Editor’s Letter: Where the F@$# is The “Kettle”?

Where the F@!£ Is the “Kettle”?
Seriously, where is it? Okay, walk with me here, let’s take a trip down memory lane before I dive into what this month’s Editor’s Letter is and isn’t about. What does a Kettle have to do with any of this?

A Walk Down Memory Lane.

Do you remember the initial stages of blogging or editorial articles? Many of these were personal accounts. For instance, Sandra would disclose her mother-in-law's confidential pumpkin pie recipe to the world to gain some sense of redemption after her husband's infidelity. Mandy would offer tips on preparing children for school after receiving a final warning from the school principal for tardiness. Similarly, Brittany shared her travel tips after feeling unappreciated by coworkers.

Early blogging was a platform for sharing personal experiences and perspectives without the current emphasis on hashtags, links, and marketing. It was a space to learn, share and reflect on topics that held significance to the writer and reader. The absence of commercial influence made for a more authentic and relatable experience. I long for that era. Therefore, this month's editorial is a first-person account of life. I hope you find it engaging and insightful.

Starting from the top: Where the fuck is the kettle?

The desire to live a nomadic lifestyle has always been a personal aspiration, and for the past year and a half, we have been fortunate enough to make this a reality. However, the portrayal of such a lifestyle often focuses solely on the highlights. Sharing ONLY the results from our month-long projects, month-long editing hours, month-long travels to get to said projects and months of communication with partners to bring a project to life. You see only the smiling faces and so on. While these moments of completion and experiences are undoubtedly adventurous, it is also crucial to acknowledge the practicalities of daily life, such as mundane tasks like locating a kettle.

One aspect that often goes unmentioned is the challenge of locating essential items while on the move. For instance, finding where the “kettle” is can be a real struggle as it's frequently relocated, depending on the place. Sometimes, it may sit at the entrance, accompanied by some tea cups, sugar, and cream packets, while other times, it might be situated in the bathroom (side-eye) or by the bed. There have been instances where I've discovered it lying on the floor, damaged and forgotten, beneath the bed. Although it's a relief to find a kettle, it's wiser to avoid using it at times, as I've witnessed several unhygienic practices during my years working in the hospitality industry.

This post is not just about a “Kettle”.

Although this post centres around a “kettle”, it symbolizes a broader concept.

Having a different kettle every day, week, or month might seem exciting at first, as it implies that you're travelling, exploring, and moving around the world. However, it could also mean that you're exhausted and unsettled, and everything is in a state of constant flux, leaving you with a sense of disorientation.

I am immensely grateful for the multitude of travels, projects, experiences, and people we've encountered, along with the places we've visited and learned from. The opportunities we've had to create and witness the beauty of the world have been invaluable. It's worth noting that I've spent the last few years confined to a hospital bed, undergoing several surgeries, and losing hope of ever experiencing the outside world again. Given that, I wouldn't change anything about the journey we've embarked on and will continue to experience going forward.

Despite its significance, stability is often overlooked. Consider the simple example of a kettle. Knowing its location is only one aspect of its importance. Understanding its physical characteristics because you were the one who purchased it, unboxed it, and placed it on your kitchen counter is equally important. Preparing a hot beverage with it because you know its whereabouts brings a sense of comfort and familiarity. It's remarkable how such a small object can hold so much meaning and importance.

In 2024, my partner and I yearn for more stability in our lives. We seek a sense of grounding that does not signal an end to our travels or the things we enjoy, but rather a more stable beginning to something great. Knowing where the fuck our kettle is. What we crave is the ability to leave our home and return to it as we please, with the assurance that our space remains untouched and smells, feels, and tastes like home. We need to have a place to work on projects that hold meaning for us, with people who share our artistic vision and understanding of what we aim to build, learn, teach, and achieve. We recognize the importance of sustainability, community, and genuine relationships, and understand that it's essential to view the world through a realistic lens to recognize each other's innate value.

It's our conviction that every individual, human, animal and plant species alike, deserves a sense of belonging and safety, a space where they can exhale and know they're secure. This principle is at the forefront of our work and projects. We acknowledge the inequality that prevails in our world and acknowledge our responsibility in contributing to its resolution. As members of society, we cannot ignore our obligations to others. Yes, we all have a responsibility to each other and the world around us.

To have a safe space, to feel comforted and alive in your space.

• If you don't feel like getting dressed today, that's perfectly fine, especially with the windows open, knowing that no passerby will catch you off guard.

• You should be able to go to your build a relationship with your local doctor or physician so that someone understands your medical history. This has been a real challenge for us on the road recently. I cant tell you how many repeat tests or scans we’ve had to have, due to moving around in shorter periods than results can be ready.

• If you want to sleep in, go ahead and do so without worrying about rushing out for the next guest checking in, or your flight, bus, or train departing.

• You should be able to get into a bed at the end of the day, that your body is familiar with, one where you feel safe and comforted.

• Instead of dreading the daily market trip, make breakfast and dinner with ingredients from your garden with the herbs, fruits and veggies you’ve been learning to grow yourself or support the local corner shop. Alternatively, you can unwind with an ice-cold beer or wine at the local pub where everybody knows your name. (Cheers!)

When travelling full-time, it's often the small things that can prove challenging. Restlessness and exhaustion can set in, as it becomes difficult to find solace mentally, emotionally, physically, and financially. The absence of a day to unwind and simply breathe can exacerbate these feelings. Not being able to turn off the “noise” and constant movement of the world.

What if you can’t find stability in your surrounding environment?

Over the past two weeks, my partner and I have explored our current place of residence more thoroughly than we have in the past six months. Feeling drained and seeking refuge, we've embarked on various excursions in search of tranquillity, peacefulness, and an open environment. Our objective is to discover a new sanctuary to designate as our traveling abode, while also learning and experiencing the cultures and communities of the various islands. Over the past few weeks, we've been fortunate enough to discover what lies beyond our familiar surroundings on this island. We had begun to feel disheartened, but exploring the surrounding areas has given us renewed hope.

Where we have been situated for the last few months, the prevalence of unruly tourist behaviour is alarming. From driving without helmets and engaging in drunken brawls to indecent exposure, vehicular accidents, and animal abuse, people’s conduct has become a cause of concern. Additionally, scams and the steep inflation of prices have taken a toll on the once-tranquil rice fields, giving way to the rise of cosmetic clinics, a topic for another article altogether. The difficulty in forging genuine connections with the local community, coupled with the palpable tension between locals and visitors, further exacerbates the issue. The recent holiday season added to our challenges, making things even more challenging.

Travelling While Black...

Despite the obstacles, we were able to endure and rediscover the true essence of the surrounding areas. During my travels, I had the pleasure of meeting a local woman who immediately recognized my South African heritage, and unlike some instances in the past, there was no argumentative exchange. Instead, she greeted me with a smile, and we proceeded to have a pleasant conversation. It's surprising that after a year and a half of our journey, that particular moment stood out to me. Reflecting on it brought warmth to my heart.

This experience was a complete contrast from a prior encounter at an organic market in Macedonia. I argued with a man who insisted on calling me "America, America!" despite my repeated corrections that I'm South African. When he persisted, I informed him that I wouldn't be purchasing anything from him. To my disbelief, he responded, "But why? America is better!" I felt infuriated, but I maintained my composure and demanded that he refer to me as "Africa" before departing.

As a Black South African, it may seem trivial to you, but during almost 80% of our travels in 2023, we found ourselves residing and journeying through regions where I was often the sole individual of my ethnicity for months on end. I am not exaggerating - there was a point when we were visiting between three countries, and I could count the number of Black Africans I encountered on one hand. It's worth noting that we travelled over 8600km on public transport across the African continent, and my partner also experienced difficulties.

The constant burden of experiencing such incidents has taken a toll on my mental well-being. It's challenging to articulate the gravity of the situations that my partner and I, as a mixed-race couple (or just...couple you know?) have encountered. As a black South African, I've had to endure heavy experiences due to racial discrimination. Not only during our abroad travels.

Discrimination, oppression, and racism are never acceptable, and it's disappointing that such attitudes persist in 2024. As someone who comes from an adopted family with my Black heritage and White parents of Afrikaans and European ancestry, I have experienced firsthand the challenges and prejudices that can arise evidently from having a different skin colour than your family or partner. Being adopted as a Black child in the pre-1994 Mandela era did not come without its challenges! Even though it was difficult, my mother, handled the abuse, threats and violence against her and me, like the Fucking Peacock she is! She wore those colors loud and bright as I aspire to do as I get older. She always stood up for our family and stood out from the crowd, inspiring me to follow her example. It wasn’t easy, it was painful, damaging, exhausting and life-challenging - but also beautiful and historic and something that changed the lives of many.

While it's sad that we still have to face these issues, I remain optimistic that we can work towards a more inclusive and accepting society. If we get to a point of honestly speaking and sharing these instances. Growing up was a wild fucking ride for me, I will share more in my upcoming biography.

My partner and I face challenges not only in social settings but also when we visit border gates or immigration offices. Unfortunately, my South African passport seemingly holds little weight outside of South Africa. Meanwhile, my husband's German passport tends to elicit friendlier responses and more efficient processing (with an occasional side-eye from me).
I'm disenchanted that my partner's presence is necessary, just as I'm disappointed that people from my country continue to be mistreated worldwide. If you've had the opportunity to review visa websites, you may know precisely what I'm referring to. It's disheartening that such language is still being used in 2024.

We miss our friends, and they miss us.

Speaking of maintaining authentic connections, being in different locations for extended periods poses a significant challenge. While we prefer slow travel, the primary objective is to cultivate genuine relationships with people around us. This involves immersing ourselves in the local culture, engaging in activities, and embracing differences. Although social media helps us stay in touch with some friends, it's no substitute for meeting up and sharing a coffee or visiting an art gallery together to discuss life face-to-face. Unfortunately, conversations are often rushed, and meeting up is not prioritized. I'm also guilty of making empty promises to catch up over Skype or Zoom calls.

We've attempted to connect with like-minded individuals through "meet up" groups, but these groups (where we are now) only seem to work when the interests align. We're not interested in discussing cryptocurrency, lavish lifestyles, or competing for superiority - when we believe in the exact opposite. Our experiences with these groups have been either too costly or loud, with no room for meaningful conversations. The events are often held in expensive locations, and the atmosphere is more of a party than a gathering. As a result, we often leave feeling more exhausted, disheartened, and disappointed than when we arrived.

What do you want for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks? Aka The Never-Ending Story.

Food has always been an essential component of our relationship and our life. From the onset, we connected over cooking together, with our first few dates involving preparing meals by candlelight in my partner's apartment. The intimate ambience fostered deep and meaningful conversation, allowing us to discuss our thoughts, emotions, past experiences, and perspectives on various topics. Our openness and willingness to communicate set the foundation for a strong and stable relationship, which has withstood the challenges of time and distance. We've continued to grow and heal together, taking responsibility for our missteps in the past and present and recognizing that we need to let go of the same in our past or put down what we were carrying that was never ours, to begin with.

Through it all, food has remained a significant aspect of our journey, strengthening our bond and providing a source of joy and comfort. Being a vegan and primarily plant-based couple, food plays a crucial role in our everyday lives. We prioritize what we eat, and how we consume it, and ensure that we cater to the needs of our bodies, minds, and the surrounding environment.

When food becomes an unstable element in your daily life, it can have a profound impact on your immune system, brain function, emotions, hormones, financial budget, energy levels, physical strength, and overall health. The disruption of a stable food system or reliable grocery list can lead to significant disruptions in life that most people fail to recognize. I know this from personal experience. Growing up, my family was incredibly low-income, and there were times when we simply couldn't afford to eat. At times, there was no food in the house, and it would remain that way for days. We even had to resort to begging on the streets to have something as basic as a loaf of bread. While I will delve into this topic more in my upcoming biography, it's worth noting that I am well aware of the profound difference food can make to one's environment, mind, and body - and yes, soul.

Fortunately, my partner and I are not currently experiencing the food crisis I did as a child. For that I am grateful. However, our eating habits have been adversely impacted by our nomadic lifestyle over the past 18 months. The inability to access a stable cooking space equipped with proper facilities, tools, and a conducive environment has been quite challenging. The resulting disruption has been frustrating. This is where the issue of the kettle comes in. When one is frequently travelling, it's often difficult to locate a “kettle”, representing here - the challenge of finding available food sources. While we aim to purchase locally grown food, it has become increasingly difficult to do so. Furthermore, while we prefer vegan and plant-based meals, I've had to make some exceptions (sometimes fish) due to the limited food options available in certain parts of the world and my body's response to them.

The inability to cook in a space that offers a sense of safety and comfort has taken a significant mental toll on me. While this may not be relatable to everyone, it's a significant challenge for me. One particular experience that stands out is when we travelled to a work project in 2023. Within a month of being in said part of the world, my partner lost an alarming amount of weight and lacked energy - This is one of the fittest humans I have ever known. This impacted both his well-being and the project he was working on, creating a challenging environment for us. Leading up to the final piece of this project he began to get very sick and post-project he was most likely the sickest I have ever seen him. FOOD was the catalyst.

In contrast, a previous trip to another part of the world resulted in me gaining around 25kgs (maybe more), which was not solely due to the food but also the environment we were in. The impact of the environment and food on our physical and mental health is something we are now incredibly mindful of in all our travels. The problem is when we feel frustrated with the access to food variety, and the ability to take care of our bodies as best we can, because of food sourcing or financial restrictions. Which we have come to learn often directly affects our moods, energy levels, communication, mental state, creativity, motivation and productivity.

The “Kettle” is your guide.

In our quest for stability and safety, the location of the "kettle" holds significant importance for our future in 2024. This space allows us to rejuvenate, create, and heal, acting as a foundation for all other aspects of our lives. A solid home base enables us to lead healthier, happier, and more productive lives, promoting better communication, community engagement, and environmental care. Amidst the overwhelming noise of the world and online pressures, it's crucial to identify your own "kettle" and avoid the temptation of discarding it. While change is vital, small steps and individual circumstances matter, and everyone's "kettle" may appear different. Therefore, the first step towards progress is identifying your own "kettle" and building from there.

As I conclude my Editor's Letter for January 2024, I eagerly anticipate reconnecting with you in February. Perhaps we can share a warm beverage from our “kettle” during our next virtual or real-life conversation.

One last question: What does YOUR “Kettle” look like going into 2024?

Welcome to 2024, Enjoy the “Tea”.
Cee