Friday, November 13, 2009
Friday, November 6, 2009
Back to Me
So I got braids when I came here, and I haven't had any since 9th grade track season so I forgot what it was like to have them. They were so convenient when I first go here because the weather was bad and it was nice not to have to worry about my hair. One day I just felt like they needed to come out and began to take out the back....but then I got the next day off so Eboni and I decided to take our hair down and get it redone the next day. After many hours(yeah I was shocked because I thought twists would be easier to take out) I finished and vowed I'd never get braids again. The next morning Eboni and I went to the Garden Centre and purchased products for our hair and went about the business of taming two-three months worth of new growth and tangles....my hair is finally starting to look like itself again and I'm much happier. I liked the braids and the fact that in most cases until I opened my mouth (American accent) that I blended in quite well, but I missed washing and massaging my own hair so welcome back!!!
Thursday, November 5, 2009
More on the way....
So I've just published blog posts that I've written but because of Internet and time constraints I haven't been able to post them...I have more regarding my time in Joburg, the safari...fashion...and some really great book reviews...excuse my lack of political posts but I really don't get much American news while here...Pics will come as soon as Picassa falls in love with me again but just a quick update on my life....
Shine On....
Shine On....
We've got to do better....
Finally got the chance to get on Yahoo and what do I see...Lil Wayne expecting his fourth child...really sir...in less than one year you've had or will have three boys. I won't bash him because he does have the money and resources to raise his children...so to each his own. But as a society we definitely have to do better. Lil Wayne's story is not to uncommon and many men/women that choose to have multiple children with different partners don't have the resources to provide for them. Also having multiple partners is very dangerous and is just not good for you health. We really do need to do better.
On a sidenote Rihanna is looking very hip hop/rock...and I think the look for her...idk if I like barbed wire on anyone..but her new assertive personality is def working for her...and I also like the combination of fashions she has chosen recently...I'm still unsure about her hair but she owns it with her confidence which is all that matters...Black is a great color on anyone and can be used to create a variety of looks from chic to sophisticated, classy to sexy...conservative to edgy and so much more.
I'm really hating that I'm missing fall because season wise it's one of my favorites and I really love fall fashion!!! When I can catch magazines here I've been going through looking for inspiration for my winter wardrobe when I get home. Since I am in South Africa and Africa itself is known for its beautiful print I plan to incorporate that as a staple of my wardrobe. it's spring/summer here so I'm trying to be cognizant to look for clothes that will transverse seasons. However I have found some really nice sandals and heels that I'm thinking about purchasing because you can never have to many pairs of shoes....I also found a tailor and she's very reasonably priced so I think when I get some time I may get her to make me @ least one piece...
The best thing about South African fashion for me is their obsession with scarves. I loves scarves and have some of the most brilliant patterns, designs, and clothes here in South Africa. They also have very thick scarves, which will come in handy during the winter. A great scarf truly transforms an outfit so I'm excited to pair up some of these scarves with my black pea coat and boots...ohhh how I love cold weather fashion....to be continued
On a sidenote Rihanna is looking very hip hop/rock...and I think the look for her...idk if I like barbed wire on anyone..but her new assertive personality is def working for her...and I also like the combination of fashions she has chosen recently...I'm still unsure about her hair but she owns it with her confidence which is all that matters...Black is a great color on anyone and can be used to create a variety of looks from chic to sophisticated, classy to sexy...conservative to edgy and so much more.
I'm really hating that I'm missing fall because season wise it's one of my favorites and I really love fall fashion!!! When I can catch magazines here I've been going through looking for inspiration for my winter wardrobe when I get home. Since I am in South Africa and Africa itself is known for its beautiful print I plan to incorporate that as a staple of my wardrobe. it's spring/summer here so I'm trying to be cognizant to look for clothes that will transverse seasons. However I have found some really nice sandals and heels that I'm thinking about purchasing because you can never have to many pairs of shoes....I also found a tailor and she's very reasonably priced so I think when I get some time I may get her to make me @ least one piece...
The best thing about South African fashion for me is their obsession with scarves. I loves scarves and have some of the most brilliant patterns, designs, and clothes here in South Africa. They also have very thick scarves, which will come in handy during the winter. A great scarf truly transforms an outfit so I'm excited to pair up some of these scarves with my black pea coat and boots...ohhh how I love cold weather fashion....to be continued
As if I needed another sibling....
So everyone who knows me knows that I have a large blended family but I love them all. We are very different but I feel like each of my siblings have contributed to the person that I am. Then I have my besties who are practically sisters/brothers to me especially with all the crazy, quirky, adventures we've had...they are def stuck with me...and now I have Eboni...soon to be Dr. Eboni Taylor(epidemiology)...yep she's def YBIHF(young, black, intelligent, and highly favored)....there is so much I could say about Eboni but to begin I LOVE HER...there aren't enough adjectives to describe how incredible Eboni is...She is so friendly, caring, gregarious, beautiful(both inside and out)...humorous...etc...etc...etc...and if there is nothing else that I'm happy about it's that I met her in Cape Town.
We have has some of the craziest times from her trying to paint on a toenail, to walking all over Cape Town for an avocado, scavenging the city for something sweet and ending up with Lay's Salt and Vinegar chips and a Twix, to pole dancing...yep that's right if this law thing doesn't work out I will be able to do burlesque..Dita Von Teese is getting old anyway...boxing...and wondering why Hudson's wouldn't stock up on brownies and ice cream when the weather is really nice....Anyhoot we went shopping...and when it comes to shopping I'm at home, fashions, shoes, clothes, malls, boutiques, whatever you name I love it...Eboni was my first client because if law and burlesque don't work I want to be a personal stylist/interior designer...(I really just want it all)...it was really a great experience and we found some great clothes for Eboni (yep that's right I refrained from shopping)...falling asleep in her twin bed because she has a space heater (and Cape Town is really quite chilly despite all this talk of next month you will experience our beautiful weather)...watching soapies, crazy movies, and documentaries....always getting drug by default into the wildest times...our self to self talks because sometimes it's hard to rise above...and many more great memories we've had together....
But beyond all that Eboni and I have a lot in common especially our love for our mommies...because mi madre is def my boo...her faith is something I also admire....because as she says "when we have nothing else left, we have faith: so very true as I've learned throughout this trip....I could on and on and although her favorite color is red she secretly loves pink (lol)...she has also rubbed her love of elephants on me they're cute animals. I could go on and on but my Internet won't allow it...but this one here is a KEEPER and can def be considered big Sis status...I'd call her a pearl (because it's my favorite jewelery) but in my life she's truly been a diamond....although we've only know each other for six or so weeks, Eboni has quickly become a treasured friend. I'm truly blessed to know her.
SHOUT OUT TO ALL MY LOVELY FRIENDS, I LOVE YOU ALL FOR THE ROLES YOU PLAY IN MY LIFE!!!!
We have has some of the craziest times from her trying to paint on a toenail, to walking all over Cape Town for an avocado, scavenging the city for something sweet and ending up with Lay's Salt and Vinegar chips and a Twix, to pole dancing...yep that's right if this law thing doesn't work out I will be able to do burlesque..Dita Von Teese is getting old anyway...boxing...and wondering why Hudson's wouldn't stock up on brownies and ice cream when the weather is really nice....Anyhoot we went shopping...and when it comes to shopping I'm at home, fashions, shoes, clothes, malls, boutiques, whatever you name I love it...Eboni was my first client because if law and burlesque don't work I want to be a personal stylist/interior designer...(I really just want it all)...it was really a great experience and we found some great clothes for Eboni (yep that's right I refrained from shopping)...falling asleep in her twin bed because she has a space heater (and Cape Town is really quite chilly despite all this talk of next month you will experience our beautiful weather)...watching soapies, crazy movies, and documentaries....always getting drug by default into the wildest times...our self to self talks because sometimes it's hard to rise above...and many more great memories we've had together....
But beyond all that Eboni and I have a lot in common especially our love for our mommies...because mi madre is def my boo...her faith is something I also admire....because as she says "when we have nothing else left, we have faith: so very true as I've learned throughout this trip....I could on and on and although her favorite color is red she secretly loves pink (lol)...she has also rubbed her love of elephants on me they're cute animals. I could go on and on but my Internet won't allow it...but this one here is a KEEPER and can def be considered big Sis status...I'd call her a pearl (because it's my favorite jewelery) but in my life she's truly been a diamond....although we've only know each other for six or so weeks, Eboni has quickly become a treasured friend. I'm truly blessed to know her.
SHOUT OUT TO ALL MY LOVELY FRIENDS, I LOVE YOU ALL FOR THE ROLES YOU PLAY IN MY LIFE!!!!
I've been gone for a minute...
Wow well October was really crazy for me and it's been quite awhile since I've had time to sit down and blog. The Internet in my house and at my job aren't the most reliable so I really just have to get in where I fit in. Not complaining though because Skype works fairly well so @ least I can maintain some communication with the world outside of South Africa. Well let's see in the past month I've hiked Lion's Head, worked, JOHN LEGEND, relaxed, revisited Cape Point, went on a safari and an excursion to Joburg, went to the beach....and have in general enjoyed Cape Town.
So I hiked Lion's Head and it was an experience to say the least...there were chains, dogs, and children...(which really don't go together in most cases...but everything is relative)... I have no clue why anyone would bring their small toy dog to climb a mountain but to each their own... Seeing the small dogs dime make me miss my Alex Smalex though. The hike wasn't that bad on the way up though because the wind was nonexistent but by the time we hiked down...there were hurricane force winds propelling us down...Cape Town has the weirdest weather and can go through every season in one day...anyhoot climbing down Lion's Head using the chains was quite the experience especially since I didn't sign up to go rock climbing. It was a really rewarding experience though and I'm glad I did climb before I left...it was a nice place to relax and meditate!!!
The best part of October def has been JOHN LEGEND...went to the show and it was incredible...he's a great artist but he is an AWESOME performer...he def surpassed my expectations. I went back to Cape Point which is by far my favorite place in Cape Town: the water, cliffs, everything about it make me incredibly happy inside!!!
In the last month I have also really become more engaged in my work. At my internship I am a counselor and run an anger management campaign. i really love the children @ Christel House and will post pictures of some of them when my Picassa is working properly. The children I work with are very receptive and want to reach out to someone because they realize how powerful and dangerous anger as an emotion can be. Christel House has def been a learning experience for me because it's so hard to imagine the realities that many of these children face but STILL THEY RISE...Christel House will graduate it's first students this year and I know they will go on to do great things...these children have realized the importance of education and I truly with that could rub off on some in the African American community...*sigh*...but Christel House and my experiences here have all been great thus far. I enjoy being in this place and know that I will truly miss the children when I leave. My coworkers are very friendly and always have great suggestions of places to go visit and have been very helpful as I have adjusted to being in Cape Town. Christel House has the best CHICKEN ever...or @ least roasted....so every 2nd Wednesday they serve this delectable roasted chicken, yams, and rice. These yams are only second to my grandmother's Thanksgiving/Christmas yams...idk where they grow these but they're yummy...although I get free lunch everyday so there are no complaints...I'm always excited about Wednesdays!!!
However I STILL MISS HOME...I really wish I could give this experience to everyone at home because I have witnessed some phenomenal stuff and most of my time here has been indescribable...I couldn't make this stuff up if I tried...SHOUT OUT TO DIANA IGLESIAS aska Baliamos she takes the best pictures ever and will def be a famous photographer one day...we work together and have experienced crazy times at Christel House. yet we always have a great time...she is producing the play and will be the director of the Drama Club, no doubt she will do a good job because she loves drama and she's very creative. The chickabees already lover her and in general Baliamos is just a great person with an infectious spirit.
So I hiked Lion's Head and it was an experience to say the least...there were chains, dogs, and children...(which really don't go together in most cases...but everything is relative)... I have no clue why anyone would bring their small toy dog to climb a mountain but to each their own... Seeing the small dogs dime make me miss my Alex Smalex though. The hike wasn't that bad on the way up though because the wind was nonexistent but by the time we hiked down...there were hurricane force winds propelling us down...Cape Town has the weirdest weather and can go through every season in one day...anyhoot climbing down Lion's Head using the chains was quite the experience especially since I didn't sign up to go rock climbing. It was a really rewarding experience though and I'm glad I did climb before I left...it was a nice place to relax and meditate!!!
The best part of October def has been JOHN LEGEND...went to the show and it was incredible...he's a great artist but he is an AWESOME performer...he def surpassed my expectations. I went back to Cape Point which is by far my favorite place in Cape Town: the water, cliffs, everything about it make me incredibly happy inside!!!
In the last month I have also really become more engaged in my work. At my internship I am a counselor and run an anger management campaign. i really love the children @ Christel House and will post pictures of some of them when my Picassa is working properly. The children I work with are very receptive and want to reach out to someone because they realize how powerful and dangerous anger as an emotion can be. Christel House has def been a learning experience for me because it's so hard to imagine the realities that many of these children face but STILL THEY RISE...Christel House will graduate it's first students this year and I know they will go on to do great things...these children have realized the importance of education and I truly with that could rub off on some in the African American community...*sigh*...but Christel House and my experiences here have all been great thus far. I enjoy being in this place and know that I will truly miss the children when I leave. My coworkers are very friendly and always have great suggestions of places to go visit and have been very helpful as I have adjusted to being in Cape Town. Christel House has the best CHICKEN ever...or @ least roasted....so every 2nd Wednesday they serve this delectable roasted chicken, yams, and rice. These yams are only second to my grandmother's Thanksgiving/Christmas yams...idk where they grow these but they're yummy...although I get free lunch everyday so there are no complaints...I'm always excited about Wednesdays!!!
However I STILL MISS HOME...I really wish I could give this experience to everyone at home because I have witnessed some phenomenal stuff and most of my time here has been indescribable...I couldn't make this stuff up if I tried...SHOUT OUT TO DIANA IGLESIAS aska Baliamos she takes the best pictures ever and will def be a famous photographer one day...we work together and have experienced crazy times at Christel House. yet we always have a great time...she is producing the play and will be the director of the Drama Club, no doubt she will do a good job because she loves drama and she's very creative. The chickabees already lover her and in general Baliamos is just a great person with an infectious spirit.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)