Creamy goodness in every bite

(What advertisement does this come from?)

I have to give a little background to this entry. I got the book Julie & Julia for my birthday a few weeks ago. I just heard it’s going to be in the theaters here soon so I’m racing to finish the book before the movie gets here. It won’t last long in the theaters so I will only have a little window in which to see it.

Anyway, the book is about this gal who decides to cook all the recipes in Mastering the Art of French Cooking by Julia Child in a year. (It’s over 500 recipes.) Reading the book is pretty interesting in a sort of hum-drum sort of way. But mostly it’s inspiring me to want to cook. (Like I needed any inspiration.)

This past weekend I had noticed while at Nakumatt (the Kenyan version of Super Target - or is it Greatland Target?) there was a whole end cap of Mexican food items. Mostly Old El Paso brand. Including Green Chili Enchilada sauce! And canned green chilies! So, I had my house helper make tortillas for me today and I made, for the first time ever, Green Chili Chicken Enchiladas!

Now making those makes me think of Maggie Jones. Because while I was in Minneapolis the last time, I lived with the Joneses and those Jones girls sometimes needed a little sales pitch on the food they were served. (Something I really don’t understand, especially since their mom is one of the best cooks I know.)

I would often tell Maggie, “Come on Maggie, it’s got creamy goodness in every bite!” I remember specifically the phrase being connect with her mom’s Green Chili Chicken Enchiladas. But I think that was the day of my great success with my sales pitch. Not that I got Maggie eating any more or quicker, but that Maggie finally asked me, “Auntie Jan, does this have creamy goodness in every bite?”

Virtual Tour

Hi, I thought my readers might like a little tour of my flat. It's what I would call a 'luxury' apartment. But that's about all there is nowadays here. I wish it were different. That is all they are building seems like. This one is not quite two years old. And actually, it wasn't really finished well or completely. I have been getting some things done for the landlord, like wiring some rooms or getting a plumber to fix a tap.
Okay this is the livingroom view from the front entry area. Right behind me is the little guest half bath. (I didn't take a photo of it.) So this is to the left when you enter and the dining room it to the right. I've stepped to the next corner of the livingroom and turned around to shoot a photo of the dining room below.

This is looking back at the living room again. The curtains on the back wall open out to a little patio.These two are looking into the kitchen from its door. Yes, those are some kind of stone counter tops, marble or ganite. The second view shows a bit of the fridge door, a bit of the open pantry door and the far door is a sort of laundry room. (sorry, not photo out there either.)

Below is the still-in-process guest room. Don't let the bright colors keep you from visiting. I usually give out my room and sleep here when I have guests. The walls need help.

This one is the master bedroom (my room). I'm standing in the sort of walk-in (through) closet area.This one is standing by the bed looking over to where the last shot was taken, you can see one of the four closets there.

Now back over in that closet area looking into the bathroom. Below that is a detail shot of the black iron and green fabric shelf in there. I designed it and made the fabric parts of it.I have should take some of the outside during the day. We kind of have our own little space outside because of being on the bottom corner of the building.

Come and visit! You are most welcome, karibu!

Old Friends

In the past few weeks I have re-met two very dear friends from when I lived here in the 90’s (which is sooo long ago now.) I realized we are old friends when I got introduced as “an old friend”. (I don’t really feel I should be forty-something but I am.)

Kinuthia Mungai was an intern at the ministry I was working in back in 1994. As office mates we became fast friends with my many questions about cultural dynamics and his insightful answers. We talked business, culture and art, sharing interests in a number of areas. I always thought of Kinuthia as so young. He was just finishing university and I was already in my 30’s. Today Kinuthia is married with two children. He’s a business owner and I can rightfully call him Mzee (the term for a respected male elder.) It’s so nice to see someone you have known a long time.

Irene Bilah also appeared in my life. Irene is from Uganda. She was my house worker when I lived here before. Marta, one of my roommates from then still has her working part-time at her house. Irene has a very special place in my heart. She had lived in Kenya for many years when I met her, raising her 5 children on her own.

Although Irene managed to keep the house, dishes and clothes clean for three of us, she also gave me a ton in terms of moral and spiritual help. Whenever I was stressed or down Irene would preach me a sermon. She encouraged me like no one else could. She might say the same for me. I know for sure that she has often prayed for me. And taught me many things about the meaning of quality of live.

Irene is a grandmother now. If my friends are old, does that mean I am old too?
Irene Bilah; friend, encourager, prayer warrior, oh yeah, house help too.

Considering Another Year...

fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10

For I, the LORD your God, hold your right hand; it is I who say to you, "Fear not, I am the one who helps you." Isaiah 41:13

Normally, I am very contented with who I am and my place in life. I am thankful for the flexibility my singleness gives me. I am glad to be working at Daystar in Nairobi. I love this new job and it’s where I want to be. It’s the right place at the right time.

However, there are times when I wish things were different. I wish I didn’t have to be the one to always ask, “When will my desk, chair and computer arrive? Is this office permanent or temporary? Would it be possible to be with my department rather than in another building?” These are just reflections of a deeper longing to not always be autonomous or all on my own.

Its times like these that I am so glad that the Lord in on my side.

There is a certain comfort in knowing that Someone is taking my hand and holding it. It’s as if I am again a 4-year-old and I don’t have to be the one to worry about crossing the street by myself, watching for cars and trying to work out the timing.

I don’t often feel fear, but I am sometimes dismayed. God comes along to help me, of all people! If I ever think it’s the other way around I am sadly mistaken. The weight of this help humbles me and brings tears to my eyes.

What a mercy to me. I can do nothing but be grateful.

Stepped on a Nail

I have been having a little trouble with my rear left tire. It seems to get low from time to time. It doesn’t go completely flat and it doesn’t happen all that often, just like every few weeks or so, and not even regularly. (I think it’s been longer this stretch.) I’ve located a service station nearby that has a working air pump. This is where I get pressure. (Try to say that with the classic Kenyan difficulty of mixing up r's and l's.)

Recently the guys had it off to see if they could find a hole to fix, I was told, “You probably stepped on a nail.” I smiled at the way I'd been told I’d run over a nail. Often automobiles here seem to have human qualities, with arms up to the shoulder sticking out either side, now my tires step on nails.

Aptly Named

Jo, a friend in China recently wrote about her Chinese name and how she got it. Her article got me thinking about my names, here. I know of a few and there are probably many more names that I get called behind my back and I don’t even know it. There are probably more to come too.

When I lived in Kenya in the 90’s there were different times when I did or did not have a vehicle to drive. Thus I was on busses or matatus quite often. Every mode of public transportation has a conductor or tout. Because I was so often doing a very typical Kenyan thing, I was named by the touts on my route, Wajiku. One of the most typical names from a girl from one of the main tribes in Nairobi.

I quizzed my friends from that tribe about the meaning, and there isn’t one. It’s just typical, normal, everyday. But one friend in particular enjoyed playing with my last name and dubbed me, Kabole. That’s the name of a 5-shilling coin. It’d be the equivalent of calling me Nickle.

When my friends from another tribe heard about being named by touts, they made it clear that that wasn’t any way to get a Kenyan name! So they named me from their group, Mwende. To this day it’s my favorite Kenyan name, because it means Loved One.

English in a land far away

My friend, Abraham often writes about English and how it’s dynamic and therefore we should accept the changes that have been introduced into it. In principle I agree, yet I also like a standard. I don’t speak or even write perfect English. But I try to follow the rules in an effort to be understood. Living in a country that doesn’t have English as a mother tongue makes it a little more challenging to keep the standard.

I really like knowing the local slang, called sheng which is often a mixture of English and Swahili. But I want to be understood when I speak with Americans as well. If you find my English off, please forgive me. I’m trying to be understood in two different continents.

As my friend Rose always used to say, “Don’t blame me, English came here by ship.” An odd enough statement in itself, but her pronunciation of “ship” comes out “sheep”.