Life-Changing Sandals

No, I am NOT talking about my addiction to shoes. Neither about that rare pair of shoes that DOESN'T hurt my sensitive feet (although they WOULD be life-changing to me).

I am talking about the Massaï Project of the Spanish brand Pikolinos. For the last 2 years, this company has been contributing to the development of the activity of around 1.400 families through the remuneration of Masaï Mara women making the shoes in Kenya.

OK, I agree, you have to have a little bit of Pocahontas aspirations to actually wear them. I guess I would only wear them if they are delivered by some strong Masaï Mara men ;-)

That being said, I love the idea of succesful companies in the West investing in smaller communities and benefiting from their craftmenship. I only hope that this is a longer term investment that they are making, because if these women only can earn for a year or two, what will the impact on their families and community be in the longer run?

Ok, Sara, stop thinking, just enjoy that yet one more project is florishing in Mama Africa.

http://maasai.pikolinos.com/

Tribel Art

OK, In general I don't really fancy the Dutch... I checked the audience I have on this blog before starting my post ;-) seems they don't like me neither! BUT that is in general. In not general, there are some Dutch whom I like, and also some great artists (and pretty girls and tall men).

Today I would like you to take a look at Dutch photographer Ingrid Baars, and more in particular her collection of pictures called "L'Afrique!". Love the way she plays with contrasts and light, while merging african tribal art and strong african faces, sensual bodies. Note the occasional accessory by Jean-Paul Gauthier. I love the complex and contemporary take on the subject, although I find most images a little tacky. Only a few would fit in my living room, but I still think that this is very inspiring work!

What do you think?

www.ingridbaars.com

Guardian Stone of Travelers

My passion for the stone Malachite began in 1986, when I discovered this stone laid out on the floor in Zaire, where sales men tried to sell us beautiful pieces for small prices. Since, Malachite is for me the "stonification" of Africa, the one stone that takes my mind instantly to Mother Africa. I once even bought really expensive sunglasses from Dior (with my tiny wage), JUST because they had small fake Malachite stones set into the sides... How typical that I now find out that this stone is said to be the Guardian Stone of Travelers!!

Malachite comes from ancient Greek "moloché", which originally means mauve, though the most famous type of malachite is known for its green hue. An opaque stone with light and dark striations, malachite was mined as early as 4,000 BC by the ancient Egyptians. Its distinctive shade results from the presence of copper. Because of its recognisable green color and the fact that it usually accompanies copper deposits, malachite is used as a guide when prospecting for this metal. The most beautiful stones come from RDC and Australia.

I am really happy to have discovered that the beautiful house of Van Cleef and Arpels has issued an entire collection with Malachite this year. Unfortunately the pieces are too expensive for me... But each time I pass in front of this jeweler (just around the corner of my office in Geneva), I stop and dream of Africa!

Pinguiss

OK, back to Basics: I need to get back to sharing you the backyard of Afrika, the great, the insolite, the fascinating... Honours today to Cameroun.

This country will always be special to me, as it is the most recent African experience I have and I really love the few years I spent there. The Camerounese are special, not always in a good way, BUT they have a lot of things going for them... PINGUISS!

PINGUISS is a new dance/ music style, invented in the streets of Douala, by an artist called Daniel BAKA'A. It's danced like the Ndombolo, the Bikutsi, the Makossa or even Coupé-décalé, but it is NOT Coupé-décalé, as the singer points out in his song. What makes this dance so popular is probably it's FREEDOM: you can dance it as you want, the only importance is the rhythm (God knows that is already a challenge to many). The only thing you need is a good physical condition... beware of your hips! :-) I have to restrain myself, before I break my foot again!!!

So Pump up the Jam, make some space and let yourself go: Rhythm is a Dancer! (ok, I might be a bit abusive of these titles)

Addicted

I have been less infatuated with Facebook the past weeks, the reason being that I have a new addiction: Pinterest. I have pinned enough projects to be busy until the rest of my life!! I have even purchased a sewing machine, and tons of material and supplies for all those projects, of which so far I have done none... Because I am too busy pinning and planning my next moves.

It also turns out that it is not that good for my self-esteem... when you get re-directed to all those fabulous blogs, of superwomen who cook the most delicious food (with ingredients from their very own garden of course), sew their own clothes, and are able to vamp-up about anything, live in the perfect home and are able to entertain their 5 kids in the most responsible way... I feel like a failure. Man, how to they do that! AND find the time to write about it, sharing all of that with the community? Do their days have more hours? They must have a time-machine or something: Men in Black, you were right, the world is infested with aliens!

Anyways, I DID spend the whole day yesterday vamping up the playground at my kids school AND might soon finish my first sewing project (of which the inspiration didn't come from Pinterest, but from the garbage can, where I found a maxi-cosy that I decided to clean and up-grade ;-) )... Stay tuned for the results!

When owning Jewelry becomes a Basic Need

I am in love with this jewelry... I want want want, I need need need!!

MURDER: VIOLENCE AND ELEGANCE HAVE BEEN THOUGHTFULLY CRAFTED IN INCREDIBLE DETAIL TO PRODUCE A RANGE OF BEAUTIFUL AND BREATHTAKING PIECES IN RUBIES, SAPPHIRES AND GARNETS, CAREFULLY SELECTED TO RESEMBLE BULLET WOUNDS, CUTS, MACHINE GUN FIRE TO THE BODY, SLASHES, BUTCHERING AND HACKING OF THE THROAT, HEAD AND EARS TO PORTRAY THE INHUMANITY AROUND THE WORLD

http://www.superfertile.com/MURDERBYSUPERFERTILE2011-12.pdf

Ode aan Marcelleke

Here I am... Tata! ... I AM Tata! And you didn't have to do anything special for it... just be born. And Tata I will be... as long as I get to see you splash about in the bath-tub, be upset, play with everything except with the truck-load of toys I will have gotten you. Draw on my holy sofa with the thickest pen you could find in the house. Pee in your pants just as we are about to leave to a party. Tease your cousin Mila. I am looking forward to forcing you to finish your first year of piano classes on behalf of my sister, and discovering your stack of weed and having to hide it from her. I hope I will be your confident as your first love breaks your heart (I have quite some experience with that). On long drives, we would leave no political party, radio-station or film unspoken. If you really insist, we can even talk about football. I am quite flexible. I am ready for your Marcelleke... Bring it on!

The Public Wants

... the Public Gets: Kizomba

Although I told the whole world why love Tarraxha better, I must say I am Happily surprised to see that Kizomba is gaining so much more interest throughout Europe. Personally, I don't like it when something I like becomes commercial and widely spread, but I can't fight this virus spreading ;-) 

The same thing happened when 15 years ago, I was really into Cuban salsa, dancing it with authentic Cuban friends... and then the crowd discovered it, "jan en alleman" became teachers, the US versions came over, and soon the sexy and fun latino dancers left the dance floor so that Mr Geek and Miss China could take over, losing all the soul of this great music and dance along the way. Dancing became a constant competition, girls started wearing adapted shoes and dresses, guys came with their little towels to dry their sweat... and it was fucked. I hope that the same thing doesn't happen to Kizomba, that it stays small scaled and fun, authentic!

In the meantime, one of the first commercial (and not so great) songs came out and even already showed on Trace Tropical. I prefer the Angolan or Cabo Verde ones, but I post the video, because I do find that the great basic steps in this video are showing clearly and it is an accessible song... Next time I will post a great tutorial, one that really helped me a lot! Stay tuned...

The Mercenary World labelled me a Lesbian

What kind of world do we live in? I have been having discussions with people recently that always seem to end in a sombre picture of a mercenary world, where human nature is in decline, values being swept away by iPhones and the future scary...

But is it really so? I mean, I love my iPhone...

I think this subject is too vast and hard to write about, but I wanted to share a few random thoughts. I can only speak for myself, and I notice that people are so little tolerant and understanding, and that more then ever, we need to fit into a box (probably produced in China, of recycled material IF you are lucky).

We just chucked away the freedom our hippie-parents so proudly claimed for themselves together with the wrapping of our ready-made meal. In times of crisis, people go back to the safety of their protectionist and conservative lives and become more self-centered then ever. As if pointing out the weaknesses of the other will increase your own strength!

It makes me sad to see that people experience diversity as a threat, that anyone who wasn’t born in the “right” country, or the “right” family or didn't make the “right” choices has such a hard time to conquer their own place on this planet, in our society... did anyone ask themselves by whose standards we DO live? Who dictates all of this crap?

Genuine support, affection or help, completely deprived from any kind of pervert or mercenary objectives, seems to be no longer acceptable... and has earned me the Label of Lesbian... those of you that know me well, know better

I'm in my 30ies

And I don't dare to admit it is a great time of my life! ok.. sometimes I want to go 10 years back, but usually that is not to stay in my 20ies but to make different choices. This is what I would have done differently if I could go back in time:

I would have studied goldsmith and jewelry design, would have created my own company in organic food and cosmetics, would have had 3 kids in my twenties, taken better care of the beautiful body I had. I would have put less importance into finding Mr. Right and spent most time with family and friends...

Now that I am in my 30ies, I finally have the ability (material and especially mental) to make some real choices. I'll have to resolve the 3-kid dream in time before the biological bomb explodes, and I have a few new ideas: I need to find a way to merge the European and the African molecules of my body, expressing it through art, a clothing line, an ecological farm in Africa, or eco-friendly tourism...

These ideas will need to grow over time, but you will here from me in let's say... 10 years?

One Little Frustration at a Time

I am like milk. I boil over real quickly... but take me off the heat and I'll calm down as quickly as I got onto my horse. But it happens a few times per day. I decided to start a small list of irritating situations. Feel free to pitch in or add to the list ;-)

1. Old people:

Not in general (because I know that it isn't politically correct and I know some great old people), but specifically those going to the super market on Saturday morning, chatting with the cashier. With all that time on their hands, why do they have to nag the young working class (who en passant provide for their pension) during rush hour? Can't they come on a Monday morning at... let's say 10am?

A few years ago, I went swimming before going to work. At 7am. I stopped because a group of old people started going there at 7am too, spreading all over the pool, blocking every single corridor. I guess it was followed by a cosy, old-people-breakfast thing... I had visions of poisoning them!

2. Young people:

Their is something about having your own kids: you can deal with their screaming (or not), but you can certainly not bring up the same patience for other people's kids. I am definitely one of those who will "tsss..." and throw nasty looks to mis-behaving kids and their parents, while my own daughter is ignoring my every instruction to obey. 

3. Dumb people:

Yes, I know... this piece isn't be very politically correct after all: I am a hugely tolerant person and don't discriminate against people of different racial, social, cultural, sexual,... backgrounds. Their is only one category I have the greatest issues with and that is dumb people. And oh boy, there are many. What a waist of time! Often they are also the ones discriminating against the racial, social etc... which just puts oil on my fire (and the milk boils even faster). 

I admit they are good fun to observe. I am hooked on the TV shows exposing dumb and dumber in their crappy (often happy I must admit) lives.. don't they make us feel better about our own averageness?

4. Traffic:

Although I am a blond, Belgian, woman (words of my French boss, who thinks this is hilarious btw) who literally bought her drivers license in Cameroon for 125euros, I think I am pretty damn-good driver ;-)... I like a nervous shift of gears, snaring tires, a bit of speed and loud music. 

Driving Mila to school is sometimes a real test to my stress resistance though: between the good house-wifes, driving their 4 kids in a mono-space that seems to go max at 30km/h; and the trucks on-loading in the middle of the street, I sometimes swear my heart out, my 7-year old holding on tight in the back... Jesus... Move!

Ha, and last night a friend of mine said that 40% of the traffic jams in Belgium are not related to people going into work or dropping off their kids at school, but are those old people driving to the super-market or swimming pools... get a life!

I Love My Mr. Wrong

People ask me why I am into Thug Love... I am not! I just happen to have fallen in love with a "bad boy", living a hysteric love story... I don't think I am attracted to bad boys in general, as this is the first (and last) of my life. I am fascinated by people who are different, and interesting people keep me awake, alert and help me question my own life and way of living. I have realised that many vilains are actually extremely sensitive to their entourage and to certain events. Noone is born a bad boy... It's hard to break the vicious circle though. Labelling people only conforts them and results in them behaving like everyone expects them to. Lack of self-esteem, opportunities to grow and proof that they can be responsible, are big hurdles. My bad boy will make it, because he is surrounded by people who care, opportunities and he is smart... I hope that maybe one day he will be able to use his experience to inspire others.

They Run The World

Beyonce seems to think women run the world... now, I would need to disagree with that, unless she meant Asian women! I've been out here again for nearly a week now, and I feel stupid. Ok, I admit, I have been spending my time in Singapore, Hong Kong (and Taipei is coming up), which might not be representative of "Asia", but... I have been to Malaysia, Thailand, Tokyo, Indonesia and Bali too and still believe some of the below applies in one way or another. I just feel like there are some words in the dictionary we don't have the seem meaning for:

SERVICE

Checking in a day early in the center of town rather then the airport; high-tech, clean, fast and punctual public transportation (Belgium and France, eat that!); friendly and high-quality assistance (France eat that!); elevators that take-off like Porche's and bring you to the 40th floor in 5seconds WITHOUT losing the phone signal; shopping malls that are open 7/7 until 10pm where you find the best of ALL worlds; free WIFI everywhere; clean toilets for free everywhere... I must admit, although I love chaos I could get used to this!

FOOD

Asian people spend their entire day eating. It's amasing they aren't taller and bigger! The smell of food is constantly in the air and literally everywhere are food-stands with the weirdest and most spectacular dishes... most of it I really like (good I am not scared of gastro-anteritis)! Last time my friends made me eat chicken feet, this time I stepped up a notch and had goose feet and baby-pork feet (sorry for the sensitive, vegetarians and Muslims amongst my readers). I did decline the chicken testicles, for now...

FRIENDS

This time I spend hours in the kitchen creating my own pralines (thanks for setting the example Valentine), in order to show my friends out here how much I appreciate them. They are very loyal and always go out of their way to spend time with me, then get the best and refuse I'd pay! I always come with a half-empty suitcase because I know I will have to take so much back... presents, food (famous cookies), shopping... I checked my bag this morning: it is 25kg, 2kg over-weight already, and I still need to go to Taipei! I might have to sneak some of my stuff into my bosses case when he looks the other way to get it across the border ;-)

There are other words that have a different meaning: CROWD, WORK, COMPETITION, MONEY... but maybe I'll cover them another time ;-) 

It was about time!

... I took the opportunity to get back into writing. I friend of mine told me he likes my writing style... don't know if that was:

a - pure flattery to get me into his bed

b - politeness

c - a way to make sure I would continue to spill my private life upon your screens

d - all of the above

But as usual, I hear only what I want to hear and to me it was purely because I am extremely talented, and I decided I shall no longer put that talent to waist: I am back!

Now, little recap since I created the blog a year ago: I was in a start-life crises (too young for mid-life), and wanted to change everything. So far, so good! 

- I have a new job, challenging as ever, fun and well paid

- I have a new boyfriend, challenging as ever, fun and well f**d

- I still eat only organic food when possible (thanks to the well paid job)

So what shall be the resolutions for 2012? 

- More time for my friends... for one! Traveling between Brussels and Geneva hasn't been good on my social life

- Work out a plan for the next 10 years of my life: moving? more kids? different career?

- Catch up time with Mila and Lais

- Consolidate my love-life (oh my God, I talk like a consultant!!)

No, but really, 2011 has been tiring, and turbulent. I will tell you all about it in my upcoming posts. For now, Happy New Year to all (23/1 is Chinese New Year too, so Happy Year of the Dragon). Lots of kisses from Hong Kong

Mila

So, some of you might know that I have a six-year old, who sometimes behaves like a 14-year old, named Mila. Mila is half Belgian and half Brazilian, but claims that she is "Brasileira". She also says that I am blond (meaning white) and she is brown... not black but brown and compares herself to some mixed African friends of her. She has light brown hair, fair and sensitive skin and brown eyes... not so "metisse" if you ask me! 

Mila might not have my hair colour or blue eyes, but she does have my character. I think it is God's revenge for what my parents have had to suffer. I know Mila will make me suffer. I resent her teenage years already...

It kind of started this summer, the teenage attitude. Mila went on a 3 week holiday to her family in Brazil, with her dad, without her mum. While I worked my ass off in Geneva and other very exotic places, Mila spent her time riding horses at the fazenda, or playing with her cousin or half brothers. She then didn't want to come back. She also didn't want to be with me anymore. Hysterically crying to stay with her dad.

It was still summer period and on her request she had been booked for a few exciting camps, one of which at the sea side. She cried for days, hysterically, even in her sleep, not to have to go... finally had no choice, went, loved it, and came back wanting only her mum, no longer he dad... go figure! 

So now we are still there: Mila cries every week when I leave to work in Geneva, tightly holding my scarf, with my perfume. I wonder what will be next...

Coincidence or Faith?

So here I go running off to a tailor in Matonge to get my new Nigerian boubou sawn to my exact size ;-) My sister in law brought to for me all the way from Nigeria and I want to show her how much I enjoy the present. As I walk up to the shop, I get distracted by some beautiful dresses in a new display just across the street. I decide to cross and peep inside. I see people unpacking and find out that a new designer is settling in!! Youpie. Turns out the designer is Russel Ndengoué, originally from Cameroun. We start chatting away and before I know he is the one re-sizing the boubou. I can't wait to see it tomorrow, in the mean time enjoy his work and visit his new shop: you will not regret it! russeln.skynetblogs.be

Judging the Book by its Cover

Boxes, labels, dress codes, references…. so many ways we have invented to be able to classify everyone around us. When we aren't able to label someone properly we become suspicious.

We are afraid of what we don't know - xenophobia. We are also afraid of not fitting into the appropriate box. 

I have been thinking a lot about my friends. They are all so different. They come from so many different boxes, classes, backgrounds. 

I wondered what were the common values of these people for me to relate to them. And I did come up with a few:

- my friends have pure hearts: they all are genuine people, honest and kind. most of them would go through fire for the ones they love

- my friends are no materialists: they prefer their freedom rather then being slaves of the money or possessions they might have. they are generous with what they have and don't abuse my generosity.

- my friends are faithful: no need to catch up all the time or see each other frequently. when I see my friends, it is as if time has stood still… we pick up the thread right were we left it and needn't explain what we are feeling… we just know

- my friends are open-minded: back to our boxes. most of my friends understand that I am not to be put in a box, nor that I put people in boxes. I judge people from their present, not their past. I judge them according to my interaction with them, not someone else's. I allow my friends to be whom they want to be, do what they want to do, as long as they respect me and the world surrounding us

- my friends are smart: I don't mean educated, but smart. I have difficulties hanging around people who aren't intelligent. I have great respect for "survivors", people whom - without having had the proper education, without having attended the best schools or been given the opportunity to learn - are still able to get it right, find a way to construct a business, create a family… 

- to all my dear friends, please react to this post by completing our list of common values...

Client Service

It is my trade these days, as I find myself as head of client service and business management. Last night I experienced real client service: at the airport I stopped to try (and eventually buy) a necklace. I spent some time with the sales person and paid a ridiculous amount of money for a tiny piece of jewelry. Rabah, the sales woman who attended me was delighted (bet she gets a good bonus). However, she seems to have genuinely liked me as she sent someone inside the plane -where I was waiting to depart- to return to me Mila's drawing which had fallen out of my bag when I got ready to pay... the purser handed it back to me with a smile and when he saw my astonished face, said proudly: "yes, we are good hein!"... I hope that my team will have this impact on someone's (professional) life more then once...

Just in Time

Once more... Running for the plane. For a few months now I have been taking the plane weekly. Missed it only twice but have been running for it more and more frequently. When doing something new, it seems I am very concentrated and making sure that there is structure, or even buffer foreseen. I used to print boarding passes a day ahead, pack the night before, leave on time, and avoid the traffic jams. Now I forget to print the boarding pass, pack in the morning, leave late and take the ring, to find myself running on high heels in the airport building (where I do know all the shortcuts).

Which makes me realise that it is like that with most things. When we get used to performing the same actions we stop thinking about them... And when we get complacent we start making mistakes. Taking it to a different level: When we get used to the people around us, there is also a risk of taking this person for granted. We should avoid taking anyone for granted, as no one is forced to be your friend. A relationship, even with your relatives, should never be left unattended.

- Cherish the people that count for you and make sure you do lots of exciting things with them to avoid the drain and constraints of daily life

- Communicate, talk about the good and the bad things... The day you stop discussing, your relationship is in trouble (but boy do I wish that Mila stops talking that much)!

- Dare to pronounce the words "I love you"... Also for friends and family

- Don't forget my grandma's wise advise and make lots of love to your partner: nothing is more re-assuring and relaxing as good sex ;-)

How important is money?

People who know me will probably tell you that I have a hole in my hands. It seems I was born with this condition but funnily enough I have rarely in my life been dependant on anyone for money and have never really gotten myself into debts or anything like that. I have lived on the edge, but always knew when to close the tap.

I love beautiful things (I think I have told you that before) and love good food. This results in living in a beautiful loft, shopping for organic food at Delhaize, driving a coupe car, wearing Chacok and Reminiscence. At the same time though, I hate mainstream snobs, don’t feel the need for a Louis Vuitton bag, Jimmy Choo shoes, clothes by Armani or glasses from Gucci. If you catch me wearing one of these brands, it would be because I genuinely think it is a good product.

When I acquire an expensive and beautiful item I don’t like to separate from it again. I dread the idea that the shoes will wear off, the clothes will change in the washing,... I am very cautious and careful with my things. This should never be mistaken with materialism. I am not infatuated with money or objects whatsoever. I get over the loss of any of my belongings fairly quickly, unless they have particular sentimental values (like my stolen jewelry)…

I love money because it makes things possible. It can get you around the world, opens doors. Mila is a lucky girl to have parents that earn enough money to ensure the fun part in her life, as well as her education. I love to spend money on others, on the people I love. Much more satisfying than walking around shopping or filling my cupboards with useless stuff…

I always wanted to be a adventurer with nothing with a toothbrush in her suitcase…