The present moment never
communicates to us why it is with us but when time finally passes and we sit
down to reflect on it, we connect the dots and realize what we had and what can
never come back. At times, this is in the form of a person, at times an event,
at times a moment of truth and at times a feeling or an emotion.
‘Campus life’…I never
thought until August last year that I will ever be able to attend a university.
I hadn’t planned it and I never saw it coming, but well He who is above all
else did write it in my destiny and I flew to Mauritius to attend a final year
at Middlesex University. My best friend told me the week before I flew something
that I carried all along in my heart throughout my time on campus. He said “this time of your life shall never come back
so make the most of it. Don’t be afraid to live your life because it is your
life”. Till today, this statement echoes in my heart. I looked at the date
yesterday and realized how last year this very date, I was submitting
applications and searching Mauritius on Google looking at images and saying to
myself “WOW”. I remember showing those images to my mother who had a similar
reaction about the place, but her eyes, well they were full of tears for her
only son was going far away from her for a long period of time. I was a bit sad
leaving my friends and my dearest cousins, too sad leaving my parents but I held
myself strongly, I was very determined to do my best not for myself but for
those who expected me to do well especially my parents because failure was no
longer an option; the cost of failure was too high for me to pay, and yes, I
was very excited because I was told by someone that I am going to Paradise. I remember
I wrote a Facebook status from the airport as I looked at the plane “A bit sad, a bit more excited and super
focused…Bye Uganda...You will always be part of me!!”
The only regret I have
perhaps of my year on campus is that I could not make it for the induction. I would
have known more people had I attended it. I am an introvert to a great extent
and it takes time for me to get to know people. Not bragging as such but the
one thing about me also is the nag of becoming famous, of course for the good
reasons. Coming back to my journey, I landed in Mauritius and as Yassin
drove me home, I looked at the landscape and clicked photos with my Sony cyber
shot, I thought to myself I really have come to a gifted location. I went to
hostel, dropped my bags and went to campus which was barely 5 minutes of a walk
away. That moment is stored forever with me. Most people will think I sound kid
dish but you know when you don’t expect to have something and it comes to you,
the gratitude your heart feels is immense and unexplainable. The first best
thing that happened to me was my best friend gifted me a DSLR on my birthday
which was 11 days after I arrived in to Mauritius. Having a DSLR was one of my
dreams and when it came, all I could do was feel the mercy of the Al-mighty for
me. I have always known that Shiraz is my truest friend on this planet but last
year, he showed it by this act of selfless love. Don’t get me wrong but even if
he hadn’t gifted me the DSLR, he would still remain that precious for me.
I began classes and I realized
that because I hadn’t done statistics in the past like my classmates, I would
have to work double. I used to read at night because it was so calm, quiet,
cold and amazing. I will never forget the tea-breaks I used to take at 1 am at
the terrace under the moonlight. Those are moments, I as a writer and
photographer, just cannot capture or explain. The wind of Mauritius left me in
a trance always and I was simply mesmerized. Soon, we began a routine; me,
Moses and Nihir of going to a shopping center close by called Jumbo. We were
even termed as the ‘Jumbo boys’ by the guys at the hostel. We used to go eat
and just chill. After a long day on campus, the walk to Jumbo and back, the
teasing of dogs especially the chubby one our neighbor had and the German-shepherd,
the road poses, the jokes and laughter, ‘ratings’, and upon return, a few
rounds of matatu just made up the day complete. On weekends, we would have the
house parties and have an outing or so to round up the week.
So I realize I have written quite a bit. I will continue this article very soon this week as I still have a lot more to say. I hope you enjoyed it thus far and will read the next part of it.
Cheers!
Peace!
Champ!
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