturals!) It's a part of me that I tamed into submission with relaxers and flat irons - to the point where I didn't even know what my real hair looked like. I covered it up, and braided it long - to what end? I smell symbolism!
So that's where I'm at right now. I'm feeling pretty fed up, and ripe with radicalism. Please stop me from getting a tattoo or a nose ring guys (both of which I am seriously considering). On the other hand, if I got a job, I would jump on it, because this stage of my life is still primarily driven by (the lack of) money.
So, right now my feeling is to go home and restrategize! reformulate! repackage! - or lick my wounds. And lately, maybe out of necessity, that feeling has taken on symbolic dimensions. Going home - a burst towards freedom, my liberation from constricting suits and hollow handshakes. My chance to do something meaningful, and put some truth in my answer for the standard Where-do-you-see-yourself-in-five-years interview question.
My latest adventure in nappy natural hair seems a natural outlet for this desire. Y'all know I graduated wearing this shiny bouncy wig (and are quite familiar with my wig adventures during Senior week!). But as the summer wore on, and I sent out more resumes in vain, I started ditching the wig and rocking my fro more often. Now I'm born again in natural hair. I love playing with my hair, touching the kinks and the curls and learning how to take care of it. (And coz this is me, finding online communities for nappturals!) It's a part of me that I tamed into submission with relaxers and flat irons - to the point where I didn't even know what my real hair looked like. I covered it up, and braided it long - to what end? I smell symbolism!
So that's where I'm at right now. I'm feeling pretty fed up, and ripe with radicalism. Please stop me from getting a tattoo or a nose ring guys (both of which I am seriously considering). On the other hand, if I got a job, I would jump on it, because this stage of my life is still primarily driven by (the lack of) money.
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
The Twelve Tribes
If I wasn't already sure that I have a first-class ticket to hell when I decide to kick the bucket - my inability to recall the names of the twelve sons of Jacob (?) has bludgeoned the message home.
I don't think you lot understand what an epic tragedy/fail this is! I used to be able to sing those names, in ascending and descending order, at the drop of a hat. Sadly, in my old age, my brain has gone to seed and recalling the simplest things like the Pythagorean Theorum, Bottom's monologue in the final act of 'A Midsummer Night's Dream', the password to my yahoo email account - are beyond me.
For future reference, and the salvation of Maggie -
The tribes are:
Reuben
Simeon
Levi
Judah
Dan
Naphtali
Gad
Asher
IQ#$NGSD##$% i.e. Issacher
Zebulun
Joseph
Benjamin
...oh, and Dinah. But she doesn't matter
P.S. Next time, I propose cavorting like demonic nymphs in an actual graveyard. Since I've already got a suite on the 'hot tamale train' to purgatory - we might as well go all the way with our fun!
I don't think you lot understand what an epic tragedy/fail this is! I used to be able to sing those names, in ascending and descending order, at the drop of a hat. Sadly, in my old age, my brain has gone to seed and recalling the simplest things like the Pythagorean Theorum, Bottom's monologue in the final act of 'A Midsummer Night's Dream', the password to my yahoo email account - are beyond me.
For future reference, and the salvation of Maggie -
The tribes are:
Reuben
Simeon
Levi
Judah
Dan
Naphtali
Gad
Asher
IQ#$NGSD##$% i.e. Issacher
Zebulun
Joseph
Benjamin
...oh, and Dinah. But she doesn't matter
P.S. Next time, I propose cavorting like demonic nymphs in an actual graveyard. Since I've already got a suite on the 'hot tamale train' to purgatory - we might as well go all the way with our fun!
Detox
So today mainly involved sort of a psychological deep breath after Hurricane Maia (just kidding...but seriously, I needed to replenish with IV fluids). The visit was good though -- yay! It made me a *tiny* bit less neurotic about having no life since your move-to-NYC-and-act! thing was intimidating me, but then you seemed approximately as freaked out as I feel about this whole post-college epic fail stage of our lives, so that at least gave me confidence that I could potentially do something just as brave in the near future. Other than that, no updates from here. Except maybe that I rolled up my jeans in a truly unattractive way that I nonetheless enjoyed. It made me feel like someone who harvests cranberries or picks up their kids from soccer practice with unidentified stains on their ill-fitting, Wal-Mart brand, striped, maternity polo shirt. So yeah, I'm either declining into middle age or becoming more comfortable with my natural inclination toward nerddom...just thought you should know.
lovvvvvvvve.
lovvvvvvvve.
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