I have been off the blogs for some time now, mostly as a result of intoxication and laziness ..eer, well, mostly a combination of work and personal issues, not to mention writers' block. Being the type of person who does not open up easily or does not consider self to have lots of followers or something like that, it therefore comes as a surprise to me when I get emails, twitter DMs and Facebook inboxes from people who I only know online and have never met, inquiring about my well being. I mean some of these people are actually from other continents and countries. What am I supposed to make of that?
In the past I have mused about online friends, you can read that HERE, and also talked about the loneliness that can plague a soul in these time HERE, so at least this comforts me that there are actually some people who can notice that I am missing online ( I hope not only people I owe money to) and bother to try and found out what happened to this soul. Not that I probably make much of a difference but...
I am posting this from Dadaab refugee camp, the biggest refugee camp in the world with close to 500,000 Somali refugees. The last time I visited here was in 2010 and thought that it was my last visit here. I even blogged something about that HERE. However returning back here and thinking about the refugee population in a way makes you get a bit sober about life and appreciate the joys and privilege of living in a stable country. After the last elections we went close to civil war in this country, and this year the politicians continue with their tribal laced rhetoric aimed at dividing citizens and lining their pockets with votes, if such a phrase exists. Sometimes you shudder to imagine that the world you know could be lost and, if you are lucky enough, end up in a refugee camp. I get outraged when I see the pictures that come out of Syria as the rest of the world wines and dines....
Glad to see you are still with us. You seem real enough to me since I've been to your country ;-) Maybe we can actually meet one day and have some of your country's wonderful tea. I take an interest in all things Kenyan, Dadaab and the upcoming elections included. Suffering is hard to see wherever it is. It is hard for me to enjoy any kind of consistent luxury while so many suffer. Though to many having a shelter and daily bread is a huge luxury so I understand your outrage. Keep well and keep on blogging and caring about the world around you.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the encouragement!
DeleteWe noticed you were missing ! And we even dropped you an email.
ReplyDeleteLets pray for Kenya and be responsible citizens.
I was in DDB but that was in 2007,i have an idea of how sobering it can be ......
Good to see people like you trying to figure how I am...I now have to read all the back posts that I missed! What were you doing in Dadaab in 2007?
DeleteI see you are still gallivanting around the country! :) Sometimes we are thrown into situations that remind us who we are and what we should be thankful for. Plus some lessons are learnt first hand. That much I know for sure. Always good to read you :)
ReplyDeleteGallivanting we must! Is the year going to end without that date?
DeleteHappy to have you in the loop, OtienoHongo. What was your role in the refugee camp? The problem of refugees is there in every country and to read about their plight is very sad. Glad to be reading you again.
ReplyDeleteBe happy.
Joy always,
Susan
And nice to see you here! My role in the refugee camp has always been to add some color amid the despair by bringing films to the refugees, and teaching them how to make films about their lives...
DeleteI had to come look for you.
ReplyDeleteGlad you are well.
It's time for my IEBC registration...it goes a long way. Glad to have tou back online
ReplyDeleteI think @Otieno that this post is about our humanity. Thank you
ReplyDelete