Musings of a Global Nomad

Dear friends and loved ones, Anything is possible, even the impossible. 2020 proved this right. What an aberrant year it was, so unexpected and utterly unbelievable. A virus came and took us hostage, built invisible walls that separated us from each other and savagely took away loved ones.  It was a year where everything was different and yet we couldn't  really pause because the business of life carried on. I n time we found a way circumventing through the  m onotony, the isolation, the paranoia, the frustration. Some of us trusted the science and followed the guidance, while some of us didn't and added to the frustration of those who did. The months passed, we celebrated lockdown birthdays and anniversaries, we expertly home schooled, and navigated new ways of working. We endured, we  innovated and dipped deep into our indomitable spirit, grit and resilience .  Yes, there were times we did lose our sanity but for the most part we survived pretty damn well....

Today we begin our fourth week in lockdown. We continue to cope reasonably well, are grateful for jobs that allow us to work from home effectively and for school work that continues seamlessly online. We are thankful that our supermarkets continue to be well stocked and that we have enough green space around us to walk and refresh. And most importantly we are thrilled that our family is together (Ar made a quick decision to come back from Uni in the UK last weekend. We had about 12 hours of drama as she was initially not allowed to board, but things worked out in the end and she IS HERE). The MasterChef table- every dish prize worthy So yes, a new week begins. If you ask if had a good weekend. I will tell you that I did; that I was glad the sun was out, that I could sit out on the terrace, that I finally watched the movie CATS and got why James Corden half regretted ever doing that movie. I will tell you that the highlight was organizing a Master Chef- Lockdown edition for the k...

45 years ago in Bisidimo, Ethiopia. In a few hours I will bring in my 45th birthday. As I write, Corona Virus has taken over our lives. Italy is in lock down and the mood everywhere is somber.  But it is my birthday tomorrow, so I refuse to be dispirited, and as I always do, am looking forward to a great birthday. It will be a different kind of birthday, one that I am sure I will especially remember. I know birthday plans have kept the kids busy and I hear rumors and whispers behind closed doors of surprises being planned for tomorrow. I am ready and waiting... So what's it been like to be in lock down? Not too bad at all. We had anticipated it and so had stocked up with basics even before the announcement. No we didn't buy a hundred rolls of toilet paper but rather a limited amount of groceries, just enough to keep us going and limit our trips to the grocery store. The school is doing an incredible job with online schooling and the kids are busy throu...

Dearest friends and family, Greetings and the warmest Christmas blessings from the Holy Land where we are so blessed and excited to be spending Christmas this year. It has been quite emotional and humbling, to be here amidst so much history. The learning and the understanding of the different faiths, who all have a special connection to the Holy land has made this trip all that more enriching and enlightening.  So...It was mid August and I was lamenting to a friend about the awful summer we were having. What was supposed to have been a relaxing holiday with my parents, feasting on mums home cooked meals, sleeping in late and waking up to the sound of monsoon rain dancing on the tiled roof above, had turned out to be what will go down in family history as one of the most disastrous summers ever. I will get to the details later, but this friend in a bid to make me laugh said “well atleast you already have material for your annual newsletter’. I laughed and was grateful fo...

Dear friends and loved ones,   Anticipating a packed agenda in the weeks leading up to Christmas, for the first time ever I begin to write this letter while it’s still only November (albeit the last weekend in November). Whether this means I am just better at prioritizing and planning ahead or I simply need more time to write, I will let you decide:) Let me begin with a warm Nigerian greeting. How far? Wétin dey? That’s, how are you? What’s up? in Pidgin English, Nigeria’s unofficial lingua franca. One of the things we have most appreciated about Nigeria, is the warmth and importance of a greeting. No matter who you meet, from a passerby asking for directions, to a VIP, they will always spend a few moments saying hello, asking how was your day (and night- which by the way is completely innocent) and often complimenting you on your dress, your smile, or your hair style.  (Talking about hair, Indian hair is apparently quite in demand  this side of the world ...