What’s yarn got to do with it?

It’s been a month since my family and I relocated to #Switzerland 🇨🇭 and there’s a lot to observe and learn as I commute to and from work, interact with people, shop and our experience with winter (and snow)!!!

I thought of documenting these observations as part of #KalundeLearns as I navigate this new country. Join me, every week, and let see what I can share and what we can learn.

Observation 1:

Facebook groups are such a dynamic resource for information, tips and networking here. For the past five years or so, I only used Facebook to stay in touch with a few friends and to know whose birthday is coming up etc. But when we were preparing our relocation, the Facebook groups were and are still are a goldmine! We were going to a new location and almost all we spoke to about how to settle in, directed us to various Expat groups.

In these groups, people are honest with feedback to questions especially from new comers, people share reviews of their experiences and tips come in various forms (text, links, images, humour) and languages too. People also give away (pretty good) things.

One such group I’m really loving is Pay-it-forward Parents Nyon. Basically, a group for giving away kids’ items, in good condition, to other local families. The idea is to ‘give as often as you take’ to pay-it-forward. Mid-last month I saw a post (attached) by someone who knits children’s hats, scarves and socks for charity organizations. She was asking for leftover yarn.

Now, I had come from Kenya with a bag full of yarn (including some vibrant colours that my good friend Verah Vashti Okeyo had given me) for when I’ll have a moment to crotchet something. But when I saw the post, it occurred to me that I probably didn’t need the whole bag. So I keep one ball of yarn and I gave away the others.

A few weeks later, I get an inbox with an image below of a colourful knitted hat with the caption: “I thought you would like to see my first project with your donated wool 😊Thank you again.”

And I can’t describe the feeling, but, if I could summarize it would be: My heart felt warm.

Technology paired with human touch and kindness can transform lives.

Another lesson that occurred to me is how sometimes we hold on to items/resources/networks and we don’t do much with them. But when in the right hands, they can create magic, beautifully knitted magic.

What do you think? Have you had a similar experience? Let me know in the comments below.

Join me next week for observation 2 that you can read here.