Who You Are Matters
Where do I come from?
I come from a melting pot of cultures. I was born in Nairobi, Kenya, where all the tribes would congregate at the capital. Then I moved to East Arlington in Texas, where I was exposed to African-American, Mexican, and Turkish culture.
Where am I going?
I’m going everywhere. Literally.
How do I plan to get there?
With my brains and my feet. This summer I’m planning on going abroad. I’ll continue pursuing the nomadic lifestyle as I travel to Hong Kong in the fall for university. Long term, I'm going to live in one place for only two years then move onto the next place.
How am I LIKE my parents?
I think like my mum but act like my dad.
My mum is like a chess player. She deliberates and dissects each step before she moves.My dad is like a checkers player. He still strategizes, but the moves to accomplish his goal are less complex.
How am I UNLIKE my parents?
My passion for dance constantly dumbfounds my parents.
Have I developed my own expectations for myself?
Growing up as the middle-oldest child, I made it a goal to NOT operate under anyone's expectations. This led me to develop my own expectations. Those closest to me have described me as an oxymoron of being predictably unpredictable.
This unknown author described it best:
Who, other than a relative, serves as a model for me of someone who lives life with great passion and personal responsibility?
Bishop TD Jakes is the optimal representation of a slasher(/). His passion extends beyond one career field. He is a father/bishop/author/musician/filmmaker.
What wild animal do I feel a special connection with, and why?
Many people claim that a dog is a man's best friend, but I think that's because they've never had a monkey…neither have I. However, if I were to choose a long-life animal companion, a monkey would be my first choice. Monkeys remind me of Curious George, my favorite childhood show. I connected with George's curiosity, intellect, and love for learning.
What is my significant childhood encounter with a tree or plant?
The ebirakwati (loquat) trees, in the Kissi Lands of Kenya, are considered community trees by the youth, but the owners of the trees have a different perspective.
As children, every time we saw an ebirakwati tree, my cousins and I would climb it and gather as many fruits as we could fit in our shirts, pockets, and bags. Then we would quickly get off the tree, unsuspected, as we ate the fruit on our way back home.
For this to work, we made a few rules:
2. Don’t get caught.
3. If you get caught…RUN as fast as you can while the owner of the tree insults your entire life in the Kissi language.
The fruit of our labour:
Moon Sign: Pisces
Rising Sun: Leo
Hi Lesley!
ReplyDeleteI also chose a monkey as the wild animal I'm somehow connected to. I did really like to watch Curious George when I would go to my grandparents house, but my reason for actually picking a monkey is not at all related. I know a few people currently in Italy for WBB and they always seem like they're having the best time. I'm curious if you have any initial ideas on where you will want to go for your last year in the program?
- Samantha
I'm not sure where I'm going to end up my fourth year. I'm trying to stay open so that I can fall in love with each place: the good, the bad, and the ugly.
DeleteHi Lesley! I loved reading your blog. I really loved how you said you're going everywhere and that you will d it with your brain and your feet. I also really loved how you mentioned Bishop TD Jakes as a slasher. It reminded me in class that you wanted to be Lesley (title, title, title, etc). You can see your drive and passion in everything you write and say.
ReplyDeleteHi Lesley, I love the characterization of your parents as chess players vs checkers player, it helps me understand them much better. I think that its awesome that you have an open ended goal of where you are going because I too do not have it all figured out and am very much going with the flow. I am curious about the fruit form this tree and loquat makes me think that it might be similar to a kumquat? any thoughts?
ReplyDeleteI just googled kumquat and they look similar outwardly, but inwardly they look very different. I really want to try a kumquat now.
DeleteHey Lesley,
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed reading your first blog post and thanks for sharing with us. Similarly to you, I am also of African descent and my dad is from Benin, which I think is relatively close to Kenya. Although I have been traveling is the recent past and I will be in the near future, I will not be going to Hong Kong, so I think thats a really unique and exciting experience for you. The plant/nature object that you chose is really unique and I wish that I could have a specific plant/nature object that I could specifically relate to like yourself.
-Etienne
Hi Lesley!
ReplyDeleteReally enjoyed reading your post. Your dream of staying in no one place for longer than two years is really interesting. As far as I can tell, I'm sort've the same way in wanting to move around as much as I can while young. You definitely have more experience with moving than me though, Kenya to Texas must've been a massive change. Also I remember you talking about wanting to be a slasher in class, and then I was reminded of it with your role model. In the entertainment industry we talk about "slasher's" a lot, but we call them a multi-hyphenate (i.e Brad Pitt an Actor-Producer). It's always impressive when someone can achieve proficiency in multiple disciplines.
Kevin
Hi Lesley,
ReplyDeleteI loved your post! My aunt, who's Turkish, and my uncle used to live in El Paseo, Texas. We visited them once and it was really cool to see the blend of African-American, Mexican, and Turkish cultures you mentioned. Also, I'm a big fan of your degree program -- studying in Hong Kong and Milan sounds AMAZING -- and your overall desire to travel. I have a similar goal, but every 5 years! I've lived in LA my whole life and need to see something new. I'll be in living in New York this summer, so hopefully that's the first of many new cities. I also really enjoyed the quote (all your quotes really!) you shared about being "predictably unpredictable" and how you don't operate under other people's expectations, something I'm still working on.
Francesca
Hey Lesley,
ReplyDeleteFirst of all, that picture of you is so beautiful! I also loved Curious George as a kid, so I would love to have him as my companion. Also, even though I'm from Texas, I had no idea that Arlington was so diverse! I bet it was really cool to grow up there. Can't wait to get to know you better through this class!
Best,
Brooke