The dream, which never came true!

Written by Ogello Okullo;

I applaud Mr Kyalo Mutua for his article-dated 06.06.07 (published on the Standard Newspapers entitled "It is no bed roses for Kenyans in US") as many of us may have known or are yet to know that life in Europe or America is not bed of roses. Some still insist that going abroad is the only solution to their future dream or career! Which is totally wrong, life is the way you make it, wherever you are be it in Kenya or abroad.

On arrival things tend to be smooth with some little pocket money from home, but real life begins on the second semester after all the funds are drying out! Lucky are those who get government scholarship, their success is based on their ability to work hard and pass their exams. But not on the school fees, though some are pretending after they have managed through dubious means that they came on government scholarship! This is misconception.

Thanks to Mr Kyalo Mutua his article is like eye opener to most of us who are yet to experience new life abroad. I would rather appeal to my fellow countrymen that struggle is everywhere but in a foreign country it's double that back home. With a lot of factors in place: culture, lifestyle, socio- economic factors just to mention a few and above all in central European countries is the language.

A country like Switzerland where I have a lot of experience a potential student need to be conversant with at least one of the three languages (French, German and Italian) widely spoken in this small country (the size of lake Victoria). To get a government scholarship for foreign students it's just nearly impossible. An Annual school fees for foreign students is estimated between 30'000 to 50'000 Swiss Francs. With cost of living rated one of the highest in the world.

The most important thing is that once a student is admitted to a Swiss University of Applied Sciences or any public Universities all internships are paid. But still it's not enough to live on this and pay school fees.

My advice to fellow Kenyans is to utilise all the necessary options back home be it public universities or other colleges of higher learning and then pursue further studies abroad after first degree. In this case there are possibilities that some institutions do offer scholarships but chances are still very slim.

But to Kenyans already abroad try to put your talent into practice but don't just do a lot of nothingness in the name of we are living aboard and passing a misleading picture back home! Be a role model to our fellow brothers and sisters!

Mr Mutua did say that 2 out of 12 students did manage to get their degree certificates, but in Europe is slightly lower than that, out of 20 people only 2 are lucky to pursue their goal. This is due to language barrier and socio- economic factors.

J. Ogello Okullo
Eidg. Dipl. Hotelier ASEH
Solothurner Spiäler AG