I moved to Kenya, Nairobi. This is the first time I am really a minority. This is the first time that I feel that my race matters.
The children are looking at me how I would look at a giraffe or a zebra around here. If I am just passing by (with the car, with the bike) they are shouting “howareyouhowareyouhowareyou”. If we are face to face they ask it only one time and when I answer, turning the question back, they look at me as if it was a miracle that I can speak. Last time I also had a camera with me. I was working, taking pictures of a meeting between the chief of my association and the chief of the beneficiaries of our programs. The camera is itself something really interesting apparently. A camera on me it is incredibly interesting. At the end of two hours, I think it is a good idea to make them try my camera. The problem is that I cannot explain them that they should look in the small hole on it very closely, to be able to see something, and also that after a while I am surrounded by 30 kids, each of them trying to touch the camera.
This is, however, a classical scenario. What was more interesting (and more embarrassing on my side), was during a conference. Again, I am working in my role of Communication office, therefore taking pictures throughout the two days of conference. The participants are quite a lot and we almost occupy the hole hotel. As in very situation of this kind, you tend to say hello to everyone that you meet around the hotel, supposing that it is one of yours.
I soon had to realize that I was the only white person. “I saw you this morning. Your lips were so dry, what happened?”, one of the participants asks me during the break. I am really surprised by his memory and I am really sorry when I have to admit that I don’t remember seeing him. Than it happens again “I saw you this morning. Don’t you remember me?” and again “I was sitting next to you, don’t you remember?”.
Now, I usually remember faces really well. I might not remember where I met that face but I do remember that I’ve seen it before. Probably busy and excited about my new job, and also still in a phase of adaptation to the new facial traits of people here, I didn’t pay that much attention to whom I was saying hello. But the point is that everyone remembered me because there was no one else white in that conference!
I found out that this characteristics of mine was also bringing people to give me lots of special attentions. Everyone wanted to speak with me and get my number. If this is the case in a conference, imagine on a beach of Mombasa, where no one is laying on the sand (really cannot understand why) and you decide to read your book in front of the sea. Suddenly everyone wants to know your name and feels authorized to ask you “how are you doing?” also while you are peacefully reading your book.
Conclusion> really tiring being the only white person.
