“Come visit Kenya!” James exclaims, “It’s a beautiful country with very friendly people, and I feel like there’s something for everyone to do here.” James moved to Kenya earlier this year as a “trailing spouse”. His wife, Becca, is now teaching at the Woodland Star School. For the next two years, they will be finding themselves in Tigoni, a suburb on the northern outskirts of Nairobi.
James’ favourite Swahili word is “karibu”, which translates to “welcome”. Seeing that they’ve felt very welcomed by the people, they’ve heard it often. But his favourite word might change, as James will be learning Swahili from a tutor soon. Other than that, the couple also plans to keep busy by exploring as much as they can. They are interested in camel safaris in the north, stunning beaches along the coast and the buffalo migration that is to be seen in the Masai Mara. But for now, they’re focusing on their next adventure – a week in the coastal town of Malindi which they plan on visiting in mid-October.
When it comes to food, James remarks that they have not had the opportunity to visit many local spots yet, but they have a few on their list. They have, however, discovered the “best halloumi burger ever” at a restaurant called Como that they visited on their anniversary. If they would like to eat at home, though, they also have the option of takeout or food delivery. In terms of everyday comforts, nothing is lacking.
We know James to be a hard-working colleague, and he says that his routine has not changed: “Kenya is only one hour ahead of South Africa, so my work hours haven’t shifted much…I’m lucky that my work is flexible enough to do remotely.” The challenge, however, seems to be settling into an after-work routine which involves jogging or tennis.
The team feels like South Africa is a better place when James is here. Though, at the same time, we wish James and Becca the best. May you enjoy every moment!