Its not easy being a black woman. There is so much stigma and stereotype out there that you have to fight against. I must either be neck popping, finger snapping and smart mouthed (think of all the black movies you've watched), arrogant and high and mighty (Condoleeza) or some kind of matronly figure. People find it difficult to swallow a black woman, who is proud of being that, and still listens to classical music as well as John Legend, enjoy the ballet as well as street dance, and singing Black spirituals as much as the classics. I'm a lot for people to take in, especially if we are speaking on the phone and then I drop it into the conversation. They just sort of go..."huh?"

Anyway, the purpose of this post was not to rant about that, but about the fact that in addition to all those challenges as a black woman I suffer a curse. The curse of the inflated bottom. yes people I have a big butt. I am not ashamed of it - in fact I rather like it, it gives an illusion of curves and makes sitting almost anywhere pretty easy - its comfortable. The problem is the clothes in the shops here are designed for women who don't have big butts, so I have been reduced to wearing jeans with holes in them because I couldn't find a single pair that fitted my long legs, skinny waist and big bum. It was so frustrating, to now I've been forced to abandon denim, even though I've practically lived in denim for the last 3 or 4 years. AARRGGH!

I could go on and on but I wouldn't want to overwhelm you. That and also that I'm on the tail end of a really nasty bug that has taken over this city. Thursday was HELL. My face was all puffy and swollen, my eyes were watering, my nose was blocked and my muscles were all shaking uncontrollably. Plus I had a fever and a sore throat - it was so awful and my boss STILL made me work because we were in the midst of monthly inspections. How annoying is that?

Anyway, y'all be good and take care of yourself. Here's and inspirational quote for you, "And you, how will history judge you? What will be your legacy?" Its not really inspiring but it keeps me going and doing right.

Be good!

What is the opposite of the blues? It was my birthday on Wednesday, and even though I am still a bit down from all the stuff going on in and around my life, I had a really fantastic day with two of my new friends so, I'm not really blue...I think the opposite of blue is yellow. SO I have the birthday yellows.

I managed to get some really good concession seats to see Cirque Du Soleil at the Royal Albert Hall in London. The total day cost a fraction of what it cost my pal Alicia to see "o", their show in Las Vegas which was fantastic. Laura('s mom) threw lunch (Nairobi Slang for paid for something) so we went to a rather posh Japanese restaurant called Wagamama. (Strange word- it implies grab a mama and wag 'er! I thought this all day, and I almost descended into more "mung" madness!!)

The show we saw is called Alegria and it lived up to its billing - lots of gravity defying and three feet leaps into the air. The clowns were hilarious, and the music was super!

It was flagrant escapism. I used that day to run away from all the trouble in my life, but it was alright, because I came back a little refreshed and a little less stressed. I have a whole lot to do and a lot of negotiating with different parts of the departments of this University still to come. But I am 21 now...and the day of freedom and London (I love that city - I always feel at home in London) was worth every minute.

I got an extension on my rent payments. Luckily, the law in my country was changed so that there are restrictions on money being sent out, which means that I have more time to raise the rent deficit that I incurred last month. I am still working hard to raise the obscene amount of money they are asking of me but I just need to make it through this year and then I'm out of halls!

So it was a good day, Wednesday, and hopefully things will get better and better from here on. God Willing.

Be Good!