When the government lifts its ban on going out in one short week, there will still be many barriers to navigate. The sun may be shining, but the world may look just as uninviting to some as a windy Saturday may look to a runner. We may continue to hunker down, stay at home, and wait. Just as I’m learning to face down the wind, we’ll learn to live with our barriers. … More Facing down the wind
A little over a year ago I was in a bar celebrating the French Rugby team’s qualification for the 2016 Summer Olympics. It was monumental. Rugby 7s had never before been an olympic sport, and the French team had never set foot in an olympic arena. On the evening that I celebrated France’s qualification for the games, I celebrated … More The Olympian from Afar
Right now, I feel more myself than I have in a long time. Over the course of the past year, I have often found myself struggling with a sense of who I am in the context of different environments. I’ve been somewhat identified by my “background.” I’m Kate from Houston, Texas; Kate the American; Kate who is half … More A Cross Cultural Identity Crisis
A good number of French people have a hard time saying my name. I tell them my name is Kate, and they repeat “Kay-tuh,” almost a two syllable name, which sounds funny in comparison to my singular American syllable. The lady at Starbucks spells it “Kathe.” I say it to strangers as I kiss them on … More I Am a French Child
I’m sitting in the Frankfurt airport on a 7-hour layover looking out a big window at all the Lufthansa planes. My flight got delayed 4 hours, and, being that it’s the holidays, all the others were full. So here I am sitting at a little table by myself, listening to the same announcements in German over and … More Traveling Humbles
More often than not, I find myself telling people that I’m “going home” for lunch, or “I’ll be home” around this time, or “I’m waiting for my sister,” and know that by “home” I mean Peter and Monicah’s house or by “sister” I mean Serphine or Linette. These things so naturally became part of my … More Each Day Is Sufficient, “Home,” and Other Reflections
I’m so ridiculously happy and full right now. First, because we had chapati and bean stew for dinner tonight and that combination makes up one of my favorite meals. I think the primary reason I love it so much is because it tastes basically like a thicker, heartier version of tortillas and charro beans, which … More A Healthy Dose of Humility and Embracing Fullness
This is a post I wrote last night, but I fell asleep before I could send it. I attended my first seventh day Adventist church service today. I say today instead of this morning because it’s unlike any church service I’ve ever attended. It’s an all-day affair. We trekked across town to East Nairobi to … More Happy Sabbath
As the day comes to a end, I sit on the edge of my bed writing this and counting my blessings. In the short time that I’ve been here, I know I’ve already begun to be molded and shaped by the people I’ve been surrounded by. Coming to this conference has been one of the … More Lessons Learned
Last night I had one of the most incredible experiences of my entire life. I attended my first ever meditation group. Before I go any further, let me back up here and give you a little background before I delve into this story. A few years ago, right as I was getting ready to graduate … More Lessons from Meditation: How I Jump Started My Journey
The Transition Artist 