Archive for October, 2009

I am guilty of reading too little. It‘s not that I don‘t like to read, but somehow excuses always find their way into my schedule. But a few days ago, I came across a project called Around the World in 80 Countries. The author of the website dared herself and others to read 80 books written by authors from 80 different countries. And while that is all a little too ambitious for me, it did inspire me to start my own reading project. 

The goal is to read a book set in every country I have been to.  And while I feel the strongest desire to start reading a Tanzanian novel, I have decided to begin at my life’s beginning…

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Shanghai Girls

My first book is Shanghai Girls by Lisa See. It is a story about Pearl and May,  two sisters living the life of “beautiful girls” in 1930s Shanghai.  Their world of extravagance and elegance initially hid the signs of impending war and death looming over the city, but  eventually life as they knew it collapsed around them.  The story follows the sisters through their escape from the Japanese, detainment at Angel’s Island to their attempts at reconciling the tragedies and secrets of their lives.  (more…)

Two weeks ago, my plane descended over Dar es Salaam, the commercial capital of Tanzania. It is a coastal city blessed with some of the most sublime (and accessible) beaches I have ever stepped foot on.  The city center is a vibrant mesh of different cultures and is no less of a wonder to behold… A Masai woman selling tribal jewelry in front of an Indian café serving tea next to a mosque playing prayers over its loudspeakers which is the only thing drowning out the honking of dalla dallas (local buses) imported from China.  All the while, kangas, saris, burkas and Manchester United t-shirts color the streets…

But it is the warmness of the people that I find most appealing.  (more…)

The biggest hazard of leading a nomadic life is never finding a home. And though the changing environment satiates the hunger to savor new sights and sounds, it also makes it impossible to cast the anchor of our hearts in one particular place. Nowhere is this more evident than in China.  (more…)

My last stop is China.  During my 10hr layover in Beijing, I met up with Richard, Julia and Chris.  We caught up over delicious Mongolian food and fire shots! We talked about their progress in school and my plans for Africa.

I headed to Xiamen the next morning, (more…)