I really don't intend to offend any Kenyan readers with posts like 'The city girl in Africa'. I feel I must explain myself in light of facile remarks like 'why don't you just pack up and go home then?!'. OK, fair enough - only I don't hate living here - in fact, I love it and feel enormously lucky to be experiencing it all.
What I set out to do in this blog is dispel the myth that (I would argue) exists overseas, of an expat life in Africa being some kind of gilded, over privileged existence. UK journalists STILL can't help throwing in the phrase 'Happy Valley', in anything they write on Kenya. I believe that there is still the widely held conception that for expats; living in Kenya is all about wonderful safaris, lounging on beaches and following your heart then finding your destiny. Nobody talks about supermarket shopping or the fact that your bins are sorted through every week or there is a man who sleeps on the grass every night outside our house.... Popular novels such as 'I dreamed of Africa' and 'Call of the Wild', plus TV programs like 'Big Cat Diary' perpetuate this myth. It is pure escapism.
An acquaintance argued that outside Kenya 'people love reading all this stuff - romance, big skies and the bush etc.' and would rather not know about the nitty gritty - but I don't really see any humour in that. So what I am trying to do here is redress the balance and with any luck, make one or two people smile.
At the very least, a picture of an (albeit mundane) expat story, but grounded in reality is of more use to people moving here from overseas than romantic novels. They need to know about schools, doctors and dentists not just beautiful holidays that they might be able to take if they can ever afford it. In addition, I would like to cheer up those in often rain soaked England who are facing the harsh realities of the economic crisis - and say 'running away to somewhere hot is nice - but it's not necessarily all it's cracked up to be.'
I love getting feedback from Kenyans living overseas who say they like reading this blog. Kenyan students I met recently were also mildly interested in understanding what makes the expats living in their country tick. To them, the expats they saw about the place were a mystery and I fear, not very well thought of.
BTW - On something totally different - Uhuru Kenyatta's Budget was announced yesterday - it was well received, a crowd pleaser as far as I can tell. One of the most talked about changes was a ban on big 'gas guzzling' cars for MPs - but otherwise Government employees came out smiling with a better deal for them and no much feared requirement for them to begin to pay their taxes. Next we have to wait and see what happens re: implimentation.
Also, Kofi Annan has given another deadline for Kenya pull it's finger out and set up a local tribunal in order to try those central characters responsible for inciting mass violence following the Dec 2007 election. Unless a tribunal is set up by August, Annan will pass his secret 'envelope of names', given to him after the Waki Report was conducted, to The Hague ICC. This news only made the back page of the Standard today. It seems that any kind of scandal here is easily swept under the carpet in the hopes that the general public will forgive and if not, forget.
The diary of a British expat living in Kenya. News, views, debate and a healthy dose of trivia.
Don't let haters put you off. The very same ones who only complain and do nothing about it. I get them all the time, used to it now. Infact it's a sign of wide readership!
ReplyDeleteI think your comments resonante well with people like 'us'- Westerners who have lived in different non-Western conditions. People who may have never moved out of Kenya may not understand what it is like for a Westerner.. the appreciation is different. Also, another myth of Kenya some of my American friends have is that there are NO cities in Kenya. The only other thing from my point of view someone (Kenyan) may get offended by is the fact that there are Kenyan city girls...but of course then again Kenyan city life is different than UK city life, American city life, etc. But, yes, Kenya does have tall skyscrapers, big cities and modern facilities, unlike some may believe in UK, America and the like...
ReplyDeleteI am glad you are able to show another perspective and also continue to do so even when people may not agree with you. I think you try to capture life without being judgemental. When one leaves their own 'home' there are culture shocks and adjustments to make all the time! This is what I think you are trying to show. And too that you are trying the best way you know how to adjust to the conditions around and inside you! Kudos. Not many westerners can do that like you have!
@Tamaku Hater?? mmmm call it whatever you may but the comment wasn't meant for you but for this lady who seems to have sacrificed her happiness.
ReplyDeleteAnd by the way, I'm British married to a Kenyan.
I don't think you need to apologize or explain your point of view. It is YOUR point of view. I don't see anyone complain when you write about the Kenyan Cowboys or your fellow expats. Keep doing what you are doing, it is refreshing and illuminating and don't fall for that BS about 'go back to where you came from' those are statements from closed minds that caught up in their small provincial worlds. Keep doing what you are doing and lets have more of those observational posts.
ReplyDeletenot a hater at all, but some of the antics/behavior of the a significant minority of the expat community in Kenya is spoilt, juvenile and excessively snobby. I can only assume that this is because many of them can no longer afford to move back to whereever they came from anymore, so they need something to crow about.
ReplyDeleteYour blog has been instrumental in helping me to prepare for my move to Kenya this summer! As I wrap my mind around this new country we're moving to I DON'T want to read about safaris and life INSIDE the expat bubble. I want to know about the challenges so I can be mentally prepared. So, thank you for your honesty.
ReplyDeleteIn truth, aren't we all from countries with their own set of challenges? Simply pointing them out in the country in which you currently live does not mean you dislike it. Thanks for your honesty!
I agree, don't be put off by the quick negative response. I'm living in Dar, have lived and worked all over Africa over the last 20 years, and I STILL feel as if I am in culture shock- even though I love camping and sailing a Laser to Fungu Yassin! Because one is not at home if one doesn't have one's childhood breakfast readily available. That's my story and I'm sticking to it.
ReplyDeleteI have been reading your blog since we moved to Dar 2 1/2 years ago, and have enjoyed very much your writing and your perspectives on life in Happy Valley I mean Nairobi (ha ha ha).
I think you do a great and very honest job talking about how you are experiencing your life there- not an easy task since people are very quick to judge/criticize.
good luck to you and thanks for writing something that I look forward to reading every week!
I think your doing a great job...I am coming for my 6 week research adventure to Nairobi this weekend. And your blog has been really helpful to prepare me psychologically on how different the working culture shall be there. But I am looking forward to getting away from all that is London and living a bit of the world that you write about.
ReplyDeleteMilele,
ReplyDeleteIt's tiring when people drop into blogs to make un-informed negative comments. - And on such issues I feel compelled to make a stand.
The posting doesn't even read like someone who has sacrificed their happiness, on the contrary - it just sounds like someone who doesn't like camping - is that a crime now ?
And ... "I'm British and married to a Kenyan"!
Eh, soooooooo........?!
Does this in some way legitimise you?!
Pur-lease!
Sally