Ngares World

End of 2010

ngaresworld — Thu, 23 Dec 2010 16:16:29 +0000

Its been ages since I wrote a post, I can say ive been super busy but even you know thats a lie, my procrastination has reached alarming levels, opting to watch another movie rather than pour my heart out to my very public ‘diary’. It is that time of the year where we make some more resolutions that we don’t keep so ill resign to my favorite resolution to NOT make resolutions! That one is much easier to uphold. Looking back though to the year that has been, I cant help but smile [insert quote about how fast time flies].
I am generally not school compatible and as a result I have been looking forward to my graduation since I applied to our very lovely school (said with lots of sarcasm). Attempts to make my stay in school bearable and somewhat interesting could be said to have had a slim success rate, kinda like aiming for the Sun and landing on the moon, at least you got out of the Atmosphere yes?
There have been some awesome moments in 2010, I feel another awesome quote coming on….Great moments in life are not the ones you just take a breath but rather the ones that take your breath away! (Someone or rather,sometime).
And there have been quite a few breath taking moments for me indeed! Those I will write about when i’m drunk and have a good Internet connection and im not sleepy, chances of that happening are close to me winning the lottery that I did not play.
One of the most awesome days was the day we, as KMUN CUEA, organized a breast cancer awareness campaign in October, wow, wasn’t that something! Ive never seen so many girls line up for their breasts to be fondled and examined, in short I was in paradise, sadly I couldn’t exactly be in the room

Breast Cancer Awareness

Will post all the details about that day later.
Another awesome time is when I worked for the Government, yup! For about three months I was a civil servant, a very well remunerated one I must say, well as far as interns go! I was at the Office of the Prime Minister, attached to the Yes Green National Secretariat during the recent constitutional Referendum, where I got to meet all sorts of ‘wakubuwas’ including ministers, mps, party leaders and even the Vice President, from the real good guys to the ones that you curse under your breath when they talk to you while still maintaining a broad smile on your face. It was the most freestyle work environment where I got to learn a lot from my colleagues about how stupid people can be, how politics works, even though I just grazed the top of the iceberg, and that there are some very good people out there.
OMG, how could I forget, after months, nay years of wishing, begging and praying that mom would go out and get a washing machine and DSTV, this year she did! *Ullulations* Mom is just very special, for more reasons than I can state now. For the longest tome ever, she totally refused to get a washing machine for the one and only reason that we would be lazy spoiled brats who had everything done for them, thus the weekly torture was to wash our own clothes (that in itself sounds spoiled doesnt it?). Every one including my small bro had to learn how to do their own washing and gain a few years working experience before she even considered getting the damn contraption. It is kinda unfair for we, the elder brothers, since we have been doing our own washing for forever as compared to my kid brother, but all the same better late than never I guess. Which brings us to the DSTV situation, according to my mother, I spent all my time before the tv when in high school when there were only like 4 channels now what would happen to me and my kid bro when an additional 200+ were added, thus the stumbling block for us getting what we longed for for so long was our mother, in retrospect, it was for good reason! These two things may appear ordinary to most, but considering the sheer amount of diplomatic efforts that went into acquiring these two gadgets, I must say thank my folks for them every night some soap opera is showing on all terrestrial TV channels and every time I find out the outfit I want to wear is dirty. deep bow
I decideda while back not to put my love life on the Internet for various reasons, not limited to but including that some of my EXes read this blog, despite my love life or lack of it being the most interesting in my history of blogging (based on the number of comments I.e.) but I must say that despite all the break ups and make ups and more break ups, im still in talking terms and friends with almost all my Exes how many can say that? Mikono juu… yeah thought so!
Of course there have been ups and downs, for you can never truly appreciate the ‘ups’ if there are no ‘downs’. In my books though however undesirable they were, I dont think id like my year to have gone any other way.
Now onwards and onwards we go into the unchartered new year (I wasn’t that good at compositions in High school) our hearts full of expectations our heads full of ideas of what next, our days blank ready to be filled with experiences untold, our eyes wide waiting for events to unfold.

Elections!

ngaresworld — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 17:38:30 +0000

Ok so this post was meant to be posted like a few months ago, lakini why lie, I had no zeal to write. Maybe its no longer fun to write or just maybe now people know too much about me already, guess I should dial down on the personal!
Anyway, where did I leave off? Oh! Yeah, elections!
So now I was cleared to vie for post of Chairman, and thats when all hell broke! I thought I was organized and decided on what ill say and do? Lakini wapi! Its like you have this very well thought out sentence and when you open your mouth to talk, gibberish comes out. It was worse than talking to a super hot girl you have been eying the whole semester, why? Because there before me sat a class full of damsels waiting to be blown away by my eloquence. They were disappointed.
Id like to say I gained confidence as the days dragged on but truth be told it was negligible at best. I and my ‘team’ had to go class by class stating why we were worth of being elected into office and I began to understand why politicians use rehearsed rhetoric saying absolutely nothing and began to greatly appreciate people who can give moving talks and speeches seemingly off the top of their heads.
We walked an incredible distance day and night going from class to class, hostel to hostel, room to room!
Its interesting how ‘educated’ students, and I use the term educated loosely, wanted me to lie to them about what I could do. I often said “How can I promise you heaven on earth when I know very well I cant deliver?” But I guess they were so used to being lied to that I lost a lot of votes by me telling them the truth, telling the people that some things were clearly not attainable and the only way forward was via consultation and diplomatic dialogue with the administration which is Catholic which makes it that much harder to deal with. I was clearly not convincing enough to carry the day.

Voting Day.

I was a wreck! Totally, having spent bucket loads of cash and precious days campaigning, the D-Day finally arrived and I was up and in uni by 7Am Yes shocking! 7Am! Having not slept much during the week, tired and feeling like im fighting a loosing battle I attempted to raise my spirits and let my friends do the final leg of the race, which they did impressively well! I must say that if it were not for people like Jude, Stevebolly, Simon, Roy, Solomon, Brian, Waweru, Maggie and basically my whole class which ditched lectures to come help me, I would have probably gotten one vote, mine!
The vote counting was excruciatingly painful as I watched my opponent widen the gap, vote after vote after vote! And finally be declared Victor!

It was a truly humbling experience, one that is now long in the past but not nearly forgotten for the lessons learned are still fresh in my mind, vivid as if it were just yesterday.

On the plus side, I was mentioned in the paper and got the whole Uni buzzing!

Id like to thank my family, My mom, Dad for giving me the courage and finances Aunt Agnes and Uncle Muya for believing in me, Uncle Tony, my bros and cuzos for being there, and of course for all who voted for me! From the bottomest of my heart, THANK YOU!

Pre- Election Turmoil

ngaresworld — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 09:31:20 +0000

The night before being cleared to vie for the CUEASO(Student Organization) Chairperson (March 8th 2009)

Its been a while since i blogged, the modjo is indeed rare and far between. Its amazing how i used to write even two times a day and now its down to once every three months. Oh by the way, Merry Christmas, Happy new Year, and Happy Valentines.

Last week we went to a children’s home in Ngong’ as KMUN club, and i must admit i had lots of fun as we mingled with the kids, i have aching muscles days after playing soccer with the orphans, more of that to come in later posts, hopefully not next year though.

The reason i am up at 4:14Am is as a result of my decision to vie for the post of Chairperson of our Students Organization in University which is CUEASO (Catholic University of Eastern Africa Students Organization). Butterflies don’t quite seem to fit the description of what i feel floating around in my tummy but rather giant elephants with wings. In a few hours time i will find out if i have been cleared by the Management to vie for the seat and thus the circus will begin. But am i ready? Yes thats the 4:18Am question! I keep on revising what ill say and how ill say it to the electorate, but it still doesn’t sound right in my head then i bet it would sound dreadful if i spoke it out.

My hard time figuring out what, how to woo my electorate would probably justify a friends remark when she heard that i had expressed interest in the seat, “AAA you don’t seem the type to go for such”. I was not at all taken aback by that statement as previous Chairpersons had been active and well known to be vocal and “loud” about anything and everything. But the question is, do i need to be all over the place for me to be an effective student leader? One of my closest classmates does a good job of keeping my morale up, “Hii kiti ni yako, jiamini tu na utaichukua tu hivi *snaps fingers* (This seat is yours, believe in yourself and it will be yours just like that!). His opinion comforting it may be, is rather biased and skewed and not reflective of the true word on the ground, sadly i cant commission an opinion poll to figure out my chances. Of course i could figure out a way to measure my public opinion but that would take massive resources of time and cajoling people only for the public opinion to sway moments later based on the flimsiest of reasons.

My jump into school politics may appear a shock to many, but a long time dream come true for me. I have never been given a position of authority throughout my school life, be it in primary or secondary, but now its my time to earn it. “Don’t take my kindness for weakness”, this mantra has always been at the back of my mind when people take my soft spoken, quiet nature and think i am a push over, well i may fall short in terms of physical strength but put me in the battle of the minds and ill fight to the death.

I have been often referred to as an idealist always pointing out how things should be contrary to what they are, i believe sensible clean politics start at the grass roots. You cant go any deeper down the root than University politics and here is where all the change begins and should reflect in the national politics. It is thus my intent not to spread dis information, propaganda or play tribal politics in an ethnically polarized population. I am on the back foot though, being the most popular (unconfirmed) among the people vying for Chairman thanks to my winning the title Mr. CUEA, i am fair game and any and all slingshots loaded with mud will most likely be aimed my way.

Despite my not being of the typical political type i have a vision for our University, and i believe the politicians have had a go at it and made minimal inroads, so its time to try a different approach, a diplomatic one without all the lies and the bruhaha that politicians bring to the table. Id like to try unifying the University population, and representing their interests to the best of my ability. Wish my luck!

Sadly i lost with a big margin, but managed to come second, which doesnt matter much really. It was quite an experience and is worth at least a few posts, soon.

People!!

ngaresworld — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 19:46:10 +0000

Its amazing how inconsiderate people are, in the name of making a living and following the all elusive shilling. I found out just how crazy people are when I was walking into the Pizza in on Moi avenue, iPod belting out sweet tunes in my ear as I ogled at the ladies waiting for someone or rather. Just as I was about to cross in between some two tables, I noticed a lady mopping the floor so I quickly changed my course as it was a rainy period and thus it was just chafu everywhere. The lady looked up, stopped mopping and with the most sincere look in her eye said ‘Asante’, one could almost feel the gratitude in her voice. That just went to show how annoying people can be, instead of just making that small extra effort. I know it was a bit short lasting, considering right after she was done mopping some dude must have swaggered in hauling mchanga from wherever but still, how do you just walk by where the lady has cleaned.
As a driver in Nairobi, one can go freaking nuttz! Drivers clearly blocking a T-Junction, just for the sake of it, overlapping and creating some other 3 lanes where only one existed. Those are bad, so bad one can go to the extent of shooting the damn driver in the head (like that doc for that fake AIDS dawa), but how where would you classify the refusal of some dude to move so that another guy can make a pool shot?
Big, bulky, short, dark idiot sitting on a high chair feeling all sweet like molasses on cow poop! I did not get the logic behind not even acknowledging our request, bugger kept on drinking and laughing like nothing had happened. Considering my lack of mass, I could do just about nothing other than rant and rave, nostrils flaring and eyes popping but he would pretty much send me to HDU with a simple strike or two. You know what some friend of his told me? Ati “You know, I know him, if he ignores you just leave him alone, tell the management to move the table, its the managements problem.”
Once someone tells you that, is it really bright to try and reason with the individual?

MIA

ngaresworld — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 13:50:14 +0000

Ive been MIA for the longest time ever! The mojo for blogging just disappeared, o mayb its cuz the credit in the modem quashed so surfing became a lil bit ngumu, mingi excuses asside, im sure the blogsphere has been just fine!
So many things have happened since i blogged last, including my approach to the mid- twenties! *Shudder* My my where have the years flown to? Just the other day i considered crying a legitimate way to get whatever i wanted from my folks, good old days!
Plus what was supposed to be the most stupid things i do before i leave campus promises to be one of the most lucrative opportunity i just may have made for myself! I entered and won Mr. CUEA *ululations* Otherwise life is as kawaida as can be, well apart from the stares and smiles from all the campus girls, but i think i can live with that

CUEA- Completely Useless unEducated Administrators

ngaresworld — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 23:38:48 +0000

Ive caused so much about this place mpaka i donno what to say anymore. From enforsing a ridiculous ‘dress code’ where its apparently against school rules to go to campus, yes CAMPUS with an un tucked formal shirt to demanding (in excess in some case) 100k in the first two weeks of starting the semester without prior notice. Dont believe me? Well see below, note, units cost up to 15,000Kshs, do the math..

AOB!

If you would like your jet or helicopter scrubbed nice and clean, hala! I know a place!

The mountain that wasn’t

ngaresworld — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 14:32:23 +0000

beep beep beep

Crap have to wake up, ok like in 5 mins, ok 5 mins for sure!

I hit the snooze button.

beep beep beep *30 mins later*

What time is it again? 7am, *doing the calculation in my head* Ok 5 more minutes,ok.

beep beep beep *1 hour later*

Damn those 5 minutes just flew by! Ok just a minute to wake up, wouldnt want blood to rush down from my head! What time is it again!? Peeping from under the blankets 8am. Shyeet!

I hate waking up, seriously unless its at like at 12 noon having slept a cool 12 hours or so

I was going on a trip to Mount longonot on this particular day after finishing a course on Java programming, wonderfully taught by some brilliant guys who came over from MIT. And was extremely late. Living in the middle of nowhere, it would take roughly an hour and a half in normal circumstances to get to civilization.

I got ready in such a rush, im sure water finally got to my scalp on my way out of the gate after a super fast shower. Tore down Lang’ata road at speeds i dare not mention in trusted Toto (Toyota Starlet) only to get to Strathmore Uni, where we were supposed to meet, before half the class! Nkt! I should have slowed down and taken some breakfast i thought to myself, surely how do you go for a hike on an empty stomach? I was soon to find exactly why NOT!

It was a short ride from Nairobi, down the escarpment to the floor of the Rift valley and on to the base of the mountain, having cemented friendships on the bus ride with classmates and instructors of only 2 months. All syked up for the climb with a nice heavy jacket on my back, it was damn cold, a camera in hand and a bag with my lunch and plenty of water.

The place was super dusty so being the bright boy i claim to be, i tucked in my jeans into my socks the way cyclists do to avoid their trousers from getting oil, yup i looked totally shagzmodoz.

The first few kilometers were not so bad, then it started getting hot, clearly i hadnt thought of that, so off went the jacket and stuffed it into my bag, trying to keep up with everyone, i soldiered on. The place is dusty, my word, one step like this you raise dust up to your knees! After walking for pretty much a flat like place, we fikad a point where, there was this sharp assccent. Panting like i had just run a marathon i led the pack from behind, having been overtaken by all the 3 ladies in a group of sijui 30 people! So mdogo mdogo up we went with another pal of mine who lets just say is rather big. After like 20 mins after everyone else we finally fikad that place with which i must assume was a picnic table at sometime in the far past, to take a breather. Now at this point my vision having moved from full colored vision at the start to seeing only one color, i.e red, to sepia, to complete black and white, it started to narrow from the edges. 5 minutes after sitting down, i felt like i was looking through a pin hole, supported by green twigs for legs and jelly for the ‘solid’ ground under me! Damn that breakfast!

At this point i was ready to give up, to hell with it, kwani wats so big about climbing the damn mountain, si bado ill live asi! Eh! Lakini all em 3 chiks have pandad and im here, bilaz! Id be the laughing stock!

“Have to get to the top man” My ,for lack of a better word, big friend encouraged me.

So off we went again, totally on auto pilot.

Half way up, we met some kids as in 6 year olds coming down, and some other HUGE Caucasian woman, waaat now i really had to get to the top!

Wasnt i relieved when i got there, the breeze, the view, my word, the view and just the feeling of accomplishment! Definitely going back sometime to do that all over again.

All in all, it was a super hike, wonderfull view, and if i could climb it, i wonder why the hell its called a mountain, a hill, mound , pile sounds better!

Peak of Mt. Longonot

: View from Mt. Longonot

Relationships!

ngaresworld — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 22:46:30 +0000

I have been in a few of my own and sadly i dont seem to get any better at it. My immediate girlfriend firmly held the opinion that i couldnt communicate and i believe that is absolutely true! However much i may like a gurl it is damn right hard to tell her what i feel for her! Donno if its a ‘guy thing’ may be ill poll it. Id like to know how many guys tell their girlfriends they love them each and every day and not beacuse you fear what will happen if you dont. *wink wink*

Its interesting how we are wired so differently as i came to learn recently. I for example, would tell a gurl i like her and would expect the gurl to know that i still like her for the next month or so as long as my actions dont contradict that said statement but in fact re-enforce it. Girls on the other hand would like to be told, correct me if im wrong, i love you three times a day like a freaking prescription! In some cases i wonder how far back we are supposed to bend, and who should do the bending when exactly? I hate carrying flowers, not because id look gay, but why the hell should i be carrying flowers!? Girls on the other hand, correct me if im wrong again, would like a guy who surprises them with flowers and chocolates after a long day at home or wherever every so often. Whos supposed to buckle on that one?

I remember a drunken night sometime back when my friend was asked:

How would you describe your Ideal wife?

Holding a beer and staring into the disco ball, giving the illusion of deep intense thought, he said:

One who ill find after a long day of work, ill find amenichorea saba kwa bed akiwa ndethe!

Would you do that? Enough said!

*If you dint get that, let me know ill explain in camera

AOB

It was all for the best,i love you and i miss you.

Quote

With the end of a chapter a new one begins and such is the way of life!

Ngare Njoka 2009!

New Home!

ngaresworld — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 22:15:47 +0000

Decided it was time to VUKA!! I was stubborn for a long time and wanted to stay at my old home, but well there come a time when things have to change, reinvented, rejuvinated. Lol i suck at this.

Welcome to my new home!