Getting here

So I got the job and re-negotiated the terms of reference and was asked how 'soon can you get out there?' This was in January. I just got here 2 days ago!

Between January and last week, all sorts of things happened: 

Amazing daughter got into the drama school of her choice. We (I say we because every 'stage mum' knows that we might not be in front of the audition panel ourselves, but we live through every audition with our children), we applied to 6 schools, decided to audition for our top 3 and were offered places in 2. We accepted amazing daughter's top choice

So she's sorted and  I don't feel guilty going off on my adventure. I informed my employers I would be ready to leave by mid-February. Being a bit of a control freak, I went into full planning mode:

• I did 'le big shop' (almost had to hire the Costco self-drive van!) 
• Cooked enough food to feed an army for 6 months and filled the freezer
• Bought all amazing daughter's drama school supplies (apologies to the drama school admin for hounding them for information while they were still auditioning). 
• Started hunting for accommodation for amazing daughter for September (had to give this one up as Estate Agents and landlords just were not willing to hold a flat for me until September unless I actually started paying rent right away!)
• Got a health check and updated all my vaccinations (this is important folks; do as I say AND do, get your jabs if you're planning an adventure!)
• Invited all my friends for a big dinner and announced my imminent departure 
• Filled a gazillion forms for my employer in line with our 'international secondment policy'
• Bought a couple of new suitcases, read up a little bit on Kenya and waited ...

And waited...

For a work permit! 

Then the call from our international office at the end of March 'when do you want to fly out to Nairobi?’ the cheerful officer asks. Since this was just a few days before Easter, I opted for the weekend after Easter, mid-April.

Re-packed my suitcase, invited more friends over for dinner; went for my office leaving lunch, then...

Oops, we applied for the wrong permit; we need a 'Special Pass, not a Work Permit! How long will that take? Anything from 2 weeks to 6 months!!! Two weeks to 6 months!! I this point I was introduced to my first Kenyan phrase: 'pole pole' (means slowly slowly....)

Well it took another 6 weeks, but here I am, in Kenya, with the right paperwork, about to embark on my adventure

Now if I was one of those people who believe in signs and portends, I should still be home in Yorkshire (which I hear is having nicer weather than Nairobi right now). After all the delays for the paperwork, I was set to travel only for the British Airways website to refuse to allow me to check-in online. Called their customer service and spent one hour on the phone with the most incompetent call-handler in the universe who still didn't fix things. Spent over 4 hours in total on the phone with British Airways in the 24 hours preceding my departure before the problem was resolved. Then, just 3 hours before I was due to fly from Leeds to London on the first leg of my journey, British Airways cancelled the flight!!! You couldn't make it up!! 

But not being superstitious, I hopped on a train with my 4 large suitcases (never understood the concept of travelling light; I might actually need that kitchen sink!) and made it to London and caught the connecting flight to Kenya

Downside, family have already worked their way through most of the 6 months worth of food in the freezer, so long-suffering darling husband is going to have to brush up his culinary skills!

Next post, first impressions