CHAPTER ONE
Most people know me as a quiet, reserved girl who rarely mixes with others. In fact, it is hard to get a single word out of me. But keeping to myself is often a conscious choice; it doesn’t mean I cannot communicate. If you actually get me talking, you will be surprised by how deeply I can drive a conversation and the amount of insight I can share.
Even my parents always knew me as their quiet daughter, which is why I completely caught them off guard one evening. We were at our village home, winding down after dinner, when I decided to share some of my closely guarded secrets with them. I casually let it slip that when the time comes for me to start a family, I intend to marry a white person.
Hearing that come out of my mouth made my parents laugh their lungs out. For a typically silent girl, I certainly knew how to make a loud impression!
“Oh, you’re killing me!” she laughed, wiping a tear from her eye. “You? You’re so shy you can barely keep a conversation going for two minutes. Where on earth are you going to meet a white guy? Besides, they usually fall for outgoing girls—the kind who mingle easily. That’s just not you, sweetie,’’ my mother said
“Just you wait and see, Mom! How exactly did Dad win you over? Because looking at myself, I’m a total replica of him. He must have said some incredibly smooth, meaningful words to sweep you off your feet like that, didn’t he, Mummy?” I replied
That response made my father laugh out loud. “Tell her,” He said, “it’s the weight of the words that moves a relationship forward, not how many words you can speak in a minute,’’ he said
‘‘Okay, I lose,’’ my mother replied
‘‘Don’t mind my daughter; you will meet a white guy who will love you the way you are,’’ my father replied
‘‘Exactly daddy’’
“I’ve lost the thread of this conversation,” she said softly, “but I wish you well, my daughter. It doesn’t matter to me if they’re white, black, or any shade in between—so long as you love each other and want to spend your lives together,’’ she replied
‘‘Now you are talking mum,’’ I said
After completing my undergraduate degree in Environmental Sciences, I was eager to start my career. Fortunately, the organization where I did my first internship had promised me a role in the coming months. True to their word, they called me back, and I stepped into my new role as a Climate Policy Analyst at Inspire World Organization’s regional office.
Barely a few weeks into my appointment, a major opportunity came up. The Swedish Embassy was sponsoring a two-week international workshop on new clean energy policies, specifically targeting young environmental policy graduates. Out of many applicants, I was lucky enough to be selected. I was chosen to represent my organization abroad with the mission of bringing that critical knowledge back to train the rest of our team.
I was called to the office of Executive Director for a briefing about the training;
‘‘Hello Valeria, how are you doing so far,’’ asked my boss
‘‘Very good sir, thanks for the opportunity for allowing me to join you as a gradate trainee and now as an employee,’’ I replied
‘‘You are welcome. I know you could have heard about this training that is coming up in Mombasa- Kenya and I want to send you to represent us,’’ he said
‘‘Thank you, sir, I appreciate a lot and thanks for the trust that you have put on me. I will represent inspire world organization very well’’
‘‘It is inspiring to see our young team lean into these training sessions. You are the ones who will take the torch, grow this brand worldwide, and carry our vision into the future. After all, a leader’s true legacy is measured by how well they train and empower their people to rise,’’ he said
‘‘Thank you, sir,’’
“I called you here to help you prepare,” they said, sliding a small envelope across the desk. “You’ll get a modest allowance for incidental expenses, but don’t worry about the basics. Lodging and meals are completely covered. You won’t have to wonder where you’ll sleep or what you’ll eat.”
‘’Thanks sir;
‘‘You can go and prepare’’
I left my boss’s office feeling energized and in incredibly good spirits. My Boss, Mr. Tom, is an exceptionally well-educated man who was trained abroad. That international background truly shows in his character; he treats everyone with deep respect and carries himself with immense integrity. Interacting with him reveals a striking contrast between his refinement and the behavior of other people I have known. In fact, this positive experience is one of the main reasons I believe I would find true happiness by marrying someone from a Western culture.
I went home and shared the good news with my parents;
‘‘I am so happy daddy that I have been chosen among the many to represent my organization and area at large for a training with Swedish experts at a workshop in Mombasa- Kenya,’’ she said
‘‘Thank you, Lord, we welcome this with open arms,’’ my mother replied
That’s good to hear. You go and make everybody happy especially your bosses,’’ daddy said
‘‘Thank you, Daddy and Mummy,’’ I replied
I could barely contain my excitement. This was my first time traveling outside my country, and I finally had the chance to meet waste management practitioners from across East Africa and beyond.
When it was time to leave, I carefully packed my best designer clothes, two pairs of favorite shoes, and a few essentials. I wanted to look my absolute best and fit right in with the regional delegates. With my bag zipped and my nerves tingling with anticipation, I called a taxi and headed to the bus park to begin my journey.
‘‘Stay well everyone,’’ I said as I boarded the taxi’
‘‘Reach safely my daughter,’’ my mother replied
‘‘Journey mercies my daughter,’’ my father said
“Bye, Maggie and Josh!” my younger siblings yelled, their hands waving frantically behind the glass as the car pulled away’’
‘‘Bye Josh and Maggie,’’ I replied
As a first-time traveller, I wanted to avoid any rushed mistakes, so I set off early to give myself plenty of time at the airport.
A taxi took me to the local bus park, and I caught a four-hour bus ride into the city.
Once I reached the city, I hopped into another taxi for a one-hour drive to the airport.
I arrived with nearly two hours to spare before my flight.
Sitting in the terminal after checking in, I watched incoming planes land and imagined what the journey would feel like. Soon, it was time to board, and staff guided us onto the aircraft where I took my seat in economy class.
As the plane lifted off the runway, a rush of mixed emotions washed over me—anticipation for what lay ahead, a wave of fear, and an undeniable spark of joy. I just gripped my seat tightly as we climbed higher into the clouds.
Glancing across the aisle, I noticed a male passenger watching me. He smiled warmly, completely relaxed with his headphones on, as if silently signalling, “Relax, girl, this is how we do it.” I wondered then if I could ever truly get used to this kind of jet-setting lifestyle. Maybe, I thought.
Once the plane levelled out in the sky, a blanket of clouds stretched endlessly beneath my window. Looking out, the only words that came to mind were, “God, take the wheel.” It was breathtaking to realize how incredible modern engineering is—making it possible for this massive metal bus to literally fly through the air. Of course, haunting stories of disappeared planes flashed through my mind, but I forced myself to stay strong. I told myself, if everyone else can do this, why not me? Ultimately, it was a truly unforgettable experience.
