I could have been kidnapped last week. In a moment of silliness, and due my phlegmatic side that hates to hurt or disappoint people, I would have found myself somewhere in Kawangware being held hostage for a ridiculous amount of money as ransom.
Last week boyfriend and I were supposed to go and visit our friends in Kawangware. As always, I had left the house later than I had planned and had like 15 minutes to get to Kawangware from Westlands by matatu. Luckily, I don't have to walk too far to get a matatu; all I have to do is step out of our gate and wait. After a couple of minutes of waiting, a matatu stops for me. A man opens the front door for me. As I draw nearer towards the vehicle, I notice that the back of the van is empty. And why was the conductor sitting with the driver?
The matatu seems a bit suspicious to me so I pause and give an I-don't-trust-you look to the driver and conductor.
"Kwani unaogopa madam?" they asked. Are you afraid?
Of course I am! Why is the matatu empty?
"Usiogope madam. Sisi si watu wabaya." Do not be afraid. We aren't bad people.
I still hadn't gotten into the van and was contemplating whether I should get in. They kept on pushing me to enter so, against my better judgement, I did. I was late and there seemed to be no signs of any other matatu heading towards Kawangware and boyfriend wouldn't have been pleased if I got there too late. Besides, matatus heading to Kawangware were hardly ever full at that hour.
When I got in, I told the conductor and driver that I was afraid of getting in because the matatu was empty. The driver went ahead to inform me that the vehicle was experiencing mechanical problems thus it wasn't going to carry any passengers.
Yes, you read correctly. They weren't supposed to be carrying any passengers. So why was I in it? And were they even heading towards my destination? Did they expect me to pay them?
Feeling completely uncomfortable with the situation at hand, but unafraid, I sat quietly, hardly looking to the direction of the two young men that sat next to me. Luckily, they were headed to Kawangware, so I kinda relaxed.
When we were in Lavington, boyfriend calls. Unsure of whether to tell him of my current situation, I tell him of my whereabouts and assure him that I'd be in Kawangware in the next fifteen minutes. At that moment it hit me that I could have just walked myself into kidnap. Wow! So this is how it happens, sometimes, I thought to myself as I came up with ways to escape my travel mates, if they turned out to be kidnappers.
At some point, the van started giving them problems so they asked me politely to leave. I thanked them and jumped out of the van. As I went to get another mat, I smiled.
That was close! I could have been kidnapped and I could have led myself into it!
When I told boyfriend about it, he shook his head in disbelief. He didn't give me the this-world-is-unsafe-so-don't-trust-people talk. I think he was too preoccupied with his own adventure. And when I told my really close friend, she called me stupid. I'm sure that's what you think too, that I'm foolish and terribly naive.
This was probably my first thought after that incident: Haiya! You can actually hitch hike in Kenya and not get killed or kidnapped!
Then I remembered something that Paulo Coehlo had said about traveling. He said, "When I complained that I never stayed in one place for very long, people were horrified: 'But it's great to travel. I wish I had the money to do what you're doing!' Travel is never a matter of money but of courage."
PS You must read this story. There are great writers in Kenya!
http://rasmengesha.wordpress.com/short-story/rough-dimples-in-the-wall/
Wednesday 30 October 2013
Monday 7 October 2013
Taking The Plunge
I recently acquired a boyfriend. I must say, I like the word 'acquire', which can mean to obtain or secure for oneself or to achieve as a result of one's behaviors or qualities, because it reminds me that getting a boyfriend was an exercise and adventure that required my effort, time and sacrifice. Now that the process bore fruit and I am what my friend calls 'wifed', my friends have been dying to read a blog post about my adventures in my relationship. Thus, due to peer pressure and the constant need to please the whole world at my age, I decided to write something.
I had an aha! moment yesterday. I was thinking about Boyfriend and his super awesomeness. At some point during my musings, I imagined him dating some other not so random girl and I was horrified. Why in the world was I thinking about him dating another girl so early in the relationship? Wasn't this supposed to be the time to be enchanted by the magic of love and believe in happily ever after? By then, I'd already started freaking out. Lots of thoughts were scuttling through my mind, primarily about how silly I am and how much of a failure I am and how my relationship shall fail because of my silliness.
In between all this panicking, I realized that I do all of the three: fear happiness, put other people's happiness before mine and don't know how to be happy. When I assume that in the near future my boyfriend will be dating another girl, I believe that I'm not good enough or I don't deserve such a good thing or that the poor girl needs Boyfriend more than I do. And that's all crap. I may not deserve all the beauty I have in my life, but that's why there's God's abundant grace. Grace gives even to the undeserving, and it gives love and joy and peace and happiness and patience and so much more. So why am I so afraid to receive it? Why am I trying to save up today's grace for tomorrow yet there'll be a new stash of grace tomorrow?
I guess what I'm trying to say is that I'm afraid and I really don't think I deserve this gift God's given me. But who cares whether I deserve him or not? I have him now, I might as well enjoy the ride and love and be loved. Today I choose to find happiness in what I have and learn to be grateful and enjoy every minute of it.
In other news, I think Boyfriend is psychic. A couple of hours before my meltdown, he sent me a link that is relevant to my blog post. I hope you enjoy.
PS I'm taking the plunge. Hope I'll be making some wings with Boyfriend :)
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