In the winding corridors of Alliance Girls High School, I met Aisha, the tiny Coasterian girl with very fluent swahili, unruly hair (at that time🤣) and a powerful loud voice (hehe, she could literally command a whole troop!). We both struggled with the extremely low temperatures in Kikuyu cause we both hailed from hot areas of the country. Therefore, this is something we jointly complained about every minute we met for our joint Geography or French classes. We were in different houses (commonly known as dormitories in other schools), different streams, therefore, we weren’t as close as the mines have made us to be, but once in a while, we could meet on the Alliance streets and simply exchange greetings.

After graduating from high school, we didn’t exchange contacts thus we lost touch during our university days. However, in one way or another, I found out that she was also pursuing mining engineering at another university but little did I know that God had a humorous twist in store for us. About 7 years later, to be precise, we reunited in the most unexpected of places — the mines, amidst the dust and mud. From the moment we reconnected, it was as if no time had passed (This is actually a thing with Busherians, coming to think of it). We instantly fell back into our old rhythm, bringing to life the values instilled in us back at Alliance Girls’ High School and bringing a sense of humor and joy to the challenging field aspect of mining engineering.

Our colleagues and even our immediate boss affectionately nicknamed us the ‘2 Minions ’ and ‘The Dynamic Duo’ , monikers we wore with pride. Together, we embraced the challenges and triumphs of being women in mining, a field that is known to be male-dominated. Truth be told, our journey has been nothing short of a movie. From our first day fumbling with massive gate valves (as tall as Aisha🤣)to mastering the art of navigating complex mining processes, we’ve done it all with a smile and found solace in each other’s company.

We’ve complemented each other’s strengths perfectly, learnt from each other, grown together, enjoyed the mix of beautiful sunny and crazy rainy days in the mines, and shared countless inside jokes and moments that lightened even the toughest of days. Our friendship has been like a well-greased valve, running smoothly even in the toughest conditions. However, in life there are seasons, and the time has come for Aisha to move after her one-year contract. It’s a tough pill for me to swallow and processing her departure has been challenging. I am definitely grateful for the beautiful memories we’ve made, excited for her next adventure, but saddened by the fact that she has to leave. Anyway, “parting is such sweet sorrow,” as William Shakespeare would say. Yet, this is the journey of life, and I am grateful to God for the time we’ve shared.

As I reflect on our friendship for this past one year, I am reminded of the words from our school song back in high school:

“Friends are precious,
They are the best of all gifts that one can ever have,
Nothing material, can take the place of the comradeship between you and I,
Genuine friendship has no jealousy nor pride,
It has no envy and no lies,
It has no room for loneliness and pain,
Because it’s all based on love, based on LOOOOVE!
The light of Alliance has always been and forever will be our guide,
Challenge can never alter the course of the goals we’ve all set for our lives,
The light of Alliance stands for unity and hope,
It binds us together, makes us one,
It gives us the strength to courageously go forth,
All in the power of the Lord, of the LORD!”

These words have been our beacon in the mines, reminding us of the value and beauty of genuine friendship. As Busherians, we’ve learnt to be resilient, to conquer challenges, and to support each other through thick and thin.

So, you’ve always wondered how we manoeuvre around the mines? With a lot of laughter, a bit of sternness, and the strength of a friendship that can weather any storm. Aisha, my beloved friend, thank you for the memories, the lessons, and the laughter. Here’s to new beginnings and the enduring camaraderie of the 2 Minions.