I recently read about the heart breaking, raw reaction that Kelly had to having to leave Kenya. That mixed in with some discussions I had with some friends got me thinking about what it was like when I had to say goodbye to Africa.
Do You Know What My Reaction Was?
Nothing! This post will be short because I felt nothing about leaving home. I wouldn’t miss anyone or anything.The only thing I felt was excited because I was going to a new place that was supposedly better than where I was coming from. I was also feeling pretty good because Australia also promised this wanna-be Mandingo his girls.
Ironically…..
My apathy eventually bit me in the butt and within six months I was missing all my family and friends. I was writing them all emotional deep letters expressing how much I loved and missed them. I was on the phone with my cousin so much the authorities must have thought we were plotting a jewel heist.
I wrote this post because I am curious. What was it like for you, when you had to say goodbye? Leave a comment below and let me know.
Before I leave though……
If Denzel Got Rejected What Hope Is There?
I have just watched an interview with Denzel Washington where he said that when he first proposed to his wife over the phone…..she said NO! If Mr. Mo’ Better got rejected, that evokes two feelings in me:
a) For real, no a lot of the time is just, not yet.
b) If John Q couldn’t seal the deal with his first proposal, what hope is there for the rest of us?
Rewind Selector
Until then, please enjoy Malaika one more time.
Why? Because they are that good!
Be blessed and bless others,
Mwangi
Malaika - Mhla' Uphela Amandla: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download
Malaika - 2 Bob (Muntuza) : Play Now | Play in Popup | Download
Malaika - Mhla' Uphela Amandla: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download Malaika - 2 Bob (Muntuza) : Play Now | Play in Popup | Download
April 24th, 2008 at 4:18 am
I had mixed feelings. Initial excitement but as the day approached sadness over all the people i will miss (and my dog), a wish to have both! Cried buckets at the airport, wouldn’t let my maama go and almost missed my flight. Kelly’s story certainly had that well start to build up again there for a bit….
Com’on Denzel proposed over the phone? nowonder he got a no…..
So do you know what ‘Malaika’ is singing about? nice beat though…..
April 24th, 2008 at 4:35 am
@seinlife: I would be lying if I said I had a clue what Malaika were singing about….I will use the universal cop-out of “the language of good music is universal.”
Hmmm that seems to be a rather common reaction…excitement until the day comes and then the breakdown.
I wouldn’t think it would have mattered if the man proposed from behind bars….plus, I don’t think the tool used to propose matters as much as the creativity and the imagination don’t you think.
April 24th, 2008 at 5:05 am
Proposing over the phone arguably lacks commitment. Of course unless the person proposing is stuck at sea or some place where he/she has no other way to get a hold of you.
It says either am too scared to do it in person or am too sure to do in person(as in it’s a given yes so why even bother showing up). I can’t see Denzel as scared but who knows he might have had cold feet. I also don’t see him as arrogant…confident yes…not arrogant enuff to assume a lady will say yes. Perhaps it was the norm to propose over the phone back in the day? i dunno….
Anyone who says yes to someone behind bars…aah..has issues! (yes i have to judge)
April 24th, 2008 at 5:23 am
@seinlife: My bet is he was scared out of his mind. On the bright side though, he got back to work and they have been married God knows how long now.
Why are you judging people behind bars, surely they need some of those wifely visits every once in a while otherwise they go mad
April 24th, 2008 at 9:59 pm
African soil. Yikes,.Kenyan soil that is. If i was to leave motherland, i would do it with a heavy heart. I have come to really love Kenya to be honest with all our mathenas
April 24th, 2008 at 10:19 pm
Does the word “Terrible!” cover it? It was my first time to fly anywhere. My mum was too lazy to take me to the airport and had only concieved the brilliant (NOT) idea of sending me to the UK two weeks before the fact. I was having a really good time at UNI and earning good money as well. Truth is, I’ve still not come to terms with my having to leave…Terrible, terrible terrible.
April 24th, 2008 at 10:37 pm
@Shiroh: I think that’s why for most people inevitably there is that moment when they break down. They are leaving the home which they have zoead with all its good or bad sides.
April 24th, 2008 at 10:41 pm
@gal: That sounds brutal. Why did they take you away so suddenly when you were doing so well? So I guess you’re like me, it doesn’t quite feel like home yet either.
How the heck did you move from UK to ‘the Hagen’?
April 25th, 2008 at 5:28 am
It does feel like home here now…but I still have trauma over having to leave Kenya so abruptly…would never wish that on anyone. Did my A-levels in chem but bachelor and masters in Technology on cph…thats how
April 25th, 2008 at 5:29 am
sorry..A-levels in UK, is what I meant to say…
April 25th, 2008 at 5:32 am
Gotcha! Dang, you know you should start an advice line and I can call in to ask how you managed to make ‘the Hagen’ feel like home and most importantly how the heck you learned the language. Btw watcha think of the new design? The tech guy is still on the clock and I want to fix bugs before he leaves.
April 25th, 2008 at 5:49 am
I love the giraffe print but maybe the white is too stark a contrast against it?
Or I just need to get used to it.
April 25th, 2008 at 5:50 am
@gal: I wasn’t sure if it was just me, it is a little too bright isn’t it?
April 25th, 2008 at 5:54 am
Maybe just a tad…
April 25th, 2008 at 5:55 am
Thx, I’ll get to work on that now.
April 25th, 2008 at 7:18 am
@Gal - sorry to interject but what is CPH?
@Mwangi - site is looking good…:-)
April 25th, 2008 at 7:20 am
@seinlife: How can a welcome visitor ever be interjecting. In fact if you have anything that is affecting the quality of your reading experience ala design feel free to let me know.
April 25th, 2008 at 7:39 pm
I second seinlife. Looking good.
@seinlife: cph is copenhagen.
April 27th, 2008 at 7:47 am
when i had to leave it was the toughest day ever i had to leave all my friends behind and i still miss them so much shout out to them.i eally wish i coud come back there but there is nothing can do about it except justwait for the day when i will come back
April 27th, 2008 at 7:53 am
@ brenda: I am sure a lot of women in the diaspora empathize with you. Until recently I didn’t know just how many people thought of the day they were leaving as one of the hardest days because of what they were leaving behind. Thanks to you and everyone who has left comments for opening me up to this reality.