This archive report was first published on 16 October 2019.
Have you ever left a place you called home and started life afresh? I have, and I'm sure many of you have too. We pack and leave loved ones, we grow up and leave our parents' home, we leave or take a break from relationships, we move cities and then we gain the courage to move countries and finally continents.
Every time we leave our comfort zones, move places, sooner rather than later we realise we have carried ourselves with us. So, it can either be a terrifying moment or an adventure of a lifetime.
As I reflect on my own experience as a Chevening Scholar, I remember the anxiety that came with packing for a new life in the United Kingdom. My fellow scholars and I found ourselves in a chat group almost immediately after the results were announced, discussing what to expect during the two months before we left.
One of the most hilarious conversations was about what to pack. We discussed the limit per suitcase, what's acceptable, and what's not. Every Kenyan wanted to carry a piece of 'Kenyanness' with them to the UK.
I personally struggled to pack all my gifts, including 11 books I received two weeks before I left Kenya. I wanted to wake up to my gifts spread all over the room, just a reminder that I have a community back at home that truly loves me and is praying for me.
However, I eventually made peace with the fact that I was going to leave them behind. My fellow scholars were busy discussing what food to pack, including maize flour, bush honey, Royco powder, and Royco cubes. I also brought Royco, despite not using it to cook, due to peer pressure.
As I researched for this article, I asked my fellow scholars if they would pack all the things they did if they were to do it again. The answer was a resounding no. They agreed that they might have a slightly different taste, but they could find them in their newly acquired cities.
Isn't the whole essence of relocation about meeting new people, learning a new culture, experimenting with new foods and new recipes, toasting to a new life and living it to the fullest? Soon, you will realise that moving from your comfort zone is actually the best thing you did with your life.
