10 reasons life in Kijabe is definitely not like a job in the States
There are times when I feel like I have a normal job. I'm a teacher. But...
1. I get my milk delivered. It comes unpasteurized and we have to boil it first.
2. I have a washing machine, but no dryer, so we hang our clothes out to dry, and hope it doesn't rain while we are somewhere else on campus.
3. Many people don't have cars, which means you don't have the independence of hopping in your car and driving yourself anywhere you need.
4. Plus, we live 1.5 hr from a clothing store or a shoe store.
5. When you do get out to a store it is expected that you will talk to strangers. There's no "getting in and getting out."
6. Similarly, there is no such thing as a drive-through and there is only one "restaurant" nearby.
7. All other Restaurants are 1.5 hours away.
8. As a result most things are delivered including cheese, meet and even pizza crusts, which add up to one more reason you don't get to leave campus.
9. If you need veggies or toiletries it's a 10-15 minute walk down to the local shops and then a 10-15 minute back walk up the mountain carrying anything you bought.
10. I often think of living on a compound like my time in college. But, in college I was surrounded by people my age. Here it's the other way around, except as the teachers we don't go home in our car or stop at the store on our way. You live and work with the same people every day.
While all of the above are true, I'm dramatizing them a little to make the point that although I may be doing a "normal job," but my life here quite different than working in the States. It's not that big of deal when I see each of these differences on their own. But then, every once in a while, I notice all 10 changes and realize how different my life has become.
1. I get my milk delivered. It comes unpasteurized and we have to boil it first.
2. I have a washing machine, but no dryer, so we hang our clothes out to dry, and hope it doesn't rain while we are somewhere else on campus.
3. Many people don't have cars, which means you don't have the independence of hopping in your car and driving yourself anywhere you need.
4. Plus, we live 1.5 hr from a clothing store or a shoe store.
5. When you do get out to a store it is expected that you will talk to strangers. There's no "getting in and getting out."
6. Similarly, there is no such thing as a drive-through and there is only one "restaurant" nearby.
7. All other Restaurants are 1.5 hours away.
8. As a result most things are delivered including cheese, meet and even pizza crusts, which add up to one more reason you don't get to leave campus.
9. If you need veggies or toiletries it's a 10-15 minute walk down to the local shops and then a 10-15 minute back walk up the mountain carrying anything you bought.
10. I often think of living on a compound like my time in college. But, in college I was surrounded by people my age. Here it's the other way around, except as the teachers we don't go home in our car or stop at the store on our way. You live and work with the same people every day.
While all of the above are true, I'm dramatizing them a little to make the point that although I may be doing a "normal job," but my life here quite different than working in the States. It's not that big of deal when I see each of these differences on their own. But then, every once in a while, I notice all 10 changes and realize how different my life has become.
Comments
Post a Comment