Diary of a ksl student…

Part two…

I can’t believe am just about to begin the last learning semester at the School of Law. Time, I have noted with age seems to be less of a big deal... A year now goes by faster than I ever recall. I remember thinking in high school especially that Jesus had to come before I graduated…that is how long four years felt like to me back then. Anyhow I digress… So this is what my ksl journey has been thus far.

The long anticipated and overly hyped oral exams came and went last term. I am happy to report that no one died during this process. I am not sure why the school or their administration is so secretive about this process. Till the morning of the exam day, I was not too sure what the expectations were to ace that exam. The marking outline is not shared with the student prior to, during or after the exam and the examination scope is not well defined either. Reading for an exam covering anything and everything in law is definitely a bit tasking and almost impossible to adequately prepare for. Why you should be standing during the 5-20 minute exercise is another mind boggling think I can’t really wrap my head around. I am particular keen to see how the examiners will justify scores to students especially when the duration, complexity of the question and circumstances are not constant factors in every panel! My best advice to myself in hindsight or to future examinees would be to dress like a real lawyer going to court and not for arbitration…be confident but not corky…and just be you. Trying to be different on that day based on others advice will just make you more nervous that you already need to be. No writing material is required for this exam and there will be a safe place to deposit your handbag for the lasses. (I wish someone shared this insight with me before then.)Not knowing what the examiners are really testing is a challenge but the best advice I can give is to actively listen to the question. It could be something as easy as singing the National Anthem (true story) or something along the lines of explaining what a derivative suit is (yours truly was asked this).

I am happy to report that almost all project work is in. Working with ten other people on the same write-up is not only extremely exhausting but also really difficult. When done well, this process can be tremendously rewarding and the output very comprehensive with the appreciation of multiple views on the subject matter. Project work is unsurprisingly where individuals’ true characters are unleashed. It will take you a week tops on working on these exams to appreciate the group busy bees, the downright lazy and the absurd folks. I am constantly in bewilderment at how self-righteous some members can be and let others slave for a shared grade! The excuses you will here for this unacceptable behavior can make any genuinely industrious member blow a gasket but this process just reaffirms why and how every profession, law included, has a pyramid with the exceptional folks (not unexpected the fewest) at the apex and the majority of the rest at the base. If you are keen to start a law firm after graduation, perhaps you may want to consider and reflect on an individual’ contributions during their course work…this may be a good indication of their work ethics and most importantly on their team spirit/work capabilities!

Here’s to third term…to less drama and more work in preparation for the final exam!

The Musings of a Kenyan serving in the U S of A.

Part One

It’s been 45 days already since I left home to the land that has been long thought of flowing with milk and honey. I must admit that I am thoroughly enjoying what I came here to do which is another blog post altogether. Today however, I want to share some of the most interesting, surprising, funny and downright ridiculous experiences and culture shocks that yours truly has been dealing with thus far...

As a Kenyan of course it surprises me that “everyone” seems to be jogging. From DC to Portland this has been a common occurrence on my way to work, or on my way to church. Runners in droves seem not to be too bothered even by such horrid weather. I have honestly never seen such a phenomenal especially hailing from a country that prides itself with exceptional athletes. Not to give away the Kenyan formula for sweeping all the marathons, training well has lots to do with altitude...

I have recently take up the jogging bug  for the sole reason of burning calories which is something I have never thought of in my life until getting here. The food as interesting as it is, is extremely fatty, salty or sugary. Being the carnivore that I am, I am disappointed about the strange taste of every meat I have eaten. I have never cared much about portions and what is in a meal, but more and more I am finding myself reading the ingredients closer. The food frustration gets worse when I am offered cold food for lunch in the name of a sandwich. In Kenya that is considered a snack or an appetizer in anticipation of the real hot food! It is even more frustrating when I ask for chips and get crisps. Chips which is what many East Africans would also call French fries is considered a meal and comes in generous portions. I have bought laughable sizes of this here! I have found it very strange to be offered chips (I mean crisps) for lunch. From where am from this ‘chips’ are considered children’s snacks and I would be fired if I offered consultants in Nairobi this and dips for lunch!

I do love my coffee and tea and I still think that Kenyan coffee and tea is the best (I travel with my own supply) and so I understand the Starbucks craze. What I don’t get is the sticks!!!!Honestly how much more would it cost to get disposable spoons? I have found this interesting kitchen cutlery in virtually every office and coffee shop I have been to. Since I don’t want to jinx my day by stirring my hot beverage with this thing I know not its name, I now carry my own supply of disposable spoons in my lunch bag too!

I have found it very weird in reading the groceries papers or coupons to also find on sale a riffle! Am I the only one who has difficulty seeing the lack of market intelligence or the lack of correlation in purchasing tomatoes and guns? Other foodie things I can’t get over are the sink erector! And purchasing food on board a local airline! It leaves me wondering what the airfare covers exactly. Especially when it’s a seven hour local flight!

Flights, airlines and airports bring me to my next experience. Albeit an upsetting one, I like finding the hidden humour. Did I mention that the average time it took me from Nairobi to DC was about 18 hours? On arrival, it took me another two hours to clear though customs. The officer I met looked at me and said ‘you look tired madam-where was your last destination?’ I was too tired to talk and handed him my passport. Even before I spoke he immediately said-‘wrong line American passport holders only!’ I knew I was tired but the counter he was attending said VISITORS!!!! He then proceeded to reject five or six other travellers who like me had ‘no idea’ what the word VISITOR meant. Too tired to line up in a different queue I walked up to someone who looked like a supervisor and explained my predicament....long story short, the guy did not apologize to neither me nor the other passengers for making our wait longer than necessary and instead gave a funny announcement that his desk despite the visible sign will only handle a certain group of people! It made me wonder why the signs are there in the first place!

On a separate day in a different airport, I was speaking to an interesting traveller on various topical issues. She looked like she was well in her forty’s and asked me where I was from. Her expression on learning that I was born and educated in Kenya was quite strange and I should be offended! Her next question was ‘Oh my, where did you learn English from? You sound British? This statement on where I learnt the language of the Queen has been repeated on more than this occasion and I just want to say here and now ‘we are taught in English’!!!I learnt it in school like everyone else! As for the British ascent it must be historic. They once upon a time colonised my people and we pronounce and spell some words differently as a result, like colour or issue.

It has been very clear to me during my short stay here that most Americans have no idea on what is happening in the world outside their borders. It is shocking to me that in such a developed country I have to actively seek out international news to keep up to speed with the crisis in Syria or on the status of the recent peace accord in South Sudan. The most reported piece of news here in my opinion is the weather! With such limited or lack of diverse reporting it is not surprising when someone thinks all Africans speak Swahili or worse still when someone tries to convince me that Saudi Arabia is in Africa!! I am the one who should be asking where you learn geography from. Or what exactly do most people here have Google Maps for? Driving from within the same city ONLY?

Do stay tuned to for part two of my American shockers...

Courses Women Should be REQUIRED to take

• Silence, the Final Frontier: Where No Woman Has Gone Before

• The Undiscovered Side of Banking: Making Deposits

• Parties: Going Without New Outfits

• Man Management: Minor Household Chores Can Wait Till After The Game

• Bathroom Etiquette I: Men Need Space in the Bathroom Cabinet Too.

• Bathroom Etiquette II: His Razor is His

• Communication Skills I: Tears - The Last Resort, not the First.

• Communication Skills II: Thinking Before Speaking

• Communication Skills III: Getting What you Want Without Nagging

• Driving a Car Safely: A Skill You CAN Acquire

• Telephone Skills: How to Hang Up

• Introduction to Parking

• Advanced Parking: Backing Into a Space

• Water Retention: Fact or Fat

• Cooking I: Bringing Back Bacon, Eggs and Butter

• Cooking II: Bran and Tofu are Not for Human Consumption

• Cooking III: How not to Inflict Your Diets on Other People

• Compliments: Accepting Them Gracefully

• PMS: Your Problem... Not His

• Dancing: Why Men Don't Like To

• Classic Clothing: Wearing Outfits You Already Have

• Household Dust: A Harmless Natural Occurrence Only Women Notice

• Integrating Your Laundry: Washing It All Together

• Oil and Gas: Your Car Needs Both

• TV Remotes: For Men Only