The Chair

I’ve been here for three days and it’s been a whirlwind of getting to know new faces, new places and a new culture. I’ve also had a busy schedule at school as I was determined to observe lessons in every class, as quickly as possible, to help plan training and development work. Everyone has been really welcoming and friendly and I have settled in remarkably quickly.

I live in a wonderful wee house in the Teacher’s accommodation block. It is newly finished (in my honour) and is well laid out and equipped with the essentials. I have a good-sized bedroom with a double bed and a table. It also has a little balcony which looks on to the Ngong hills. There are worse views! Back inside, I have a combined living and kitchen area with two sofas, a coffee table, storage cupboards with utensils, a sink and a one ring stove. My bathroom has a flushing “long drop” toilet and a shower. I really love my house. There is electricity and running water – most of the time. It has already become my home from home.

There is only one tiny problem. The front door opens out, on to a shared verandah – so it is mostly closed when I am home. This keeps out beasties and the occasional wandering stray dog, chicken or goat. But it also makes it hard to socialise. On my first two evenings, I came home about 6pm, showered (cold water) and was brought supper by Mummy Nora (more about her in a later blog), ate, did some school work or read and went to bed. To be honest, I was so tired, that it suited me fine to be a bit anti-social. Kenya is three hours ahead of the UK and I have been working quite hard. To be honest, I was so tired that it suited me just fine to be a bit anti-social in the evenings.

However, by day three, it was time for a change. I wanted to break down the natural barriers that existed, as I got to know my new colleagues, in an unfamiliar place. It can be a bit of a stalemate. Everyone wants to be polite and not intrude on personal space but someone has to make the first move.

I borrowed a school chair and took it to my house so that I could sit outside when I was at home. At worst, I could enjoy some fresh air and sunlight before it got dark and at best, I was signalling that the Muzungu (white person) was open for business – so to speak!

The transformation was almost instantaneous. I had a great chat with Teacher Edgar, who was turning over the engine of his precious picka picka (motorbike), Teacher Sylvia stopped by for a chat and my next door neighbour, Nurse Joanne, invited me to come in and join her for a soda. Mummy Nora stopped by with my clothes from the washing line. It was just lovely to begin to be part of that whole other life after school. And all because of a chair!