Recent read - The White Masai

So I finished the White Masai by Corinne Hofmann on Sunday. I read it in 3 days. It was engaging and a pleasure to read. I am currently drawn to any book on Kenya so as to keep the memory alive of whence I was there and to relive my adventures.

Unfortunately I spoke to two ex-volunteers later that night. They rang me and wanted to chat about the Primary School where I taught. They have had heavy involvement with the school for many years, actively helping to fund and construct new buildings and other projects. They were lovely to talk to but two things disappointed me:

1. They asked ~ 'So, what did YOU contribute to the school?'
2. They said the memory of being there will fade quickly even if you read books to try and keep the memory alive.

Poo to them!! Firstly, what did I contribute to the school? Well, isn't myself enough?? It didn't feel like that answer alone would be adequate so I mentioned that I will also be sponsoring 5 students to go to highschool. *Pause, they're waiting for more...* And I organised a donation of money for the school to use on text books. Oh, they were happy with that! I'm glad I got their approval *sarcastically* Judgement about what one contributes is not cool in my book.

And the memory fading ~ well they can go jump cos that doesn't make me feel good. I don't want the memory to fade and they were so jolly about it. *Grumble, grumble*

So that indeed is that. The White Masai was a great read because I could identify with the bustling city that is Nairobi, the hassels and delays it takes to get things done, the bad condition of the roads, the fascination of being white to the locals, riding on the local transport, the difficulty in getting medical care, the long distance between places, the types of food available, the issue with bribery, the warmth&hospitality of locals, customs of the masai tribesman, the importance of cattle and the friendships that develop with locals and other 'whites'.

But besides the Kenyan connection, as a woman I really identified with the main character in the story ~ Corinne. Even though she seems 'crazy' at the start, because she does things that I found hard to relate to, you understand some of her feelings when it came love i.e. the nervousness of waiting to see your crush again. And by the end of the story, I admired her strength, determination and resilience. There are three subsequent books in the series and a movie has been made about the first one.

Essentially, it is a real-life story about a 27 year-old Swiss girl on holiday in Kenya who falls in love with a masai tribesman. At first sight! Even though she already has a boyfriend who was travelling with her. She commits herself to this new man even though they barely share a common language in which to communicate. It details her love affair (sex before marriage!) and her move to live in rural Kenya. She is very adaptable to the traditional way of living except is not immune to local diseases (well it was the 1980's) and so her health suffers. What comes next is blend of unique experiences that test her resolve and prompt her into action. Worth the read (but more so for females).