Cinders, You shall go to the ball

In 1970s ProvincialTown South Wales we were far from the cultural heart of the nation.  Cultural backwater might be overstating the reality. I grew up in an avidly theatre going family, we made it to Stratford too, but we were reconciled to the fact that from Christmas Eve to mid April, what our local theatre, the Swansea Grand, showed, was pantomime.  Through the sodden winter, packed coaches with steamed up windows came down the valleys with scout packs and rugby clubs, womens institutes and school trips, from Ammanford and Llanelli, Pontypridd and Upper Cwm Twrch. We gazed at bearded pirates appearing in blue smoke, slight blonde actresses in sparkling dresses.  'He's behind you.' 'Oh no he isn't.' 'Oh yes he is.' And 'Cinders, you shall go to the ball'.   But, hard hearted cynic, SomewhatMoreSophisticate, I've been surprised to discover that these archetypes have bloomed here, have proved surprisingly meaningful for my life here in Kenya.

Driving home alone on unlit suburban quiet roads after a Girls Night Out which has gone on a tad too long. Anxiety about carjackers. That beating heart feeling of wolves under the bed. A nagging fear you know is unlikely, highly unlikely even, but is just about possible in the nether reaches of the night.  'He's behind you' I hear the rugby club from my childhood shouting. 

And now for some of my students at BigCorporate, another moment has come.  Willy Wonka's Golden Ticket which gives the chocolate factory to underfed, povertystricken Charlie Bucket. Cinderella, the undervalued scullery maid, whose value is recognised by the handsome prince - and then by all around her. 'Cinders you shall go to the ball.' Fanfare. Finale. Bow.  Last bus home.  The last college decision letters are winging in this week from American colleges.  We've had multiple acceptances from Harvard, Yale, Amherst, Cornell, Princeton, Duke, U Penn, Williams, U Pittsburgh.  And many other students, with pale faces, waiting, hoping. 

For me, its not about the Big Names of the colleges. It's not about potential futures as investment bankers.  It's about these young people feeling deeply valued, for some for the first time, feeling recognised, coming into their dominion.  Its about the generosity of spirit of a system, in another country, which offers scholarships, full scholarships, which make it possible for bright young people from truly poverty stricken difficult difficult backgrounds to access the education they deserve. That they have slogged for, worked hard for, - but in Kenya that means nothing.  Some, though youthful high flyers, only managed to get to secondary school by chance encounters, by last minute sponsorship.  Most have known that fear at the end of the term that the fees won't be found for next term. Have had to sit out weeks at home, while the extended family scrabbles together to put down this term's deposit.  But here, for a moment, everything comes right. The world rocks on its axis, and for a few, a minority, they may access what they deserve.  Thank you US college alumni, thank you.  You may never know how much it means here, but truly, these are miracles for me, for my students, for people around me. 

Bubbling over with news last night, I rushed into a friends to pick up SecondBorn from his playdate. Listen, listen, our student from Dandora, a very difficult slum on Nairobi's rubbish dump and toxic waste dump, has been offered full scholarships to both Yale and Harvard.  And watched her housekeeper's expression, as she too wiped away a tear, thinking of the difference this will make, not just for an individual, but for a family, a community.

After a few months here one of our kids' UK whines fell silent. No longer heard, 'It's not fair'.  Not to say that they don't whine, don't beat each other up, don't come running with tales of another injustice. But have stopped qualifying it with 'its not fair'. Because here, often, it so patently isn't fair, why would we, the fortunate, complain of our lot?  I get that college admissions aren't Fair.  It's a golden bullet. Some of my truly impressive students, with the greatest self awareness, with motivation and resilience light years beyond my UK students, with most moving, honest essays and the best SAT scores, have had rejections from all 8 colleges.  As their advocate, their guidance counsellor, I want to holler, It isn't fair.  But for some, today, it has been a miracle, and for that, lets give out loud, heartfelt, honest thanks.