Childhoods Memories

Childhood at its best!!!

Photo courtesy of Helen H Richard/Denver Post/Getty images

Growing up in the rural plains of remote villages in Africa is and was nostalgic.  There were no Televisions or modern phones where we could play games.  Life revolved around farm work, house chores, and playing along the village paths if you were not going to school.  In the morning we trekked long distances to get to school and coming back in the evening was the same though once in a while, we got out of school early which gave us time to play before parting ways to go to our individual homes.  School holidays were fun.  We would go to the rivers to fetch water and come back home after hours of playing with the water.  

Rain has Come!!!

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Rainy seasons were extremely cold.  Trotting to school in the morning was a painful experience if you didn’t have school shoes.  Sometimes having shoes would not help because it was too wet and flooded that you will end up falling or having to wade through the waters to get to where you were going.  Falling was part of the fun.  Sometimes we would purposely slide downhill and fall along the way.  We bonded a lot in those moments.  Weekends would partly be spent in church and as well as working on the farm.  Going to church gave us an opportunity to wear the once-in-a-while clothing that was reserved for such special occasions. 

Time to help

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The farm working day would be a whole day’s ordeal that started early in the morning and ended past five in the evening.   The distance was sometimes too long five to ten kilometers away from home.  In the beginning, it is such an ordeal but with time, we got used to it and felt responsible to do what we were supposed to do without grumbling or complaining.  There was no lunch, and sometimes it would rain and we would work through the rain until the rain stopped.  No matter how tough the job was, no one was left behind.  Everyone would help until the job was done. After concluding the job there would always be a cup of cold sour porridge that cooled your throat and gave us the energy to walk back home. 

Home Again

Back home everyone would take part in chores.  While others were preparing the evening meal others will be washing dishes or bringing the animals for milking or back to their shed, others will be filling containers with water from the well.  When the meal was ready, which was majorly Ugali with sukuma or any other vegetables, we would all sit around the fire in the kitchen and eat while sharing experiences until everyone fell asleep and we retired to bed.

Its Holiday

Occasionally during the school holidays, we would receive visitors like aunties and uncles, or cousins for a week or so. Our grandmother stayed with us in her old age until she passed on.  These were memorable times too.  We would have time to hear from them what their experiences were when they were young.  Christmas was a shared moment.  People came over for a meal and we also went to friends' homes to celebrate.

Spread the Love

As we celebrate and create awareness about children this month, let's cherish the memories.  Let's remember our parents and relatives who made this possible.  Let's remember that there are some who would have loved to have this opportunity but they never hard.  If you are one of them kindly make it memorable for your own children or those that have been placed near you in one way or another