SOCIETY; THE BULLY

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.