Thanks everyone for your really lovely comments! I feel a little like I'm walking on air having read them all after an Easter weekend offline. In spite of being filled with wary anticipation on opening the 'moderate comments' box, I found I'd got more than five times the number I have ever received before and all positive!! Thank you! V. sorry if I seemed to be fishing around for them....Promise not to do that again. Henceforward I'll be checking out all your sites and cracking on with the blog regardless of detractors...
You weren't fishing in the least, not from where I'm sitting anyway. Posts that really touch people tend to make us stop and comment, and I'm sure that's what explains the positive response.
ReplyDeleteSo happy to help you walk on air ;)
hello,
ReplyDeletei really enjoy reading what u write as iam considering moving to tanga with hubby and children and ready enjoy ur outlook on africa and life in genral, but 2days notes where very short, normally i have a cuppa tea and buiscute but to day its just a sip and nibble lol hope to check in soon... can u mention in ur diary about rural hospitals as iam pregs and hubby ants baby over there??need advice? thank u amina
Definately do keep blogging.
ReplyDeleteThe thing is, your blog reminds us Kenyans of how far we have to go before we eliminate the disparities in wealth and the racial segregation that those disparities manifest in Kenya.
Do I think you're racist? No. But it shouldn't matter. You should still keep blogging.
I do get put off by how unaware you seem of the ways that your lifestyle is a reflection of the problems that Kenyans have been trying to get over since the first White man landed on our soil (heck, we weren't even Kenyan then, but how we all became Kenyans is a long story that I hope they taught in British schools).
I'm idealistic and I'd like to think that for all the lavish lifestyles that expats enjoy in Kenya they have a keen awareness of their privileged location in an exploitative international economic and political system. Your blog reminds us Kenyangs that you (expats) are all not driven by that awareness and few of you have a deep desire to subvert the system that has you at the top of the heap.
Question is; what should my reaction be? To post abusive comments on your blog? NO, thats just petty and mean.
My reaction needs to be to learn as much about, and understand your perspective so that when its time to turn the heap in favour of equitable distribution, I am able to treat you in a manner that respects your dignity.
Kenyans committed to change and social equity can either demonize expats for their lavishness, or be committed to every human being's dignity; both the expat and her housegirl. That is a much more difficult and complicated task.
So blog on. No insults from me here. Dissapointment? Yes.
But if some day you decide to live for more than being at the top of the heap, meander on over to my blog or drop me an email and I can share some ideas for things you can do to help that will not overwhelm your delicate constitution.
And I don’t say any of this meanly. Its just that I firmly believe that privilege brings with it responsibility to pay it forward and to undermine the very system that put you on top at the expense of others. I should know, I'm a Kenyan living most often in the U.S. but also in Kenya for parts of the year.
Be well and blog on!
I too LOVE your blog. Thank you for keeping it up. My husband and I are moving to Tanzania from Canada in a couple months and I've appreciated all your honesty... and humour!
ReplyDeleteCara
hello...i'm traveling to kenya soon as part of a large american delegation and would love to know if we could meet. i found your blog and thought your comments on the unrest in kenya were very informative. i'm looking for someone who obviously knows kenya and knows folks from both the expat and kenyan communities, from all backgrounds and income levels. i don't know what your time is like and we are very scheduled there but i'll be there from approximately april 7-14....
ReplyDeletelet me know if we could speak and/or meet.
you can reach me via the email attached to this post...
Thanks!
TP
I came across your blog several months ago and I was very glad that you take the time to write down your thoughts/experiences. I don't know why anyone would send you negative comments. I'm sorry for that. I guess you just have to ignore them. Anyone who would write negative comments on a blog like yours has real problems.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, I saw the blog you posted on September 4, 2007, "Self Catering on the Kenya Coast." I'd like to come to Kenya in about 3 weeks (I know, short notice). I'll be with my 17 year old daughter (so we're two women). I wanted to go to Mombasa because I'm looking for white sands and clear water. I'm from Grenada, so I love fish and love the idea of someone just cooking for us every night. The thing is, I don't have the faintest clue how to find a house to rent that meets this description. I bet you're asked this a lot, but could you point me in any direction? The most important thing to me is clear, see through water and white sand . . .The house doesn't have to be literally on the beach, of course.
Some Responses:
ReplyDeleteBleeding Expresso - thanks for your words of encouragement.
Amina - I must admit that when I lived in Tanzania I travelled back to have my first two babies in UK. The third I had in Nairobi in a very sophisticated hospital. I'm sure that there is a good hospital in Tanga, but what the rural hospitals lack is equipment in case of emergency/complications (ie if your baby needs an incubator or something).
aaarrrggg - thanks for your comments. I'd like to say in defense of the expat - the wealthiest people in Kenya today are unarguably Kenyan. Expats represent a tiny proportion of the population and are not the real players in the economy here, so I certainly wouldn't term them 'top of the heap' - more like: 'irrelevant'. The Kenyans I know (ie parents of my kids friends etc) all have house staff too and always have done.
Cara - good luck with your move to Tanzania! Where are you moving to? Dar es Salaam?
Bylinediva - will be in touch
wbd10027 - try googling or looking up watamupropertyservices.com or langatalink@swiftkenya.com Both companies have many self catering houses at the coast available to rent. Good luck!
aaahhh yes, the Kenyan elite. I hadn't gotten to them yet.
ReplyDeleteYou're right. They are at the top of the heap.
But I wouldn't call expats 'irrelevant'.
Either way, I'm still enjoying your blog and I added it to my blogroll.
Thanks!!