New Environments & Comfort

'Allo Earthlings! I have been away [from my liar] for 2 weeks now, and tomorrow I'm going home!

You know something earthlings? Staying in a new or different environment for some while is actually good for you. The first few days that I was here, I direly missed home. I missed everything about my habitat. My shaggy disoriented room, my variety of yellow and bage socks, my late night eating weird habits and even my not so frequent brawls with my brother. 

I definitely love my comfort zone but I came to realize that it is alright to feel uncomfortable. Our mental states are very fragile when exposed to a new environment. That does not mean that our mental states are 'angry' about new environments? They just need some time to adjust.As a creative person, as a business person, partner and most importantly a learner, you are not new to different environments. As contradictory as that sounds, it means that you have gone through a lot of experiences that have made you learn about yourself, others and even things inanimate. New environments and the discomfort they bring only bring out the learners in us. 

The more comfortable you get in your daily schedules, the more concerned you are supposed to be. The human mind likes a challenge. It's not new to you that a lazy brain doesn't come up with any ideas. If you get out of that comfort zone once in a while, you get to see the world with a different perspective. A different perspective is just the basis of new and fresh ideas. Get out once in a while, hear what people have to say, listen to the wind and do different things like going to an ethnic restaurant and order the most 'ethnic' dish.

This week, I've learnt to listen more. I will continuing to implement what I've learnt as I go back home. Either way, I miss coming home from school, removing my brassiere and bursting into a Kikuyu Sunday School song and laughing like a mental case! Next week I will be making a To Not Do List rather than my usual To Do List. I'm taking baby steps with this Uncomfortability thing. I will not be jetting out to Fiji spontaneously when I'm supposed to be in my Business Math lecture. Well, not that I think of currently.

Well, I might just put it in mind ☻

Have a lovely time,

Siri.

Mind Your Business

 I wrote this a while ago during my Spring Break and found it under New File under New File of Siri's Archives, and thought to share it. Here you go:

As I type this, I am watching my small cousins play from a distance. I have taken a god-like position as I passively baby-sit these babies from the balcony, sipping my freshly squeezed lemonade. Baby-sit, anyone? OK. Moving on, I am not very kid-friendly, but I can handle what is required to be done. Today I have taken note of their mature behavior which I bet they hardly notice. They really do not care about what they are supposed not to care about. Why do I say that this is a mature behavior? It is because grown folk should do this but they end up not doing it. 


"Nosy adults!"


They are supposed to care for what is worth their time and other such related dynamics. That roughly means family, friends, work and their well-being. You and I both know that this is exactly what happens in a model world somewhere, but not frequently on Planet Earth.

I have slantingly noticed that most people tend to mind other people's businesses. Somewhere sometime, I believe that you have witnessed people [if not yourself] minding other people's businesses. This is done universally if not gallactically [Aliens are pretty nosy. Literally. I watch TV]. It does happen in various forms, and the two ways which I have observed are: gossip and judgement. I will briefly elaborate this just to make this post seem lengthy, and just maybe relevant.

1.) Gossip

I will not Google this word because it is not as fun as it was when people thought Google was an 88 year old clever Widower from Britain, who retired somewhere in Githunguri to teach English. Gossip needs no introduction to the human beings as it is currently taken up as a talent and even worse, by impulse. Gossip is an age-old solution to the problem of boredom. If boredom was not the problem, it was driven by lack. Lack of things other people had; envy. That has always been a conversation starter/ ice-breaker in whatever context. 


For example, Mama Joji [her neighbours in Githunguri are not fans of Western names. Yes, they just aren't!] was bought for a customized probox by her husband, Baba Joji. First, 'customized' in this context means it came with a speed governor and second, it better have been from Baba Joji. Baba Ninja [it's a boy!] has been darting his eyes around the areas that her leso sway and well, Mama Joji has that female instinct: Noticing things very quickly. So as Mama Daudi and Joy, the lady who thinks 32 is the new 19 and a half try to understand the new jargon Mama Joji has been using in the Women's Merry-Go-Round meeting that include words like parking, 'oiro', hiking petrol-prices and 'shockomsoba' [Shock-absorber], they watch her drive off, leaving a what they thought intentional smoke to speedily kill them so that they do not enjoy future cars from their husbands. They then unleash, yes the talk of the year.

"Joji hata Hajamaliza University! Joining the army was a clever way to hide those genes of stupidity that his mother passed on to him."

"I know! Baba Joji angejua! If he knew how Mama Joji agrees to be looked at by Baba Ninja's eyes! Hajui!"

For the keen readers, you noticed the audacious use of gossip that I did in the example above. That is just proof that gossip can easily be taken up. And just like any other skill, after a little practice, it definitely becomes perfect.

2.) Judgement

It is easy to judge others after taking one jab of judgement at them. Often, we find ourselves not comfortable with what others do or even say. From these points, we judge the sacks out of them! While judging others deeds and actions in the name of giving our opinions or the 2 cents they did not necessarily ask for, we mind their business. This is done by statements like this:

"I was just minding my business and I realized that you do this and that in a way I do not really agree with..."

Hold it! Have you just said that you were minding YOUR business then gave me your opinion on things related to MY business? How coy a sentence starter! That is arrogantly assuming that others asked for your 2 cents, which they did not ask for and therefore do not need. Harsh but true.

It may prove just a tad bit hard not to want to listen to the nosy neighbour's bathroom incident but you have succumbed much more tempting things. Like wanting to pound the character who decided to spell the word 'Riddimz' with two letter D's [face-palm]. 

         Have a lovely week, 

Siri.

Summary of Week 1

Allo! I am just from a 2 hour nap instigated by my 3 and a half hour work-out! I made sure I walked home from the gym though I had the option of taking the bus. The sun was also out when I was walking out. I then started holding debates in my head:

"You domkop! You cannot complain about walking some 500 metres after running 10 Km on the treadmill!"

"No, you are the domkop! If you faint in the sun! Do you think Lupe Fiasco will travel all the way to take you home?"

I decided to increase the volume on my iPod and walk on till I fall. Thanks Heavens I fell on the couch AT HOME! :D

So yesterday, I did +5 in all my weight sets and today I decided to +10. After the work-out, I was terribly proud of myself. At my gym, there have a Saturday challenge. It entails non-stop aerobics exercises for two hours after running on the treadmill, elliptical and Stationery bike and doing half your cardio. Guess what? I made it! Again, terribly proud of myself! My mean trainer saw a determined trainer right there! 

My work-out for the week was pretty amazing and had a pleasant scent of determination. The sweat is not as pleasant but you best believe, it is a definite proud moment. That reminds me, today as I was doing my ball crunches, I slid from my own sweat! I have never been in happy pain like that! That was my highlight of the week :D

Yesterday after my evening work-out yesterday, I was too tired to type but I found myself posting one pretty long status update on my Facebook. It was a summary of the day & tiny things I got to learn that I enjoy. 

1.) Every time I feel like quitting, either the weights or aerobics, I ask myself [audibly],

"Woman, why did you grow fat at the first place?! "

Since the answer to the question is sad, I pretend it's rhetoric and go H.A.M on those lifts or runs! No, no. 

2.) A good playlist goes a long way: Speaking about going H.A.M, I actually play the song by Jay Z and Kanye West while doing my lifts.

Not this ham I made with drops of Vodka. It was delicious BTW :D

This H.A.M :)

My brother made me a beautiful playlist that I have a lot of fun to when working out.

3.) What you eat: I currently have a problem  with this because my brother is always buying fries for dinner! After my work-out, I am supposed to make a 30 minute meal [Thanks Rachel Ray], feed, read a book and sleep. When I see fries on the kitchen counter, I all over sudden have this conversation in my head:

"So you want to start cutting up onions and have that pungent onion smell on your hands to school tomorrow when you have ready to eat food over here?"

"Your brother has just bought you food and you want to waste it? Do you know how many people are hungry right now?"

I settle for that and start munching back the calories I lost. It's a pretty viable debate, so I think. Then I saw this:

Oi! I ran to the market, purchased some avocados, celery sticks, lemon, cucumbers, beet roots and some oranges.I will be making some baked beet roots and oranges for dinner, guacamole with cucumber juice for my 3 hour snack and an avocado & chicken burger for the weekend.

Week I was fantastic. And to more fit weeks! L'chaim!

Have a lovely time,

Siri.

Lean Mean Machine

2012 is my year of fitness and trying new things. I started out with a fresh look for my hair and been working on cutting down some weight and being fit. I will be blogging about my fitness schedule for the next three months [as frequent as I can] as I grow into my new hair.

I started gyming last week. I did my warm up for three days and today I will be going to the gym for a new work-out programme. I will post it after I get it in the evening. My trainer made sure that in the first three days I tried and tested all the equipment, electrical & manual, and the exercises + routines. The routines included aerobics. After getting used to the treadmill and the stationery bikes, I thought I had conquered the machines. Who knew aerobics would me so much a straineous work-out. Before doing aerobics, I thought it was just dancing around with weights and having the time of my life. Right after I woke up today, my muscles were in so much pain that I could not stand the thought of doing that again! I agree that aerobics exercise is a no-joke routine to help in toning the body and stabilizing the heart rate.

I gave up a few time during aerobics. I was so tired and disappointed that I almost broke down. I was super-crushed by the time I arrived home that I fell on my bed and forgot to stretch! I saw the disadvantage of not stretching when I woke up. But I will not give up because I a, already in too much pain to not get the reward.

This is my general update of a summary of my warm up, so tune in to my regular coming posts. 

Have a lovely time, 

Siri.

New! New! New!

From my previous post, I informed you that I was going to personalize my hair cut. Here is the before:

And... after:

My trip to the barber shop was one funny one. I asked my hairdresser, Pam, who did my BC to make this happen. She was shocked, AGAIN! Now Pam, tell me something I don't know. I was also scared! Trust me it was more emotional than my BC. I think it was because I have become super-attached to Nolan [look, I even named him!]. Anyway, let me give this a run and I will inform you as it grows.

Yesterday, I booked my first Gym appointments at a really cool gym near my house. It's fully equipped, with trained trainers [they better be trained] and a really nice ambiance! I immediately got my monthly member's card and started today afternoon. So excited! The other cool thing is that it is a short walking distance from my house, so I can actually walk home! Amazing! I will be informing you on my journey to ultimate fitness and health.

Have a lovely time, 

Siri.

HAIRCUT DAY!

It's Haircut Day! Woo-hoo! Haircut day is the day once a year that I get to personalize and customize my fro. This is a first since my Big Chop. I am cutting some tress this year. Why? I would like to do all the cutting now, then grow it long without anymore trips to the Barber after I'm tired of the cuts.

One thing I am sure of is that Mother Dear will not be super-ecstatic after seeing my hair the next time we meet up. I have thought a lot about it and have decided to do what I please, at least when I'm young. I would do anything for Mother Dear but at the end of the day, I would like to do things on my own that she might not approve of but are not dangerous or bad for me. Let's see where this goes! 

I will definitely post some before and after shots. OK, ciao! [Before I change my mind!]

Have a Lovely Time, 

Siri.

This and That: Bez Ft. Praiz- That Stupid Song

Allo people. I am having a slow day and listening to some good music. I would like to share this video/song from one of my favorite African artists. He is the one and only Bez. I love his sound and skeeting in his tunes. I dance to his album 'Super-Sun' everytime I feel down or bored. Please give it a play. If you appreciate beautiful music- like I do :D, you will love him! I have sent my sister who is currently on exchange this song three times, without knowing it. She just informed me now on Twitter. It's a fun song! Enjoy it!

                

As I was clearing the semester's files which I now do not need, I found a photo I took while reading my favorite magazine in the library [via webcam]. Randomly sharing this for the archives :) Who says there's no eye candy while reading? I read a lot! Almost a fad as Natural Hair is! I digress.

I had on my macros for protective styling which I might put this holiday. And that is a whole other post coming soon. Beautiful man Hamilton is, no?

Have a lovely time, 

Siri Nusu.