The meaning of life is that life ends – Savvy
This is the first part in a series of posts that will shed light on who Savvy Kenya is. For those who have never heard of her, she is a blogger, the author of The Diary of a Kenyan Campus girl, and a student at a University in Kenya. Here is the interview that she willingly granted. The words in parenthesis that have been italicized are mine.
The Greatrnk: My first question to you is…….Can I borrow a K?
Savvy Kenya: Only if you promise to return. But then a K is just a K. I’ll MPESA it pap! I couldn’t resist. Haven’t used that word in an interview before. Not that I’ve had many. This is my first interview.
T. G: How, why and when did you start blogging?
S. K: This is quite a story. In 2006 Dec I was working as an intern somewhere IT’ish and this guy who came to work there (he was cute with long dreadlocks, I love dreadlocks FYI). He told me about his blog (Out of Joints) and after I read it, I felt inspired to start my own. So I started The Diary of a Mad Teenager, but when I turned 20 (which was not too long ago), I started The Diary of a Kenyan Campus Girl. I realize I cannot be a campuserian for long, so am moving on. Got many plans ahead, watch out.
T. G: Are there any trailblazers in the “industry” that you look up to?
S. K: Of course. There is Bankelele, Rafiki Kenya, My Part of the World, Mountainous etc. In fact, if you looked up to all the bloggers on my blogroll at The Diary of a Mad Teenager. They are the reason am blogging today because some of my earliest readers were bloggers, I had little traffic.
T. G: What are some of your current interests? Any hobbies?
S. K: Currently, am obsessed with finishing my final year project, so am trying to minimize my side shows. Twitter however, is something am finding hard to let go. I’m a twaddict. I love travelling but will do that in January after I finish my undergraduate degree in Dec.
T G: Your worst experience was when ….
S. K: Apart from losing my wallet and phone twice in less than a year, it was when I had a fight with this girl. She came to our party with this old white guy and I turned to her and asked her, “don’t you think he’s a bit too old?” she jumped on me, arms around throat and scratched my face. I still have the scars. The worst part is, I was going home for holiday the following day (it was an end of the first semester of third year bash) and my mum thought my boyfriend beat me up. Sadder part is I had no boyfriend at the time. Okay, maybe that’s not so sad.
T. G: Describe yourself in one sentence..
S. K: I’m a dreamer, ambition is in my blood.
T. G: Your DVD collection will not miss….
S. K: DVD? Who does that anymore 😉 I just copy movies, watch and delete. Archive the good ones. Let’s see which bad movies I could do without. This list will be too long. I have watched very many bad movies.
T. G: On a perfect Friday night, you will……
S. K: Sip cold juice on a balcony overlooking the beach and reflect on what I have achieved in my life, and be content about it.
T. G: The best song, currently, (according to you) is….
S. K: Anthem of the angels, Breaking Benjamin. Other favourites include Marc Anthony’s When You Sing To Me and Chris DeBarge’s Lady in Red. Also, 21 guns by Greenday, Bon Jovi’s Who Said, The Man Who Can’t Be Moved byThe Script, The River by Good Charlotte etc. Before I forget, all of Kidum’s songs and Kare by PUnit.
T. G: Describe your first kiss
S. K: Very sloppy. It wasn’t my best. Enough said.
T. G: What would you change from your past?
S. K: Forget that eh..lie that the past made you who you are. There are a few things that I’d change but I don’t want to start those regret feelings I’ve buried 6 feet under.
T. G: Are you seeing anyone?
S. K: Is this a trick question? Let’s see, we just hang out a couple of times so am not sure we are going out yet.
T. G: Dog or Cat?
S. K: Can I have both? Dogs are faithful and loving, cats are intelligent and human like. Cats though, they’re easier to take care of.
T. G: You are now wearing……
S. K: Black jeans, black tee advertising Kalahari.co.ke, black er…and black er..
T. G: The best approach for a guy to take to chat to you would be…..
S. K: Be himself. Hopefully, himself is someone who can express themselves, and be patient with me because I tend to lose attention easily. I may ask you to say something twice or thrice but once we are past the initial awkward kind of small talk, we’re fine.
T. G: What do you look for in a guy?
S. K: Looks are overrated. Without sounding like am looking for a spouse in an ad agency, I like a guy who’s responsible, fun (as in open to random plans), open minded and financially stable. ( You expected me not to mention the financial stability part?) (aspiring guys, make sure you grow dreadlocks first)
T. G: What is your ideal first date?
S. K: Hmm.. a place with plenty of other people around so they can provide a distraction in case things are not going well.
T. G: Do you have any crush on a celeb?
S. K: Depends, Kenyan or international? Nope. Right now, am over my crushes. Oh, wait a minute. Damien the vampire in The Vampire Diaries.
T. G: Tell us a bit more about yourself that people will find shocking.
S. K: Shock value, hmm. I kissed a girl. Two girls. And I didn’t like it.
T. G: What can you tell someone who has not started blogging and (s)he wants to start?
S. K: Get a topic you are passionate about and just write. Don’t get discouraged by lack of response from the public, I blogged for a year without much publicity. Blog for the love of writing, not with the aim of making money or fame. Those are byproducts of your passion for writing. And oh, be interesting and blog on the regular. Why else would guys want to keep coming back to your blog?
T. G: Your top three blogs are….
S. K: Sleek and wild : You read then tell me what you think.
Ramblings of a Slightly Disturbed Man: though he doesn’t update on the regular
Me I Love Nairobi Regardless – Milonare: another rare blogger but when he does, you have to read from beginning to end.
Kenyan Madness Abroad: he hasn’t blogged in a while but he had me laughing an entire afternoon
Our Kid had to add this one.
Stone Cold Haven: last addition, I promise
New bloggers:
You.(I blush and feign composure)
Me Myself and Isis: she’s special (and crazy)
Lost in the Though >she’s special too
In Over My Head
T. G: Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
S. K: Funny, I got asked this during my first ever interview for internship early this year. I hope to have published at least one book, be a famous sports journalist (having covered the world cup in 2014), engaged ( can’t believe I used to say I’d never get married) or if am not a famous sports journalist, I go the academic route and have done my masters degree, and enrolling for my doctorate. I haven’t decided yet but either way I will be rich in 5 years. Be driving a Ranger Rover Discovery. My dream car.
T. G: You would like to send a shout out to……
S. K: My friend Josie in London though she may not be reading this, my friends in campus who’ve been with me since my first year in campus and stood by me through thick and thin.
T. G: Any parting words
S. K: The future is thine, embrace it. So am not good at parting shots, but this interview has been awesome. Blogging is my life and I hope to do it all my life. That’s not my only ambition, I want to change someone’s life for the better. I think that’s my purpose in life. I found out that the meaning of life, is that it ends.
THE DAY’S:
Special Thanks: To Savvykenya for granting me this interview.
Definition: Thinking (verb): A process that should be related to speaking in the same way that chewing is related to eating – Joe Heuer
Quote: Want to annoy them pesky heroin addicts? Hide their needle in a haystack – Papa Shango
The Greatrnk 