The plan
was to write something about the Gem project chapter 1 , share pictures and
updates. That was the plan but then Notre Dame happened.
Notre Dame
and I have a story, a long one or so I believe. It was the first or among the first places i visited when i moved to France.
I came to France in 2001, I was a young naïve innocent
girl, only one thing has changed, I will let you decide which one it is.
Basically, I
went to boarding school in high school, it was typical for most teens but times they are a changing , today,
parents don’t trust boarding schools that much! My boarding school experience was
an easy one. Despite what some perceive, I am quite the unconfident and reserved
girl who loves to be in a crowd because it is easy to hide in crowds. I went to
high school and had to work on my social skills, because my siblings and by siblings,
I mean family and neighbors weren’t there to shield me and speak for me! according
to my schoolmates I did such a great job they still refuse to accept /remember
who I truly am. But that isn’t the story, I went to high school and like most
teens I was there to enjoy the ride, ok unlike most in my result-based school.
During school break I was busy catching up with my siblings and honestly saw no
point of exploring the world. They did but I was content just hanging with
them. This means I never quite got to know my city/country.
When I cleared form 4, also known as sitting
for your O level or A level or Bac exams, I, like most city kids, was asked to
go find a “college” read vocational or any form of higher education to keep busy.
I had lost interest
in education a few years prior, but being the good child that I am, I had
forged through because I was aware that I lived in a country where education
was the only ticket one had to a semblance of success…no of having a close to
decent life and even then you weren’t quite guaranteed of it…I of course knew
that
1. I wouldn’t make the uni cut*
Only the best of the best are picked. I have no recollection as to whether or not i sent in an application.
And 2. I couldn’t decide what I wanted to study ; so one of my brothers and father decided for me. Before you roll your eyes and scream patriarchy, I was more than happy to let them. It was my choice. Ok let us carry on, I did a few courses, they all bored me to death but I was wise enough to ensure I got a certificate each time. Except once. There’s always the exception to the rule right?
1. I wouldn’t make the uni cut*
Only the best of the best are picked. I have no recollection as to whether or not i sent in an application.
And 2. I couldn’t decide what I wanted to study ; so one of my brothers and father decided for me. Before you roll your eyes and scream patriarchy, I was more than happy to let them. It was my choice. Ok let us carry on, I did a few courses, they all bored me to death but I was wise enough to ensure I got a certificate each time. Except once. There’s always the exception to the rule right?
Anyway (I should
stop using this!), my mum got tired of my indecisions amongst other things and
decided to send me out of the country. Several people approached her with several
proposals, the UK, U.S.A and then France. I didn’t care for either, she picked France.
I should ask her why once we finish fighting over the fact that I never went back!🤔
I should ask her why once we finish fighting over the fact that I never went back!🤔
So off to
France, I went, man! As she now says she was crazy! See we too fear sending our kids away especially to the 1st
world more so for the girl child/ woman. Female = more vulnerable: drugs, kidnapping,
prostitution, depression…
I'm glad to report that despite the odds i came and i conquered or did i? At least i survived! Another story for another day... This may need to be a book though with sequels.
and 10 paragraphs later I need to get to my point before I lose you all!
The point is Notre Dam and Jakki.
I'm glad to report that despite the odds i came and i conquered or did i? At least i survived! Another story for another day... This may need to be a book though with sequels.
and 10 paragraphs later I need to get to my point before I lose you all!
The point is Notre Dam and Jakki.
As i said N. D was my first. My hosts
were busy and had taken 2 days off to welcome me into their home, show me
around etc. They took me there, just outside and showed it to me. In case i wanted to go pray in a beautiful cathedral.Back then i identified as a Christian because such things were and remain important to some (yet another story) I should write a sequel on my first experience in France, let me just summarize by saying
culture difference + sheltered girl + me didn’t speaky any French at all. Seriously! Bonjour , je m’appel, merci… can’t
count! I have taken digression to a whole new level, apologies... Notre Dame de Paris!
I got lost
so many times in this my adopted country with no one to talk to but we had
visited Notre Dame and it was easy to get to, I didn’t need to change trains,
and it was right next to the exit! So, I would go there, Monday to Friday (I had
a carte orange! -today we call it Navigo transport card quoi!) I need for you
to not only know that years later I speaky French but get in the Frenchy
groove.
Why else?
There were
affordable cyber cafes, the best gyros/kebab/Greek call it what you want are near
Notre Dame, Gibert Jeune , the restaurants, the artists…why lie! I love that
area, everyone who has visited me I have happily accompanied to Notre Dame. I
took my parents there when they visited and while my mother went in and started
to pray dad said a quick one and admired the architecture, mum still wonders
why there were more tourists than “believers”
When I joined
business school one of my first papers to write and presentations to give was
on Notre Dame. I love it as much as
those pick pockets do.
Which
reminds me, the year is 002 A.F (after France), I have been in France, for about
4 months still going to ST Michel every day on weekdays, I am making a phone
call, (those days when people still used public telephone booths and calling
cards worth 50 francs or 7 eur.) I turn and find this kid, hands in my bag! I was
offended good lord, me Jakki, a Nairobian, being robbed in broad day light near
my monument by a kid! Of course, he didn’t get away with anything but still!!
Today Notre
Dame is ablaze and my heart weeps, I recall my last visit, 17 A.F. “I’m cold,
we can come back another day or time, I now know the way, I can even come back
alone!”
My kids, as
far as I can tell, haven’t set foot in it since 2017, because “we will go ….”. Lest
we forget, tomorrow isn’t promised unto us”. Notre Dame will be rebuilt, all
isn’t lost.
HEROES
Paris Fire
fighters you have made us proud, thank you for doing your best, thank you for
the efforts to save our Lady. Merci Beaucoup et bon courage! Vous êtes les meilleurs.
*images from the web
So what caused this fire? Also what did you say to the kid?
ReplyDeleteHehehe, the fire issue is still under investigation. 2 theories, short circuit or negligence by workers....
ReplyDeleteAs for the boy, i suspect we were both taken aback, overconfidence is not a good thing. Our eyes spoke, he bowed and strolled away.