Update 08
Living in America for close to 8 yrs now, many things became rather monotonous but surely 2008 had more twists than the famous french loaf dubbed "twist bread". I had so many ups and downs that I had no anticipations of. Some up were really up there, and very memorable indeed, like going home to Africa. Some downs were pretty low, trough deep in some sense. I will expand shortly. 08 has been a very unique years, far from the rails of conformity, I guess in some strange way all its tolls can be perceived as "exciting" in some contexts. The highlight of the year was seeing my family back in Zimbabwe after almost exactly 7 years of near-hustling, panning for a living. It was a very strengthening voyage that was way over due. One thing for sure, I was as determined as ever to go. I was determined enough to consider forfeiting all the US has given me to go start a new life closer to home. Notice I didn't say at home. (To be expanded on a separate post, or otherwise just read the political entries of this blog.
The 6 week trip to Africa has more value than anyone can ever imagine. I believe, whether it is in spite of or not, that I came back a stronger person in just about every sense. I was in good spirits, I had lost some weight and my job and yet unfazed by the latter, even though there was a looming economic storm that we are now experiencing as I write. Like my grandma said, I needed to "ukuzo hlanjululwa", which is Ndebele or Zulu for "To come and be cleansed/rinsed". I sure needed it indeed. A weird analogy to throw out there is; the cleansing of one's colon using the now all too common "herbicines" - allow me to coin it so but factually, there is no such nomenclature, at least not just yet. It is herbal medicines that have a larger market on the Internet rather than anywhere else. After one's interior anatomy is washed and cleansed out, many feel the immediate difference in the lives but yet had never felt the dire need for that until cleansed so. My trip was such. I thought I was going to catch up with my family, my siblings and old friends alike, and I received far more than I bargained.
One thing that I came with was a bag of aspiration and another for the sheer will to succeed. Life in Zimbabwe is not the easiest to live, and that is a deliberate understatement. Zimbabwe stories tend to become the main feature once started hence we will leave it there, besides it is hard to keep looking at my nation's wounds which are hardly healing by any margin. See what I mean, I was drifting from my thesis already. Back to the main; Zimbabweans' resilience and will to succeed rubbed off me and I had a strong dose of it. 7 months later, as I write this, I have a growing fear that it has since washed away just when I have acknowledged that it is a vital ingredient for my life henceforth.
I have since worked, rather on an off, much to my disliking. The last time I was actively in the job market was in 2002/2003 and so much has changed since. most has gone down hill since then. Of course the domino-effect instigated by the mortgage crisis in the US has not done much to alleviate the situation. Having no job once got me feeling like a lost deer in the woods, that is suddenly struck by photons of light from an 18-wheeler semi. No need to mention the chipping hope in me. July brought me a consultancy opportunity in Scranton, Pennsylvania with a notable insurance firm. For a while I was back on my feet and the wheels were starting to grind. The Tone was back!. So great were things on that particular project that the team was deployed to work from home. All went well. Shortly before I went to an Illustrious party in Florida, dubbed Hurricane Ike - Obama Victory, my assignment ended. It was all perfect timing and could not have asked for a better time. Of course I though, as usual that there was going to be another assignment within the next week or two, perhaps three at most. Budgetary concerns based on that assumption hardly left a dent any where. So the Florida life and that which followed was so good. Lots of free time to re-organise my life, no worries about anything. Hearts evolving, flames here, flames there, money spilling from my pockets, doing the things I love most and that is be in musically creative environments and that means more time with the choir I had so deserted due to job obligations and stark laziness at times.
There was no need for this update, I just wanted to let out some stress as that has since shown that either banging the keyboard, or scribbling/typing my thoughts is quite therapeutic.
I seek you Lord in these dire straits, give me the strength I need to proceed and the wisdom and judgement I need to go with it. I have so much desire to unfold for my life, let that which should be, be so and I will use that granted wisdom to accept otherwise. Did I mention my consideration to let go of the bottle and my meat, yes I said meat. LOL. Tone may someday be a vegetarian, with the right support system I know I can be one. Wink. I am in so much courtship with greener pastures and long for the stability my father has. Did I mention that uncomfortable email with my dad. That is for another blog entry.
For your time dear invisible reader, thank you.
The 6 week trip to Africa has more value than anyone can ever imagine. I believe, whether it is in spite of or not, that I came back a stronger person in just about every sense. I was in good spirits, I had lost some weight and my job and yet unfazed by the latter, even though there was a looming economic storm that we are now experiencing as I write. Like my grandma said, I needed to "ukuzo hlanjululwa", which is Ndebele or Zulu for "To come and be cleansed/rinsed". I sure needed it indeed. A weird analogy to throw out there is; the cleansing of one's colon using the now all too common "herbicines" - allow me to coin it so but factually, there is no such nomenclature, at least not just yet. It is herbal medicines that have a larger market on the Internet rather than anywhere else. After one's interior anatomy is washed and cleansed out, many feel the immediate difference in the lives but yet had never felt the dire need for that until cleansed so. My trip was such. I thought I was going to catch up with my family, my siblings and old friends alike, and I received far more than I bargained.
One thing that I came with was a bag of aspiration and another for the sheer will to succeed. Life in Zimbabwe is not the easiest to live, and that is a deliberate understatement. Zimbabwe stories tend to become the main feature once started hence we will leave it there, besides it is hard to keep looking at my nation's wounds which are hardly healing by any margin. See what I mean, I was drifting from my thesis already. Back to the main; Zimbabweans' resilience and will to succeed rubbed off me and I had a strong dose of it. 7 months later, as I write this, I have a growing fear that it has since washed away just when I have acknowledged that it is a vital ingredient for my life henceforth.
I have since worked, rather on an off, much to my disliking. The last time I was actively in the job market was in 2002/2003 and so much has changed since. most has gone down hill since then. Of course the domino-effect instigated by the mortgage crisis in the US has not done much to alleviate the situation. Having no job once got me feeling like a lost deer in the woods, that is suddenly struck by photons of light from an 18-wheeler semi. No need to mention the chipping hope in me. July brought me a consultancy opportunity in Scranton, Pennsylvania with a notable insurance firm. For a while I was back on my feet and the wheels were starting to grind. The Tone was back!. So great were things on that particular project that the team was deployed to work from home. All went well. Shortly before I went to an Illustrious party in Florida, dubbed Hurricane Ike - Obama Victory, my assignment ended. It was all perfect timing and could not have asked for a better time. Of course I though, as usual that there was going to be another assignment within the next week or two, perhaps three at most. Budgetary concerns based on that assumption hardly left a dent any where. So the Florida life and that which followed was so good. Lots of free time to re-organise my life, no worries about anything. Hearts evolving, flames here, flames there, money spilling from my pockets, doing the things I love most and that is be in musically creative environments and that means more time with the choir I had so deserted due to job obligations and stark laziness at times.
There was no need for this update, I just wanted to let out some stress as that has since shown that either banging the keyboard, or scribbling/typing my thoughts is quite therapeutic.
I seek you Lord in these dire straits, give me the strength I need to proceed and the wisdom and judgement I need to go with it. I have so much desire to unfold for my life, let that which should be, be so and I will use that granted wisdom to accept otherwise. Did I mention my consideration to let go of the bottle and my meat, yes I said meat. LOL. Tone may someday be a vegetarian, with the right support system I know I can be one. Wink. I am in so much courtship with greener pastures and long for the stability my father has. Did I mention that uncomfortable email with my dad. That is for another blog entry.
For your time dear invisible reader, thank you.
posted by TONE at 6:17 PM
2 comments
