Who knew the eyes of a young girl from the East coast of Africa would see the far corners of the world?

Indian-African Nargis Gercke was born in the Kenyan town of Mombasa before her family moved to Dar-es-Salaam (“the haven of peace) in neighbouring Tanganyika where she enjoyed a childhood so idyllic it felt like a hazy summer day.

In Life Actually, Nargis tells her story of growing up in a vibrant multicultural family, being shipped off to boarding school in England and finally spreading her wings across the globe. As one of the first women in Dar-es-Salaam to marry a Caucasian, she and her Swiss husband, Siggi, leave the nest in 1970 and immerse themselves in a swath of cultures from Israel and Spain to China and Canada. The world is a pearl that Nargis has discovered time and time again. This isn't a life half-lived, this is life... actually.

Nargis' inspiration to write her first book stems from her multinational and diverse family. Her desire is that this memoir gives her grandchildren the opportunity to share and preserve the family legacy, and that the power of her story brings her memories to life. Nargis now lives with Siggi in Montreal, Quebec, and continues to enjoy her passion as a travel consultant.