my birthday - 27

i still love using the words "duh", "epic" and "whatever" as much as possible. i have loved, lost and loved some more. i have people in my life who truly love and know me to my core. i still eat sweets as if i needed them to survive. i am still learning to smile and dance instead of cry. i caught my self saying, "when i grow up..." last week as if i am still a kid. yes i am 27 today - with the heart of an 18 year old. on this day i realize how stellar i am and how lucky i am to have a life full of so much magic, blessings and people who adore me just the way i am.

My dad and I on my first birthday!

The Heavy Stuff - Talking about Sandy Hook

This term at school, I am desperately trying to have my students be more aware about current events and the news. Of course we talked about the Sandy Hook school shooting. For the first time as a teacher, my classroom was absolutely silent as I read a child-friendly news article to them about the tragedy. The kids sat with their mouths open and only looks of shock swept their faces. Of course they asked me questions that I would never have answers to like why someone would shoot innocent people, what was wrong with the shooter and if I think our school would be safe.

Again, I had no answers for them. For the first time as a teacher I felt defeated. As a teacher, I am supposed to have all the answers but all I could respond with was, "I do not know." The discussion was full of emotion, sympathy, sensitivity and thoughtful responses from my students. I was floored by their maturity. If you are one of those people who think young a child cannot proccess heavy material or worry some things should not be talked about with children then just reflect on the comments below from my students.

"Ms. Nicol, I wonder why that shooter did this. Maybe he just did not get enough love and hugs and notes in his in lunch." From a profound 7 year old. 

"It sounds like a nightmare but with my eyes open." - A deep 7 year old

"Teachers are really brave. They are like superheros without the cape." - An amazing 8 year old

"My mom does not even let me play with water guns and toy guns. Maybe his mom let him play with those. " - A curious 8 year old

Student: What was the shooters name?
Ms. Nicol: Adam
Student: That sounds like a normal good name. Why would he do something so bad?

"I wonder what those kids and teachers who died wanted to be when they grew up." A

I posted the first comment on facebook because it moved me. I wonder if I was as articulate and sophisticated at 7 or 8 years old. My friend Chantelle from high school wrote a response to my student's comment and the senseless Sandy Hook shooting.

A butterfly flapped its wings and the world crumbled for those parents who sent theirs kids off to school after hugs and with packed lunches maybe with notes in them. Those parents will always be hopefully waiting for the return of their child and for some sense of understanding and they will not get either. A butterfly flapped its wings in Connecticut and even in Tanzania, in my tiny classroom, our world crumbled.

I guess a butterfly flapped its wings…

By Chantelle Doswell on January 12, 2013 I guess a butterfly flapped its wings somewhere
and now- all the way over here- the world is crumbling

And there’s tears in the eyes of a stranger
Fears in the eyes of this locked stare
With a child unaware-
how right they are.
“My dear, our world is crumbling”
And somehow
I don’t have the answers

We don’t have the answers
We’re all looking to you child,

Trying to fix videogames in hopes

That you won’t kill each other- like we do.

Hey, we have to try

Don’t we?

But that’s a lie,

don’t be surprised

People will generally run and hide

From having to face ourselves

Call it hubris- pride

But I’d
Thought there’d only be hope in the eyes of a child

But, you can see it too,
The world is crumbling around you
And as crazy as it may sound to you now ,
there are so many true, yet crazy, things
but often times a butterfly will flap its wings
And cause an earthquake

The next tattoo in mind...

My older sister is like my mom and if she will allow me, I will be getting this tattoo next. She says I need to take a break from the inkin' but I have a suspicion that I may just be getting started...I actually envisioned a tattoo like the one below and of course thanks to world wide web, I realized there was already someone who had it. I love this tat because I think it puts all my travels, experiences and schooling in perspective. I have done all the things I have done to get to the place I am right now which is a well-rounded, cultured, diverse and well-balanced person. I have seen a lot of the world and my travels and experiences now live with me and have shaped me to be the person I am. Summer 2013 you are MINE!

December Visitors

Wow! Times have been busy and I feel horrible that I have not been keeping up with my blog. Happy New Year! I was very blessed to have my two friends from home and my sisters visit me in Tanzania. We had a busy itinerary from hanging in Kenya, swimming in a local hot springs, safari and celebrating New Years on Zanzibar! The trip was not as smooth as I had planned. There were many hiccups a long the way that I personally did not care about since I am use to the life in Africa. Things never go according to plan and you are always on someone else's time..."There are no hurries in Africa." But I did feel horrible for my visitors who are very use to the efficient and fast lifestyle of the good ole U.S.of A. There is no idea of customer service, rushing or even effectiveness here. You just have to take things in stride. So though the trip was filled with many adventures and hopefully memories, I also hope that they understand the ease of life here but also how complicated things can be. Pole Pole is the way to go which means, "slowly slowly." Instead of getting stressed you just have to deal and know that things will work out as they always do but maybe just not when and how you want them to. 

Additionally, my friends and sisters made me realize how much I have changed. I think I used to be very much attached to my smartphone, being connected and luxury living and trust me, I will probably swing back into all that when I am back in the U.S. but now I love reading a book outside instead of reading trashy blogs, I use a simple phone that I can only dial and text message on and I love being in nature and camping instead of staying at a 5 star hotel. I truly live a simple life here that is uncomplicated, cheap and unpretentious. I love knowing that I do not have to put on make up to leave my house, how friendly people are and for the most part everyone has your best interest in mind. Though I am excited to go home, I am in no way ready to give up my lifestyle here.

While  my friends and sisters were here we did the following over a 2.5 week span: 

1. Visited masaii land and had tea with the Masaii
2. Went on safari through Serengeti and Tarangerie and saw lots of animals 
3. Camped in the Serengeti and saw an elephant and lion outside of our tent 
4. Went swimming at maji moto - a hot springs in a local village 
5. Went clubbing at Via Via
6. Spent some time in Nairobi and went to an elephant orphanage, giraffe sanctuary and the mall! 
7. They met my two favorite cab drivers Fred and Jimmy 
8. Donated food to a baby orphanage for the holidays 
9. Went to Stone Town and maneuvered through the alleyways and got some food from the seafood market
10. Had some lazy beach days at Kendwa beach and counted down to 2013 on the beach! 
11. Had local food at Nick's pub 
12. Enjoyed happy hour at TGT and watched the sunset
    

Karibu to view the photos. The rest will be on facebook. As I write this I am now in lull cause my visitors have been gone for less than 24 hours...I was on a high and I am now on a low. I miss my sisters deeply and their visit made me realize this. Only a few more months until I am home. Love you and thanks for visiting! 

My sister Jessica at Neema house baby home!

My awesome sign I used to page my sisters and friend at the airport.

Sisters at Masaii land in a Boma

Masaii land

The crew camping in the Serengeti

Top of the 12

 

My TOP of 2012 in no particular order. Here it is and I would love to know what were some of your tops for 2012. I initially tried to make my list my top 12 of 12 but I just had too many highlights this year which is not a bad problem to have.  I consider myself an incredibly lucky and blessed girl. My family is healthy and safe. I have a roof over my head and for the most part I have gotten the things I have desired. 2012 was full of growing pains, adventure and realizations. I expect nothing less and so much from 2013.

 2013 holds a new job, vegetarianism (maybe), more adventures, going natural, reading through all the classics and more consistency and maturity in my life!!

Happy New Year!!

 Becoming a year 4 teacher and getting my own house on campus

Visiting my close friend in West Palm Beach, Florida 

Meeting my new favorite girlfriends Willow and Damara

 Successfully teaching my preschool kids tons of English and putting on a play of Where the Wild Things Are

Visiting the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater

Roadtriping through Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda. Going gorilla trekking and visiting an elephant orphanage I had been following.

 Going home after a year of being away

 Having annual best friend day in D.C.

Toronto * Summer of 2012 * Caribana and Drake Concert!

 Visiting Thailand

Climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro 

Being single again...yay!!No picture needed haha.

Having a dala dala/bar crawl birthday party 

Reuniting with some old friends in NYC

Going on a helicopter ride over Arusha

Becoming a better swimmer

Visiting Peoponi Beach and Pangani for the first time

Friendsgiving 2012

Celebrating my little sisters graduation, birthday and moving her into college. The Nicol sisters can finally club together!

  

Hot air balloon safari over Tarangerie National Park 

Having my sisters visit me in Tanzania and spending the last few days of 2012 and the first few days  of 2013 with them on the beach. 

Friendsgiving 2012

The FAT girl inside of me secretly counts down for the biggest feast...Thanksgiving and not only for Thanksgiving day but for the week after of amazing leftovers! The same is true even in Tanzania. Last year Friendsgiving was held with literally 40 people and it just was not the ideal Thanksgiving. This year, my friend Lisa and I planned an intimate dinner of 12 people and it was great. There were beautiful flowers for decor, mood music, American football and the Macy days parade airing in the background, appetizers of butternut squash seeds and soup and just a table full of the people I absolutely adore and love in Tanzania. The turkey was cooked to perfection, the sweet potatoes were actually orange, the mac and cheese was the cheesiest and the cranberry sauce did it's usual wobbly gig. It was all just so right and perfect. I am incredibly thankful to have a family of friends in Tanzania that I can be open, free and everything in between with. I will enjoy every minute with them until June comes with hopes that our friendship continues beyond the borders of East Africa and the virtual world of Facebook. Pictures of Friendsgiving! Feel free to ask for recipes. I hope your Thanksgiving was amazing and know that you all were in my heart!

Cracked Banana Bread

I do not know many people do not enjoy a good banana bread and on top of that they are so damn good and easy to make. I find myself always having left over ripe bananas so instead of tossing them, I always make this banana bread. Karibu to this recipe. Hope you enjoy it...it makes for a good snack and you can also freeze it if you want it for later! Here is the run down....

Ingredients:

2 cups all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon baking soda 1/4 teaspoon salt 1/2 cup butter

3/4 cup brown sugar 2 eggs, beaten 2 1/3 cups mashed overripe bananas

DIRECTIONS:

1.	Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease a 9x5 inch loaf pan.
2.	In a large bowl, combine flour, baking soda and salt. In a separate bowl, cream together butter and brown sugar. Stir in eggs and mashed bananas until well blended. Stir banana mixture into flour mixture; stir just to moisten. Pour batter into prepared loaf/tube pan.
3.	Bake in preheated oven for 60 to 65 minutes. Let bread cool in pan for 10 minutes.