Happy Valentine's Day!
Unlike every year before, I was fully aware of Valentine's Day approaching this February. Isa had mentioned it for the first time weeks ago and ever since, I kept being reminded persistently. Take yesterday, for instance:
I started working as a teacher's assistent in pre-primary 1 at the beginning of the month. Sometimes, the two of us can smalltalk a little while the children are copying something off the whiteboard or solving a task. Yesterday, teacher J. asked me whether I'd go out on Saturday to celebrate. In the afternoon, Lola and I went for a shopping spree in the nearest mall within walking distance as she wanted to buy some beauty supplies and I ran out of toothpaste. At the entrance of Naivas, a Kenyan supermarket chain, we walked past a large Valentine's setup with flowers and chocolate. And even the paper bag Lola received with her iced coffee at JavaHouse had hearts on it.
I was never so fond of Valentine's Day because I felt like it was very performative to (only) cherish your loved ones on one set date. Besides, I always thought it was an entirely capitalist invention – until I found out about its Christian origin when I researched it earlier.
Today, it's different. I still don't feel connected to any traditions surrounding Valentine's Day, but I do love it's granting me an occasion to write about love. I told teacher J. I'm not going out on Saturday and, no, I'm neither in a relationship nor intending to be, as I'm leaving Kenya again in 11 months. But truly, I am certain there is much more to love than the advertisment images for Valentine's dates make us believe.
I'm thinking of.
My best friend Lena, who is not my best friend in a hierarchical sense, but who has been carrying my heart for so long, she knows its story best. Who could have guessed being separated by 6300 km would only make me feel closer to you?
The letters, my pen pal Julia and I used to send one another, that could very much be considered love letters if we had a more expansive understanding of love.
Siri, who greeted me with roses when I returned from France last December.
All the romance hidden in friendships.
Now, I will spend the rest of my day chilling and cooking eggplant casserole for dinner with my Galentine, Lola.
Sorry this text is ending a bit abruptly. I'm busy celebrating love! xx