Comments on: How to Get Home http://www.thedisplacedafrican.com/2008/04/how-to-feel-at-home/ African's personal development blog Thu, 11 Mar 2010 13:51:39 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: The Displaced African on Capital FM in Kenya » The Displaced African http://www.thedisplacedafrican.com/2008/04/how-to-feel-at-home/comment-page-1/#comment-1137 The Displaced African on Capital FM in Kenya » The Displaced African Mon, 30 Jun 2008 21:43:14 +0000 http://www.thedisplacedafrican.com/?p=169#comment-1137 [...] this be a little sign that perhaps I just had to get over the 6 year hump to perhaps making this my second home.…….I [...] [...] this be a little sign that perhaps I just had to get over the 6 year hump to perhaps making this my second home.…….I [...]

]]> By: Mwangi http://www.thedisplacedafrican.com/2008/04/how-to-feel-at-home/comment-page-1/#comment-1136 Mwangi Tue, 01 Apr 2008 15:03:45 +0000 http://www.thedisplacedafrican.com/?p=169#comment-1136 @gal: You know whenever you have anything to say about the whole psychology of immigrating over I am all ears because you are actually the first of my peers (sad to say) that I have ever had this discussion with. Your take on having two homes, is actually pretty spot on. I'll tell you if I manage to build myself a second home when I return home (haven't been there since Jan 2004 so looking forward to seeing any changes that may have been made) @gal: You know whenever you have anything to say about the whole psychology of immigrating over I am all ears because you are actually the first of my peers (sad to say) that I have ever had this discussion with. Your take on having two homes, is actually pretty spot on. I’ll tell you if I manage to build myself a second home when I return home (haven’t been there since Jan 2004 so looking forward to seeing any changes that may have been made)

]]> By: gal africana http://www.thedisplacedafrican.com/2008/04/how-to-feel-at-home/comment-page-1/#comment-1130 gal africana Tue, 01 Apr 2008 13:48:21 +0000 http://www.thedisplacedafrican.com/?p=169#comment-1130 Why can't both places be home? Copenhagen is home when I'm in Copenhagen and Kenya is home when I'm in Kenya. I'm working to own homes in both places because they both feel like home in their own very distinct ways. I was in a limbo with regards to what I was and where I belong for a very long time and have concluded that sometimes the need to define ourselves only serves to limit us. I think I feel at home in Copenhagen because I've put work into knowing the city and discovering those places where the ambiance and people make me feel welcome and happy. I do the same thing when I visit Kenya. Explore, find something that feels good, the dig your tush into it and make it warm and yours...a bit like a dog does before it lies down on its blanket Why can’t both places be home? Copenhagen is home when I’m in Copenhagen and Kenya is home when I’m in Kenya. I’m working to own homes in both places because they both feel like home in their own very distinct ways. I was in a limbo with regards to what I was and where I belong for a very long time and have concluded that sometimes the need to define ourselves only serves to limit us. I think I feel at home in Copenhagen because I’ve put work into knowing the city and discovering those places where the ambiance and people make me feel welcome and happy. I do the same thing when I visit Kenya. Explore, find something that feels good, the dig your tush into it and make it warm and yours…a bit like a dog does before it lies down on its blanket

]]> By: Work From Home http://www.thedisplacedafrican.com/2008/04/how-to-feel-at-home/comment-page-1/#comment-1131 Work From Home Tue, 01 Apr 2008 07:07:08 +0000 http://www.thedisplacedafrican.com/?p=169#comment-1131 [...] Nancy Shore wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerptAfter all, aren’t the above what most of us feel when we remember home. After a long, hard, scary day at work, we trudge home through the wind and rain so that we can get to that warm place where we can take off our shoes, … [...] [...] Nancy Shore wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerptAfter all, aren’t the above what most of us feel when we remember home. After a long, hard, scary day at work, we trudge home through the wind and rain so that we can get to that warm place where we can take off our shoes, … [...]

]]> By: Mwangi http://www.thedisplacedafrican.com/2008/04/how-to-feel-at-home/comment-page-1/#comment-1135 Mwangi Tue, 01 Apr 2008 06:27:51 +0000 http://www.thedisplacedafrican.com/?p=169#comment-1135 @Kelly: I am glad I was able to be of some comfort and some use to you, especially as you are about to face project Cayman ( http://pinkmemoirs.wordpress.com/2008/03/28/leaving-kenya/) : that's what this blog is all about :D @Kelly: I am glad I was able to be of some comfort and some use to you, especially as you are about to face project Cayman ( http://pinkmemoirs.wordpress.com/2008/03/28/leaving-kenya/) : that’s what this blog is all about :D

]]> By: Kelly http://www.thedisplacedafrican.com/2008/04/how-to-feel-at-home/comment-page-1/#comment-1134 Kelly Tue, 01 Apr 2008 05:17:48 +0000 http://www.thedisplacedafrican.com/?p=169#comment-1134 This morning, I woke up at 4am from a really bad dream. I was at the airport with my family saying goodbye and everyone was crying so hard, my niece was clinging on to me, and basically it felt like a funeral. When I think about it, it's an insight to the kind of fears we often have about making a move abroad. What if I move and I'm miserable? What will happen to my family in my absence? and the winning one; what if my grandparents die in my absence? More often than not, these fears are irrational but they are there, and it's definitely comforting to know that one day, overseas will be a kind of home. Thanks! This morning, I woke up at 4am from a really bad dream. I was at the airport with my family saying goodbye and everyone was crying so hard, my niece was clinging on to me, and basically it felt like a funeral.
When I think about it, it’s an insight to the kind of fears we often have about making a move abroad. What if I move and I’m miserable? What will happen to my family in my absence? and the winning one; what if my grandparents die in my absence? More often than not, these fears are irrational but they are there, and it’s definitely comforting to know that one day, overseas will be a kind of home.
Thanks!

]]> By: Mwangi http://www.thedisplacedafrican.com/2008/04/how-to-feel-at-home/comment-page-1/#comment-1133 Mwangi Tue, 01 Apr 2008 00:25:53 +0000 http://www.thedisplacedafrican.com/?p=169#comment-1133 Thanks for the article Ken; very illuminating. After your comment and reading the article I now feel that what I prescribe in this article, is more of a, temporary-just-to-keep-you-going solution. I say this, because my perception of this place has always been that I was going to go back to Kenya and so everything I say and right comes from that place. It might be a great long term solution but I am glad that I unwittingly started a discussion to which I don't have a conclusive answer: Just what the hell are we? Are we African people? Are we Africans in the diaspora? I am so different from the person I was when I left and this place has so many unique experiences and challenges that have changed me and change us all whether or not we want to change. I will definitely write about this in future: thanks for sowing the seed in my subconscious. I've rambled, so I hope it makes sense. Thanks for the article Ken; very illuminating. After your comment and reading the article I now feel that what I prescribe in this article, is more of a, temporary-just-to-keep-you-going solution. I say this, because my perception of this place has always been that I was going to go back to Kenya and so everything I say and right comes from that place.
It might be a great long term solution but I am glad that I unwittingly started a discussion to which I don’t have a conclusive answer: Just what the hell are we? Are we African people? Are we Africans in the diaspora? I am so different from the person I was when I left and this place has so many unique experiences and challenges that have changed me and change us all whether or not we want to change. I will definitely write about this in future: thanks for sowing the seed in my subconscious.
I’ve rambled, so I hope it makes sense.

]]> By: Ken http://www.thedisplacedafrican.com/2008/04/how-to-feel-at-home/comment-page-1/#comment-1132 Ken Mon, 31 Mar 2008 23:56:54 +0000 http://www.thedisplacedafrican.com/?p=169#comment-1132 Thought provoking indeed! That is a topic that I have internalised for a long time and still no answer. Reason being that: - Been out of Kenya for literally half of my life. - When I am away from Kenya, nostalgia kicks in big and definitely miss it. - when in Kenya can not wait to get away after a fortnight. - We all change, paradigms that guide our lives change. That said, relating to people here (abroad) and those at home has drastically changed or shall I say evolved. And so begs the question where do I comfortably fit in? or should we remain shallow thereby making life ‘easy’? This is my personal view, others will definitely differ with me considering plenty of factors e.g. family background, are we loaded nyumbani or broke?, am I doing well abroad or not, do I have kids that need child support (we all know of people screaming home is best due to the amount owed for child support), there are just too many factors to consider, therefore will be very general in my views... Perhaps you may be right i.e. "Simple: Recreate your home." Found this article in Newsweek and you can peruse for yourself....... http://www.newsweek.com/id/117845 Thought provoking indeed!
That is a topic that I have internalised for a long time and still no answer.

Reason being that:
- Been out of Kenya for literally half of my life.
- When I am away from Kenya, nostalgia kicks in big and definitely miss it.
- when in Kenya can not wait to get away after a fortnight.
- We all change, paradigms that guide our lives change. That said, relating to people here (abroad) and those at home has drastically changed or shall I say evolved. And so begs the question where do I comfortably fit in? or should we remain shallow thereby making life ‘easy’?
This is my personal view, others will definitely differ with me considering plenty of factors e.g. family background, are we loaded nyumbani or broke?, am I doing well abroad or not, do I have kids that need child support (we all know of people screaming home is best due to the amount owed for child support), there are just too many factors to consider, therefore will be very general in my views…

Perhaps you may be right i.e. “Simple: Recreate your home.”

Found this article in Newsweek and you can peruse for yourself……. http://www.newsweek.com/id/117845

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