The art of meeting

Today was a beautiful day! (I cannot believe that I just said that!) Anyway, it was warm and there was no biting wind to stress my blood and bones. However, I still had a wind breaker jacket on...you know, just in case of something. The jacket ended up being a bother because the weather stayed beautiful! I also got a pleasant surprise because I bumped into someone who is from my homeland! It was really strange because I thought I was seeing my own things but when she had the same look on her face that I had on my face, then I knew that I was not hallucinating!(phew!)  We talked for a bit. She is around for a conference.

The day went by well, except that I could not find a special piece of paper called transparency paper that I need for some work. Anyway, that is not the point right now. Today, I had an encounter that made me feel like as though I was back to nursery school.

Do you remember that, first-time-in-a-class, first-time-away-from-mum-or-dad-or-the-care-giver situation? Yes! You remember that nervous feeling that you had when you walked in and the teacher was not your mum (or care-giver) and he/she was not the person you were used to seeing...and then you began to wail...yes! you are even seeing the picture in your head right now.

Quite frankly, I cannot remember this part of my life. All I remember from my nursery school days was making kitchen dishes with clay and plasticine, learning how to write the letters of the alphabet, and sleeping in the afternoon before going home. Oh, the sweet days when it was part of the lesson plan to sleep in class. You know what am talking about don't you? ( look! am digressing! okay, let me get back)

Today, I had 'the feeling' ( I will refer to it as 'the feeling' because I do not know what else to call it right now)

I went for a bible study meeting. The only people that were familiar to me were the organizers, so I got there early so that I could study my material or prepare for the study. I found a few people inside and I introduced myself...lets just say, from the time I came here, I realized that maybe my name is a bit hard for the people here to grasp, therefore, I find myself teaching the pronunciation of my name. (It was hard at first but now, I have learnt to be patient.)

Anyway, other people came in but I was sitting and was in 'defense' position. (This in my head means that I was comfortable and settled and did not feel the need to be greeted or to greet anyone) However, the people were so kind and they kept saying hi, smiling ....and asking my name, (which led to the teaching again)...

The bible study session began at about 7:05 PM. As we continued having it, more and more people came for the session which was really great and so by the time it was ending, the small room was full. (maybe not concert-full, but it was relatively filled with people. (..I realize that "full" is relative...)

When it was over, we said the final prayer and then people were free to leave. Back in my country, since I know the people I have Bible Study with, we shout and laugh loudly with no refrain whatsoever. However, instead of me trying to meet new people( something I thought comes naturally for me, ) I got 'the feeling'

Oh dear! It was terrible. My palms were sweaty, I was shaking, I was a bit..no...very confused, I kept looking down...that was the opposite of what I thought I was. I mean, I thought that I would just walk up to anyone and say 'hi!' then teach them how to say my name but I did not!I was freaking out at a supersonic velocity. ( I know that that word- supersonic velocity-is not appropriate but I felt the need to use it.)

After saying hi to the people that I knew, I walked sheepishly to get my jacket and bag and I left quietly, after waving goodbye to 'everyone'. It was a catastrophe! What is the moral?

We are not born knowing how to meet people. ( I realize that) It actually takes practice, which only happens when we meet people. I may think that it is easier to meet people when am in my country because am in my zone, but, meeting people is meeting people. Its not defined by where you are. Formal and informal meetings happen all over the world and I have realized that I need to get used to it. Whether I will spark a conversation because of the mention and teaching of the pronunciation of my name, or whether I have a bad encounter with someone (hopefully not), meeting new people is a good thing and it is encouraged. (At least by my mother.)

Therefore, the conclusion is a song that I learnt when I was in primary school aka XYZ ( Name with held for special reasons. )
                           Make new friends and keep the old,
                           One is silver and the other is gold....Ama kweli.

Mwalimu.