Senior says ‘thanks’ for time at Georgia College
End of December 2007: Maggie Irungu can not separate herself from her computer. Everything seems to be as ordinary as it can be outside of her room, in the dorms of Georgia College, but she is terrified. Back home, eight thousand miles away, in Nairobi, Kenya, her family can’t go out of their houses safely. The reason is the spread of violence in the street between the two main tribes in the country, provoked by the polemic presidential elections.
January 20th, 2009: Maggie celebrates the success of Barack Obama in becoming the first black president of the United States.
“I am really proud of him, especially because he has Kenyan roots. Kenyans back home celebrated when he was elected,” Maggie said.
Two key moments for the history of the two countries that have shaped Maggie’s life so far: Kenya and the United States. The study abroad program she is taking part in here at Georgia College has kept her away from her country, her family and her roots for five years now. These past five years have been full of both good and hard times, and now that she is about to graduate, Maggie looks back and realizes that the experience was worth it after all.
“I would say ‘thank you for helping me broaden my perspective about the world.’ I’ve met people from all around the globe and I think this has helped me be a better person This has been a good learning experience. I have also learned a lot about myself.”
Maggie Irungu, senior mass communication major
“My educational experience has been good; therefore, I would recommend it to someone else,” Maggie said.
However, experiencing the cultural differences and the separation from her home country has been more difficult than she expected before coming to the U.S. Facing civil violence in Kenya after the 2007 elections from the other side of the globe wasn’t easy.
“It was a really difficult time because many people lost their lives. People from the two major tribes in Kenya were killing each other, and this was really sad. I thank God that we made it through though, and I am especially grateful because no one in my family was harmed,” Maggie said.
Maggie says she was not specifically interested in politics before, but after spending five years away from her origins, her interests and knowledge broadened beyond the strictly academic arena.
Now she can comfortably explain political and cultural differences between the U.S. and Kenya, weakness and strengths in both countries democracies, the progressive westernization of African countries, and the simplicity of life in her home country.
“Life in Kenya is more simple, but it is enough to fulfill myself… if you have few things, but those few things that you have are the really important ones for you, then your life is good,” Maggie said.
In Kenya, she lives in Kileleshwa, an estate in the Nairobi province, close to the busy capital city. There her family works in a coffee shop, where she helped while she was not studying. She spent her high school years in a boarding school for girls, which is very common in her country.
One of the things that she remembers with nostalgia is the quiet countryside where part of her family live, called Muranga.
“I really like going up country because it is so beautiful, the air is so fresh and clean, the water is crystal and the vegetation is so green and wonderful,” Maggie said.
Maggie was the one who made the decision of studying abroad in the U.S. Even though her parents did not fully agree, they supported her decision. She had high expectations of this experience, which motivated her to take the two years preparation seriously to complete the requirements needed to access an American university.
The media projections of the United States made it a desirable place for Maggie to come. But once in this country, she found that some of the cultural and social differences were even greater than she thought.
However, she found two great support systems in Milledgeville: the International Club, that has always been available for help and specifically allowed her to meet friends from all over the world, and her church community that share her strong faith and beliefs.
Today, less than one week from her graduation day, she evaluates how this university and this country has changed her. Missing her roots helped her to see all the good things that Kenya has and that she took for granted before.
“I miss the simplicity of my country, I miss speaking in my language…I miss the beauty of my country. I would say that this experience has made me more patriotic. I appreciate my country and my people more,” Maggie said.
At the same time, she admits that this country has given her a lot of positive things over the years, which make her thankful to have this experience.
“I would say thank you for helping me broaden my perspective about the world. I’ve met people from all around the globe, and I think this has helped me be a better person. This has been a good learning experience. I have also learned a lot about myself,” Maggie said.
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