I bought some eggs at the grocery store the other day. I’m sure I must have bought these particular ones because I saw the words “Free Range” on the box. A few days later went to scramble some eggs and I noticed what the box actually said…
Tasty as free range != free range
While taste is one of the reasons that some people prefer free-range produce, it’s not exactly the driving force. Correct me if I’m wrong, but the reason people buy free-range produce is because they believe that there’s some benefit in having animals live a free, full, natural life before they’re killed for our food.
KANJEKAKUWA G. SERVICES, you fail. I will not be buying your fake free-range eggs again!
Last week I went to Switzerland to visit my girlfriend, who is doing some coursework there for her Ph.D. It was great to see her, get some time off work, and tour around such a beautiful country!
Snow-covered alps, autumn forests, serene blue lakes, old city streets, cute houses, you name it—if it’s in your definition of “picturesque,” it’s in Switzerland. On top of that, the cities are clean and the public transit system just works. You almost have to see it to believe it. After a week of wandering around the only thing I could find wrong was that Swiss men seem to love wearing fanny packs (oh, and Raclette smells terrible).
Snowy mountains as seen from Gimmelwald
She’s living in Basel, the second-largest urban area in Switzerland. It’s a really cute town with lots of little coffee shops, old buildings, winding alley ways, and cobbled streets. From what I saw in Basel and Lucern, I assume most urban Swiss cities are like this. You can almost see royalty riding through on horse-drawn carriages and peasants selling vegetables on the streets. Also, is it just me, or does something about cobbled streets and old buildings conjure images of the Black Death sweeping through about 650 years ago? Haha!
Central Basel
From Basel, the Alps are just a two-hour train ride away. The scenery along the way was breathtaking. If you do anything in Switzerland, go to the Alps! I didn’t know much about Switzerland before my visit, but I knew I had to see the Alps up close and personal. I mean, who in the world hasn’t heard of the Alps? References to the Alps are everywhere (in American pop culture at least); I’ve even ridden the Matterhorn ride at Disneyland! I never did manage to find the abominable snowman, though…
Panorama from Mürren in the Swiss Alps
It’s sad but all great things come to an end. While the taste of Basel’s many doner kebab joints is still fresh in my mouth, Switzerland’s excellent transit system and clean streets have been replaced by annoying matatus and vumbi (dust). Now that I’m back in Kenya I have to get back into hustler mode. “Wee, unaangalia nini? Jisort au nitakusort.” (Hey, what are you looking at? Sort yourself out or I’ll come sort you out). Hahaha karibu Kenya.
My mom’s husband was telling me the other day how, sometimes, he feels like he’s surrounded by idiots. I felt the same way today when, as I was merging onto the freeway, some guy cut in front of me. After he swerved over from the “going straight” lane, he slowed down to yield to an obviously empty on ramp which joined ours. I found myself yelling, “WHY ARE YOU BRAKING?!” out of nowhere. I haven’t driven in two and a half years, but hellooo? So I’m visiting California for a few weeks… welcome to CA!
Last week, when I was still in Kenya, my mom asked what I would want in the fridge when I got home, something I missed; the only thing I could think of was strawberries. Not that we can’t get strawberries in Kenya, I guess they’re just expensive or something, so I never eat them. Anyways, I’ve been eating strawberries and blueberries every morning in my Kashi Heart to Heart cereal with almond milk and I’m officially addicted to breakfast again.
Don’t get me wrong, I love mandazi and chapati, but this tastes good and is actually good FOR you! The almond milk isn’t a must, and could be substituted with soy milk or even the kawaida (usual) “moo” juice. Try it out, you won’t be disappointed!
