This blog has been the place where I’ve told stories and
shared thoughts about living far from everything I grew up with. As the years
have gone by new experiences and some times hard learning curves have left me
radically changed. I am now back in Oxford writing up my 1st year
PhD transfer report, so it’s not quite the end for Kenya, but it’s not far
away. By May next year I will be back in England for the foreseeable future.
I’ve been using the past few weeks,
not only to ensure I don’t get kicked out the Uni, but also trying to think
about what life might look like when I get back. Yes the city has the same
buildings and even some of the people I knew are still there, but
overwhelmingly I think this really feels like a new chapter. Not that I would
have minded going back to the lifestyle of an undergrad in Oxford, but things
are still moving forward and the adventure continues.
Seeing things with my new African
eyes and experiences is a big part of this of course. A greater consciousness
of how the world works and how the ideas we bounce around in this beautiful
bubble of dreaming spires actually work and apply in the wider and sometimes
uglier world. I also feel I have clear vision of what I am doing and why.
Already I can see how much I’m going
to miss the sunshine and the reef, which I have come to know so well, but
there’s so many experiences I am looking forward to by being back in the UK.
Oxford is a fantastic place to live. There’s always something to do. Last
weekend the St. Giles Christmas fayre took place, “We the citizens of Oxford
have decided we want to shut down one of the main roads in and out of the city,
so we might fill it with music and food and rides!” There’s so many
distractions and chances to explore ideas, which is the biggest thing I am
looking forward to.
I’m sure they’ll be a few more stories yet from Kenya, before I’m finished, but here’s to what the future holds. I’m excited.
