I have music that reminds about my mom, my bestie (especially when we partied so hard), and social circles. Music has gotten me through heartbreaks, terrible period cramps, and I absolutely use it on my homesick days too. I don’t know about you but music is life for me. Ugali with spinach, pork and avocado-Image by Ann Chapati with mung beans ( ndengu)-Image by Ann My host family enjoys the food as well so I like that they have become a part of it too. Whether, it’s a quick lunch or weekend meal like Chapati that needs time and dedication. I feel a sense of belonging and oneness with my family and friend. When I have had a dragging week, I like to prepare a nice Kenyan dish, and straight up, my spirits are lifted. Don’t get me wrong, the tasting experience has been good, but I love me some Kenyan food. I love to eat and I have so far been acquainted with different Danish and French delicacies, which has been amazing, despite others that got me to scooping my guts together to taste. The easiest way to a man’s stomach is through food. If you treasure your real ones, you have to create the time. Don’t just expect things will remain the same. With the time difference factor, I continue to make time. This kind of regular communication gives me a sense of connection to the life and the people I dearly hold. We talk about our work, juicy tea in the streets, and lean on each other in our hardest times. Thanks to technology, we’ve had a dance party, successfully completed a two-week workout challenge, shopped and fitted clothes in a store together, picked clothes for dates. I talk to my family and close friends on a regular basis. I still remember my old man’s excitement the first time we talked. My dad, bless his heart, recently learned how to use WhatsApp, after years of preaching falling on deaf ears. I think about the golden days of letters and the time it took in between. Social media has made communication so much easier. With that being said, here is what has made me feel closer to those I dearly love, even though we are thousands of miles away from each other. The longest I have been away from queen mother, my family, and friends. So far, the longest I have been away from my motherland in my life. This wandering journey is where you exactly need to be. That I can’t have an cosy weekend night laughing and crying my eye balls out with friends over wine. It sucks that I can’t play those tricks on her. Her jaw dropped in disbelief, shut the door before opening again with so much laughter, and hugs came my way. Only for her to open the door for me just before dinner. I remember this one time I called her to say the fare was too high to travel, and instead promised to leave the following morning with the earliest trip. Let’s just say she doesn’t like surprises. It hits me harder knowing that I cannot just board a “ Matatu” (14-seater public service vans), and surprise my mother, even though she disliked it when I traveled home unannounced. Homesick is a ‘disease’ am very familiar with, as am sure you may have probably felt at some point when you were away from home.
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