MY SUPER HERO IS HERE: THE CRANE'S DENIS ONYANGO!

Alright, hello there, firstly i must confess, this wasn't the blog content i had planned for today but there is that one thing that hits the ground and some sorta lava won't stop flowing out, THAT thing is Onyango's save from Wednesday night's #UGAZIM Match! ululululu, i'm still feeling the heat! If i have never believed in Superman, Spiderman or even the Genie from Aladdin, ........Mr Denis Onyango, the captain Uganda Cranes, African Player of the year, 'CAF Africa's Finest' ....is my world's super hero!

That Moment Was Everything!

Now that you know what i'm talking about, we can calm down and talk, haha. Normally you won't find me getting obsessed with football or sports in general but for exceptional cases like this, i couldn't help re-watching the video clip countless times and my excitement got hiked up with each view, you can't blame me for this! I take full responsibility for not using the 'sports language' though. Don't wanna say something i can't explain.

Needless to say are the funny yet emotional tweets that kept my mood at 89% and above,....this match kept my pulse up, like in a cool way. At this rate, the best compliment i can give bae till Sunday is; YOU ARE MY ONYANGO! THAT'S QUITE A SUPERNATURAL MOVE LIKE ONYANGO'S! Wuhuuuuu,....why isn't Onyango a therapist already??? That short clip can heal numerous hearts, for real.

For that matter, i will keep this video here just in case ANYONE ever tells me to "give up, it's out of hand, you can't save this situation",...hell no Denis Onyango has clear proof that NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE if we keep our heart and mind to it!

This reminds me of the time, way back in my form one when i and seven other girls were to be punished by expulsion(reason withheld for security purposes). We were told to wait upon the decision of the board members and so two weeks till then, there was nothing we could do but sit and wait for our fate. However, in that trying time, one girl(who was even never our friend before) asked us to start reciting novenas(an ancient tradition of devotional praying in Christianity in which prayers are repeated for nine consecutive days)so that our punishment could be lightened. Most of us didn't even know what that was all about but it being a catholic school, we had more to learn and for some reason, we just committed to that and somehow, to cut the long story short, we weren't expelled, only got a two weeks suspension.

Sunday Is My BD, What Do People Do In Their Mid Twenties?

One would wonder why Onyango(someone give me a dollar for each time i have mentioned this name please) would take a step back, risk his ligaments and tendons and rush to save a ball that we all had given up on. I believe it's all supernatural, an instinct (that i can't explain) coupled with that bit of adrenaline rush that pushes one to go extra at a case one is 99% not sure they will win. 

That's laying down everything else to save a situation and that's what our beloved goalkeeper did. If i could ever have a chance to meet him, i would ask nothing but "What was and is that moment like to you? What words, if there is, can describe what you felt at that moment?) I'm also hoping against hope for that day. Love you all my esteemed readers and catch you next Friday, don't forget to get your cranes' jerseys on because Sunday, we're doing it again, Egypt, here we come baby!

BODY SHAMING: MY TAKE

Do you have any insecurities concerning your body? Let's get 'real and personal'
Body shaming can be defined in various ways but the bottom line is; it's about making humiliating, critical and unpleasant comments about a person's physical appearance, as in size, height or weight. The pain of body shaming is usually inflicted  upon  'us' sometimes by the people we know or have met and maybe relate with and at times it's from total strangers.

MELANIN

Body shaming zeros down to a person or group of persons having their own standard of what beauty should be or conform to, and certainly imposing it on another person, which will never be "acculate" because every person is different. This is where the problem is, not every body will have an hour glass figure, supermodel weight, or a skin tone of a fairly tale princess. The fact that we are all different should be an indicator that we must learn to accommodate the different physiques of the people we meet and relate with in life.

Here are my personal encounters with this daring monster, I'm one of those slender beings weighing 44 kgs(97 lbs) and there is always pressure that comes with this. I have on many occasions met random people and to my disappointment, one will start off 'front-biting' me...(well not back-biting because i can overhear that shit! )..."gosh, she is so skinny"..."my goodness, those are some tiny legs she's got".... These are the kind ones. The rough fellas be like; "rya ku mele banange" meaning...eat some food. Some other rude guy once threw a comment: 'ehh, nyabo nga size yo sigiyina, kebera ko mu kid's section' meaning; madam, I don't have your size of clothes, why don't you go check in the kids' section? Haha... sometimes when I look back at such horrible people and comments, there is a part of me that goes ...how could anyone be that mean and inconsiderate!

I'm Unapologetically Me!

See, however much we can try to be who and what we are in the best versions, people will always find a crooked line along the contours: Katelyn Ohashi, one of the most amazing gymnasts of this era, who managed to make a perfect 10 score in January this year (hey, I love gymnastics so I know some of these things) is also a victim of body shaming and sadly  among the bullies were her very own coaches, that's ridiculous! Why would anybody focus on something less than the talented beautiful person she is! Now you know that the human race will never have enough to appreciate, unfortunately.
 Now, here is the thing, usually it's not what you say but how you say it that breaks or mends. Learning how well we can package our words and messages is key, don't be another burden to someone who is already battling excruciating pains of the heart, be nice, if you have nothing good to say, say nothing at all.

Katelyn Ohashi Makes Me Believe In MAGIC!

We all have a part of us that is still under construction, maybe we are trying to work on our self esteem, confidence or even self love but one human being pops into our lives and waters down everything that we have labored to sculpture  for long with just a phrase! How about we give each other room to grow and be the great people we dream of becoming minus looking down on other's physical appearance!

But at the end of the day, you don't need validation from other people for your worth, once you know who you are, whatever they say is pointless because these people don't feed you, neither do they pay your damn bills. Guess what, if you take a minute to observe these people(which you shouldn't waste time doing), 90 percent of them are not any better, if anything they are much wounded on the inside and worse still what else can they offer the world apart from finding a bin to lessen the trash engraved in their scars! I don't mean to be rough or say that you should play tit for tat, no, just know a person who invests in body shaming others has much less of everything, look up, adjust your crown and be the queen/king in that empire that you have fought hard to build. Opinions ain't facts, just let them fade off.

I Love u My African Weather My Sweet Sunshine

Dealing with body shaming can be pretty hard but it has to start from within. When we are young, we don't even know how we have "protruding tummies, big boobs, tiny thighs" and all those things that people keep rubbing in our face, its all brought to our attention by other people so learning your body and loving it will save you a great deal of suffering. Also, accepting compliments is a huge part of overcoming this, don't reject a genuine compliment, it could be all you need to reboot
 your mindset and move on! I love you guys and i feel for all those who have been body shamed in all kinds of ways, refuel and keep on moving. Till next Friday, DON'T LET ANYONE RAIN ON YOUR PARADE, NOT NOW, NOT EVER!

A DAY IN MY LIFE; BUSY AF!

It's one thing to wake to a rainy morning but a whole other thing having to move, do work around Kampala in the heavy down pours -especially when using public means.

Giving You Me

 Before you start to mind about the tight traffic that comes with this weather, there are other serious stuff that you have to consider, like getting more cash in to your bag because you are most likely bound to pay double for the usual fares! Maybe you are wondering why this is so but if you studied a bit of economics, you know the relationship between demand and supply.
These taxi drivers know very well that even if one was to move from City Square to let's say DTB Kampala road, they will definitely have to use a taxi, no body dares to walk in rain, the heavy flows, cars splashing dirty water straight to your nice black trousers,...or even the wind blowing off your sorry umbrella! It's a hustle.

Completely real....raw,...

While I sat in this old rugged taxi, well I didn't have an option, the drizzle drops that hit me as I walked out of the stationery was such a subtle warning like "hey, the showers that are coming down are still charging and warming up, jump into whichever damn taxi that comes by" and so I did. I had hardly settled in when light fog covered off all the wind shields, and boom, the heavy rain was here. I was moving from Ntinda to Kampala which should take me at least 50 minutes so I decided to get my phone and write something for you guys.

 A minute into the writing, this lady comes in and she has to sit next to me, that's usual, no problem, the heck is she has some woolen cardigan on and it's dripping wet! We are four people in a row so she has to squeeze in, the end product is, my whole left side is wet! I tried pushing a bit to the right but damn, she then makes herself comfortable since I'm the tiny one. I was being sandwiched by two people, the wet and cold, the dry and unbothered! I definitely got out with a jacket that had a faint smell of a cloth that was locked up half dry in a suitcase for days. That was just quarter of my day's travel.

 At 11:07 am, I hopped into another taxi to Entebbe, the rain had calmed down a bit, we only had little droplets hitting the glass and trickling downwards to form various "riverlets"(word from Patie's Dictionary) which I observed with bored eyes. My "seatmates" were fine this time, everyone minding their business and I had enough space to type on my phone without elbowing no body. Plus, I always cross my tiny legs while seated(it gives me a sense of relaxation and security), whatever that may seem to you! It's always a bustle making it from "kaja" that stuffy pavement(You have people doing whatever is humanly possible to entice you to buy a trouser at 10-15k, another taxi conductor is calling you all kinds of 'relative names' directing you to his taxi, a business man whistling in your ears to clear way for the heavy luggage weighing on his broad shoulders and some random lady raising her hand up to sell ice cream in a ramshackled bucket) to ShopRite clock tower junction. If you have not experienced this, you are either  damn rich ✌️(you never take a taxi to Ebbs) or you don't know nothing, absolutely nothing about life happening down town. You need to see some of these things to appreciate what you have, there is all kinds of business and hustling down these Kampala corridors.

Okay folks, it's 11:28 and we have just made it to Entebbe road, now you know what I'm talking about, traffic! See, I'm seated in here, and will be for more than an hour. Sometimes I find my mind wandering off to various issues and by the time I get to my destination, I'm completely off topic. Like "Oh, to which office I'm I supposed to deliver these documents, Public Affairs or Communications department?" Haha, I hope that doesn't sound like a disillusion, but yes, it happens so I have to 'reset' before I get to the check point. That's the nature of my job, I love it but it embarrasses me sometimes, (that's a story for another day)

I Love Me Some Cool Sights!

When my work at CAA was done, I left for Kampala, the rain was no more and the clouds were clearing up a bit. Long journey it is when you are "taxi-ing"(That's my term, never use it out there) because you don't control any thing, the stop overs and all that, even when the driver wants to take a "pee-break", he might as well use some more minuets to say hello to his "kyana" while you guys wait up!
 Just when I thought my day was getting done, my boss called me and asked me to meet another client, this was at 4:45pm. So I got outta the taxi and got a 'boda b' so I can show up before 5pm.( You will hardly find anybody in office beyond this time or if you are lucky enough to, they will be in the 'chilaxing' mode😉) and you might not get served to your satisfaction. I hit the 'deadline' and managed to accomplish that task too. Gosh....

I call up my boss and notify him about the results and guess what, this is what he had to say,"so are you taking a taxi? In my heart I was like okay, it's 5 something and traffic is tight like crazy, I need to get home not go back office! He insists thus," I know there is traffic, just get a 'boda b' so you have everything filed at office today." I swallowed hard and said," Alright, I will."

More Of My Shots For You!

So apparently, my day had like another quarter to go and it's 5:57pm. I get going, all the way to Kiwatule (if you are not used to these places or know nothing about Kampala-Uganda, it's hard to understand what i'm talking about) Long story short, I did what was needed and at 7:14pm, I'm in this fair taxi heading home with an exhausted body but lively mind. While the flickering lights of the trail of cars in front of me dazzle my eyes, I get my hands to use and try to complete the article so my adorable readers can have it by Friday noon.

The sky is a mixture of sky blue and hues of grey, the atmosphere is cool and darkness is setting in. There are two, three ..ohh, five stars in sight, and I have an hour till I get home. Love y'all, this is a typical busy day in my work life, I hope you enjoy and maybe somehow relate to it. Catch you next Friday, till then, be safe and take care of yourselves.

MY GIRLS' PHOTOGRAPHY TRAINING EXPERIENCE

Hello esteemed reader, good morning, good afternoon depending on your time zone! Bonjour, Ni hao, Hola, Anyoung, Habari, Guten Tag.....gosh, i'm learning languages so i can reach out to y'all!  I hope you are having a wonderful time. It brings me joy when I have to communicate with you guys,...like I am checking on some friends whom I have been away from. Truth is I really do appreciate you being here and checking out this yet another post. I post every Friday.

Let's Do This!

This week I had a great opportunity to attend a three day Girls Photography Training organised by Mrs Amina Mohamed the CEO  www.triplefphototours.com. I must say my experience as regards this event was awesome and quite adventurous! Also, being an all girls thing, with exception of three male guides, it brought back that ancient spark of my days in high school.(I went to a single girls school for four years). It also reminded me of the many things that girls do when they are just being girls. The cliques, the untimely craving for eats, the complaints about a tiny hill climb, and more so, the silly stories around the "men messing us up." It all was a 'pretty little thing' to adore.

"My 'Floss' Skills are better than yours," Mrs Amina(right) takes on the challenge with Grace(left)

I set off on a chilly Tuesday morning to the famous "Kasubi Tombs" area from where we would be picked by one of the organizers to the venue to commence the training. I was expectant because i had waited for this day since April... haha, we all get that bit of anxiety sometimes, don't we? While I waited at the gate, a few more girls arrived too. I quickly "checked them out" to see whom I would then make friends with(i didn't know no body) for the three days or even after. Trust me I know how to tell whom to rhyme with in an instant.
 So I got a one Joyce, some Kenyan beauty and later on met a friend of Joyce's, Yvonne, who's Kenyan too. These two were my companions throughout the training, which is fantastic because I tend to be much of a loner and people usually mistake that for being unfriendly. So to be on the safer side, I always mingle up with a few that I can. Cheers to the introverts....

Joyce, a friend i made on arrival.

The training was absolutely enriching and fun too. Apart from having to revisit my knowledge about the aperture, shutter speed, ISO and the like(the lecture I ditched a thousand times at campus), the practical part was okay. I'm glad I now know a thing or two about how to take which shot for what purpose and also narrate a story behind it all.

Amina was kind enough to bring along some "goodies" to share with us from the "Days For Girls Waterloo Ontario Canada Team" an organisation dedicated to enlightening a girl child(and women too) about menstrual hygiene management and breaking barriers to self esteem brought about by the same.   ...This is or used to be the norm in many cultures around the world; When you visit an area that's beyond your locality, you take some gifts to the people and vice versa. However, the practice has died down considering the the "Me and myself" mindset so if anyone still has an ounce of "I can share this with someone" minus expecting something in return, that person is 👌👌 and that's what I think humanity should be!
 https://www.facebook.com/mississaugadfg/, https://www.facebook.com/dfgwloo/
Via these links, you can read the devastating stories about how a girl child struggles with the stigma that comes with their menstrual cycles, its heartbreaking! Thanks to Days for Girls, we now know better,  speak for those who have no voice. Stop stigmatizing this whole thing, we can't undo it!!

This being more of a photography thing, let's have more of the shots than the talk, shall we? Note: One of the pictures down below is a bit gross but for the sake of our environment, i couldn't help bringing it up!

 Beautiful and Calm!

Look at that 'reflection of the water in the water,' shot by yours truly, ME!

Can't we save these trenches? Stop dumping garbage in there!

The poor drainage system and waste disposal in our slums hurts my feelings...for nature.

"As we go on, We remember"...Those final hugs.