A year has passed

Mish, a very close kenyan friend of mine wrote me a comment about one of the first blog entries I wrote more than one year ago now - this blog entry was about one of the most inspiring events of my life, attending the international trainers conference in AIESEC, and it was the very experience that gave me the courage to take up the responsibility as the MC People development in the year that now has passed - one event CAN certainly change the course of a lifetime ;)

In the ending comments of my article a year ago, I wrote that I now had regained my inspiration, and that all I needed was ways to express and share it - through my year in Kenya, I most definately arthieved that, meaning that I both managed to inspire a lot of wonderfull young AIESECers (or at least so several of the claim ;)), and gaing so much satisfaction and personal learning from doing so. Kenya was a wonderfull experience for me - however, it was just the first steps, as there is a whole lifetime of experiences and possibilities ahead of me - next step for now is national training in Denmark, finishing my studies and training or charing in conferences all over europe ... after that, well who knows, as long as I keep following my passion I know I will not get bored ;)

Smiles and huge hugs!
Kristian

Reflections on evilness and the state of Africa

A friend of mine posed this question in her blog "What makes people evil". This inspired me to write quite a long comment about the state of Africa, which I might as well share with you her too ;)

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Well, my experience from living here in Kenya for a period (even though Kenya is one of the most thriving and peaceful African communities), is that it basically is up to the individual whether he or she is good or not. Most of the wrongdoings in Africa is to some extent linked to accepting the status quo - just as in Blood Diamond, the phrase "This is Africa" or "This is Kenya", is used as an excuse for the country or the region not moving anywhere, and newer being able to do so - which is really sad.

The people who are "evil" down here, that is muggers, conmen, corrupt officials etc., all see themselves as justified for their actions, as they have families to feed or because nobody ever supported them (survival of the fittest). The interesting thing is that this even counts for the rich bad people too - what is important is the thrift of you, your family and your friends, everybody else must try to make it on their own.

By my belief one of the biggest reasons for this, is undependable governments throughout many years - if you cannot depend on the system, you will have to make your own way in the world - if you tried to change it a few times and failed, the easiest way out is a "TIA" attitude - accepting status quo, is to fail as a leader of change.

Anyway, luckily I see a lot of positive development in many African countries now a days. Kenya lived under a dictator for 20 years until the last election in 2002 where he democratically was replaced. The current president has used most of this term on slowly rebuilding the country, and on the way fighting corruption, bad economic growth etc. Kenya is on the right track now, and so is Tanzania, Ghana and a few others. South Africa is fooling a bit around, and does not seem to be moving much, Rwanda is developing strongly by surprisingly having an extraordinary strong, open minded and development focused leader (who nevertheless is a dictator - political opposition to him always seems to get beaten down in the press very quickly), Nigeria - heh, etc.

So my hope for the world of tomorrow is that this development continues, and that other areas of the world does not develop into a status of utter stupidity - like a Christian/Muslim war or whatever - aie, humans can be so stupid at times.

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Hugs and Smiles from Sunny Kenya
Kristian

Lacking towards the end

Hi All, a dodgy update from the warm country down under.

I have now been here for almost eight months, and I am beginning to feel really comfy and integrated. Nairobi is a beautifull city when you know the pulse, and Kenyans are approximately the most wonderfull people in the world. The definately have lots of "challenges" society wise, and the culture as such is very emotional, which can make it a challenge to work in it at times, but as a whole, Kenyans are the warmest, happiest and most caring people in the world (Open to inviations from countries who want to prove me wrong ;)).

Am currently working on finalizing my area, and making sure that all what I have done for AIESEC down here during my year as responsible for people development (aka. human resource + leadership development), survives and goes into caring and competent hands after me. Have been recieving a lot of positive feedback, which I admit flatters me, but also worries me. If you only recieve positive feedback and still knows you could do so much more, and so much better in a number of areas, that must mean that either people are either not noticing, or that they just hold back right? Anyway, hope I have managed to touch the lives of at least a few individuals down here, and that what I have made, have some kind of impact on the lives of the 400 AIESEC members I have been working with and on. By going here I realized a dream, the next step will be to make dreams of similar impact and passion come true for the rest of my life too :)

A few thoughts shared - will upload some fancy photos later...

Smiles,
Kristian

Amazing New Years Eve at the Beach!

New Year, 30 degrees heat, seven friends of which six are girls, cheap booze and a big milky white beach. WOW!!!


How happy can a man be :)

This year I celebrated New Years Eve together with a bunch of friends on a beach at the Kenyan Coast. We chilled in front of a few five star hotels, enjoying our cheaply "imported" Kenya Canes (Kenyan 40% spirit made of sugar cane), the gently rolling waves of the ocean as well as the retro music swimming down towards us from the hotels - definately a new year to be remembered :D

Huge hugs to the crew consisting of Jacob from Germany (my fellow male), Siobahn from UK, Natalia from Germany and Leah, Sheila, Nina and Juliet from Kenya - nothing like a party amongst friends you trust and love :D

For more details explore the photo album below - you will not regret it ;)

New Year Malindi Kenya 2006/2007

Huge Hugs and Best of Smiles :)
Kristian

Beauties of Kenya

... and now we are at it, we must remember that Kenya has more than one natural resource. Added a few pictures of the beautifull people in LC UoN - the most amazing thing about them, is that the beauty you see on the pictures is nothing but a reflection of what each of these amazing individuals contain. So much potential, so much energy, so much passion - WOW!!!

Best of Smiles and Hugs to the People of AIESEC UoN :oD
Kristian - Your MC Passionator!

From left: Emma, Esther, Fiona, Saohan, Beryl, Sheila and Mary

AIESEC YaY!!! (Sylvia in Charming Action)

Huzler Action (Keitany and Fiona)

Dodgy Dudes and Dudettes! From left: Nina, Dan, Hiram, Esther and Me

Beauty of Kenya

Last weekend I had the priviledge of visiting one of the most beautifull natural reserves in Kenya. I was staying in a small hut inside Lake Nakuru National Park owned by Kenya Wild Life Service together with 30 AIESECers from University of Nairobi. During the four days of stay, the gazellas regularely came all the way up to the hut for grassing, and the first night we had a horde of bizons crowding the courtyard. Early Saturday morning we were driven through the park, and got some amazing sights of both nature and animals.

I have added a few pictures entirely for your pleasure ;o)

Enjoy!
K




 

The fight for survival - Public transport in Nairobi

The air is filled with tension, on the small street people are packed shoulder to shoulder, and every set of eyes were focused on the incoming bus - it comes briskly, then suddenly with a jerk moving to a halt. Suddenly the tension is broken, the waiting is transformed into movement towards the door. A slightly angry conductor stands in it, trying to make space for the people in the bus to leave out onto the street, but people keeps pushing and crowding towards the door - even more angry now, the conductor slams the door in the face of an oncoming lady, and the bus suddenly jumps 10 meters down the street, causing the oncoming horde to fall down like dominos. A pushed down lady starts wailing. The door opens again, and people starts seeping out of the bus again - not cooed by the roughness of the bus, the crowd attacks again, the conductor is now virtually fighting with oncoming customers in the door.
Finally the last passenger leaves the bus, and the real fight is now on. I, together with a Dutch and a Canadian friend join the struggle, and using our elbows quite a bit we suddenly find ourselves in front of the door. A Kenyan mama with a crowd of children passes in front of us, shouting - make space for the bebes - we form a defensive line, and she enters the bus unharmed. Finally the three of us pushes ourselves up the stairs and into the already moving vehicle, as by magic getting the last three empty seats. The fight is over, the mood in the bus is cheerful, we are the victors and the spaces we sit on, are ours by conquest. I hear a man down the bottom of the bus, commenting with a smile, that never before has he seen Muzungos (White people) participate in the fighting to enter a bus. I feel the pride swell in me, knowing now that I during the last five months have become a true Kenyan :)

Smiles,
K