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praise so much have rules that are
supposed to be followed by any
person, be it a foreigner or a citizen.
The same thing applies to the
countries we go to. Of course we
don’t expect the same rules but
whatever rules that are there, we
must abide by them. One may argue
that I make it sound so easy that I
seem to have followed every rule
here, but I am also just a victim who
is trying to make things right. Let
me narrow it a little bit to the
colleges that we go to. There are
some rules that we have to follow
for example, presenting our identity
cards before we go through the
college gates. I know it is quiet
monotonous to flash our ids every
day but it also does not cost any
thing to just open the our wallets
and show them. We might have
misplaced them and maybe try and
explain to the people concerned but
there is also a task for them to know
who is genuine and who is not.
Carrying these ids every day also
involves the risk of getting lost and
of course you know what that
means, spending five hundred
rupees for another id. But these are
the rules that we have to follow. We
just have to get used to them.
Sometimes we have gone through
the college gates by force,
exchanging words with the |
gentlemen at the gate. How about
explaining to them in a calm way
that you misplaced your id? Maybe
even that gentleman you are trying
to explain to will understand your
problem. Yes, some might not
understand or even listen to you
but their must be some other
diplomatic ways other than
exchanging words.
The issue of putting on formals
seems to inconvenience many of us
but again times are changing. We
derive so much pride when talking
about the corporate world. Wearing
formals is all about the corporate
world. Many are soon leaving the
college and will get good posts in
big companies. So, the issue of
pressuring us to wear formals is just
a training to prepare us for this
corporate world that we love to talk
about. I know many of us cannot
see the rationale of this but that
time will come when we will get to
know and understand the
importance of some things. There
are so many other things that we
complain and fight about. The
thing frustrates us the most is that
we fight and complain to the wrong
people. Yet the things that we
complain about can be changed in
one way or the other. But if we fight
with our lecturers because we don’t
want to wear formals, these |
complaints will be futile because
these people are also implementing
rules that are not made by them. I
also believe there other proper
channels of addressing our
problems. It only takes an
organization to put an end to all
our complaints. For the most time
that I have been here, the chairman
is the easiest man to talk to. If he
can spare some time to talk to
individuals with problems, what
about a well organized group of
international students with their
complaints well lined up?
I know it has taken me this long
to realize and understand the
importance of these things but
maybe if you can adjust early
enough to a few of protocols, you
will have such a good time in the
college that even when the time
comes for to leave, you may wish to
stay forever which might be so
much to ask. I know it will not be
so easy but the best way to learn
these things is by putting yourself in
the shoes of that person you are
exchanging words with. The
message in this is that we all want to
be treated nicely with respect, let us
reciprocate the same gesture ¡
Katumba Joseph
BCA
27
Ode to Alma Mater |
