Frankfurt

Munyao Mutinda from Kenya speaks with us about German perfectionism, Frankfurt’s commuter transit system and chips.

You had us confused about your name. The Goethe-Institut announced you as ‘Jackson’ Mutinda, but when I called you that at the Daily Nation, everyone looked puzzled. And here, your name as a writer is Munyao Mutinda. Who are you?

(Grinning, as he does quite often) Jackson is my Christian name. When I was baptized at the age of nine, I chose it. It was the name of a friend of my brother, a great guy who I admired. Munyao is the name my mother gave me and means that I was born during a bad dry spell. Munyao is hard for many to pronounce. And since we were not allowed to use our Christian names in primary school some began calling me by my last name, Mutinda, and since university everyone calls me that.

You told us that an Englishman paid for your schooling?

Yes. My father died very early and my mother could not raise the money to educate her firstborn. But, since I was a good student, I was admitted to the Starhere Boys Center in Nairobi. But later, only the absolute elite were given continued support there. They knew I needed financial aid and looked for a sponsor in England for me, who then paid for practically my entire schooling.

Which is now, in turn, benefitting others…

Yes, I paid for the schooling of a daughter of my sister and now the cousin of my wife. She is an orphan. I know what its like to grow up without a father, but as an orphan and a girl, at that? Without an education, women in Kenya have no chance.

So, if someone pays for the education of a child in Kenya, it may consequently help many other people?

Of course. You can pass that on. Education is the most important thing. Germany would not be what it is either if education weren’t considered so important here.

What did you know about Germany when it was decided that you would come to Frankfurt and what did you think Frankfurt would be like?

I truly had no idea whatsoever. I only knew that it is in Europe. I had learned in school about the Holocaust and Hitler. And that Germany is one of the most industrialized nations, so that it must be a very wealthy country.

And what was your first thought when you saw Frankfurt?

I was confused by the many old buildings. I expected a modern, wealthy city with tall buildings of glass. But it was a jungle of stone. I have never seen buildings like these here, but that is why I like them.

How will you describe the city to your children, your wife, your co-workers: what is Frankfurt like?

Cold, I’ll tell them, it is cold. I knew it would be cold, but I didn’t know how cold; that there would be ice everywhere and always clouds. I really did not know how cold it can be.

What did you especially like and what did you not like at all?

I am absolutely impressed by the commuter transit system. I laugh my head off when you all complain about six minutes delay.

Sometimes you can wait for two days for the train from Mombasa to Kisumi, the only train in Kenya…

It happens. That would be a political issue here, right? Effectiveness and Germany: that is one. Precision. I often hear the word genau (exactly). That is what made Germany rich: this perfectionism. Even children are apparently raised to have high aims. I’d like that for my sons. Then they can help our country and lead a good life.

And what didn’t you like so much?

I don’t understand why so few people speak good English. I have the feeling I would have to learn German to have a proper conversation. I can speak English with people, but, for example, I can’t joke around with them. I miss that very much. In Nairobi before we begin work we always have a chinwag, we joke around with one another, it’s a good way to start the working day. Without the language, it’s not possible here. Or I often stand on the Eiserne Steg and think it’s so beautiful, what I see. And I’d like to say that to someone, share that. Or ask someone to take a photo of me.

But that shouldn’t be a problem…

It depends. I once asked a woman and she looked at me and just walked on. Then, I preferred to ask Asians or groups of people. I don’t know how to deal with the Germans so they are not frightened and don’t think, “Help! A savage!”

That bad? It makes me feel ashamed…

Oh, it’s okay. I see it as a challenge. Life is easier if you speak many languages, I have learned. And that you can and ought to tolerate what you are unfamiliar with.

But you can speak a few words of German. Which?

Oh, let’s see: Herren, Damen, Ausgang, Ausfahrt, Eingang, Einfahrt, genau, Tschuss… Tschüss. Ja, Tschuss, Morgen, Tag, Handy for cell phone, drucken, ziehen, Kinder, Kino, Sekunde, Kartoffel.

Speaking of which, did you like it?

The food? Yes and no. Always the combination of meat and vegetables and potatoes. Or salad, that’s nothing for men, they say in Kenya. Also the way it’s eaten. This poking about in the salad with a fork. We can decide to use a fork or our hands. There is always a bowl of lemon water to clean the fingers with.

But, you are good at that, too. Just be glad no one in Germany eats with their fingers.

Okay, then I’m relieved (laughing). What I really like are the chips; I’ve never eaten better ones. And I love potato soup and potato salad and frankfurters. What tastes completely different here is chicken. When we decide we are going to have chicken today, we buy a live one, take it home, kill it and cook it. It tastes really different.

What do you eat at Christmas in Kenya, how do you celebrate it?

We drive to my mother’s house, and she has fattened a goat for weeks. My wife makes pilaf and bread to go with it. We don’t have Christmas trees; that doesn’t appeal to Africans. We also don’t have these packages of gifts. I bought everyone new shoes because new clothes are the greatest joy for Kenyans. That is Christmas.