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Or, Trying in Public
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Reader,
On Saturday, I went to my first Powerpoint Party and shared the 4 strands of my 2026 Personal Curriculum (my thanks, as always, to Jananie for putting me on) so I’m sharing here for public accountability.
I’ll share each strand and the measurable goal I’ll be aiming for at the end of my year.
Strand 1: Learn Spanish 🇪🇸
Years ago, I decided I would read Gabriel García Márquez in the original Spanish. It’s been almost 20 years; I still can’t read my Spanish edition of Charlotte’s Web but this is the year when I can finish a book. Even if it’s just one of the children’s titles mentioned here. Please send me any and all resources (not Duolingo!) that you’ve found useful in your language learning 🙂
Goal: Read a simple book 📚
Record myself reading a Spanish book on video and tell the story in English 🙂
Strand 2: Dairy Technology 🐄
Since I moved to the village, I have been craving the variety of cheese and yoghurt I enjoyed in Nairobi. A conversation with a friend led to me learning about Ethiopia’s fermented dairy products. I also enjoy certain Indian fermented dairy products and I want to learn more about how they are made.
Goal: Make a dairy product 🧀
Present some dairy products I have made at an event at home or alone. I will document the process with pictures; maybe even do a little podcast series? We’ll see. I’m taking suggestions!
Strand 3: Community Radio 📻🎙️
I have loved community radio for more than a decade and was surprised there wasn’t one in the area where I am now living. Since moving here, I have immersed myself in writing about community radio. I love national, even international, radio stations AND there is something powerful about something local.
Goal: Pitch a local station 🎧
Without doxxing myself, I live in an area with low enrolment at the local comprehensive school and no community library. I’ve been thinking of using the unused classrooms for the radio station. While the school is not an ideal location (safeguarding, for one), a similar space would be great for a library/ studio combo. So let’s see if I can pitch it to the community. If I have an episode recorded in a community radio station at year’s end, I’ll count it as a success.
Strand 4: Tech Skills 🐍
Last year, I wanted to learn Python but the way my spoons were stacked? This year, when I said I was hoping to learn it, a friendly person in the Anti Brain Rot Discord suggested learning HTML, CSS, JavaScript & C++ before. I know some of the first 2 and I have never checked out the other 2 so I’m hoping to build a foundation.
The other tech skills I’m hoping to acquire are around editing videos and sound because I’d like to bring back my channel and podcast. So… big on tech; even though sometimes tech is tek.
Goal: Build a site highlighting my tech skills 🧑🏾💻▶️
Basically what it says on the tin. I always tell creatives to have a website and if I am to think of myself as a creative, and this as a creative pursuit, let me make a website! I’ll definitely post a link here when I do it 🙂
🎯 The goal, more than anything, is to learn and experiment. Feel free to send advice, tips, tricks, encouragement, money even (to buy study materials) and thanks for reading this far ✨
Quick news/ things that may be of interest:
Some upcoming events, in the spirit of kiwaru ⤵️
Mengi Mengi Film Club this Valentine’s. Sign up here.
Queer Times Book Club to start off March (RSVP here)
Kenya Museum Society pop up market; always a great place to get second hand books
Treat someone you like (me, for instance, I have a Switch) to the Tiny Bookshop Game (which is also on Discord)
Subscribe to my WhatsApp channel for texts I find while I spend time online
Film folks: Solidarity Cinema, for your consideration
If you’re in the Global North and would be open to engaging in the North-South solidarity that is sharing a library card, please email or message me so we can figure things out. Thank you!
The Queer Liberation Library 🏳️🌈🏳️⚧️, which is free to join here
Digital Library of Korean Literature, which is free to join here
Film folks: Check out the Japan Foundation’s JFF Theater online streaming platform
How to Write Alt Text and Image Descriptions for the visually impaired
Links to Reading Lists, Free Books, Book Recs, Book-related Items, and Calls for Submissions in this document (most recent links at the top)
Since Elon seems to want (some of) us gone, I’m trying to post more often on Bluesky. Follow me there if you’re on it!
You can send me books, postcards, letters, and assorted items via PO Box 102439, Jamia Posta 00101, Nairobi, Kenya (I write back!)
I have finished one book since I last wrote to you: Marsha: The Joy and Defiance of Marsha P. Johnson by Tourmaline (e-book and audiobook narrated by Tourmaline). I’m primarily using Storygraph now (passively updating Goodreads as I read most e-books on Kindle via the library) and I hope to get back to making videos soon.
As ever, please write back to me and tell me what books you’re reading or looking forward to reading — it’s always a great time talking about books.
Thank you for reading 🙂
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Enjoy the week ahead and have a lovely time reading. Talk to you soon!
Kefir is an easy dairy product to make if you can get hold of the grains. It's really good for you, too.