Its been crazy, the past couple of weeks actually. I've been looking for a job for a while, to no avail, getting calls back is very rare. I had one interview that was scheduled fall through and the other didn't pan out.
Ideally i would love to be a stay at home mum, but financially we just cannot afford it.I also think i just thrive from working. My background is in law, its not American law though. So one of the things i'm considering is re-training. I would have taken the bar, but with my husband's career and job taking all over the place, it just would not be ideal. So one of the other things i'm considering is doing paralegal studies, it can take me anywhere.
So i'm trying to look for any job at the moment and pay for paralegal studies, which i'll probably do in the evenings.
Coming to this realisation has been so hard on me, especially because i feel like i've studied for so many years, and to have to it again just kills me, but i have to do, what i have to do.
My passion is human rights and development. I guess it comes with my background, being from Africa and just seeing so much potential and work that can be done. But many of the jobs require years and years of experience, which i don't seem to have. But i do have the Masters for it and i would say 2-3 years experience.
Its been tough, lots to think through and i'm trying so hard to just not give up and keep going. Its so discouraging getting no call backs. But i have to keep at it, every no gets me closer to my yes, right?
I've wondered if its my foreign credentials that are not doing me justice?
Either way I chose to trust God to make a way out of no way. I cannot keep letting all these struggles weigh me down, finances, job, work, it all gets too much sometimes, so i give it over to you God. I'll do my part and leave the rest to you.
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Monday, January 17, 2011
Being greateful everyday!!
You know I will admit that I can be a bit of a grumbler sometimes and let things get to me that should not. I'm working on letting that go. I do not want to be that person anymore.
Therefore each day when I wake up, I want to have an attitude of gratitude, you know just thanking God for taking care of me and my family throughout the night, keeping us safe and healthy.
Yesterday, my husband called me from work, he is a neurology resident and he just reminded me of how grateful i should be that we are healthy because as a resident he gets to see so many people in pain, and i guess it just helps put things in perspective.
TODAY I'M THANKFUL AND GRATEFUL TO GOD for all the wonderful blessings in my life.
Therefore each day when I wake up, I want to have an attitude of gratitude, you know just thanking God for taking care of me and my family throughout the night, keeping us safe and healthy.
Yesterday, my husband called me from work, he is a neurology resident and he just reminded me of how grateful i should be that we are healthy because as a resident he gets to see so many people in pain, and i guess it just helps put things in perspective.
TODAY I'M THANKFUL AND GRATEFUL TO GOD for all the wonderful blessings in my life.
Sunday, January 9, 2011
HAPPY NEW YEAR
Hi everyone, sorry for the silence, New Year been very busy getting things done.
How was your New Year, ours was relatively quiet, but we were just appreciative of the past year, thanking God for all our wonderful blessings and lessons learned for 2010.
I didn't set out with resolutions, I never do, I want to the best me.
So i'm loving motherhood thus far, and i love my baby girl so, so much. I have now embarked on losing the baby weight, slowly but surely. I'm doing it more for me and health reasons, rather than people asking me to. I believe steady does it, so just taking it one day at a time, no pressure....from anyone. "I started this week and so far i have excersised for 5 consecutive days. I alternate between hard work outs and easy work outs. I have already lost 3 pounds , yaaay for me. I'm eating , but taking smaller portions and stopping when i feel full. I snack in between meals. So as you can see i'm not starving myself, plus ive never been one to diet.
Oh by the way i'm not going to the gym or running in one spot, i'm pretty much just taking 45 minutes out of my day, put on excercise tv on comcast and working out. I feel great, i feel alive and just able tro do anything. I feel like i'm taking back control.
Its not easy though, as my baby loves my constant attention, so i put her on her jumperoo or have tummy time and pray she can hang on till mummy finishes.
Wish me luck........
How was your New Year, ours was relatively quiet, but we were just appreciative of the past year, thanking God for all our wonderful blessings and lessons learned for 2010.
I didn't set out with resolutions, I never do, I want to the best me.
So i'm loving motherhood thus far, and i love my baby girl so, so much. I have now embarked on losing the baby weight, slowly but surely. I'm doing it more for me and health reasons, rather than people asking me to. I believe steady does it, so just taking it one day at a time, no pressure....from anyone. "I started this week and so far i have excersised for 5 consecutive days. I alternate between hard work outs and easy work outs. I have already lost 3 pounds , yaaay for me. I'm eating , but taking smaller portions and stopping when i feel full. I snack in between meals. So as you can see i'm not starving myself, plus ive never been one to diet.
Oh by the way i'm not going to the gym or running in one spot, i'm pretty much just taking 45 minutes out of my day, put on excercise tv on comcast and working out. I feel great, i feel alive and just able tro do anything. I feel like i'm taking back control.
Its not easy though, as my baby loves my constant attention, so i put her on her jumperoo or have tummy time and pray she can hang on till mummy finishes.
Wish me luck........
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Mine is not the "single story" blog
A few months ago I came across a great talk on the TED website, by the Nigerian author, Chimamanda Adichie, in which she notes that if we hear only one person's story( for instance about their culture,country) you may end up misunderstanding many things and assuming that one story applies to all.
When I started this blog i tried to come up with a name that resonated with me at the time and how i felt, for instance, being African is what i relate to the most, it is who i am, on a deeper level if you ask me where am i from i will tell you i am a Kenyan, born to a Ugandan Father and a Kenyan mother, but brought up in Kenya. What do I see myself as, you may ask? I view myself as a part of the human culture, first and foremost, then as an African, then by my actual roots which is partly Ugandan, partly Kenyan.
The same goes with the images and depictions you see of Africans on TV, don't assume one story tells you the story of the African continent as a whole. there are so many sides to the african continent and the african people, the fact that we are all africans does not mean we all have the same stories to share. What you see from the media is simply a fraction of what goes on, on the ground. in fact for a long time Africans were not able to share their side of the story to the world, instead other people told it for us. This is now slowly being challenged with more accessibility to the internet, people lending their own voice to what is going on in the continent.
As I type this blog, im sharing my own personal story, do not let the blog title make you asume that I speak for all African women, i do not. This is my own personal journey that i seek to share with the outside world and more as a self reflecting too for myself. You're free to share you;re thought and give input as well.
Listen to the TED talk here:
Chimamanda Adichie: The danger of a single story | Video on TED.com
When I started this blog i tried to come up with a name that resonated with me at the time and how i felt, for instance, being African is what i relate to the most, it is who i am, on a deeper level if you ask me where am i from i will tell you i am a Kenyan, born to a Ugandan Father and a Kenyan mother, but brought up in Kenya. What do I see myself as, you may ask? I view myself as a part of the human culture, first and foremost, then as an African, then by my actual roots which is partly Ugandan, partly Kenyan.
The same goes with the images and depictions you see of Africans on TV, don't assume one story tells you the story of the African continent as a whole. there are so many sides to the african continent and the african people, the fact that we are all africans does not mean we all have the same stories to share. What you see from the media is simply a fraction of what goes on, on the ground. in fact for a long time Africans were not able to share their side of the story to the world, instead other people told it for us. This is now slowly being challenged with more accessibility to the internet, people lending their own voice to what is going on in the continent.
As I type this blog, im sharing my own personal story, do not let the blog title make you asume that I speak for all African women, i do not. This is my own personal journey that i seek to share with the outside world and more as a self reflecting too for myself. You're free to share you;re thought and give input as well.
Listen to the TED talk here:
Chimamanda Adichie: The danger of a single story | Video on TED.com
Sunday, December 12, 2010
What I wish somebody had told me when I was pregnant.
The other day my husband asks me, " Now that you've gone through pregnancy, what advice would you give your friends and fist time mummies?"
Enjoy the Pregnancy
My answer is simple, take the time to actually enjoy the pregnancy. This is something i caught onto in the latter part of the pregnancy. But it believe it is also normal, because i had to go through all the crazy stuff at the beginning in order to finally be at peace about the pregnancy.
Expect the unexpected
For me, as you may have read in my previous post, the preganncy was completely unexpected, the first few months was therfore filled with so much worry. you have to understand i had just arrived in the country, the previous month before discovering i was pregnant is when i actually got my social security card. As you, may or may not know, without the card its pretty hard to do anything in America. I had no job and so questions such as how i'll take care of the baby with one salary was at the back of my head.
One day at a time
Ultimately as things progressed I had to remind myself that I had to lean on God, for ultimately He knows best, and His timing is always the best. I also just took things one day at a time. And as soon as I began doing this and taking stock of where i was i realised how blessed I was.
Side note: My story
As mentioned earlier i did not have a social security card. I joined my husband after moving to the US from Sydney, therefore there was still alot of things i needed to sort out, such as getting my ss. I finally got it, about 3 months before I knew I was pregnant. This information is important because i need a SS in order to sign up for my husbands benefits. So my SS arrived just in time for enrollment. Had I not gotten it by then, i would have missed on the enrollment of benefits date and would not have been covered for health insurance. At this stage i took the time to just tell God, thank you, because He was in control of the situation.
Until then, I couldn't even go to the doctors to have my first doctors visit. As you may or may not know things are different for foreigners, the general information that is out there pertains to free medical services or subsidised services is for citizens. Many people are not aware of thr rights of foreigners, therefore as far as i knew, all I could do was go to the Emergency room if i really required treatment or pay out of pocket. Luckily for us, i was enrolled under my husbands health insurance.
The next few months were pretty much what is considered normal in the pregnancy world, I had bad morning sickness was tired most of the time, but i loved it. I loved talking to my baby, I loved feeling her kick, i honestly loved the oooh and aahhs and congratulatory messages i received from total strangers. It was a nice phase.
Take everything in stride, it could be worse.....
I was informed that i had a huge fibroid inside me. Until this point, i had no clue i even had fibroids. I was freaked out about that would mean for my daughter and researched a lot about it. The doctors kept a close eye on it. In month 6, it degenerated, this caused a lot of pain for me, i endured a whole night of the pain, my husband was working all night and so went in the next morning, where the hospital kept me in for close observation. I was informed that my baby was okay and that i should take pain killers, ibruprofen, only medication allowed before the 24 week mark. Thankfully the pain subsided and honestly the rest of the pregnancy was quite simply wonderful. I enjoyed getting bigger and wobbly and really took it all in stried.
Finally read enough books
If you get the chance read all you can about pregnancy and the first year of motherhood once your baby is born. I didn't read the books on first year, until i gave birth and of course you know by then it is too late, you are simplyinaundated with motherhood. But as my Mum kept telling me, not too much, sometimes too much information just scares you from the whole process...i tend to agree with her.
Good friends or online community
They willn help you along the way with any information you want to know about and any concerns, its always nice to share with people who are going through the same thing as you.
Family is very important.....far away
There were times i wished my family was closer and not living in another continent, but it helped that my mother would call me a lot offer her advice and just check on my health and well being. I have some family in the States although not in the same State, they also would call and check in on me. They even threw me a baby shower.
Most important: remember that You are Blessed
For that be thankful, its a blessing what you are going through and while there may be many things or times when you are tempted to complain, just remember how blessed you are.
Enjoy the Pregnancy
My answer is simple, take the time to actually enjoy the pregnancy. This is something i caught onto in the latter part of the pregnancy. But it believe it is also normal, because i had to go through all the crazy stuff at the beginning in order to finally be at peace about the pregnancy.
Expect the unexpected
For me, as you may have read in my previous post, the preganncy was completely unexpected, the first few months was therfore filled with so much worry. you have to understand i had just arrived in the country, the previous month before discovering i was pregnant is when i actually got my social security card. As you, may or may not know, without the card its pretty hard to do anything in America. I had no job and so questions such as how i'll take care of the baby with one salary was at the back of my head.
One day at a time
Ultimately as things progressed I had to remind myself that I had to lean on God, for ultimately He knows best, and His timing is always the best. I also just took things one day at a time. And as soon as I began doing this and taking stock of where i was i realised how blessed I was.
Side note: My story
As mentioned earlier i did not have a social security card. I joined my husband after moving to the US from Sydney, therefore there was still alot of things i needed to sort out, such as getting my ss. I finally got it, about 3 months before I knew I was pregnant. This information is important because i need a SS in order to sign up for my husbands benefits. So my SS arrived just in time for enrollment. Had I not gotten it by then, i would have missed on the enrollment of benefits date and would not have been covered for health insurance. At this stage i took the time to just tell God, thank you, because He was in control of the situation.
Until then, I couldn't even go to the doctors to have my first doctors visit. As you may or may not know things are different for foreigners, the general information that is out there pertains to free medical services or subsidised services is for citizens. Many people are not aware of thr rights of foreigners, therefore as far as i knew, all I could do was go to the Emergency room if i really required treatment or pay out of pocket. Luckily for us, i was enrolled under my husbands health insurance.
The next few months were pretty much what is considered normal in the pregnancy world, I had bad morning sickness was tired most of the time, but i loved it. I loved talking to my baby, I loved feeling her kick, i honestly loved the oooh and aahhs and congratulatory messages i received from total strangers. It was a nice phase.
Take everything in stride, it could be worse.....
I was informed that i had a huge fibroid inside me. Until this point, i had no clue i even had fibroids. I was freaked out about that would mean for my daughter and researched a lot about it. The doctors kept a close eye on it. In month 6, it degenerated, this caused a lot of pain for me, i endured a whole night of the pain, my husband was working all night and so went in the next morning, where the hospital kept me in for close observation. I was informed that my baby was okay and that i should take pain killers, ibruprofen, only medication allowed before the 24 week mark. Thankfully the pain subsided and honestly the rest of the pregnancy was quite simply wonderful. I enjoyed getting bigger and wobbly and really took it all in stried.
Finally read enough books
If you get the chance read all you can about pregnancy and the first year of motherhood once your baby is born. I didn't read the books on first year, until i gave birth and of course you know by then it is too late, you are simplyinaundated with motherhood. But as my Mum kept telling me, not too much, sometimes too much information just scares you from the whole process...i tend to agree with her.
Good friends or online community
They willn help you along the way with any information you want to know about and any concerns, its always nice to share with people who are going through the same thing as you.
Family is very important.....far away
There were times i wished my family was closer and not living in another continent, but it helped that my mother would call me a lot offer her advice and just check on my health and well being. I have some family in the States although not in the same State, they also would call and check in on me. They even threw me a baby shower.
Most important: remember that You are Blessed
For that be thankful, its a blessing what you are going through and while there may be many things or times when you are tempted to complain, just remember how blessed you are.
Friday, December 10, 2010
Ghana's elaborate coffins
Wow I'm almost ashamed to admit that I learned about this while watching the Amazing Race. I know one would think if i have Ghanaian friends, just maybe, maybe one of them would have told me about it. NOPE.
So I'm watching the Amazing Race and the contestants happen to bein Ghana, I'll disregard some of the contestant's comments of the markets in Ghana smelling a bit "iffy"- thought that was just down right rude. Anyhoo.
You need to see how Ghanaians celebrate "Life in death", in the art work of the coffins they build for the dead. They are called coffins of the Ga tribe. The coffins they create a brightly colored,elaborate and festive. They represent something about how the deceased lived. For example a fisherman may get a fish coffin, a carpenter may get a hammer coffin. Take a look below at this wonderful artistry:
You can read more about this tradition from this link:
http://observers.france24.com/content/20100907-ghana-fun-shaped-coffins-bury-deceased-beer-fish-onion-bible
So I'm watching the Amazing Race and the contestants happen to bein Ghana, I'll disregard some of the contestant's comments of the markets in Ghana smelling a bit "iffy"- thought that was just down right rude. Anyhoo.
You need to see how Ghanaians celebrate "Life in death", in the art work of the coffins they build for the dead. They are called coffins of the Ga tribe. The coffins they create a brightly colored,elaborate and festive. They represent something about how the deceased lived. For example a fisherman may get a fish coffin, a carpenter may get a hammer coffin. Take a look below at this wonderful artistry:
You can read more about this tradition from this link:
http://observers.france24.com/content/20100907-ghana-fun-shaped-coffins-bury-deceased-beer-fish-onion-bible
Thursday, December 9, 2010
The beautiful one!!!
My daughter is asleep right now and as I stare at her as she sleeps, I have a big sense of pride and I get so mushy and emotional. She is simply the hest and I know every Mum says that but I truly am blessed.
She is is truly my angel......just wanted to share that.
She is is truly my angel......just wanted to share that.
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