The Reverse Is True
A Reflective Journey
by
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Every Saturday morning, my aunt - now mother - and I would go to the market to buy vegetables and groceries. We would spend the next two hours haggling with the stall owners, engaging in small talk, and hopefully picking the best from what was offered. At the end of the visit, we would return home with heavy bags, carrying what we thought was the best pick for the best price. Every so often, this triumphant feeling would be busted by the reality that some rotten tomatoes or some unripe avocado was sneaked into the bag or that the sellers had lied about the weight of the goods. While most of the Saturdays were bright and sunny - ideal for market days, others were cold and wet. This did not stop us from our weekly ritual. The Saturday morning visits to the market became a consistent activity - one that was observed even when we did not need many groceries. Initially the motivation for going to the market was to find fresh produce at a much cheaper price by comparison to a nearby grocery store. Over time, it was no longer about duty or a household necessity, but a special time to bond with Mom; to share my many insecurities, listen to her opinions and thoughts, and get her practical advice on many issues. In fact, most of my questions about my birth, my original family and my mother were answered during these trips. In retrospect, the many visits to the market presented a clear illustration of my journey to find myself. The crowded market, with loud and aggressive traders was confusing. With no time to think or prepare, I had to make choices; to collect the desired characteristics to add to my personality and to develop a worldview, pay the price and get away without being run over by others eager to do the same. These learning interactions set the pace for me, giving me a good attitude towards learning new things. As life sped by and my exposure grew - the market grew. Things like learning how to taste cheese, how to light a cigarette, holding a table fork, adopting an English accent - very important - tying an American knot on my tie, getting a cool haircut, ironing my shirt, and how not to burp after a beer-drinking contest. My close relations and those I admire have had their proportional share of impressions and influences for me. They have defined how to become an `ideal man' in an African contemporary setting, handle women, time and money, how to interact with God, and how to express myself. Some of these impressions were practical, proper, and worth learning, but a lot of them were destructive, confusing at best. Such influences have often brought a great deal of misery and conflict to me.
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About the Book
The Reverse Is True
The author invites you to follow him through his journey in order for you to understand the influences in his life. At a tender age, the author is wounded by the death of his single mother and he begins the quest to find himself, a place to belong and a place in society.
This quest sends him into a journey of discovery about learning, masculinity, patriotism, his notions of success as well as how to deal with the experience of feeling lost within oneself.
The author's sense of fun, determination and zest for life is shown in his quest to find his way, to locate himself and his bearings in a land to which he belongs. Through his reflections, the author hopes to inspire the asking of critical questions about contemporary influences and culture. He hopes to cause a revolutionary awakening of conscience, which should reshape our thinking and transform our hearts and lives.
About the Author
George Gachara is a youth worker, speaker and a leader of numerous youth initiatives in Africa for the United Nations Development Programme, and the British Council. George is a Global fellow of the International Youth Foundation and is the Co- founder of the Picha Mtaani National Reconciliation Initiative. George is contagiously enthusiastic, relentlessly creative and socially engaging. He loves to work for the youth, the minorities and the underprivileged. George has been described as "young, strong and unbowed" by Amani Sasa Publication, "Kenya's fast rising, notable and respected young leader" by Parents magazine, and “a true inspiration" by the Nation Newspaper. He is the last born son of the late Catherine Njambi and has one brother