The Gentleman…a rarity

Oy vey! It’s July already…how she flies! Time.

I’ve been thinking about the gentleman I met up with a couple of weeks back. I’m still harping about his gentlemanliness so many days after our meeting because I’ve lived a little and met far too few gentlemen. Especially of Kenyan descent.

I had convened the meeting and, as such, was fully expecting to pick up the tab. I was running a little late from work, having had to pick up some last minute slack. He got to the cafe before me and sent a text to let me know where he was seated. Nice touch, I thought. Once I got there and located him on the terrace we went inside to place our orders. I asked him what he’d like and he said, “I’ve got this,” indicating that he’d be picking up the tab. He caught me by surprise, but pleasantly so. He opened doors for me–I who find myself constantly opening doors for others.

We were back on the terrace, sipping our drinks in the dripping heat (all inside seats were taken), making conversation. I asked some hard questions; he didn’t shy away from them. He looked me in the eye and answered honestly; wasn’t afraid to be vulnerable. Now that’s someone I can respect! The sun sped across the sky and, all too soon, we had to wrap up our time together.

His vehicle was a stone’s throw away, in plain sight; mine was out of sight, round the corner. I assumed, again, we’d just say goodbye right there, he’d hop into his vehicle and drive away while I wended my way towards mine. “I’ll walk you to your car,” he quipped. You could have knocked me over with a feather!

All this he did, the non-romantic nature of our relationship notwithstanding.

I feel so privileged to know a true gentleman, of Kenyan descent, no less. What a rarity!

We’re Here!

April’s ending and I couldn’t well let it go by without a post! Graduation’s here–tomorrow’s the big day. I’ve been trying to get ready, but I’m not quite there yet. Been asked to give a speech and I’m not quite done preparing it. Will have to work on it on the flight tomorrow.

When I think that just 4 short months ago I was stressing out over not even having 1 page of my thesis done, I can hardly believe that it’s now as good as wrapped up and I walk across the stage tomorrow! This 4.5 year journey (it’s actually much, much longer than that) that began with one step is now drawing to an end. Thank You, God, for carrying me to this place. Couldn’t have done it without You!

Done

Finally handed in the final draft of my thesis yesterday. It still feels like a dream to think I am done. Just 2 mere years ago the whole Master’s degree seemed like such a huge mountain. Now I’ve scaled it and I’m all the way back down on the other side. Gott sei sehr dank!

It’s party time!

Hustling

Working on my thesis. I have 5 weeks to get it done and I’m yet to start writing. Been doing lots of reading. Hope that pays off in the remaining weeks. Don’t expect to see me around here until March. That’s when the real fun begins!

2.0.0.9

It’s a new year! I’m so excited about it. Things are shifting. Changing. And not just on Capitol Hill.

I’ll be done with my thesis here in a little bit. In fact, that’s the only thing standing between me and oodles of enjoyment. I’m so under pressure to be done so I can make plans for the rest of the year.

I’m leaving the U.S. I already decided that. I don’t want 2009 to end while I’m still here. Besides, some people very dear to me are getting married at the end of the year, and I sure don’t wanna miss that.

I’m hoping to spend a few years in Europe–studying, visiting buds I haven’t seen in a minute, seeing Europe. The last time I was there I didn’t get to travel much. I’m planning to make up for that this time. It’s all so exciting! I can’t wait to see the motherland–how it’s changed; how it still is much the same as it was. I have an invite to go see Nigeria with a friend this summer. I’ll try to dash to some of the nearby East African countries as well. I could almost jump up and down in anticipation just thinking of it.

Unfold, 2009! Let’s get on with you.

Love, Gangster Style

Watched an Indian movie with my sis tonight. Just for kicks. The movie was Gangster: A Love Story. It was completely in Hindustani, with no subtitles. This is the 3rd or 4th such movie we’ve watched without subtitles. It was a lot of fun really.

Initially, it wasn’t by choice. The understanding we had with the Indian grocery store owner was for him to recommend movies with English subtitles, since we don’t understand Hindustani. I think he forgot we weren’t Indians–a hard thing for one to forget, really. But who knows how the mind works?

That last time we invested in 4 movies (instead of the usual 2). We came home and, alas! None of them had English subtitles and we were forced to deduce the plot from the acting.

So we watched Gangster tonight. It’s very well shot, actually. Indian movies have come such a long way from those that were aired on Kenyan TV in the 80s and 90s.  They still tend to be very dramatic…lots of music, lots of dancing, exaggerated emotions.

Tonight, I’ve gained an appreciation for the story as told through gestures, body language, and facial expressions. I had a grand, old time interpreting the dialogue for my sister.  It made for some really good laughs. And then I realized how much I treasure dialogue in movies…and in life. Even though a picture is worth a thousand words, I would have given much to know what the actors were saying to each other at crucial points in the movie.

A toast to Bollywood!

Pleasant Surprise

I called the Indian restaurant on my way from the airport to order takeout because I knew I wouldn’t have time to cook tonight. But I still wanted a good, home-cooked meal. No fast food.

When I walked into the restaurant 45 minutes later, there were two other people ahead of me so I had to wait in line a few minutes while their orders were taken. When my turn came, the cashier casually called me by my first name, urging me forward, and I was like, “What?!? You recognize me now?”

“I do,” he said.

“That’s nice,” I replied.

It made my evening. I’ve been to this restaurant no more than 5 times these past almost 4 years. I didn’t think anyone there would recognize me. Nice touch.