Having received a text message reading “Would you
like to do an internship programme at the UN for data……” So unconcerned I
was because I thought it was one of those SMS from people in our prisons. At
that time there was a lot of news about how prisoners are able to sneak in
Mobile phones handsets and laptops into the prisons and they were using them to
commit fraud. Anyway the reason why I never thought of UN was because; UN for
me was a “dream” working place later in my career. It was one of those
places that you only dream especially when you’re walking along a road then you
get to see those big fuel guzzlers vehicles with red number plates and
the only thing running into your mind is “$$$$$$” and a good life. I decided to
contact the number and realized that it was my Lecture in college and she gave
further directions after having decided on it. I sent the CV to the given
address and after one week, I received a call from the Agency that I was to
work for, informing me that I was to attend an interview the following week.
After that, I knew that things
here were really getting serious. Why? Do you know I just received a call from
UN...I mean United Nations. It doesn’t matter the content of the conversation
as long as it was from UN. As usual, I did not want to tell everyone not even
my mum yet because you still want to be sure it was not a hoax, (you don’t want
to be laughing stock). Now I started mesmerizing about my future experiences at
that place (mind you, I had not even attended the interview, leave alone
passing it). I even started to wonder how that place is, not even the single of
my thoughts could be able to conceive and clearly bring the depiction of the
physical environment of that place. Three days before the due date, I decided
to tell my mum and also those friends that I had not informed especially in my
Bible study group in church (one needs the support of brethren in everything)
to keep me in prayers as I go for the interview (Divine intervention).
But then one problem still kept on ringing in back
and forth my mind; what was it? I had not invested on official clothes, I
really had very few nice looking official clothes and the reason was because I
had ignored them a lot for the fact that I just don’t like them (I have a
history with them: not really good). Anyway, whatever the case I had to go to
the interview.
The Interview
I arrived at the UN complex main gate at around 8:15
.am smartly and sharply dressed looking as if I am going to one of those top
board strategy meetings (don’t even ask where I got the clothes).
The only
people I have seen carrying guns in this country are only Police officers and
like minded organizations but not securities for companies and NGOs. In this
case, I was so shocked to see nicely dressed gentlemen with pistols on their
waists supported by holsters. So confused I was, that I didn’t know where to go
seriously. Being diplomatic and cool as I am always, I decided to ask one of
them who directed me to the point where I am supposed to submit my details
(Funny thing is that they also speak fluent and eloquent English, not the ones
that I am used to meet in Kenya).
Now, this place has 3 security
points, The first one is at the main gate where, I was asked for my papers to
confirm that I was invited in that place plus identification documents, then
the second one was where you are given a ground pass with your photo on it which
will grants you access to in the main compound and then there is the third one
which an officer manning there ready to confirm you details (ground pass) and
then swipe a card to allow you to access through the gate. Do you know that
process alone can take you around 45 minutes to even one hour? …. No You Don’t
Wow! I was in the main complex, I can’t believe, I am
in the UN Gigiri main complex. On my view the place is wide and open. On my
left is a line long path that was leading to the main Lobby and its sides are long
flag posts each with a flag that represent every country that is a member of
the UN. It really looked cool. On my right was a road leading to a parking with
buses from a local transport company ( came to find out later that , those are
the staff buses and they pay only Kshs 1500 per month for those services and it
takes you to your doorstep; God, I cant believe this, I mean its very cheap).
Anyway, I was directed to follow the flag posts to the main lobby and then ask
another security person on where I wanted to go (Following the flag posts was
the easiest way for visitors because with that you can’t get lost).On the way I
met a lot of foreigners or otherwise as they are known locally as “Mzungus”,
Now, these are not the typical ones that you find in the streets of Nairobi
smiling at you always, they were really serious (Perhaps they were thinking of
their families at home or maybe their boss had told them that they had to go to
Somali for 3 good months. SOMALI! Guess you know how that place is from watching
CNN). I was supposed to go to the “NOF BLOCK 4, LEVEL 2 SOUTHWING’, you know
with such a description, I don’t have a clue what it means leave alone where it
is. Having been directed, I passed through the first Block labeled “1” and I
was to go till I reach where it has been labeled “4” then took a short flight
of stairs to what is now called LEVEL 2 then proceeded to the part that
is now called South wing, mind you it has not been labeled. A narrow path leads
to the main office of that part, Now not knowing definitely where I was going,
again I had to ask a man in this late thirties (looking so) to direct me to the
office of my future boss for the next 6 months (Initially it was 3 months).
The directions led me to an office
labeled the name of my supervisor *Wanda Seaford*). Reading the name instituted
another mindboggling conversation within me as to whether that name belongs to
a Kenyan or a foreigner. Anyway I decided to call her number and the response
was like “We were supposed to meet at 9am, so please wait for me because
it’s not yet….”.”Ok” was my response. So I seated their waiting patiently,
expectantly and anxiously for the interview to start. I kept on reminding
myself about what HABITAT is all about and also some of the Do’s and Don’ts
during an interview.
Suddenly a lady appeared on one of
the doors walking hurriedly (Probably running, Later on I came to discover that
the Lady is very strong despite her age at that time being 60) carrying “Ciondoo”
and a “Kitenge skirt and a sleeveless top”. She came towards me and asked me if
I was that name that she was to interview and I responded with a strong yes.
She told me to give her a few minutes while opening the office. The time has
come for the interview. She called me in, directed me to a chair and asked for
my CV (thank God I had carried it).The first question was “Tell me something
about yourself that is not written in the CV”; this is a question that one
needs to prepare themselves on because every interviewer will ask you that.
Trust me on that.
The interview took around 30 minutes. It really moved from
being an interview to a conversation and I liked that. The content was more of
the current issues facing city in terms of planning and there possible remedies
for all that. I must say that the future boss was really friendly and polite
too. After that I was directed to one a young man possible in his mid twenties.
He was supposed to direct me on how to fill a central online application site
for all the interns coming to UN. I came later to know that his was also
working in the same department and I will be working with him too. His name was
*John*. He directed me with everything that I was supposed to do. I finished
with that and I left the office trying to internalize everything that had just
happen all that time. Figured out my way out of the complex and went home to
relax myself. I filled the form for one and half weeks (It is a very long form)
and waited for around one month before I was called to report to the place.
The Experience
Reporting day for the internship was on 30
th May 2011. Psyched up I was with very many expectations and
intentions during my entire time at the UN. Reported to the internship office,
took the document which I am supposed to get with the official ground pass.
Once I got my official ground pass with my name on it and it also indicates the
agency and what my title is e.g. “Intern”. Did I just tell you that we were
also entitled to “Courtesy Bus” every evening to the city center? Yeah! It’s
called a courtesy bus because it can only accommodate around 30 something
people considering that this place has 100 and interns and it’s also on first
come first serve basis. I can tell you for real that the bus left me on my
first day. Sorry me! Anyway I had to wait after one week to take my
orientation; which in sense was supposed to be done in the first day (I don’t
know if it served its purpose because it’s like an introductory class session
to familiarize oneself with UN.
After week surely, one has already
known the place at least). It was during the orientation that I came to know
about that the UN also houses international interns. I met quite a number of
them during the orientation form different countries. Awesome place it is.
Proceeded to my office met my boss and I was re – introduced to *John who as I
told you will be my direct work colleague. I went through a small job
orientation based on what I was supposed to do.
My first week in UN – HABITAT was one of the worst
week I had in my life. I think it was not just one of the, but the worst week I
ever had in my life. How can one stay in an office with people and not talk. I
stayed in the office and no one is greeting at all. You can’t even greet other
people because the facial expression that they give you is just like “try and
say hi and you will regret it the rest of your life” hahahaha (Vey funny, Just
Kidding). I can tell truly that, that was the attitude exhibited by people. I
am very social person and I can’t stay three hours non –stop without talking to
someone. Unless you are with them in the same in the same unit or working
together I can tell you that no verbal contact will be between the two of you.
I spend like three weeks before having that verbal contact with some of them,
not that I didn’t want but it was them who seemingly didn’t want.
I think God created us as social
creatures who are supposed to be connecting in whatever ways. By the way the
Unit that I was working in had people of different Nationalities, i.e. Kenyans,
Ugandans, French, Mexicans, West Africans and also Europeans. Such diversity
but no connection; with such a very weird working environment. On that point by
the way, I had someone said when we were having lunch at the cafeteria that
people are reluctant to share their research or discoveries because their
superiors might either plagiarize them or even take credit on them (I don’t
know how true it is)
....................................End of Part 1.............................................
I cannot tell you how glad I am that you have not changed your way of
living. Fool! You are mine. Remember, you and I have been
going steady for years, and I still don't love you yet. As a matter of fact, I
hate you, because I hate God. I am only using you to get even with God. He
kicked me out of heaven, and I'm going to use you as long as possible to pay
him back.
