Four Days in Denver

For Thanksgiving, I took a trip to Denver, Colorado with my brother and cousin. We spent four days exploring the city and taking in the sights. Our main reason for traveling was to see the last home game for the University of Colorado Buffaloes. The trip included some stunning views, great food, and thrilling surprises. In this blog, I will provide a glimpse into our journey to the Mile High City.

Arrival

We arrived at Denver International Airport on Thanksgiving Day. The airport is the largest in North America and ranked one of the busiest airports in the world. Despite its enormity, we had a fairly simple time maneuvering to our Uber pickup spot. The ride to our Airbnb was about 25 minutes and allowed us to get a first taste of the breathtaking landscape. The area recently experienced snow and the Rocky Mountains stood tall in the distance. We stayed in the Highland neighborhood at the Sonder at Skyline. The neighborhood was very walkable with plenty of shops and restaurants. Furthermore, it was within walking distance of Empower Field at Mile High, home of the Denver Broncos.

Arriving on the Thanksgiving holiday, there was not much open. Fortunately, we brought some food my mom graciously prepared before we left. We did have a chance to explore the neighborhood and walk toward the South Platte River, which offered a nice view of the Denver skyline. After a long day of traveling, we rested in anticipation of game day at the University of Colorado Boulder. 

A shot from our scenic ride to Boulder

Game Day in Boulder 

The Colorado Buffaloes took on the Oklahoma State Cowboys for their last game of the regular season. It was an early kickoff at 10am on Friday. We had an early start and took a 30-minute ride to Folsom Field in Boulder, which offered some more enjoyable mountain views. We arrived at the campus early, so we took the time to briefly explore the city of Boulder. We got some breakfast and made our way back to the stadium in time to see warmups and the senior day festivities. Folsom Field is unlike any other sports venue I have seen. The stadium sits on a hill and offers a scenic view of the Flatirons and foothills of the Rocky Mountains. It was a brisk morning, and snow decorated the stands throughout the sections of the stadium. You could feel the energy of the game building before the first kickoff. We were able to witness Ralphie the Buffalo, the team's mascot, run around the field to introduce the home team. It was exciting to experience the atmosphere of one of college football's top-ranked programs. The Buffaloes showed out for their last home game winning 52-0 with exceptional performances from quarterback, Shadeur Sanders, and Heisman winner, Travis Hunter. I would definitely recommend checking out a game at Folsom Field. Be sure to come prepared if you attend later in the season. The stadium offers a lot of amenities, including Balch Fieldhouse, which provides a warm refuge during halftime with a variety of concessions. 

Our view of the CU game

A rooftop view of Boulder

After the game, we did some more exploring in Boulder. We walked toward Pearl Street Mall, a four-block pedestrian mall bustling with shops and restaurants. We stumbled across Avanti Food and Beverage, a modern food court, with an awesome rooftop terrace. After taking in the views, we bid farewell to Boulder. On our way back to Denver, we made a pit stop in Broomfield to try Outlaw Wings. The restaurant boasts an extensive menu of wing flavors including Blueberry, which was a first for me. We also tried the Buffalo and as North Carolinians, we had to try the Carolina BBQ. The wings were top-notch and for dessert, we tried the fried Oreos. After the grub, we headed back to Denver exhausted but satisfied after a day filled with food and football. 

Buffalo and Blueberry Wings

Red Rocks and Brunch with a Hoops Legend

On Saturday morning, we made our way to downtown for brunch. The restaurant we planned to check out had a long wait time, so we went to a nearby spot called The Delectable Egg. The food was delicious. I tried their Rooster's Suprise, with bacon, eggs, and a short stack of pancakes. While eating, we noticed NBA superstar, Russell Westbrook, enter the restaurant to place an order. My brother, cousin, and I are huge basketball fans, so it was surreal to see the future Hall of Famer currently playing for the Denver Nuggets. My cousin went up to him and asked if we could grab pictures. He was gracious and even offered my cousin who plays college basketball some advice. It was a good reminder that unexpected detours can lead to extraordinary destinations. 

My brother and cousin with NBA legend, Russell Westbrook

After brunch, we visited Red Rocks Park and Amphitheatre, about ten miles outside Denver. The name, which speaks for itself, aptly describes the open-air venue surrounded by natural sandstone formations. The stage has been graced by music royalty like The Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, and Stevie Wonder. Even without its historical presence, the venue evokes a certain level of awe from its appearance alone. Quite a few people were out exploring the park and its trails, which had some spectacular views. We hiked around the venue and descended the steps toward the stage. I looked out at the view from the stage and tried to imagine what it would be like to be a performer. As a huge fan of music, I will definitely have to check out a show at Red Rocks one day to see the venue at its liveliest. 

A view of the Red Rocks stage

Adventures Downtown

With it being our last full day in Denver, we wanted to head back downtown to see more of the city. We stopped by the Denver Central Market, a food hall, in the River North Arts District (RiNo). We decided to try Vero Italian, which had some delicious brick-oven pizza. For dessert, I had some ice cream from High Point Creamery (I couldn't proceed without shouting out my hometown High Point, NC! Although it has nothing to do with the creamery lol). After eating, we walked around and looked at some of the many murals in RiNo. They definitely added a unique character to that section of the city. 

One of my favorite murals in RiNo

After walking some more, we noticed the Colorado State Capitol in the distance. The historic building faces the similarly regal Denver City Hall. While walking toward it, we noticed a large crowd of people walking to a park across the street. It looked like they were walking to some sort of festival. It turned out to be the Denver Christkindlmarket, an annual German-style holiday market. We perused the many stands in the market, while also admiring the stunning sunset over the capitol building. I tried the Glühwein, a traditional hot wine drink. It was tasty and definitely appreciated on a cold day. 

Awesome sunset over the Colorado State Capitol

Glühwein in the festive mug

A Delightful Farewell

Our flight was scheduled to leave late Sunday, so we decided to explore more of the city with our remaining hours. We made our way to Lower Downtown (LoDo) to check out some more sights, including Coors Field, home of the Colorado Rockies. We were able to peer inside the gates for a look at the ballpark. We also checked out Ball Arena, home of the Denver Nuggets and Colorado Avalanche.  Next, we ventured to the Cherry Creek neighborhood, which is located toward the center of the city. We had a chance to briefly stroll through Cherry Creek Shopping Center. The mall seemed very upscale and had many of the well-known luxury stores. We capped off our time with a meal at North Italia, an Italian restaurant in Cherry Creek, which has other locations nationally. I tried the house special, Bolognese, which was delicious. After our time in Cherry Creek, it was time to grab our luggage and head to the airport after a jam-packed memorable four days in Denver! I'm definitely looking forward to returning to Denver one day soon. If you have any recommendations in Denver or other parts of Colorado, feel free to let me know. Thanks for reading! 

"I love Denver" sign from the holiday festival

 

 

Reflecting on My Trip to Kenya!

During the month of May, I was privileged to participate in the Community-Based Global Learning program in Kenya through my university. I, along with fellow students and staff, traveled to the East African country for an exciting two weeks of experiential education and cultural immersion. The trip was facilitated by EDU Africa, an organization that provides "transformative learning journeys" in various countries throughout the continent. Our journey provided an array of opportunities for learning, as the EDU Africa team had numerous experiences in store for us. We engaged in activities that allowed us to build meaningful relationships and engage with the people and places that we visited. I wish that I could bottle up my experience and sell it to you, but for now we'll have to settle with this blog post. In the following paragraphs, I'll provide you with some of the highlights from this amazing trip.

Prior to our arrival, each member of our group was given service-learning placements with one of three local organizations in the town of Limuru. These incredible organizations were Limuru Children's Centre, Limuru Cheshire Home, and Plants for Life. I volunteered with Plants for Life, which works in reforestation and environmental conservation at the campus of Brackenhurst, an international conference and learning center. It was a pleasure to connect with such passionate individuals, who were able to teach me a lot about the local ecosystem and the amazing power of plants that have aided mankind for centuries. The area we worked in had tremendous biodiversity, with both indigenous and exotic species of plants. We assisted in gratifying and fulfilling work, such as the collection and planting of seeds, landscaping, and helping children at a nearby school create a butterfly garden. We also participated in a tree planting venture of over 500 trees in the Kereita forest, which provides a water catchment area to help the local community attain water. It felt special to know that the work I was engaging in would yield results long after I had left.

When we weren't at our service-learning sites, we were engaging in activities that taught us about the rich culture and history of the area we were visiting. One such experience was listening to speakers from the Lari Memorial Peace Museum. They spoke to us about the Mau Mau Uprising, which helped bring about Kenya’s independence from Britain in the mid-20^th century. Two of the speakers were involved in the conflict and were members of the opposing sides, one having been a Mau Mau Freedom Fighter and the other a British loyalist. They talked about the destruction that the war had caused and how it divided the people. Further, they discussed their efforts to bring peace and unity once the country gained its independence. In order to unite, they had to see the humanity in people that they had previously saw as enemies. It was important for them to honestly deal with the past and to start working together for a brighter future. Since, the Lari Memorial Peace Museum has sought to preserve this history and to keep future generations from repeating past mistakes. I found the account of peacemaking to be inspiring, and one that should be shared around the globe. Hearing such a powerful lesson made this one of the most impactful experiences from the trip.

During the trip, it was great to spend time in the town of Limuru and being able to gain a sense of what everyday life is like in the community. Through some of our activities, we had opportunities to interact with members of the community and learn more about Kenyan culture. We participated in a market challenge, where we divided into teams to see who could bargain for the best quality produce. We had a cooking lesson with host families, who showed us how to prepare proper Kenyan cuisine. We toured a local tea farm, where we learned about the history and production of Kenya’s largest export. We dined at The Lake House Tigoni, a beautiful estate that provided magnificent views of the area. The most special activity we engaged in was putting on a sports day for children at Limuru Children’s Centre. We organized stations of soccer, dance, coloring, and jewelry making for the children to participate in. It felt great to spend time with them for an afternoon of fun and laughter. Through time spent in the community, we were able to learn a lot and create some of our best memories.

Halfway through the trip, we departed Limuru and headed westward to the Maasai Mara. It was a long and beautiful journey that allowed us to see the countryside, including a view of the Great Rift Valley. In the Maasai Mara, we were spending a weekend on safari and learning about the Maasai tribe. We stayed at the Naboisho Camp in the Mara Naboisho Conservancy, where we were provided a luxurious experience throughout our stay. We were led by Maasai guides, who possessed a wealth of knowledge about the land and the animals that inhabited it. I was amazed by the vast open landscape, which provided a great view of the sky and hills in the distance. While on game drives, we were fortunate to see a variety of animals and learn about their lifestyles and behavior. It was surreal, being so close to lions, giraffes, wildebeest, hippos, and many other species. One of my favorite moments was seeing a hungry lioness hunting for her cubs. We didn’t see her succeed, but it reminded me of the strength that mothers of all species exhibit to care for their young. At times on the drives, we would step off to eat and admire the view. On our first night, we found a clear area and viewed the Moon, which looked brighter than I had ever seen it before. The safari was a thrilling experience and a wonderful opportunity to see nature in its purest form. Also, while in the Mara, we were fortunate to be received at a Maasai village. While there, we spent time in homes and learned about Maasai culture. The people there were very welcoming and taught us a lot about their way of life. On our last day in the Mara, we visited the Maa Trust. The Maa Trust is an organization that engages in projects to conserve the environment and assist families in the community. We met women producing Maa beadwork, which has helped provide an impactful source of income for women in the area. It was special to see how they were creating a better future for themselves by incorporating traditional elements from their culture. Our weekend in the Mara had a lot to offer and was definitely a highlight of the trip. It was a dream worthy excursion, that our group would talk about frequently for the rest of our time in Kenya.

On our last day in Kenya, we were reminded to recognize our trip as a real experience. It seemed incredible that we were able to build relationships, create memories, and learn so much in the short time that we were there. During our final group reflection session, we shared our biggest takeaways from the trip. The lesson I shared was about the power of cross-cultural communication. Through interacting with the people there, I was able to experience the impact of trading perspectives with someone that comes from a different part of the globe. When respectful and honest, these conversations can make everyone involved a more enlightened individual. I enjoyed my time in Kenya, and I am grateful to have had the opportunity to participate in the Community Based Global Learning program. This trip provided me with unique experiences and helped me further my education as a global citizen.

Book Reflection: Shook One

My latest read is Shook One: Anxiety Playing Tricks on Me by Charlamagne Tha God. The book is the author's second piece of work following his New York Times bestseller, Black Privilege. In Shook One, Charlamagne develops an enlightening conversation regarding mental health. He discusses his own experience dealing with mental health issues and encourages readers to embark on their own journey towards healing their mind. He provides deeply personal life stories that express his struggles with anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder. Further, he relates his experience to others in the Black community. Through this book, Charlamagne advocates for the need of increased attention paid toward the mental health of Black Americans. He analyzes the many factors that deter Black Americans from therapy such as cultural perception, self-medication, and lack of access. Charlamagne dedicates chapters to these factors among others to help readers gain a sense of how we can overcome these obstacles on our mental health journey. It is apparent that Charlamagne did his research in writing Shook One, but the book also contains expert advice from psychiatrist, Dr. Ish Major. Through reading the book, I appreciated the way Charlamagne frames each topic through his own narrative. His willingness to open up about his experiences makes the book a powerful read. His growth from being a drug dealer in Moncks Corner, South Carolina to becoming a nationally-syndicated radio host is certainly inspiring. In Shook One, Charlamagne acknowledges both the good and bad that molded him into the successful public figure he is today. He presents his stories in a way that is both humorous and impactful, which keeps you from wanting to put the book down. Reading this book, I noticed parallels to my own mental health journey. I too engage in counseling, meditation, and regulation of social media to protect and enhance my mental wellbeing. I recommend checking out Shook One, and assessing how you are investing time and attention towards your mental health. Feel free to order a copy using the link below. Thanks for reading!

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/shook-one-charlamagne-tha-god/1128615643?ean=9781982109820#/

Creative Quest Review!

My most recent read is Creative Quest by Questlove. The book was released on April 24, 2018 and is the fourth book by the author. As a four-time Grammy Award-winning musician, disc jockey, culinary entrepreneur, and more, Questlove offers readers an eye-opening perspective on creativity. He explores how we can identify the creative genius within ourselves and make the greatest use of that energy. The definition of creativity is broad enough that this book will connect with people from all walks of life. One of things I learned from this book is that we all apply creativity in some form during our daily lives. Questlove talks about finding that creative spark, dealing with criticism, the science of collaboration, and more in this thought-provoking book. Creative Quest introduces its readers to an array of concepts through stories from the music industry, anecdotes from renowned creative professionals, and enlightening metaphorical viewpoints. This book is especially valuable for young professionals looking to make their mark on the world. I suggest you keep a notebook as you read, to jot down some of the many jewels dropped throughout. Order your copy of Creative Quest using the link below!

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07192GT9Z/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1

Dex Meets Dexter Review!

On April 6th, Famous Dex released his debut album titled, Dex Meets Dexter. The album consists of fourteen tracks, with features from Drax Project, Wiz Khalifa, A$AP Rocky, and Diplo. Throughout the project, Dex offers his distinct rhythmic flow over a variety of dynamic beats. His lyrics seem to take a carefree approach and provide a rock star aesthetic. He showcases his range on this album, going from laid-back tracks like "PROVE IT" to more hype songs like "CHUMP". The project is filled with energy and makes for good music to turn up to. Famous Dex definitely represents the younger generation of rap. As seen throughout this project, his music is focused on living for the moment and enjoying the material wealth that comes with stacking money. Reading the track list, I was familiar with two songs, "JAPAN" and "PICK IT UP" featuring A$AP Rocky. It's a fun project to listen to and you'll find it hard not to dance along with its rich production. My favorite tracks on the album are "LIGHT" and "TAKE HER". Thanks for reading!

Invasion of Privacy Review!

On April 6th, Cardi B released her debut studio album titled, Invasion of Privacy. The album consists of thirteen tracks with features from 21 Savage, Bad Bunny, Chance the Rapper, J Balvin, Kehlani, Migos, SZA, and YG. The album has performed well commercially, with the milestone of being certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) on the first day of its release. Cardi B's lyrics are powerful in how they vividly express her personality. She approaches music with honesty, which makes her art both entertaining and relatable. Throughout the project, you'll hear her frequently reference life before the fame in tracks like "Money Bag". When you listen to some of her songs, you almost feel as if you've gotten to know her. Her lyrics are a window that give you a clear perspective of her life. For instance, in the song "Be Careful", she expresses her struggle dealing with infidelity in her relationship by painting an honest conversation between her and her partner. The album is also packed with club bangers, including tracks like "She Bad" and the hit singles, "Bartier Cardi" and "Bodak Yellow". The production of the album is artfully composed with several tracks that you can dance or nod your head to. It's one of the most talked about projects of the year, so definitely check it out. I enjoyed listening to this project and I look forward to seeing where Cardi goes from here. My favorite track on the album is "Best Life". Thanks for reading!

Thanksgiving 2K17

There's something special about coming together with family members. You share genetics, memories, and traditions with these people, which produces a unique sense of intimacy. One of my family's most valued traditions is our Thanksgiving reunions. We all travel from our different locations to meet up at a family member's home. It's a time for us to catch up with each other and share details relating to our work, school, and other extraordinary life happenings. This year, Thanksgiving was hosted by my aunt in South Carolina. She did an amazing job to make things flow smoothly, and made sure everyone was comfortable. There was an array of dishes. The food was spectacular, of course. My favorite dishes were the smoked turkey and macaroni & cheese. I definitely overindulged, and had to resist a food coma for the rest of the evening.  After eating, it was time for the Slice of Heaven cooking contest. The contest is a family tradition that was established in 2010. My mother and her siblings compete to make the best version of a chosen food item. This year's food item was cake. We had four contestants this year, and four judges. The winner was none other than my mother. It was her first time winning, and bringing the trophy back home. While everyone was gathered at the conclusion of the contest, another cake was placed on the table. Only this cake was not another contest entry. My cousin and his wife were announcing a new addition to the family. They presented us with a gender reveal cake. It was a huge surprise that no one saw coming. The cake was sliced, and a pink frosting emerged. It was a legendary moment. We all rejoiced with the news that our family was growing. It was a day filled with laughter, joy, and excitement. You wish that times like these could last forever. These times provide positive memories that stick with you for a lifetime. I enjoyed my Thanksgiving, and the day was filled with rich experiences. Just know that I did eventually succumb to that food coma, and didn't awake until around noon on Friday. For a visual representation of my family's Thanksgiving, check out my sister's vlog below. Thanks for reading, and enjoy your holiday season.

4:44 Tour Review!

On November 17th, I attended Jay-Z's 4:44 tour in Charlotte, NC. It has been going on since October 27th, and will last through December 21st. The tour is in support of Jay-Z's thirteenth studio album, 4:44, which released in the summer of 2017. Vic Mensa serves as the opening act. I won't spoil the set list for you, but it covers a wide range of Hov's career.  He has so many hits that the show could've went on for hours longer. I had a great time. The stage design consisted of an octagon in the center of the arena. I thought this was cool, because it allowed each section of the audience to have an equal perspective of the performer. The screens at the concert also moved around, which was a nice visual aspect of the show. My last time seeing Jay perform was in 2011 during the Watch the Throne tour. He's laid-back, but his music has the power to set an arena on fire. You have to respect his longevity in the game. Not too many artists have a catalog of hits from the 90's till 2017. As a fan, I wish I could hear all of his work performed. If he somehow did a total catalog show where he performed everything, you would definitely catch me in the crowd. Those in attendance received a six-month free trial of Tidal. The tour is ongoing, so if possible, I highly recommend checking it out. You have to take advantage of the opportunity to witness a living legend. Thanks for reading!