QUARTER LIFE CRISIS

The birth of a child is one of the most exciting things both in traditional and contemporary society.The newborn especially traditionally, is welcomed with fanfare,colour and many ululations.Sometimes five for a boy and four for a girl in some traditions.

Like all other species, the human child enjoys the tender care of its life givers for sometime.In modern society ,this is usually the eighteen age mark.By this time ,necessary documents to live and be productive as an adult citizen have been acquired.This basically ushers in 'quarter life'.

A sometimes tiresome search for job opportunities is a thing most young people of today will experience.Having dropped cv's and certifications left,right and center.And  having checked every other notice board,job opportunity websites and adverts on the dailies mostly with no light at the tunnel end.

Most youngsters will be forced to settle for jobs they are overqualified in or are not passionate about  for the sake of the bills.Scaling the heights of a career usually takes time and will require  a lot of patience and perseverance as the skills are mastered.

Going solo, the art of being smart can only be mastered.Fake friends,fraudsters and opportunists have to be predetermined as they seem to litter every other place.From the neighbourhood,workplace,utility personell and the scroll is a lengthy one.                                                

After sometime maybe changing jobs
and  gaining more skill interpersonal and intrapersonal ,some comfort and stability will be achieved in one way or the other.

Sooner or later,real relationships will  kick in.This phase is not any easier. Here mistakes are made with some being unable to easily reverse.The awareness of the ticking time bomb of the responsibilities of parenthood begin to become more and more vivid with time.This of course will require stringent emotional and financial measures and of course the right partner.

Nevertheless, finding the right partner is quite an issue for some if not most  young people.Languishing in solitude is common practice.As a result of lack the right match and some unpreparedness to responsibility. This becomes stressful and a real issue with some youth.

And so many issues will seem to crop up around this phase of life. Adhesive bosses,confusion on whether to go by ones elder's advice or what one should feel as quite right for them as an adult becomes cumbersome.And the cycle is without end.

They say,decisions are a product of information. In quater life ,where important personal decisions are to be made. The young man or woman will need to be well informed to make the right decisions.

A good book,spiritual base and mentors come in handy here.With the right informational environment hence frame of mind.The young people can hence cope and sail through quarter life and it's issues and move on to be smart,succesful,productive and responsible citizens.

Voila !

MATATU CULTURE

Visit any place and there will always be something  signature or unique  to that place. Hardly is there one  place mirror image of another.

Nairobi codenamed ,the silicone savannah,the city in the sun et cetetra.Is a vibrant city. Green,modern and also serving as the capital of Kenya.Much has been written about Nairobi including it being the only city with a national gamepark adjacent.But not enough airtime has been accorded her eye catching public transportion buses.

Matatus as they are referred to are privately owned .They were brought in to add on to and eventually face out  government provided buses way back,post independence.They derive their name from the three cents the  buses charged as commuter fee.(matatu means three in the local Kikuyu dialect).Unlike buses,matatus come with a 14 seater,25 seater,33 seater and even a 55 seater configuration.

A cinema theatre,moving sound system or art gallery are all terms that have been used to refer to these masterpieces of art,ostentation and ingenuity.

Jump into a matatu for the first time and it will be an experience you will carry with you for a while.Contrary to typical public transport as in most jurisdictions.Where you simply board,ticket ,take your seat,doze off  or stare at first passing flora outside your window awaiting destination.A matatu will tickle your fancy from the get go.

On its outside a matatu will be well 'pimped' to the core as they put it.With vinyl graphics,graffiti,fancy LED lightning,classy rims and cutting edge fabrications.The horns will be blaring,the engine roaring and the music ever blazing.

Of touts, they will whistle gracefully, wave the fare by hand signal and even come right where you at to ask and usher you in.Just make sure you've learnt a few of the slang as everything around matatu will be in sheng,a  popular Kenyan slang.

Embarked,especially if you are lucky to board a really classy one.Cutting edge upholstery will be first to catch your eye.Not to mention the screens ,interior design and acoustic sound systems.Some come with a screen behind every seat akin to what they have in 747's and the like.A VIP section,a small compartment for elite experience is also a feature you can come by in some buses.Wifi connectivity could also bé on the list all to spice up your journey home.Simply look around and find the password displayed mostly at the front and log in .

Notice also pictures of celebrities,reknown televangelists and politicians gracing the insides.Advertisement stickers, bible verses and gutter press stickers the content of which is in most cases comic also add to the interior.You are allowed to giggle,or smile at yourself if it's funny enough.

The tout experience is also one  to look out for.Catch them whistle in melody to communicate with the man behind the wheel on when to slam on the brakes for a pick up or a drop.Catch them also do acrobatic stunts at the doorway even as the wheels roll in high-speed.

En route,a matatu will meander through traffic in tact and skill second to none.Dont be surprised to see the driver roll onto the pedestrian/cyclist passage overtaking or anticipating space ahead in a traffic jam.It is populary known as an overlap,punishable in accordance to the traffic act. But it's the done thing.

You will notice the commuter fee is collected midway or at your point of dismount depending on a particular crews' modus operandi.At this point advisably ensure you have loose money for convenience purposes..Plus there's chance your integrity might be tested 'by fire ' if the conductor skips you or simply forgets to charge you.

For a first timer,by the time you alight usually in the space of minutes the experience will indeed have given you something to write home about.Some skillfull enough will be able to embarked and disembark before the matatu is in motion.Wait till the vehicle is fully stopped if you don't subscribe to such skills.And there is enough slang for this also.

On the bigger picture, the matatu industry plays a pivotal rôle in latters job création in the country .Talk of thousands working round the clock as designers and matatu crew.Not forgetting those employed in the many sacco's managing the business . Having mentioned these, one guy MohaGrafix is to be lionized for doing the first artwork on a matatu years ago. Setting the trend from where the rest have religiously followed suit.Opening up a big job industry for artists, interior designers,painters.welders,sound technicians and electronics specialist.

On the community level, matatus have  made their fair contribution.A story is told of touts who help physically challenged persons daily to their seats.A matatu saved a possible car jacking by escorting a vehicle not so long ago.Recently again, "Tango one" a matatu plying route 23 and owned by R.O.G sacco recently detoured off its usual course when an expectant lady passenger onborn started experiencing labor pains.And delivered her child onboard with the help of knowledgeable passengers just as the matatu was rolling into hospital.Not forgetting  many school going children who dépend on these buses to school .They are handled  quite gracefully for the most part and even have their fare reduced.

Matatus also come in as instruments of expression of various things going on in the country and world at large.You just need to read most of the graffiti and quotes written on matatus to catch a glimpse of  what word is going round in various facets of the country. Brand names like Ngamia 1,Eurobond ,Kiongozi,Arab money et cetera are evidence of this.

Only recently, Nganya awards ,a platform where the best and most disciplined drivers, conductors,saccos, sound technicians and fabricators are recognized  was set up.Further enhancing up talent,work ethic and competitiveness in the industry.

On the flipside though .A finger has been pointed at particular sacco's plying particular routes for entertaining criminals who steal from passengers on their way and even air explicit material. Only recently did a trio receive what most considered a heavy judgement for a misdeed involving a female commuter in one of the matatus.Return on investment is also another issue.Where some investors overspend on the designs not taking into consideration subsequent wear and tear hence profitability margins .

Nevertheless ,matatus will remain an iconic landmark to the city of Nairobi .A means of expression in Kenya urban culture. The affordable and timely means of commute for a surmountable number of city dwellers operating almost 24hrs. And a major source of employment for many around the country.

Visit Kenya,visit nairobi and sure enough board a matatu.