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It's a Tuesday morning in July 2019, a month before I complete University. I'm in my West African Drama class and my mind trails off. I'm anxious about life after school. This comfort zone I've been in for the last four years suddenly feels disrupted. After class I follow my Professor for advice. I vent and cry, she listens and prays for me. Two weeks later, another Professor offers us a field research job contracted by the Ministry of Education. It's a two week assignment to the rural Coastal schools of Malindi in Kenya to determine why so many pupils drop out of school. The pay isn't good but for a struggling student, it's quite something. I'm skeptical about the gig but what do I have to lose? Four of us take up the offer and leave on the night bus. We are beyond excited. Our Instagram is about to look pretty in a jiffy. One long bus ride later,a midnight meal at Voi and it's Four thirty A.M. I start to inhale the salty crisp air as I read a "Welcome to Kilifi" billboard. I'm really here! We alight the bus with Justo at Pwani University while Emma and Fred proceed with the journey. I call Diana (My online friend I've never met and my host for the duration) to come and pick me up. Justo calls his host too. We plan to meet on the weekend at the beach.Diana takes me to her friend's house where I shall be staying. After the pleasantries, she goes to her place and we plan to meet in the morning for work. I spend a huge portion of my time and resources visiting Gede, Watamu and Malindi towns collecting data from various primary schools. In between holding focus group discussions, boarding and alighting 'matatus', I walk around in my sandals soaking up the white sands, drinking palm wine and indulging in the rich Swahili culture. I feel an overwhelming sense of peace. The locals are kind, the breeze so cool, the language so fluent it gives me a nostalgic sense of Pan-Africanism. I never want to leave the place. I catch myself daydreaming atleast every fifteen minutes. As I take the evening ride back to my host's place, I can't help but notice that although some of these communities are so impoverished, they lead a very simple and blissful life. A complete contrast from the lives of Nairobi residents. Diana and I scheme to complete our week's worth of work in four days and spend the rest of the time exploring the magical sights of the Kenyan Coast. We visit Arabuko Sokoke forest, Gede Ruins, Vasco da Gama heritage sight, and of course the beach. We explore the sights with their local friends. I chuckle sheepishly as I remember my college friends are probably having a miserable time in lecture halls. Life in Kilifi feels like a parallel utopian universe. We sleep in, sip wine and engage in girlhood banter. Long beach strolls and selfies illuminate my otherwise boring life. Fred and Justo are green with envy seeing as they're stuck in otherwise very remote parts for the assignment and they can't wait to join us for the weekend excursions. As I interact with these communities, I feel privileged and conscious of my blessings and the insights make me want to better the Education sector. We return to Nairobi after a week with a full heart and wonderful experiences. This trip will remain memorable to me because it's the beginning of me conquering my fears and the first step in my Solo travelling journey.