Of
Maseno Firsts and First Years- Part One
by
Watiri Mwangi
So you made it to
campus, sorry to burst your bubble but so did everyone else here. While ‘being
called’ to Maseno University might have solicited mixed feelings, unlike the
Lamu title deeds, it will not be revoked. You are starting the final cycle of
your 8-4-4 education, probably if I add that up it’s also your age. Campus, rather
Maseno University is deemed to be your newest and most interesting experience,
ever! This is where you are expected to have fresh experiences, become more
responsible, develop your career and achieve independence. Anyway I’ll save
that speech for your pastor, parents, mentors, boy or girlfriend (make that EX
once you step into Maseno).
There
are a myriad of issues to expect when you are joining campus for the first
time. So I will be to you what Angel Gabriel was to Virgin Mary, a guardian of
some sort and tell you what to expect for your first. Firstly, if you are coming
from far flung regions, with no flight or travel restrictions expect a very
long and tiring journey. If you are not a travel enthusiast, its time you added
it to one of your many interests. The comfort or the lack of it depends with how
much you are willing to pay, ranging from flight, personal car, bus or even shuttle.
If you chose what is considered cheap public transportation, then expect to be
on board with ‘other’ passengers, ranging from chicken to goats and even
insects jumping from your neighbor to you (more like a farm on wheels). The
(dis)comfort sets in when the ‘buffet eating’ begins, to some people on-board
it is luxury; clearly luxury is relative. There are multiple public
transportation means en-route to Kisumu and Maseno, so you have the initial
luxury of choice.
Expect long, smelly
tiring queues on arrival. If you are probably accompanied by your family,
friends or even spouses, they will be waiting, impatiently! This will also be
the first sign that the only University situated on the equator is not so cool,
literally. The queuing is a gruesome experience considering the all too
familiar lack of respect for personal space, a lot of ‘kufinyana and rudging’
occurs. The experience is worsened by
the fact that you are all from overnight travelling and eating, the weird
smells set in and all sanity is thrown out the window, if there is any left. The
queues are the foundation of your campus life this is where you become
acquainted with your comrades and the official enrolment commences. If those
queues could talk, they would boast of creating life-long friendships, rivals,
frienemies and even relationships. Cute dudes and chics are also spotted on those
queues, the chase games ensue. Reality finally hits you when your parents leave
you in the mercy of the university administration. Some will cry tears of joy
parents and students alike, a mutual feeling. The parents are glad to finally
get rid of you and (or) vice-versa, definitely a win-win situation.
Complete
independence is the first thing you will claim ownership of, after scrambling
for bed space of course. A majority of students come in completely covered in
buibuis, long Akorino skirts/ dresses, head scarves leaving everything to
imagination. Religious terminology, morning glory (whose meaning is completely defiled),
bibles and ‘kushikilia dini’ are all too common for the first few days. With
great independence comes great wealth, so you might think. Most newbies come in
loaded with money acquired from both legal and illegal means: harambees,
relatives, hustling, ‘kupanda mbegu,’ spouses, parents and even HELB if you’re
lucky. The all too common feeling hits you that ‘unanuka pesa,’ so there is a
sudden need to avoid people who give you that look or smell rather. Bank and
M-Pesa accounts are also very loaded. If you are under 18, probably you’ll have
to hide your money under the mattress (don’t) or in between what cannot be stated
publicly due to its ‘private’ nature. However for personal security, others opt
to walk everywhere with the money, clearly trust has not been earned by anyone,
literally. Whatever you think protects your money, no matter how much it is,
will be over before you say ‘chrometophobia.’
Bearing the fact
that continuing students are not in school yet, it’s ‘Tujuane Time’.
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