Society in general has expectations, expectations
they expect us to live by. The expectations vary according to the community you
live in. If you are not from that community and by chance or choice you decide
to join that community, there are expectations. Most universities these days
have a high number of foreign students enrolled in them. Coming to a foreign
country is always scary and you cannot know what to expect… in fact it is
better not to expect but just live in the moment. But be aware that every
community has stereotypes and racist ideologies about certain nationalities.
For me, coming to Kenya has been one of the most
wonderful things in my life. Life may not be bliss…. as it was in Tanzania or
my own country… Uganda. But I have learnt a lot of things, mostly bad but all
are in preparation for the brutality of the real world, so I am grateful. After
spending close to two years in Kenya, the natives expect you to have learnt
Swahili and the funny thing is that they expect you to speak it like them, so
if your accent is different… it is funny for them.
This is so discouraging because I know I have to
learn Swahili and speak it but it is really annoying having someone laugh every
time you speak. I would honestly rather be corrected. I am not saying I have
never laughed at a foreigner trying to speak my local language before. But I
admit that I was young and naïve by then so to see a grown person who claims to
be exposed laughing at another person doing a normal thing is absurd.
Honestly the Kenyan accent itself is terrible (no
offence). Most of their spoken English is greatly influenced by their mother
tongues. Even the Kenyans who have studied in Uganda for more than two years
still cannot speak Luganda fluently. This does not apply to me, I think I am
better at speaking Swahili than a Nigerian… other foreign students also have
their own difficulties. But this does not only apply in Kenya, the problem is
worldwide. Foreigners everywhere face difficulties learning the native language
of the country they are living in.
People should be mature and logical about certain
issues, what comes easy for others may be difficult for another. That is not a
reason to laugh and make fun of them. As a child, I was a bully and made fun of
a lot of people and things. But I grew up and like they say, karma taught me a
few lessons. I believe I am still learning but all these things have helped me
mature and have a different perspective on life. Every situation is a learning
point in my life.
