Review of The Life of Pi-what a read!

There are certain levels of description that fill you with awe. 

'Take for example this description of a hyena: Its thick neck and high shoulders that slope to the hindquarters, look as if they've come from a discarded prototype for the giraffe, and its shaggy, coarse coat seems to have been patched together from the leftovers from creation.'

This phrase is from the award-winning Booker Man Prize recipient, Yann Martel's novel, 'Life of Pi.' I am delighted to have read it before I watched the film. Yann Martel is a writer of such magnitude. He describes scenes, characters and events with such palpable reality.

Nothing prepared me for the story of a lifetime. Pi, whom the title of the novel is named after, is a son of a zookeeper in India. The fictional Pondicherry zoo has a life of its own, where the traits of animals are so intricately woven and their lives and mannerisms depict such human-like traits.

When reading the novel, a reader is inclined to forget that zoos are run by humans, because the animals are much larger than mere sight seeing spectacles. The novel details how predatory humans can be, especially when gawking at animals in their cages, or when feeding the animals with forbidden substances like razor blades and plastic.

The journey from India to Canada, with literally an entire zoo on board a ship, called the Tsimtsum, is an adventure of a thousand tales. From the horrific shipwreck, devastation from numerous deaths, unimaginable wounds and loss, to surviving 227 days on a lifeboat.

This epic story largely speaks of a young boy and a tiger, who only had their wits about them, their survival instincts and bouts of hope, enabling them to live day by day on fish, human flesh, salty water  and ocean plants. They managed to do this amidst unimaginable sores from the scorching sun, extended fatigue, the daily fear of death by sharks and flesh eating plants.

This novel lifted me to all sorts of human emotion, from pity, to horror and relief. Yann Martel's novel has been depicted in a film as well. The book is available on Amazon and I highly recommend it for your book clubs, for reading pleasure and for insight into the lives of animals.

What does it teach?

That we too can survive amidst the most sordid and unimaginable circumstances, if we keep our wits about us, and even when hope has completely disappeared, we should use the little energy left and muster it, because our survival depends on it. We are indeed built to overcome the most horrific of circumstances, both emotionally and physically.

Bless!

Beverley N Nsengiyunva

He Dreamt Himself Out Of The Situation

We need to dream ourselves out of a situation.

Joseph had grand dreams, messages from God. Firstly, that the sheaves of corn that his brothers were tying up, bowed down and encircled Joseph's own sheaf and bowed down to it. Secondly, that his parents and brothers would all bow down to him. The family understandably, became agitated.

I have dreams, too. I have shared them with people. Like Joseph, these people lured me into a prison cell, laced with words dripping with fake empathy and I believed them, chatting along until I found myself in a prison cell.

Joseph Dreamt Himself Out of That Situation, in the same way he dreamt himself into it. With one false fabrication after another, and his captors rubbing their hands together in glee, he dreamt himself out of the situation.

His dreams came true. He became Governor of Egypt, using his wise counsel to save millions across the world from famine. The sheaves of corn bowed down to him. His family bowed down to him. 

I too am built to create a positive impact across the globe. Despite the prison gates made from the dredges of  twisted tendencies, I am dreaming myself out of the situation.

The dreams were messages from God and I already see how each bolt that was tightened to fasten itself around me, has slipped away.

Sometimes you need to dream yourself out of a situation. The prison guards always seem stern, stout and terrifying. No one is stronger than a dreamer. Nothing is more capable that a dream fulfilled.

Joseph's dream was fulfilled. His impact across the globe was met. He dreamt himself out of prison, out of torture and saved millions. 

Keep dreaming!

There's no prison gate strong enough for a person who dreams and whose dreams come true.

Bless!

Beverley N Nsengiyunva

The Day John Amos Visited Power FM

The Day John Amos Visited Power F.M

It was twenty years ago when John Amos first visited Uganda.

John Amos, the lead actor in the American comedy, 'Good Times,' and father of the bride in America's beloved, 'Coming to America,' alongside Eddie Murphy, as well as a lead actor, starring as Kunta Kinte in 'Roots,' a series about slavery.

Here I am, twenty years ago, working as a radio host at Power FM in Kampala.

It was the week that we heard about John Amos visiting Uganda and staying at one of the hotels in town. I knew that we had to have him on the show. This icon. This worthy actor. I knew that we had to meet him.

Since almost none of us at the station ever had airtime on our mobile phones, we used to make official calls using the office telephone. All our marketing appointments, invitations to hosts and all important transactions were made using that office landline.

Sometimes, we had to speak as rapidly as we could, because the UGX 5,000 airtime on the phone would run out and leave us embarrassed with the humiliating reminder,

'You don't have enough airtime to complete this call.'

And then would take at least another ten minutes to load more airtime, because we had to request for petty cash, have it authorised and then run to the nearest supermarket to buy another airtime scratch card. All this was necessary before loading another UGX 5,000 for important office calls.

After learning that John Amos was visiting Uganda and staying at one of the hotels in town, I approached the office phone, with a little trepidation, at first. On reaching the front office, I introduced myself and the radio station I worked at, asking if they had a guest John Amos, and how possible it was to speak to him.

In a series of fortunate events, within a minute, John Amos was on the line. I introduced myself, expressed my delight at speaking to the very man who had filled our homes with laughter and tears, because of his powerful acting skills, and invited him over to our morning show the next day.

It worked. The next morning, the Power FM driver picked John Amos from his hotel, and I had the rare opportunity to interview a celebrity, alongside my co-host at the time, Ben Mwine.

John Amos was lively, courteous, generous with his story and he autographed our notebooks and white handkerchiefs. 

I recently saw him in Coming 2 America and it's good to know that he's still acting.

Given that there was no social media twenty years ago, the only representation we had of John Amos, was from films and maybe articles. Today, everyone has the ability to curate and reconstruct their lives as they please, on the digital platforms.

John Amos had no need to reconstruct his bio, because he was as amicable and friendly as they come. I have read about the recent family struggles and for a man in his eighties, this is regrettable to have to go through.

When it comes to celebrities, he is one of those whose encounters I still hold extremely dear.

Bless!

Beverley

P.S. I haven't been able to retrieve any photos of the staff and John Amos.

Knock Your Elbows Together and Truly Celebrate

There is something powerful and endlessly beautiful about celebration. The type of celebration where you need to take off your shoes to dance, where your elbows are knocking against each other because you just can't contain yourself. We need to engage in that type of celebration, once in a while.

Here above, my daughter's teacher's wedding, May 2024.   

My daughter's teachers and administrators are generally outgoing, caring, generous and empathetic. That is one of the reasons why I decided to spend my entire Saturday at one of her teacher's wedding. Amongst her friends, my daughter was also one of the ushers. Over a dozen students signed up to usher for their dear teacher.

I have attended many weddings, and served as well. It may have been because I have not been out for a wild party in a while, or at many events, the time for dancing or getting to know one another is so miniscule, that our elbows hardly knock each other.

At my daughter's teacher's wedding, there was knocking of elbows. Shoes were flung across the green. Wigs and weaves could not withstand the frenzy and the music created little mounds of earth, with its heavy beats.

I marvelled at the newly-weds. I watched the guests and their enthusiastic welcome. It was truly breathtaking. How much joy can one take at one go!

I want to be part of more celebrations like this, where we knock our elbows together and weaves fall off because they just can't withstand the frenzy.

Bless!

Beverley

 

What do you really want?

 Do we really know what we want in life?

My children always ask for what they want. They know that when they ask, the probability of them receiving it, increases by 50%. When I say no, and they are aware that it is within my capability if providing it (not a helicopter for a school event of course), then they persist. More often than not. I give it to them.

Why do I do this? It is because I know that what they are asking for is important to them and it will actually be useful for them in that moment or in the near future. And also, it is because I am able to give it to them. I also enjoy watching them learn the power of persistence.

There is a difference between whining and persistence. When they whine, I address the whining as a parent. When they request and persist, I will address that and when able, give it to them. I am proud that they are growing up not to be fearful of what they want.

I am proud that they are aware of what they want and able to explain to me why it is important that they have it. I am glad that their father and I are able to discuss it together.

Many of us, as adults, do not know what we want. It may be because growing up, whenever we asked, we were not given. It may be because we grew up with limited resources and when we asked our parents, we were reminded that money does not grow on trees.

Unfortunately, this may also affect the way we negotiate contracts at work. We feel unworthy of asking for a salary raise. We feel unworthy of negotiating better working conditions. We accept the bare minimum and because of that, we are treated with minimal respect even when we do our best and outperform others.

Ask for what you want. Do not whine. Just ask. Persist. Request politely. Negotiate. Speak maturely. Address your concerns with facts.

According to the Daily Mail, Before they won a $2.76 million lottery jackpot in 2005, Lara and Roger Griffiths, of England, reportedly never argued. After winning it, they lived lavishly before their house caught fire. Lara also suspected her husband of cheating on her and that ended their 14-year marriage.

The lottery win is not to blame for this. When you ask for what you want, be prepared for what will happen when you get it.

In another story, William "Bud" Post won $16.2 million in the Pennsylvania lottery in 1988, but he was $1 million in debt within a year. His former girlfriend successfully sued him and his brother allegedly put a hit out on him. Before his death, Bud said he was happier when he was broke.

The lottery win is not to blame. When you ask for something, be prepared for it. When you get what you ask for, do you really know how to handle it?

Keep on asking for what you want and more importantly, be prepared to know what to do with it, once it arrives.

Bless!

Beverley N N 

Feed Yourself Before You Feed Others

 Just like a plant needs sunlight, water and carbon dioxide to flourish, you too need enough food to flourish, as a speaker. And you need to the right type of food.

What food do you take, before you speak? Water is necessary and so is fruit, because the natural sugars will provide the right energy.

How about a positive mindset? Get rid of what makes you angry, or what triggers your deepest fear and when you are on stage with the audience, provide them with the correct light, air and water that they need.

They rely on you to provide the right food and if you have not fed yourself well, how then will you feed others?

As speakers, we must take care of ourselves. If you are an emcee, a moderator, a news anchor or presenter, take care of yourself so that once you are well fed, you are then able to feed others, who rely on you.

Bless!

Beverley N Nsengiyunva