Slowly I eased into the community. I learned the greetings, which I enjoy so much especially when greeting people younger than me, I say wacha? They respond with Aah! In Swahili wacha means leave it, it felt weird that this means How are you in their language! During the community meetings, I greet them in Kamba which surprises them every time. The mood suddenly changes to friendly and social compared to when I greet them in our national language, Swahili. It is like an ice breaker. Later as I progress into my service I realize speaking the same language as others gives a sense of understanding and empathy.
My first place of integration was the church. There too they speak pure Kamba though I really enjoy the singing and the dancing. I met a group of youth who invited me to their fellowship, I made my first youth friends there. Outside the church still nobody knew me, for better integration I settled on visiting the women and self-help groups around the village. I met a lot of women from three different villages who were eager to know about what I bring to them. Sometimes it was challenging as they would often ask, so how are we benefitting?
The month of December was slow. The community is always laid back because of the Christmas celebrations, it is always family time. No meetings and Baraza was happening till January. After the new year has gone, and the community is back to hustle and bustle. I met with the area sub-chief carrying his own duties. I did my introductions, he told me he had a Baraza and would love me to accompany him. I had no plans to, but as a Volunteer one of the rules is always be ready, so I accepted the offer.
I have tasted Muthokoi the famous Kamba food, which I have loved. The food is not so different from where I was raised, here food is quite scarce and anything edible can be combined, like ugali (made of maize flour and water) and potatoes. The community members are happy and very generous. The houses are far apart from each other and walking long distance under the hot sun has become my new normal. I like it here.
We always think we are limited till we break those limits and we realize we are limitless.