How to Bust Through the Dreaded Writer's Block
7 years ago
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Showing posts with label Culture. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Culture. Show all posts
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Business,
Culture,
Lifestyle,
People,
Politics,
Science
Now that the elections are around the corner for Kenyans, do you already know who you will vote for in the coming general elections?
Is your choice of
political party influenced by your personal reasons or a set of external factors? Are you one of the late-deciders making your choice in the moment you see
the ballot paper?
Voting Behaviour: Everyone Has a Box
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Blogging,
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Lifestyle,
People
Except me of course :-)
Immediately after launching my blog two years ago, I embarked on a mission to connect with other Kenyan bloggers. The task of finding my fellow Kenyans with similar interests as mine proved difficult. I was eventually disappointed and resigned the search after realizing there were none.
I have never come across a Kenyan who blogs without the ulterior motive of making money at the end of the day (I mean Kenyans who live in Kenya not outside). Kenyans do not see any point of starting and maintaining a blog just for the sake of blogging.
Kenyans Love Money
Except me of course :-)
Immediately after launching my blog two years ago, I embarked on a mission to connect with other Kenyan bloggers. The task of finding my fellow Kenyans with similar interests as mine proved difficult. I was eventually disappointed and resigned the search after realizing there were none.
I have never come across a Kenyan who blogs without the ulterior motive of making money at the end of the day (I mean Kenyans who live in Kenya not outside). Kenyans do not see any point of starting and maintaining a blog just for the sake of blogging.
Labels:
Blogging,
Caribbean,
Culture,
Lifestyle,
People,
Traveling
The Native Americans
The Native Americans are the owners of the American continent and were the only occupiers of the continent before the European Christopher Columbus discovered it accidentally on his way to India. He ended up calling the people Indians believing that he was in India.
Most people are curious to know about Belize, Central and South America in general because very little is known about these places. They want to know how the people look like, even I was curious the first time I knew I’ll be traveling there. I wanted a preview of how life is there, what is the culture and such things.
Labels:
Belize it,
Caribbean,
Culture,
Lifestyle,
People,
Traveling
There was a time I was watching Oprah and she was talking about the poor Kenyans and their staple food Ugali. She pathetically said how people eat ugali and that it is just a corn meal. What she missed or was not told is that ugali alone does not make a complete meal; eating ugali on its own is like eating pasta without sauce, or potatoes without sauce, of course that would be tasteless. Ugali is normally eaten with a sauce and greens most preferably; the tastier the sauce the more enjoyable the Ugali. Okay back to ugali in Belize.
Ugali - Kenyan Staple Food - is Tamales in Belize
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Business,
Culture,
Lifestyle,
People
Customer Service in Kenya
Just as I was glad and happy to be back in my country Kenya, I always get a quick grip of reality of how normal things are. I wanted to have internet right away so I decided to restore my previous cellular phone numbers which I had a problem remembering as I always stay in Kenya for a short time before going back to Belize.
I walked into Airtel office and ask for assistance at the first counter and was directed where to go. So I went to the sales lady and following is the conversation we had: -
Airtel: (Just looking at me without even smiling or saying hello, her energy told me ‘Just tell me what you want my time is more precious to serve you’)
I walked into Airtel office and ask for assistance at the first counter and was directed where to go. So I went to the sales lady and following is the conversation we had: -
Airtel: (Just looking at me without even smiling or saying hello, her energy told me ‘Just tell me what you want my time is more precious to serve you’)
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Belize it,
Blogging,
Caribbean,
Culture,
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People,
Traveling
Racist? Just a Cover Up of Who You Really Are
Whenever I go to the farmers market here in Belize, I avoid going to stalls served by ‘African/Black Belizeans’. When I do they serve me assuming I’m a Belizean based on my looks. But as soon as they realize I don’t understand creole, I immediately become their subject of mockery. They talk about you when you are just standing there waiting to be served and try to exploit you anyway they can.
One time I was at the market the vendor tried to give me less change because they know how confusing currencies are when you are in a foreign country, only to pretend to be embarrassed when I told him I’m still waiting for my full change. This happens several times.
You will think that because these people are so wrapped up in their strong African/black history, they will welcome you with open arms and embrace you once they realize
One time I was at the market the vendor tried to give me less change because they know how confusing currencies are when you are in a foreign country, only to pretend to be embarrassed when I told him I’m still waiting for my full change. This happens several times.
You will think that because these people are so wrapped up in their strong African/black history, they will welcome you with open arms and embrace you once they realize
Labels:
Culture,
Health,
Lifestyle,
People
Kenyans Were Given Animal Feeds by the US Gov't
In the nineties there was drought in Kenya and as a result there was shortage of food especially maize (corn) which is highly consumed by many communities. (In Kenya we call it maize, if you say corn people become confused because there are different types of corn (e.g wheat, oats, barley) and maize is one of them, corn is the family name, it is like calling a pistachio nut when we know there are different types of nuts). As a result of the drought, the US government was generous enough to donate corn to the Kenyan government.
Just as the corn was received, a politician who was holding a rally told Kenyans that the corn donated by the US government is specifically grown to feed cattle in the US
Just as the corn was received, a politician who was holding a rally told Kenyans that the corn donated by the US government is specifically grown to feed cattle in the US
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Culture,
Lifestyle,
Nature,
People,
Traveling,
Valentine
I Do Not Celebrate Valentine's Day
Valentine is around the corner and the media has already begun advertising their products. Stamping in our heads ideas of how love should be celebrated; chocolate, roses and dinner date is a must. It used to be that everything must be in red but not anymore.
Whether you decide to celebrate or not, here is a brief history of Valentine’s Day: -
Whether you decide to celebrate or not, here is a brief history of Valentine’s Day: -
It originated from the pagan customs between the 3rd and 4th Century B.C. when the Festivals of Purification were celebrated in Ancient Rome between February 13 and February 18. This was also the time of a Fertility Festival which celebrated a young man's rite of passage and involved animal sacrifices and fertility rituals. During the celebrations the priests would sacrifice a dog and a goat, smearing the animal blood onto the foreheads of two virgin youths of noble birth who, clad only in a goatskin thong.
The names of willing young women were placed into a box or urn and drawn
Labels:
Belize it,
Culture,
Lifestyle,
People,
Traveling
I’m sure there are a lot of people who have no idea who the Mennonites or Amish are, leave alone knowing their existence. I was one of those couple of years ago; thanks to traveling I cracked out of my shell.
There is a Mennonite community here in Belize located in Spanish Lookout in Cayo which settled in the 1950’s. They normally go to Belize City on Fridays to sell their products and navigate freely without anyone staring because they are Belizeans and form part of the Belizean culture - this is one good thing about Belize, a multi-cultural country.
Who are the Mennonite and Amish?
Both the Mennonites and Amish originated from Anabaptist movement
The Menonnite and Amish Communities
There is a Mennonite community here in Belize located in Spanish Lookout in Cayo which settled in the 1950’s. They normally go to Belize City on Fridays to sell their products and navigate freely without anyone staring because they are Belizeans and form part of the Belizean culture - this is one good thing about Belize, a multi-cultural country.
Who are the Mennonite and Amish?
Both the Mennonites and Amish originated from Anabaptist movement
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Art,
Blogging,
Culture,
Lifestyle,
People,
Traveling
Growing up flowers were a major part of our lives and I started seeing roses as young as I could remember. The smell of the roses was unique, just one rose inside a room would fragrance the whole room and you don’t have to place the rose under your nose to smell it.
When I went to high school I got introduced to another family of roses which looked beautiful than the ones my mom used to bring home. The petals were firm and the colors were rich but had no smell at all. Even when I placed the rose under my nose still could not get any smell and that
The Swahili Roses I Know
When I went to high school I got introduced to another family of roses which looked beautiful than the ones my mom used to bring home. The petals were firm and the colors were rich but had no smell at all. Even when I placed the rose under my nose still could not get any smell and that
Labels:
Culture,
Lifestyle,
People,
Traveling
Sometimes back in Kenya I ordered a local man who makes coconut grater (locally known as mbuzi - meaning goat) to make me one. Big one just like the old ones, because you can sit comfortably on it when grating coconut.
This type of grater is very old; I guess more than a hundred years, because it is displayed in our Mombasa museum - Fort Jesus. In fact I have never seen anything better than it for processing coconut at home. Earlier we were made to believe that it was used by either the Portuguese or Arabs during those times and we are still using it today. But if you look in the recipes for both the Swahilis, Arabs and the Portuguese, the Swahilis utilize coconut in almost all their recipes and I think the others actually adopted it from us.
The man brought the grater after 2 days and he made it just like the old one
The Coconut Grater - Lessons in Life
This type of grater is very old; I guess more than a hundred years, because it is displayed in our Mombasa museum - Fort Jesus. In fact I have never seen anything better than it for processing coconut at home. Earlier we were made to believe that it was used by either the Portuguese or Arabs during those times and we are still using it today. But if you look in the recipes for both the Swahilis, Arabs and the Portuguese, the Swahilis utilize coconut in almost all their recipes and I think the others actually adopted it from us.
The man brought the grater after 2 days and he made it just like the old one
Labels:
Culture,
Lifestyle,
People,
Traveling
Do Africans believe in Obesity?
Yes we do, although it is always a compliment when someone tells you have gained weight, there is a line when you cross, you are considered obese or fat. In Kiswahili language we have some of the ugliest and disgusting names for obese and very thin people that anyone becomes offended when used to describe them.
For a Swahili woman to be a total package she must be curvy and her legs and arms must be smooth and rounded, no hard muscles protruding like with the western women. Muscles on women is considered very ugly, unattractive, unsexy and repels men.
For a Swahili woman to be a total package she must be curvy and her legs and arms must be smooth and rounded, no hard muscles protruding like with the western women. Muscles on women is considered very ugly, unattractive, unsexy and repels men.
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Culture,
Lifestyle,
Nature,
People
Memories of My Grandma….
She refused to eat any type of margarine or artificial butter; she preferred the real butter made from cow’s milk
She never used any kind of hydrogenated fat for cooking; she always used ghee which is also made from cow’s milk
If you talk with her and use an English word, she catches it and deciphers it
She never used any kind of hydrogenated fat for cooking; she always used ghee which is also made from cow’s milk
If you talk with her and use an English word, she catches it and deciphers it
Labels:
Culture,
Lifestyle,
People,
Traveling
Drowning in Sweetness
For some time now I have been wondering why I have sweet cravings, because I never have this in my country, Kenya. Then I realize it’s the food I’m eating that is different. I hardly eat anything sweet for days. Unlike when I’m in Mombasa Kenya, there is always something sweet for breakfast and sometimes for dinner because we eat very light in the evening like in the morning.
I like ice cream and have found few Caribbean brands here (in Belize) which I like. Then a Belizean told me I have to try a particular USA brand because it’s the best of all
I like ice cream and have found few Caribbean brands here (in Belize) which I like. Then a Belizean told me I have to try a particular USA brand because it’s the best of all
Labels:
Culture,
Lifestyle,
People,
Traveling
How Were Languages Formed?
I was looking at the slide show on my blog and observed the picture of the old Farmers Market with the huge ‘Market’ letters on the main entrance. It took me back and reminded me how languages were formed. Recently there has not been invention of any new languages; we have schools to learn any language of our choice. But before we had formal schools people used to travel and had to find a way to communicate with the communities they came across. Adopting new words from different languages to ease communication was one of the major ways; at least I know that is how Kiswahili was formed. There are Portuguese, English, Indian and Arabic words in Kiswahili language.
The farmers market was build during British colonization. The locals
The farmers market was build during British colonization. The locals
Labels:
Culture,
Lifestyle,
Nature,
Science
Coconut: Modern Medicine and Domestic Uses
Modern Medicine
Modern medical science is now confirming the use of coconut in treating many of the below conditions. Published studies in medical journals show that coconut, in one form or another, may provide a wide range of health benefits. Some of these are summarized below:
Modern medical science is now confirming the use of coconut in treating many of the below conditions. Published studies in medical journals show that coconut, in one form or another, may provide a wide range of health benefits. Some of these are summarized below:
- Kills viruses that cause influenza, herpes, measles, hepatitis C, SARS, AIDS, and other illnesses.
- Kills bacteria that cause ulcers, throat infections, urinary tract infections, gum disease and cavities, pneumonia, and gonorrhea, and other diseases.
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Culture,
Health,
Lifestyle,
Nature,
People,
Science
Coconut – The Tree of Life
Ref: coconutresearchcenter.org
Coconut provides a nutritious source of meat, juice, milk, and oil that has fed and nourished populations around the world for generations. On many islands coconut is a staple in the diet and provides the majority of the food eaten. Nearly one third of the world's population depends on coconut to some degree for their food and their economy. Among these cultures the coconut has a long and respected history.
Coconut is highly nutritious and rich in fiber, vitamins, and minerals. It is classified as a "functional food" because it provides many health benefits beyond its
Coconut provides a nutritious source of meat, juice, milk, and oil that has fed and nourished populations around the world for generations. On many islands coconut is a staple in the diet and provides the majority of the food eaten. Nearly one third of the world's population depends on coconut to some degree for their food and their economy. Among these cultures the coconut has a long and respected history.
Coconut is highly nutritious and rich in fiber, vitamins, and minerals. It is classified as a "functional food" because it provides many health benefits beyond its
Labels:
Culture,
Lifestyle,
Nature,
People,
Science
Coconut
Growing up coconut was a major part of our lifestyle and it still is. We use coconut milk for cooking almost everything from rice to tropical fruits like mangoes, bananas and papayas. We also use coconut oil as lotion on our bodies and also apply it on our hair. Makes our hair really soft and we also believe it has healing effects. When we have headaches we drizzle it in the middle top part of our heads and believe has curing effects. We are fully coconut people and you could never separate coastal people from their coconut, it’s like separating an American from cheese.
But for our generation which most of us went to school, we became manipulated and made to believe that everything must be scientifically proven in order
But for our generation which most of us went to school, we became manipulated and made to believe that everything must be scientifically proven in order
Labels:
Culture,
Lifestyle,
People,
Traveling
Assertive Behaviour
Most women in the west perceive women from Asia and other parts of the world as being submissive and believe that is the main reason some western men like such women. Being brought up in Africa, we are taught to respect other people and to be tolerant towards them without compromising our values, we are taught to be assertive.
It is surprising that even when the modern western woman sees herself being articulate and non-submissive she still suffers a great deal of self esteem and is very self-conscious of herself. I wonder what we would see if one day we are given
It is surprising that even when the modern western woman sees herself being articulate and non-submissive she still suffers a great deal of self esteem and is very self-conscious of herself. I wonder what we would see if one day we are given
Labels:
Culture,
Lifestyle,
People
Modeling - Posing Nude
Several years back when I was in Kenya, I used to watch fashion TV channel, it was fascinating to see the fashion trends although some of the styles looked ridiculous and made me wonder who actually wears that. But lady Gaga gave me the answer to that question.
While watching the channel there were several times especially at night, we would see photo shoot of the models being taken and sometimes, the models were nude. I was shocked you know, I knew the purpose of modeling is to sell the product be it clothes or accessories, I wondered what nudity has to do with that because when they are nude then what are they selling?
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About Me
- Dirishani
- Mombasa, Kenya
- I started blogging while in Belize Central America, I'm now back in Kenya. I like to express, share and learn different cultures and lifestyles. I've open my window for you to join me and continue the inspiration. Look and experience the world through my window.