Very first job...and the risk involved

So there I was fresh from campus…..eager to make my mark in this big big world. Went for several interviews here and there…none materialized….but one called me back and I started working as a Marketing Executive (what does this mean really??). I was together with  a team of about 7 charged with the responsibility of ensuring we get people to advertise in the two magazines ran by the company – i.e. we were to sell space. Oh my…what a difficult task…hats off to all those people in sales!! While some of us had it rough trying to get people even remotely interested in the smallest space, there are those who played in the big league and got companies to do center spreads….and for 12 consecutive months, to boot!! Luck chaps….we sat and admired them as their bonuses were announced at the monthly meeting!!  The silver lining was that after those 3 mths I learnt came to know many buildings in Nairobi by their names and street because that’s how the person you call would identify their office, and you would have to look for it (no Google maps then, sorry!)

Anyways, where am I going with this...ah yes, I have remembered. Today I took a matt and because of the heavy (end month) jam, we were unceremoniously told to alight downtown…near the dreaded Grogon….the place I call Nairobi Half Life…. I remembered how I walked into this street many years ago, oblivious of how dangerous it can be to the new person….Now back to the story about my first job. One of the many calls I made to prospective clients yielded an appointment and yes it was on this dreaded street – Kirinyaga Rd. I walked confidently as per the way I was told on phone but somehow managed to loose direction. So I walked into this vehicle spareparts shop and spoke to this elderly looking guy who was standing behind the counter and I asked him directions to a particular spareparts shop. He didn’t even ask me why I was looking for this shop….incidentally I had almost reached....it was right round the corner!! But his next sentence chilled me….he said ‘…please, please, don’t ask anyone else for direction….go straight there and leave!!’. Eh, I left for the other shop and needless to say didn’t even get the muhindi spare parts man to book a space in the magazine, and the way I had risked my life!!  

Rains and shakey planes

So am seating at the Kisumu airport waiting for my 1830 flight. Its 4.30pm so am pretty early and not many people have come. I call someone who stays in Kisumu outskirts and they tell me its already raining alot where they are...i silently pray that the rain holds off till we at least are airborne...needless to stay it starts pouring heavily soon after i disconnect this call. Its raining...and raining...a lot.. and the dark clouds seem to be getting darker!!.I wonder whether the flight will be canceled.....thankfully after about 1 hour the rain stops and the flight from Nairobi comes in....phewwwww...at least this is a good sign. At 6.15pm we are called to board and given temporary rain coats made of light polythene...can hardly fit my large frame, so i cover my head and basically jog to the equipment (thats what they are called in some circles)....there is a delay since we have to board one at a time and the zealous attendant wants to check each and every boarding pass!! am tempting to shout, heyyyy we are being rained on! but i hold my cool.....shortly after am seated and we take off . The flight attendant is called Vivian...and its a guy...maybe i heard the name wrong...he gives us instructions....no extra hand to help demonstrate 'the safety features aboard this aircraft' and basically has to put the 'phone' that is talking to us with, back to its case and then demonstrate....anyways, i dont bother much since my mind is already in Nairobi

we taxi off and i silently count to 21 before take off, normally its around 28-30 counts before take off, so i guess also Captain wishes to get us to Nairobi quick fast.....its quite bumpy as we take a bit of time to get through the clouds...zealous Vivian takes to the 'phone' again and informs us about this. Am not one to stand up and use the '..wash rooms located at the front of the plane to the right..' so this piece of info is really not for me...i just wanna get hommmeee!!

wacha now as we start our descent into JKIA....ehhhh....the plane was dropping and leaving my tummy in the air...sema pure fright!! dear Lord, i normally don't fear flying but this one was a winner....my neighbour was amused....she asks....you're scared?? am like YEAHHHHHH.....she say ati another time the plane was actually shaking - so this is nothing...and it doesn't frighten her one bit....and for sure she looked so composed.....eh, i honestly felt like we were 'temwad' by the cloudy skies into JKIA...never been so happy to be on land again....

eh...wacha tuu!!

Field trips

Field trips are normally a welcome break.....especially when it comes hot on the hills of an intensive week at the office. was therefore glad for 3 days off mid week to breath the fresh air of merti...challenge is that is far far away and the exhaustion of seating in a car for 12 hr journey can take a toil on my knees. back in nairobi now.....