well, well.
Bush must be really happy today.
i mean..
it's as if his whole weight has been shifted to another.
i doubt he's sad to step down, considering the fact that the last time he steped up, a shoe was aimed right at his face.
oh by the way..
nice dodging skils, Mr. Bush.
the envy of any dodgeballer.
Barack Hussein Obama is now the President of the United States.
he's #44 but he's actually #1.
the first African-American Prez.
who knew?
it's surprising in that in this day and age racism and descrimination did not dominate these elections.
although there will always be racist people in the world, at least we've imoroved.
way to go America.
yet life goes on.
no one emphasizes so much anymore.
except for kenya.
yesterday during his inauguration, Nairobi university in Kenya had a huge party.
even fireworks.
little known fact:
Obama is actually human.
his speech was empowering though.
he speaks with such boldness and determination that it makes it hard to disagree with his belief in change and hope for a better tomorrow.
Still, the question remains.
is that better tomorrow actually coming?
Of course, as ghe said himself, the better tomorrow isn't going to happen tomorrow.
it's will take time, skill, patience, focus, togetherness, and the American way for peace, truth and justice for all.
we have our first basketball game next monday or tuesday.
or wednesday.
i'm not really sure.
but i really can't wait.
playing against the same people everyday is a bore.
i think i said that already.
i'm starting my own website.
i'm putting my novel on it along with a selection of written works that i have.
this blog is getting to be more of a task than a hobby.
i have nothing to write about these days.
if you have any questions dont be afraid to ask.
like i said.
this blog's for you.
later.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Thursday, January 1, 2009
day421
today is the first day of 2009 and my 421st day in kenya.
if i leave the same day i left last year that means 192 more days.
Obama aka:
the B-bomb
Barockin'
hbo[Hussein Barack Obama]
Obamaster
Hussein the Hustla[of votes]
{these are different names that i've heard around and from classmates}
well his influence on Kenya has not died and i think it never will.
he still remains the center of attention,
right next to gas prices,
the cost of living
and the economic crisis.
is he the one to change all that?
the question is yet to be answered.
we'll see after January 20th.
do i have any new years resolutions?
not really.
but i hope ths year is memorable just in case i'm interviewed and the question comes up:
"what did you the year you turned 16?"
to which i'll answer:
I turned 16.
I wrote 2 novels and published one.
i left Kenya after 613 days.
i got my drivers license.
i rode the Superman at Six Flags for the first time.
taught my bro how to play b-ball so he could have mad skills on the court like me.
i also drove[with my handy drivers license] by a nuclear chemical testing facility inhaling some toxic fumes which gave me superhuman abilities which i occassionally use to fight crime, avoiding chocolate which has a fatal affect to me, wearing a red,white and blue mask with an american flag cape, taking on the alias Captain Ameriteen.
.....
...
ok.
so my year won't be that interesting.
i started writing my second book today and i'm only on chapter 14 of the first one.
the second book, which has no real plot yet, involves a boy named
Blot Aquassir L'Rubyhenasi.
{blot.-a.QUA.seer-lu.RU.bee.hen.u.see}
if you switch the letters of his name around[including the apostraphe] you get:
Bryan Shaquile Bristol, USA.
well...
i'm off to work on my second book.
but i'd like to wish you all a happy new year.
later.
ps. thank you, Jamie Sherman and Melisa Faron for your comments.
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
day412
well, now.
it's been a while hasn't it?
well i went to mombasa or coast as it's called in kenya.
this is pretty much how it went.
THE CAR RIDE.
my least favorite part of the trip took about 9 or 10 hours.
imagine it.
4 people in the backseat of a hot, small, Nissan.
i traveled with my cousins, Peter, Eugene, and Jackie, and my aunt, Mercy and my uncle, Paul.
so we started on our way there on a road conveniently named Mombasa Road.
after 5mins we had to go back cause we forgot to get gas.
we got going again and things went smoothly.
but the music!
ugh!
my ears ache just thinking about it.
now i know how some people feel after listening to the things that teenagers listen to nowadays.
if you didn't know i'm a rock/rap/hiphop linkin park/fortminor/eminem/lupe fiasco kind of guy.
but there it was.
the CD of 15 kenyan songs playing over...
and over...
and over...
And i lived!
after an hour of driving,[not me, my uncle] came the food.
i distinctly remember singing the Ice Age 2 song "Food, Glorious, Food" several times in my head.
we ate a huge bag of potato chips [sorry, mom] and a big box of cookies and it was barely 11:00 [sorry again] but it didn't last long.
by 15mins the food was finished and so was my hunger.
i then tried to got to sleep.
Impossible due to the unending combination of music/cramped space/heat.
i decided then to sight see....but there wasn't a sight in sight.
just the sight if trees, grass and sky....
although i did see a cloud shaped like the USA believe it or not.
after 4 more hours we stopped at a pitstop to get some fried chicken and energy drinks.
also not healthy.
it wasn't KFC but it man tasted good.
we got back on the road again and i was about to try and fall asleep again when we saw Zebras.
Jackie saw a giraffe.
then came the horrible smell.
that disgusting nose tingling smell.
the smell that can only be that of a silent and deadly...
fart.
sure enough, someone had passed gas.
it was bound to happen and even more predictable was the fact everyone denied it.
so after 5 1/2 more hours of trying to sleep,talking, music, gas, and sun we reached Mombasa at 9:45pm.
we put our bags in the house and met my Great Uncle, my two cousins Ernest and Natasha, and we all went swimming in the pool.
THE POOL
i think this might have been my favorite place in Mombasa.
the beach had nice sand but the water had so much salt that it seemed one mouthful of water had enough for my french fries and all of my friends'.
the pool was the place to hang out.
in fact this was the routine:
wake up.
eat.
watch movies.
swim.
eat.
swim.
eat.
hang out at pool.
sleep.
everyday my Ernest and i made up some crazy jumps and air styles and some other boys came to swim.
we raced them and made a game of pushing people in the pool.
the pool was a lot of fun.
THE REPTILE EXHIBIT
we all went together and saw alligators , snakes and tortoises.
some snakes were poisonous, some not.
we saw a huge Boa Constrictor, a Python, and a Black Mamba.
the Boa is too heavy to hold ,but did hold the Python.
now if i held the Black Mamba it would have been the last thing i ever held [unless i held flowers at my funeral] cause the Black M. is the most poisounous snake in kenya.
BYE GOAT!
on Saturday morning a goat was slaughtered right in front of our eyes.
i wasn't really sorry for it.
it's like....
it's like we snapped a rock in half.
only a rock wouldn't have tasted as good.
MY PHONE ALMOST DROWNED
on Sunday the pool was being drained so we had not choice but to go to the beach.
we bought a small boat and went about a mile and half of shore and went swimming practically in the middle of the ocean.
we had googles and we saw some fish in the water.
its was really cool.
but i didn't enjoy it as much as i would have if my phone...
well it happened like this.
we didnt know that we were going to be swimming so no one brought anything.
i had my phone in my pocket on the way there in the car.
i went into the water with my shorts and went out of the water without my phone.
i freaked out.
we went back to the car and there it was, my phone lying on the seat.
it had fell out of my pocket before i had even walked on the beach.
KWAHERI, MOMBASA
the phrase above means "goodbye, Mombasa".
and that's exactly what i said.
but i wasn't going in that dreaded Nissan.
nope!
i was leaving in style.
we went first thing in the morning and booked 2 tickets for me and Ernest.
we went home on a coach called a MASH.
it's not much different from a Greyhound Bus.
the only interesting thing that happened was when the bus stopped to let a tall brown spotted giraffe cross the road.
well here i am now.
my skin is two shades darker than before.
my back is covered in mysterious rashes.
and maybe....
just maybe...
my dislike for Kenya is a little less.
it's been a while hasn't it?
well i went to mombasa or coast as it's called in kenya.
this is pretty much how it went.
THE CAR RIDE.
my least favorite part of the trip took about 9 or 10 hours.
imagine it.
4 people in the backseat of a hot, small, Nissan.
i traveled with my cousins, Peter, Eugene, and Jackie, and my aunt, Mercy and my uncle, Paul.
so we started on our way there on a road conveniently named Mombasa Road.
after 5mins we had to go back cause we forgot to get gas.
we got going again and things went smoothly.
but the music!
ugh!
my ears ache just thinking about it.
now i know how some people feel after listening to the things that teenagers listen to nowadays.
if you didn't know i'm a rock/rap/hiphop linkin park/fortminor/eminem/lupe fiasco kind of guy.
but there it was.
the CD of 15 kenyan songs playing over...
and over...
and over...
And i lived!
after an hour of driving,[not me, my uncle] came the food.
i distinctly remember singing the Ice Age 2 song "Food, Glorious, Food" several times in my head.
we ate a huge bag of potato chips [sorry, mom] and a big box of cookies and it was barely 11:00 [sorry again] but it didn't last long.
by 15mins the food was finished and so was my hunger.
i then tried to got to sleep.
Impossible due to the unending combination of music/cramped space/heat.
i decided then to sight see....but there wasn't a sight in sight.
just the sight if trees, grass and sky....
although i did see a cloud shaped like the USA believe it or not.
after 4 more hours we stopped at a pitstop to get some fried chicken and energy drinks.
also not healthy.
it wasn't KFC but it man tasted good.
we got back on the road again and i was about to try and fall asleep again when we saw Zebras.
Jackie saw a giraffe.
then came the horrible smell.
that disgusting nose tingling smell.
the smell that can only be that of a silent and deadly...
fart.
sure enough, someone had passed gas.
it was bound to happen and even more predictable was the fact everyone denied it.
so after 5 1/2 more hours of trying to sleep,talking, music, gas, and sun we reached Mombasa at 9:45pm.
we put our bags in the house and met my Great Uncle, my two cousins Ernest and Natasha, and we all went swimming in the pool.
THE POOL
i think this might have been my favorite place in Mombasa.
the beach had nice sand but the water had so much salt that it seemed one mouthful of water had enough for my french fries and all of my friends'.
the pool was the place to hang out.
in fact this was the routine:
wake up.
eat.
watch movies.
swim.
eat.
swim.
eat.
hang out at pool.
sleep.
everyday my Ernest and i made up some crazy jumps and air styles and some other boys came to swim.
we raced them and made a game of pushing people in the pool.
the pool was a lot of fun.
THE REPTILE EXHIBIT
we all went together and saw alligators , snakes and tortoises.
some snakes were poisonous, some not.
we saw a huge Boa Constrictor, a Python, and a Black Mamba.
the Boa is too heavy to hold ,but did hold the Python.
now if i held the Black Mamba it would have been the last thing i ever held [unless i held flowers at my funeral] cause the Black M. is the most poisounous snake in kenya.
BYE GOAT!
on Saturday morning a goat was slaughtered right in front of our eyes.
i wasn't really sorry for it.
it's like....
it's like we snapped a rock in half.
only a rock wouldn't have tasted as good.
MY PHONE ALMOST DROWNED
on Sunday the pool was being drained so we had not choice but to go to the beach.
we bought a small boat and went about a mile and half of shore and went swimming practically in the middle of the ocean.
we had googles and we saw some fish in the water.
its was really cool.
but i didn't enjoy it as much as i would have if my phone...
well it happened like this.
we didnt know that we were going to be swimming so no one brought anything.
i had my phone in my pocket on the way there in the car.
i went into the water with my shorts and went out of the water without my phone.
i freaked out.
we went back to the car and there it was, my phone lying on the seat.
it had fell out of my pocket before i had even walked on the beach.
KWAHERI, MOMBASA
the phrase above means "goodbye, Mombasa".
and that's exactly what i said.
but i wasn't going in that dreaded Nissan.
nope!
i was leaving in style.
we went first thing in the morning and booked 2 tickets for me and Ernest.
we went home on a coach called a MASH.
it's not much different from a Greyhound Bus.
the only interesting thing that happened was when the bus stopped to let a tall brown spotted giraffe cross the road.
well here i am now.
my skin is two shades darker than before.
my back is covered in mysterious rashes.
and maybe....
just maybe...
my dislike for Kenya is a little less.
Friday, December 12, 2008
day401
hey America.
yesterday i rapped.in front of the whole school.
bymyself.
was i nervous?
nah.
ok....
maybe a little.
but it all ended well and no one laughed.
for 27 days i won't have school.
i can't figure out what i'm gonna do for that long.
i hope to go with my uncle to Mombassa[coast of kenya, eqivalent to a hotter Cape Cod]
i also got my Report Card....
the most dreaded piece of paper that students in kenya get 3 times a year.
and i got a C% average.
not the best, not the worst.
but it could be better.
i got a lecture about my grades from my uncle, grandmother, and grandfather.
the lecture is understandable.
it's the "all three of them" part i don't get.
but life goes on.
as they say in kenya "hakunua matata".
well actually...
they don't really say it.
i heard it once here.
and the person who said it was referring to THE LION KING.
once.
and i've been here for 401days.
apparently the phrase was made up by Americans in a different language.
well i'll post later, i'm going to clean my shoes.
with my hands.
it's not as hard as you might think.
you should try it sometime.
later.
ps. i didn't mean to offend any older people who read my last post.
but if you are older, can you truly admit you know about Linkin Park?
Friday, December 5, 2008
day398
i have good news and bad news.
the good news is we didn't lose.
the bad news is we didn't win.
well technically.....
we didn't even play.
in my school we have to pay to dress.
and i don't mean if you don't pay you come in your birthday suit.
as i've said before our school has uniforms.
once or twice a term we get to come to school without them.
but we pay 100Kshs [which is $1.53].
there's a talent show next week, and i'm rapping a Linkin Park song.
[linkin park is a band. for all you old people.]
i rode a horse for the first time yesterday and it only cost 60cents.
my friend saw a camel crossing this morning.
and my other friend can make a virus that makes you type words that dont make sense.
like...
if you type America it will type Vwe!nfddy.
yes.
i have nothing to write today.
think of something to ask me about kenya.
i have to go for Math [hate the subject and the teacher hates me]
he's not actually here today [SCORE!]
so yea...
later.
the good news is we didn't lose.
the bad news is we didn't win.
well technically.....
we didn't even play.
it's all good.
we'll play sometime next term.
in my school we have to pay to dress.
and i don't mean if you don't pay you come in your birthday suit.
as i've said before our school has uniforms.
once or twice a term we get to come to school without them.
but we pay 100Kshs [which is $1.53].
there's a talent show next week, and i'm rapping a Linkin Park song.
[linkin park is a band. for all you old people.]
i rode a horse for the first time yesterday and it only cost 60cents.
my friend saw a camel crossing this morning.
and my other friend can make a virus that makes you type words that dont make sense.
like...
if you type America it will type Vwe!nfddy.
yes.
i have nothing to write today.
think of something to ask me about kenya.
i have to go for Math [hate the subject and the teacher hates me]
he's not actually here today [SCORE!]
so yea...
later.
Friday, November 28, 2008
day388
as i promised yesterday, today i did nothing.
i read Harry Potter7 [for the 2nd time], played the piano, and drew cartoons all day.
i had french fries and a Sprite.
now i'm here, checking my e-mail and typing this blog.
yea, that's it.
yep.....
just another boring day.
tomorrow is Saturday.
i almost wished that the teachers would give us some work or something to do.
almost.
i then came back to my senses.
this week has been a relaxing week.
for once.
no tests.
no homework.
no projects.
....
kinda remincds me of home.
in States, compared to here, school was a breeze.
i even liked school.
i liked it a lot.
i don't know what happened.
i guess school just got less fun as i got older
i can't get that b-ball game out of my head.
i haven't played a decent game in so long.
basketball is the sport i'm completely confident in.
[American football comes 2nd]
once i'm on the court there's nothing that can stop me.
i take the sport seriously.
when i play, i play to win it.
and the game on Wednesday won't be any different.
I'm trying to come up with a really good ending for my novel.
i've only gotten to the climax and i have a slightly good idea for the end but i really want to WOW the readers.
i plan to publish the novel next year or the year after.
no later than that i hope.
when i have to study, the TV in my room works perfectly .
when i don't have to study, it works perfectly....only that it doesn't have any sound.
i don't know what happened to it but i'm very suspicious of the electrician who came to my house two days ago.
last night i missed Everybody Hates Chris.
i like that show.
i hope he came today while i was at school [not Chris, the electrician] but i doubt it.
for now, i'm just gonna have to get good at lip-reading.
as i was going to school today i noticed something that amused me.
the glass part of a side mirror attatched to a car had been broken.
the side mirror was there.
there was just no glass.
rather than going to a car shop or something the owner of the car decided he was more creative than that.
to replace the missing glass, the person had broken off the handle of a pink hand mirror and jammed it in the frame of the sidemirror.
cheapness?
creativity?
laziness?
for the love of pink?
call it what you want to but you have to admit...
you wouldn't have thought of that.
well, i'm going now to practice for the game.
the next time i write apost it will be on wednesday.
wish me luck.
laterrrr.
i read Harry Potter7 [for the 2nd time], played the piano, and drew cartoons all day.
i had french fries and a Sprite.
now i'm here, checking my e-mail and typing this blog.
yea, that's it.
yep.....
just another boring day.
tomorrow is Saturday.
i almost wished that the teachers would give us some work or something to do.
almost.
i then came back to my senses.
this week has been a relaxing week.
for once.
no tests.
no homework.
no projects.
....
kinda remincds me of home.
in States, compared to here, school was a breeze.
i even liked school.
i liked it a lot.
i don't know what happened.
i guess school just got less fun as i got older
i can't get that b-ball game out of my head.
i haven't played a decent game in so long.
basketball is the sport i'm completely confident in.
[American football comes 2nd]
once i'm on the court there's nothing that can stop me.
i take the sport seriously.
when i play, i play to win it.
and the game on Wednesday won't be any different.
I'm trying to come up with a really good ending for my novel.
i've only gotten to the climax and i have a slightly good idea for the end but i really want to WOW the readers.
i plan to publish the novel next year or the year after.
no later than that i hope.
when i have to study, the TV in my room works perfectly .
when i don't have to study, it works perfectly....only that it doesn't have any sound.
i don't know what happened to it but i'm very suspicious of the electrician who came to my house two days ago.
last night i missed Everybody Hates Chris.
i like that show.
i hope he came today while i was at school [not Chris, the electrician] but i doubt it.
for now, i'm just gonna have to get good at lip-reading.
as i was going to school today i noticed something that amused me.
the glass part of a side mirror attatched to a car had been broken.
the side mirror was there.
there was just no glass.
rather than going to a car shop or something the owner of the car decided he was more creative than that.
to replace the missing glass, the person had broken off the handle of a pink hand mirror and jammed it in the frame of the sidemirror.
cheapness?
creativity?
laziness?
for the love of pink?
call it what you want to but you have to admit...
you wouldn't have thought of that.
well, i'm going now to practice for the game.
the next time i write apost it will be on wednesday.
wish me luck.
laterrrr.
Thursday, November 27, 2008
day387
the first thing i did on the net today was change my birthday on Facebook.
i wanted to avoid the certain point in the year when people throw eggs at you and chuck you into a pool.
with your clothes on.
on your birthday.
this happens at my school and i have no idea how i avoided it last year.
but i don't think i can get lucky twice in a row.
i'm taking every precaution this time.
besides getting drenched in icy cold water and smelling like eggs at the end of the day there is one other consequence.
some form of punishment from the Coordinator of grd10.
none other than the Feared Ms. Adoo.
grd10 students try to avoid any chance meeting with this teacher.
that includes myself.
there's just something "you better not be doing what i think your doing and even if you're not doing it you're thinking about doing it behind my back" about her.
yikes.
someone asked me what kenyan foods i like.
well, i like Ugali na Sukuma and Chapati na Rice na Kuku.
i can't really describe them specifically but next time you're in kenya or you happen to pass by a culture festival just check 'em out.
you won't be disappointed.
I was supposed to be going on a trip to a place in kenya called Maasai Mara but the money came late.
now i have 200 and something dollars for something else, i guess.
but it's all good.
i wasn't really psyched about going anyway.
besides there's a trip to Spain coming up in April 2009.
this school term closes on December Eleventh.
two thirds of grd10 is gone so we had free lessons.
today i did nothing.
tomorrow--yep you guessed it--nothing.
for once i'm not doing school work.
i just spend a whole day in a school.
[yes, there's a HUGE difference]
the teachers are tallying marks now [in kenya "points" are called marks].
they add up all the test, classwork, and homework scores together.
whatever the average is, is your grade for the term.
i think i did okay.
we'll see.
we'll see.
you might have noticed that there's been a big gap between this and my last post.
that's because of the projects and assignments from school.
and tests.
there are always tests.
but hey...
school is school.
what would it be without work?
it wouldn't be school...
nah...
it would be cool.
next Wednesday we have a basketball game against another school called Braeburn.
we'll win.
our team is good.
and even if we lose[ which we won't] i'll just be glad that we played against other people.
i've been playing with the same students for months.
i recieved my artwork today.
i got a 90%.
speaking of art...
remember that week that i missed school?
that long, boring, week?
yeah, well that was the week the auditions took place.
oh well.
it is what it is.
i can't wait until that b-ball game though.
and you know what else i can't wait for?
the day i leave this country.
i'm not homesick, just kenyasick.]
laterrrr.
i wanted to avoid the certain point in the year when people throw eggs at you and chuck you into a pool.
with your clothes on.
on your birthday.
this happens at my school and i have no idea how i avoided it last year.
but i don't think i can get lucky twice in a row.
i'm taking every precaution this time.
besides getting drenched in icy cold water and smelling like eggs at the end of the day there is one other consequence.
some form of punishment from the Coordinator of grd10.
none other than the Feared Ms. Adoo.
grd10 students try to avoid any chance meeting with this teacher.
that includes myself.
there's just something "you better not be doing what i think your doing and even if you're not doing it you're thinking about doing it behind my back" about her.
yikes.
someone asked me what kenyan foods i like.
well, i like Ugali na Sukuma and Chapati na Rice na Kuku.
i can't really describe them specifically but next time you're in kenya or you happen to pass by a culture festival just check 'em out.
you won't be disappointed.
I was supposed to be going on a trip to a place in kenya called Maasai Mara but the money came late.
now i have 200 and something dollars for something else, i guess.
but it's all good.
i wasn't really psyched about going anyway.
besides there's a trip to Spain coming up in April 2009.
this school term closes on December Eleventh.
two thirds of grd10 is gone so we had free lessons.
i guess not going to Mara had its benefits after all.
yesterday i did nothing.today i did nothing.
tomorrow--yep you guessed it--nothing.
for once i'm not doing school work.
i just spend a whole day in a school.
[yes, there's a HUGE difference]
the teachers are tallying marks now [in kenya "points" are called marks].
they add up all the test, classwork, and homework scores together.
whatever the average is, is your grade for the term.
i think i did okay.
we'll see.
we'll see.
you might have noticed that there's been a big gap between this and my last post.
that's because of the projects and assignments from school.
and tests.
there are always tests.
but hey...
school is school.
what would it be without work?
it wouldn't be school...
nah...
it would be cool.
next Wednesday we have a basketball game against another school called Braeburn.
we'll win.
our team is good.
and even if we lose[ which we won't] i'll just be glad that we played against other people.
i've been playing with the same students for months.
i recieved my artwork today.
i got a 90%.
speaking of art...
remember that week that i missed school?
that long, boring, week?
yeah, well that was the week the auditions took place.
oh well.
it is what it is.
i can't wait until that b-ball game though.
and you know what else i can't wait for?
the day i leave this country.
i'm not homesick, just kenyasick.]
laterrrr.
Thursday, November 13, 2008
day372
hello America.
i'm running out of things to write.
so....
if you have any questions i'm here to answer them.
after all, i made this blog for you.
i'm afraid i have to take the novel off the net.
it's illogical to keep it there where someone can copy and paste and say it's their's.
i want to sell it.
and that 's sorta impossible if someone else does it first.
this kenya place is really boring.
especailly when you stay home for almost a whole week like i have.
you see.
it's like this.
when you send money late, it get's somewhere late.
and in my case the money's a whole week late.
and it;s for school.
i think that someone in my shoes would be rejoicing.
probably screaming,
"NO SCHOOL, NO SCHOOL!"
but actually i'm screaming,
"I'M MISSING TESTS, I'M FALLING BEHIND!"
everything bad happens to me in kenya.
i keep several pictures in my bedroom of my American friends and family.
so one day my housegirl is ironing and sees a picture of my bro.
"This is who?" she said.
"That's my brother," i replied.
she was quiet for a few moments, just looking at the picture.
then she said, "He is very smart, but he has a big head."
and she keeps on ironing.
it was hilarious.
["smart" in kenya and Britain means handsome]
my housegirl is really nice.
she does everything for me.
cleans
irons
cooks.
and man is she a great cook.
but i miss my mom's classic "rice and chicken"
and the "nyama choma" friday nights at my house.
[nyama choma literally means, "burnt meat" in swahili. i have a firepit in my backyard where my dad wraps meat in aluminum foil and puts it over the fire. with just the right amount of salt it's delicious.]
i have nyama choma here in kenya but not as frequently.
as i said a while ago, i know a little swahili.
here's a basic conversation:
"Sema."[hey, say what's up]
"Poa."[it's good]
well...the beginning of a coversation.
and here's a little vocabulary:
tefadthali-please
karibu-welcome
asanti-thank you
mama-mom
baba-dad
dada-sister
caca-brother
hi na hio-this and that
ona-look
nataka-i want
naenda-i am going
pamoja-together
siku-day
kesho-tomorrow
jana-yesterday
leo-today
sasa-now
well....
i'm going now.
to play hookey some more i guess.
i never thought i'd say this but....
i miss school.
later.
i'm running out of things to write.
so....
if you have any questions i'm here to answer them.
after all, i made this blog for you.
i'm afraid i have to take the novel off the net.
it's illogical to keep it there where someone can copy and paste and say it's their's.
i want to sell it.
and that 's sorta impossible if someone else does it first.
this kenya place is really boring.
especailly when you stay home for almost a whole week like i have.
you see.
it's like this.
when you send money late, it get's somewhere late.
and in my case the money's a whole week late.
and it;s for school.
i think that someone in my shoes would be rejoicing.
probably screaming,
"NO SCHOOL, NO SCHOOL!"
but actually i'm screaming,
"I'M MISSING TESTS, I'M FALLING BEHIND!"
everything bad happens to me in kenya.
i keep several pictures in my bedroom of my American friends and family.
so one day my housegirl is ironing and sees a picture of my bro.
"This is who?" she said.
"That's my brother," i replied.
she was quiet for a few moments, just looking at the picture.
then she said, "He is very smart, but he has a big head."
and she keeps on ironing.
it was hilarious.
["smart" in kenya and Britain means handsome]
my housegirl is really nice.
she does everything for me.
cleans
irons
cooks.
and man is she a great cook.
but i miss my mom's classic "rice and chicken"
and the "nyama choma" friday nights at my house.
[nyama choma literally means, "burnt meat" in swahili. i have a firepit in my backyard where my dad wraps meat in aluminum foil and puts it over the fire. with just the right amount of salt it's delicious.]
i have nyama choma here in kenya but not as frequently.
as i said a while ago, i know a little swahili.
here's a basic conversation:
"Sema."[hey, say what's up]
"Poa."[it's good]
well...the beginning of a coversation.
and here's a little vocabulary:
tefadthali-please
karibu-welcome
asanti-thank you
mama-mom
baba-dad
dada-sister
caca-brother
hi na hio-this and that
ona-look
nataka-i want
naenda-i am going
pamoja-together
siku-day
kesho-tomorrow
jana-yesterday
leo-today
sasa-now
well....
i'm going now.
to play hookey some more i guess.
i never thought i'd say this but....
i miss school.
later.
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
day364 OBAMA DAY
let it be known that history was made this Wednesday, November 5th 2008 7:26am/ East African Time.
Barack Hussein Obama, i mean President Barack Obama became the first African American in the White House.
many thought it could never be done.
but it happened.
and it happened in my life-time which is amazing in itself.
the question that remains is whether or not Obama will really change our country or not.
and the thought on many people's minds is whether he will even survive to keep his campaign promises.
Many do not doubt the possibilty of assassination.
but God forbid that this event should occur.
i wasn't sure who exactly i was supporting politically.
i don't know exactly life will change for the teenage american citizens.
i guess, if his economical promises are true, this means more spending money for parents.
which also means more allowance.
cha-ching!
money in the bank.
sweet.
the not-political part of me did want Barack Oboma to win this election simply because it means so much to other African-Americans to see him step up, take the challenge and succeed.
it's just too bad Martin Luther King Jr didn't live to see his dream come true.
or at least the beginning of his dream.
this country of kenya supports Oboma so much that they even held fake elections and several parties.
there are campaign buttons being sold around in different shops along with t-shirts and hats.
in a sad way he's become more of a celebrity icon than a politician.
but i don't blame people for wanting to make money off of this.
President Moi Kibaki has declared tomorrow a national holiday.
so basically Obama's victory has more benefits than i thought.
only the first few hours and change is already happening.
Promise #1?
check.
i'm not so into politics.
for me this was more of a popularity contest than an election.
it was for most kenyans.
an African American in the White House.
like i said.
Huge.
just Huge.
so congradulations Mr. President Barack and let's hope for more change.
later.
Barack Hussein Obama, i mean President Barack Obama became the first African American in the White House.
many thought it could never be done.
but it happened.
and it happened in my life-time which is amazing in itself.
the question that remains is whether or not Obama will really change our country or not.
and the thought on many people's minds is whether he will even survive to keep his campaign promises.
Many do not doubt the possibilty of assassination.
but God forbid that this event should occur.
i wasn't sure who exactly i was supporting politically.
i don't know exactly life will change for the teenage american citizens.
i guess, if his economical promises are true, this means more spending money for parents.
which also means more allowance.
cha-ching!
money in the bank.
sweet.
the not-political part of me did want Barack Oboma to win this election simply because it means so much to other African-Americans to see him step up, take the challenge and succeed.
it's just too bad Martin Luther King Jr didn't live to see his dream come true.
or at least the beginning of his dream.
this country of kenya supports Oboma so much that they even held fake elections and several parties.
there are campaign buttons being sold around in different shops along with t-shirts and hats.
in a sad way he's become more of a celebrity icon than a politician.
but i don't blame people for wanting to make money off of this.
President Moi Kibaki has declared tomorrow a national holiday.
so basically Obama's victory has more benefits than i thought.
only the first few hours and change is already happening.
Promise #1?
check.
i'm not so into politics.
for me this was more of a popularity contest than an election.
it was for most kenyans.
an African American in the White House.
like i said.
Huge.
just Huge.
so congradulations Mr. President Barack and let's hope for more change.
later.
Saturday, November 1, 2008
day360
no matter where you go, there you are.
in an organization there will always be one person who knows exactly what is going on.
this person must be fired.
everybody lies, but it doesn't matter since nobody listens.
negative expectations yield negative results.
positive expectations yield negative results.
the other line moves faster.
somethings people noticed about life.
they're so true.
so true.
i signed up for the basketball team this year again.
and i'm going to audition for the school play called In the Heights.
it's a musical but i'm not gonna be singing.
like last year.
for those of you who don't know, it was a disaster.
and for those of you who do know it would be nice if you didn't mention it to the people who don't.
so i'm rapping.
as a guy named Usnavi.
if i get the part, that is.
[i just noticed...Usnavi is kinda like U.S. Navy]
and i will get the part.
bet on it.
while i wait to audition, i'm being bored at home studying my brains out.
or watchin' TV.
i can't wait til next week.
this year's elections are gonna be huge.
as in HUGE.
if Obama wins the elections....
dude.....
all i can say is
it's gonna be huge.
and on thursday it will be my 365th day in kenya.
also, if you don't know i have written a novel.
actually i'm still writing it.
but it's on another blog at theamerikidandhisnovel.blogspot.com.
it's about a teenage god named Matteo trying to find out about himself and his parents in the process of saving his life which could actually mean saving the lives of others.
the beginning is kinda boring but it's important.
once you get to chapter 5 things start to pick up.
hope you like it.
i have these metal cubes, given to me by a friend.
they have words on them.
one cube has adverbs.
the other has verbs.
i arrange them in such a way that they say:
Dream big.
Imagine out-loud.
Live amazingly.
Try well.
Play smart.
Think a lot.
it's cool 'cause these cubes cover every aspect of life.
and i think that those 6 phrases can be applied to everyone's life.
and i've applied them to mine as much as i could.
and in kenyan schools you definitely have to think a lot and try well.
here's a joke for you before i go.
how any psychologists does it take to put in a lightbulb?
answer?
only one.
but the bulb has to really want to change.
later.
in an organization there will always be one person who knows exactly what is going on.
this person must be fired.
everybody lies, but it doesn't matter since nobody listens.
negative expectations yield negative results.
positive expectations yield negative results.
the other line moves faster.
somethings people noticed about life.
they're so true.
so true.
i signed up for the basketball team this year again.
and i'm going to audition for the school play called In the Heights.
it's a musical but i'm not gonna be singing.
like last year.
for those of you who don't know, it was a disaster.
and for those of you who do know it would be nice if you didn't mention it to the people who don't.
so i'm rapping.
as a guy named Usnavi.
if i get the part, that is.
[i just noticed...Usnavi is kinda like U.S. Navy]
and i will get the part.
bet on it.
while i wait to audition, i'm being bored at home studying my brains out.
or watchin' TV.
i can't wait til next week.
this year's elections are gonna be huge.
as in HUGE.
if Obama wins the elections....
dude.....
all i can say is
it's gonna be huge.
and on thursday it will be my 365th day in kenya.
also, if you don't know i have written a novel.
actually i'm still writing it.
but it's on another blog at theamerikidandhisnovel.blogspot.com.
it's about a teenage god named Matteo trying to find out about himself and his parents in the process of saving his life which could actually mean saving the lives of others.
the beginning is kinda boring but it's important.
once you get to chapter 5 things start to pick up.
hope you like it.
i have these metal cubes, given to me by a friend.
they have words on them.
one cube has adverbs.
the other has verbs.
i arrange them in such a way that they say:
Dream big.
Imagine out-loud.
Live amazingly.
Try well.
Play smart.
Think a lot.
it's cool 'cause these cubes cover every aspect of life.
and i think that those 6 phrases can be applied to everyone's life.
and i've applied them to mine as much as i could.
and in kenyan schools you definitely have to think a lot and try well.
here's a joke for you before i go.
how any psychologists does it take to put in a lightbulb?
answer?
only one.
but the bulb has to really want to change.
later.
Monday, October 27, 2008
day359
i noticed one thing as i was reading a james bond book in my room three nights ago.
the most reoccuring initials that i noticed on TV and the media are JB.
James Blond
Jack Bauer[24]
Jack Black[actor]
Jonas Brothers[barf]
Johnny Bravo
James Blunt[singer]
and
Jason Bourne
and in my own life:
Judiah Bristol[my bro]
Jim Buker[a brotha from anotha motha]
Junior Blonde[my cartoon character's alter ego]
and
Drakkar Noir.
this is the cologne i use.
it translates as Just Black in some language.
anyway...
i have a little more to say about the school.
there are:
kenyans
one Mexican
two Russians
two Romanians
one Morocaan
one Russian-Italian.
and Indians.
no, not the i-love-nature-sleep-in-a-tent-and-dance-around-a-camp-fire-yelling "whoo!whoo!whoo!"indians.
oh, big news.
a thief entered our school three days ago.
and he was beaten up.
pretty bad.
here's how it went down.
there was this guy.
just a random guy.
and he had started walking around the school a few hours before he broke in.
you see, we had soccer matches and a girls' basketball game
so i guess he was trying to pose as a teacher or parent or something.
he failed.
miserably.
why?
cause no one in the whole school knew the guy.
so he breaks into the Deputy Headmaster's[Americans call them "assistant principal"] office.
and he tried to take confiscated phones, electronics, a flash disk, and a laptop.
he failed.
miserably.
why?
he did it in broad daylight.
it wasn't even 6pm.
he was caught by the Assi. Principal who then called the guards at the gate.
they entered the reception and started kicking the crap out of him.
most of the student in the school had gone home already but some were still there.
two even got in on the action, kicking the thief.
in total he was beaten up by about 8 guys for like 30mins with fists, feet, a metal pole, and a chair.
then he went to jail to probably be beaten some more.
by the inmates.
he wont be breaking and entering again anytime soon.
so that's justice in kenya.
later.
the most reoccuring initials that i noticed on TV and the media are JB.
James Blond
Jack Bauer[24]
Jack Black[actor]
Jonas Brothers[barf]
Johnny Bravo
James Blunt[singer]
and
Jason Bourne
and in my own life:
Judiah Bristol[my bro]
Jim Buker[a brotha from anotha motha]
Junior Blonde[my cartoon character's alter ego]
and
Drakkar Noir.
this is the cologne i use.
it translates as Just Black in some language.
anyway...
i have a little more to say about the school.
there are:
kenyans
one Mexican
two Russians
two Romanians
one Morocaan
one Russian-Italian.
and Indians.
no, not the i-love-nature-sleep-in-a-tent-and-dance-around-a-camp-fire-yelling "whoo!whoo!whoo!"indians.
oh, big news.
a thief entered our school three days ago.
and he was beaten up.
pretty bad.
here's how it went down.
there was this guy.
just a random guy.
and he had started walking around the school a few hours before he broke in.
you see, we had soccer matches and a girls' basketball game
so i guess he was trying to pose as a teacher or parent or something.
he failed.
miserably.
why?
cause no one in the whole school knew the guy.
so he breaks into the Deputy Headmaster's[Americans call them "assistant principal"] office.
and he tried to take confiscated phones, electronics, a flash disk, and a laptop.
he failed.
miserably.
why?
he did it in broad daylight.
it wasn't even 6pm.
he was caught by the Assi. Principal who then called the guards at the gate.
they entered the reception and started kicking the crap out of him.
most of the student in the school had gone home already but some were still there.
two even got in on the action, kicking the thief.
in total he was beaten up by about 8 guys for like 30mins with fists, feet, a metal pole, and a chair.
then he went to jail to probably be beaten some more.
by the inmates.
he wont be breaking and entering again anytime soon.
so that's justice in kenya.
later.
Sunday, October 26, 2008
day354
hey there.
let me edumacate you on the kenyan school status quo.
like any other high school there are groups or as some like to say
"clicks".
they are as follows.
THE "IN" PEOPLE.
these are the in people that are good looking, rich or just plain cool.
they have a lot of "friends" and not so many real ones.
they are athletic and good at a lot of things.
sometimes they're smart.
sometimes they're not.
but people don't care because you don't have to be smart to be popular.
THE NERDS AND GEEKS.
yes, the lisping, braces-wearing, pocket-protected, accident prone, bully-magnetic, four-eyed freaks of nature that don't have lives.
i'm not a fan of bullying or making fun of them but that's high school.
and that's what they're called.
they're usually the quiet one in class.
the one's who talk about dungeons an dragons
and
"my level198 Snoggwoton will totally kick your level147 Fonwizzle's butt at the CardBattle on Saturday!"
and
"the center of the telekinetic pull times the sum of the hypotenuse of the square root of opposite element in parallel with the physiological segment in which a....."
yea.
you know yourselves.
THE LONERS.
the people that sit alone at lunch time talk to no one and have no known friends.
these are the loners.
they are never talkative and hardly say anything.
they aren't bullies.
but they aren't victims either.
they mind their own business.
THE BULLIES.
quite self-explanatory.
they live to make other kid's lives as painful as possible.
'nuf said.
THE OTHER PEOPLE.
these are the people that have the qualities of some of the other groups.
but they don't fit into one perfectly.
like me.
most of the qualities i have are in the IN group.
but only because
i'm athletic and good at things
and i have a lot of friends.
some of them are fake.
and by fake don't mean i made them up.
but i can't really count on all of them to be there for me.
like the ones i have in America.
i don't fit into the IN group.
but i'm glad.
even though i'm not so rich or so good looking.
but hey, that's life.
gives you all the things you need, some of the things you want.
leaving you wanting more and wishing you needed less.
later.
let me edumacate you on the kenyan school status quo.
like any other high school there are groups or as some like to say
"clicks".
they are as follows.
THE "IN" PEOPLE.
these are the in people that are good looking, rich or just plain cool.
they have a lot of "friends" and not so many real ones.
they are athletic and good at a lot of things.
sometimes they're smart.
sometimes they're not.
but people don't care because you don't have to be smart to be popular.
THE NERDS AND GEEKS.
yes, the lisping, braces-wearing, pocket-protected, accident prone, bully-magnetic, four-eyed freaks of nature that don't have lives.
i'm not a fan of bullying or making fun of them but that's high school.
and that's what they're called.
they're usually the quiet one in class.
the one's who talk about dungeons an dragons
and
"my level198 Snoggwoton will totally kick your level147 Fonwizzle's butt at the CardBattle on Saturday!"
and
"the center of the telekinetic pull times the sum of the hypotenuse of the square root of opposite element in parallel with the physiological segment in which a....."
yea.
you know yourselves.
THE LONERS.
the people that sit alone at lunch time talk to no one and have no known friends.
these are the loners.
they are never talkative and hardly say anything.
they aren't bullies.
but they aren't victims either.
they mind their own business.
THE BULLIES.
quite self-explanatory.
they live to make other kid's lives as painful as possible.
'nuf said.
THE OTHER PEOPLE.
these are the people that have the qualities of some of the other groups.
but they don't fit into one perfectly.
like me.
most of the qualities i have are in the IN group.
but only because
i'm athletic and good at things
and i have a lot of friends.
some of them are fake.
and by fake don't mean i made them up.
but i can't really count on all of them to be there for me.
like the ones i have in America.
i don't fit into the IN group.
but i'm glad.
even though i'm not so rich or so good looking.
but hey, that's life.
gives you all the things you need, some of the things you want.
leaving you wanting more and wishing you needed less.
later.
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
day350
i'm allergic to chocolate.
great.
just great.
everything bad happens to me in kenya.
i found out at lunch the other day.
i don't usually have chocolate.
actually i have it almost never.
but i decided i would find out if i was allergic.
like my dad.
i would always joke about it.
i mean
who in the world is allergic to chocolate?
me.
i thought i wasn't allergic to anything.
people are allergic to peanuts.
chemicals.
special color dyes.
even water.
i break out will suspicious looking rashes.
especially on my fourarms.
...
did i just write fourarms?
ha.
four arms.
a common mistake.
i do not in fact have four arms.
maybe it's just kenyan chocolate?
i hope?
....
this week is my week off.
actually it's my week to do school work.
i just don't have to get up early.
but it's kinda ironic....
they give us vacation...
to do work...
??
did i miss something there?
when i'm not doing school work or avoiding chocolate
i'm drawing cartoons and stick figures.
i'm also on the school basketball team.
the most fun i have at school is on that court.
it's that or
i'm writing my novel.
or rapping.
or working out.
or adding to my comic strip, JUNIOR.
or dreaming weird dreams.
or not getting an sleep.
ok.
so here's one of the dreams i had.
i had the power of flight.
and people were hiding things in suitcases for me to find.
but i don't actually know they were for me.
on impulse i took the suitcases.
i don't remember what i did with them when i took them.
i was also wearing gloves.
while i was in the air i threw them at green and light colored trees.
after that i went to open the gate, thinking that a huge truck was leaving the house.
but instead here comes a small guy with a wheelbarrow.
i was completely confused.
i went to the back of the truck to sit down.
there's this guy there accusing me of something.
i deny whatever he's accusing me of and ask him if they found my finger prints.
he says,
and i quote,
"Big whoop, you wore gloves."
i then explain to him that i threw them at the trees.
and then he said something that confused me so much i woke up.
"You cried and washed our hands off with your tears."
another night.
this time there were no dreams.
well
technically
i didn't sleep.
it happened last thursday night.
i finish my work and studying at about 12am.
i go to sleep.
at least i try.
there's this stupid ladder in my room.
it fell waking me up and scaring the crap out of me.
then i couldn't go back to sleep.
i would close my eyes for a few seconds and almost drift off...
but then "EEEEEEEEE!!!!"
the horrible sound of a mosquito, right in my ear.
so i stumbled out of bed to get my mosquito net when i stubbed my toe on my desk leg.
i finally get the net.
i climb into bed and i hit my head on the desk and my phone falls then slides under the bed.
great.
if i thought that was all....
someone turns on the light and says
"wake up".
at this point in time i'm screaming "why me?why me?".
in my head of course.
i finally reach down and get my phone.
4:53am.
2hrs and 7mins of sleep i'm betting.
today is day350
i can't wait to leave.
i say i can't wait.
but here i am....
waiting...
later.
great.
just great.
everything bad happens to me in kenya.
i found out at lunch the other day.
i don't usually have chocolate.
actually i have it almost never.
but i decided i would find out if i was allergic.
like my dad.
i would always joke about it.
i mean
who in the world is allergic to chocolate?
me.
i thought i wasn't allergic to anything.
people are allergic to peanuts.
chemicals.
special color dyes.
even water.
i break out will suspicious looking rashes.
especially on my fourarms.
...
did i just write fourarms?
ha.
four arms.
a common mistake.
i do not in fact have four arms.
maybe it's just kenyan chocolate?
i hope?
....
this week is my week off.
actually it's my week to do school work.
i just don't have to get up early.
but it's kinda ironic....
they give us vacation...
to do work...
??
did i miss something there?
when i'm not doing school work or avoiding chocolate
i'm drawing cartoons and stick figures.
i'm also on the school basketball team.
the most fun i have at school is on that court.
it's that or
i'm writing my novel.
or rapping.
or working out.
or adding to my comic strip, JUNIOR.
or dreaming weird dreams.
or not getting an sleep.
ok.
so here's one of the dreams i had.
i had the power of flight.
and people were hiding things in suitcases for me to find.
but i don't actually know they were for me.
on impulse i took the suitcases.
i don't remember what i did with them when i took them.
i was also wearing gloves.
while i was in the air i threw them at green and light colored trees.
after that i went to open the gate, thinking that a huge truck was leaving the house.
but instead here comes a small guy with a wheelbarrow.
i was completely confused.
i went to the back of the truck to sit down.
there's this guy there accusing me of something.
i deny whatever he's accusing me of and ask him if they found my finger prints.
he says,
and i quote,
"Big whoop, you wore gloves."
i then explain to him that i threw them at the trees.
and then he said something that confused me so much i woke up.
"You cried and washed our hands off with your tears."
another night.
this time there were no dreams.
well
technically
i didn't sleep.
it happened last thursday night.
i finish my work and studying at about 12am.
i go to sleep.
at least i try.
there's this stupid ladder in my room.
it fell waking me up and scaring the crap out of me.
then i couldn't go back to sleep.
i would close my eyes for a few seconds and almost drift off...
but then "EEEEEEEEE!!!!"
the horrible sound of a mosquito, right in my ear.
so i stumbled out of bed to get my mosquito net when i stubbed my toe on my desk leg.
i finally get the net.
i climb into bed and i hit my head on the desk and my phone falls then slides under the bed.
great.
if i thought that was all....
someone turns on the light and says
"wake up".
at this point in time i'm screaming "why me?why me?".
in my head of course.
i finally reach down and get my phone.
4:53am.
2hrs and 7mins of sleep i'm betting.
today is day350
i can't wait to leave.
i say i can't wait.
but here i am....
waiting...
later.
Thursday, October 16, 2008
day346
so i get really bored in this country sometimes.
really bored.
but nothing compares to the first 4 months.
you would probably say that there's no way i could get bored.
Bryan, you're in another country.
you're in kenya!
i started a match collection.
a friken match collection.
as in like....
i took some burnt matches and kept them.
in a box.
pathetically bored.
i dont do that anymore.
no way.
i stopped counting at 439 matches.
so next time you think, "man i'm so bored."
think about this.
you're probably a lot more creative than me.
and can think of something better to occupy your time than collecting matches .
i found out things about kenya while i stayed here.
ever heard of Shrubbing?
i doubt it.
but it's hilarious.
it like THE THING here.
Shrubbing is when you think something but you say something else.
the shrub i hear the most often would be "crass" instead of "class".
in America, if you shrub, no one makes a big deal of it.
i shrub all the time.
whether or not anyone else notices.
just today i said, "are you chidding me?"
i meant "are you kidding me?"
but what you mean doesn't always come out.
kenya also has like a mirror reflection to every sport.
Soccer-football
Softball-rounders
American Football-rugby
Basketball-netball
Baseball-cricket
and their phones are expensive.
like a phone that you could get in America for $100 you get there for $200 and sometimes $250.
a total rip-off.
however, a decent phone with MP3 capability, camera and texting you could get for $140
if you take swahili at a Grade 9 level, you WILL fail.
guaranteed.
trust me.
i know.
from experience.
and even if you know it
don't pretend you can speak it.
because it's kinda obvious you're not a local.
my accent gave it all away
not matter how much i learned.
and food.
the cheapest food [ and cheapest tasting food] you can find
is at school.
depending on what you buy.
like a soda is 27cents
a pizza 55cents
and lunch [like rice and chicken] would be like $2 sometimes less.
oh and there's this place called Nakumatt
which is the same thing as Walmart
only the don't sell clothes at Nakumatt.
so these are most of the different things you might find out if you come to kenya.
and stay for as long as i have.
346 days.
later.
really bored.
but nothing compares to the first 4 months.
you would probably say that there's no way i could get bored.
Bryan, you're in another country.
you're in kenya!
i started a match collection.
a friken match collection.
as in like....
i took some burnt matches and kept them.
in a box.
pathetically bored.
i dont do that anymore.
no way.
i stopped counting at 439 matches.
so next time you think, "man i'm so bored."
think about this.
you're probably a lot more creative than me.
and can think of something better to occupy your time than collecting matches .
i found out things about kenya while i stayed here.
ever heard of Shrubbing?
i doubt it.
but it's hilarious.
it like THE THING here.
Shrubbing is when you think something but you say something else.
the shrub i hear the most often would be "crass" instead of "class".
in America, if you shrub, no one makes a big deal of it.
i shrub all the time.
whether or not anyone else notices.
just today i said, "are you chidding me?"
i meant "are you kidding me?"
but what you mean doesn't always come out.
kenya also has like a mirror reflection to every sport.
Soccer-football
Softball-rounders
American Football-rugby
Basketball-netball
Baseball-cricket
and their phones are expensive.
like a phone that you could get in America for $100 you get there for $200 and sometimes $250.
a total rip-off.
however, a decent phone with MP3 capability, camera and texting you could get for $140
if you take swahili at a Grade 9 level, you WILL fail.
guaranteed.
trust me.
i know.
from experience.
and even if you know it
don't pretend you can speak it.
because it's kinda obvious you're not a local.
my accent gave it all away
not matter how much i learned.
and food.
the cheapest food [ and cheapest tasting food] you can find
is at school.
depending on what you buy.
like a soda is 27cents
a pizza 55cents
and lunch [like rice and chicken] would be like $2 sometimes less.
oh and there's this place called Nakumatt
which is the same thing as Walmart
only the don't sell clothes at Nakumatt.
so these are most of the different things you might find out if you come to kenya.
and stay for as long as i have.
346 days.
later.
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
day343
i'm here at school with my friend Isa.
yes, i have friends.
just because i dont like a country doesnt mean hate the people.
i dont have any enemies in this school....
okay maybe one but if you think i'm gonna just blurt out her name to the world...
oh...great.
see, now you know it's a "she".
ok back to the "i dont like the country" part.
it's a nice country it's just not "at home" for me.
you know what i mean?
like...
there are so many different things on a daily basis that i miss.
the small stuff.
like driving on the right side of the road.
and actually going to church.
i know.
i think i just broke 3 teenage rules by saying that.
its so friken hard to explain why i like America so much.
people look at me and wonder,
why are you so passionate about a place?
well all i can say is...
it's not the place as much as what's in the place
like my family.
like my friends.
like macaroni and cheese.
can you imagine a life without macaroni and cheese?
but seriously...
this country lacks a certain American-ness.
you're probably like,
"yea, duh, it's kenya."
but i wish i could bring America with me like in my pocket.
a life long dream.
oh yea.
with halloween right around the corner and my friend's birthday on the 23rd
i look forward to this month with great pleasure and anticipation.
....
NOT.
i dont look forward to anything nowadays except for Saturday when i talk to my friend on AIM.
every other day it's "study this" and "study that" and
"clean your own underwear because we dont have a washing machine and the maid washes by hand because it's so convenient espeially on a rainy day"
sigh.
day343
and i'll just keep counting.
later.
yes, i have friends.
just because i dont like a country doesnt mean hate the people.
i dont have any enemies in this school....
okay maybe one but if you think i'm gonna just blurt out her name to the world...
oh...great.
see, now you know it's a "she".
ok back to the "i dont like the country" part.
it's a nice country it's just not "at home" for me.
you know what i mean?
like...
there are so many different things on a daily basis that i miss.
the small stuff.
like driving on the right side of the road.
and actually going to church.
i know.
i think i just broke 3 teenage rules by saying that.
its so friken hard to explain why i like America so much.
people look at me and wonder,
why are you so passionate about a place?
well all i can say is...
it's not the place as much as what's in the place
like my family.
like my friends.
like macaroni and cheese.
can you imagine a life without macaroni and cheese?
but seriously...
this country lacks a certain American-ness.
you're probably like,
"yea, duh, it's kenya."
but i wish i could bring America with me like in my pocket.
a life long dream.
oh yea.
with halloween right around the corner and my friend's birthday on the 23rd
i look forward to this month with great pleasure and anticipation.
....
NOT.
i dont look forward to anything nowadays except for Saturday when i talk to my friend on AIM.
every other day it's "study this" and "study that" and
"clean your own underwear because we dont have a washing machine and the maid washes by hand because it's so convenient espeially on a rainy day"
sigh.
day343
and i'll just keep counting.
later.
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
day342
so let me fill you in on the details.
as i said before this is my 2nd year in kenya, my 342nd day.
the first year wasnt so bad...
for the first 4 months.
then i realized i had a life before i came here.
a good one too.
and i missed my family and friends.
typical.
then school started. January 14th 2008m, day130.
i had a uniform {barf} a green tie, grey pants, a white shirt, black socks, and black shoes.
stupid uniform.
then i learned, and very quickly, that school systems in kenya are a lot harder than your average American schools.
a lot more homework too.
after a bazillion tests and an unimaginable hours of studying
my birthday came, day187.
i celebrated it with 3 people.
me,
myself,
and I.
yay.
oh and Sammy, my pipe-cleaner friend who later died when confronted with an open car window and a big moving tire.
:{
4 months after that i left the school knowing i probably failed every exam.
except Art.
a no-brainer.
and this being a kenyan school i wouldnt get my results until i came back from America.
if i came back.
July 13th 2008 day311,i left kenya thinking i would never come back.
the happiest day of the year
by far.
saw my parents and my brother [J-bro] and my sister [TC] at the airport and my friends a few days after.
i went to a christian camp
and a performing arts camp
and my friends houses.
my best friends my age are
Torrent G.
Dylan W.
Bonnie F.
Briana D.
Alicia B.
Jamie S.
and
Rachael B.
we hung out as much as we could.
8 weeks later i was on a plane to London
i began my 312th day in kenya on september 14th 2008.
i missed 2 weeks of school, so i had to catch up.
again.
yay.
and i went back to my GET UP AT 5AM-EAT-PUT ON STUPID UNIFORM-RUSH OUT DOOR routine.
another yay.
so here i am now, day342, in kenya....
i've done some tests and quizzes and i think i passed them.
emphasis on the word think.
i mean
lets face it.
i'm not the sharpest pencil in the case.
later.
as i said before this is my 2nd year in kenya, my 342nd day.
the first year wasnt so bad...
for the first 4 months.
then i realized i had a life before i came here.
a good one too.
and i missed my family and friends.
typical.
then school started. January 14th 2008m, day130.
i had a uniform {barf} a green tie, grey pants, a white shirt, black socks, and black shoes.
stupid uniform.
then i learned, and very quickly, that school systems in kenya are a lot harder than your average American schools.
a lot more homework too.
after a bazillion tests and an unimaginable hours of studying
my birthday came, day187.
i celebrated it with 3 people.
me,
myself,
and I.
yay.
oh and Sammy, my pipe-cleaner friend who later died when confronted with an open car window and a big moving tire.
:{
4 months after that i left the school knowing i probably failed every exam.
except Art.
a no-brainer.
and this being a kenyan school i wouldnt get my results until i came back from America.
if i came back.
July 13th 2008 day311,i left kenya thinking i would never come back.
the happiest day of the year
by far.
saw my parents and my brother [J-bro] and my sister [TC] at the airport and my friends a few days after.
i went to a christian camp
and a performing arts camp
and my friends houses.
my best friends my age are
Torrent G.
Dylan W.
Bonnie F.
Briana D.
Alicia B.
Jamie S.
and
Rachael B.
we hung out as much as we could.
8 weeks later i was on a plane to London
i began my 312th day in kenya on september 14th 2008.
i missed 2 weeks of school, so i had to catch up.
again.
yay.
and i went back to my GET UP AT 5AM-EAT-PUT ON STUPID UNIFORM-RUSH OUT DOOR routine.
another yay.
so here i am now, day342, in kenya....
i've done some tests and quizzes and i think i passed them.
emphasis on the word think.
i mean
lets face it.
i'm not the sharpest pencil in the case.
later.
Saturday, October 11, 2008
day339
well here i am.
in kenya.
dont really want to be.
but hey...
it's life.
my name?
depends on who you are.
i go by different names nowadays.
bryan.
bry.
bristol.
shaq.
the amerikid.
bryo.
b.
flik.
theBryster.
barack.
obama.
hey you.
let me start by saying that i like my life.
i just dont like where i live my life.
in kenya.
today is day 339.
my second year in this country.
i'm a sophmore.
15.5 years old.
i'm an american in kenya.
and this is my life.
in kenya.
dont really want to be.
but hey...
it's life.
my name?
depends on who you are.
i go by different names nowadays.
bryan.
bry.
bristol.
shaq.
the amerikid.
bryo.
b.
flik.
theBryster.
barack.
obama.
hey you.
let me start by saying that i like my life.
i just dont like where i live my life.
in kenya.
today is day 339.
my second year in this country.
i'm a sophmore.
15.5 years old.
i'm an american in kenya.
and this is my life.
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