 Yes, we're back with Why in the Morning and it's Time for Strength of a Woman. But before that special thanks to Alex Carrangia and Kalami Vaal for that amazing segment always starting on Wednesdays on a laughing note. So if you happen to interact with the video, as I always say, that you think might break the views, go viral. Just send it to us on Whitefair4channel on Twitter, Whitefair4andascochannel on Instagram and Whitefair4 on Facebook and Today for Strength of a Woman, this lady right here after living in China for two years and learning the culture and the language and seeing how much or how many Chinese people were streaming into the country decided. She saw an opportunity in this and built a cultural center where Chinese people and Kenyan people can exchange culture. Without much further ado, Faith, Maurya, Karimusana. Asante. Alright, your camera is number four. There's a drill. Always when you come to Why in the Morning and you have to talk to her, you introduce yourself. I give people a chance to show off, list all their credentials. So your camera is number four. Just give it to us. Okay. My name is Faith Maurya, I'm the director of Discovery Chinese Cultural Center. I am married. I have one child and yeah, basically you have studied Chinese or rather I studied Chinese a long time ago, 2009 and so far I've still been teaching Chinese and interacting with the Chinese people every day. So the name of the show is Why in the Morning. So maybe you can say good morning to them and Chinese. Just good morning. Good morning to all our viewers, to everyone. So in 2009, I couldn't imagine somebody deciding to study Chinese. What was your drive to get into this particular language that was not so popular in Kenya? Actually, I began studying Chinese in 2008 before I even left for China. And I just had a nudge to study language after I was done with my studies at the university, my undergraduate studies. And because I had done English and literature, so I thought I needed to add a language. And then I was on my way to Alion's Fonse to register for French. And then a friend stopped me and asked me, have you thought about Chinese? And I'm thinking, I've not even had any school offering Chinese at that time. So I thought, why Chinese, you know, why? But then the friend told me, you need to come to my house, we talk. And then I went and she actually started explaining to me what she thinks is the future. And I thought, okay, then there was a Jama'u had come from China and he had started teaching at a small college in town. So I went and he started me off and for three months I engaged in basic Chinese here in Kenya. Then there after is when I got a scholarship with Kenyatta University to go and learn Chinese now at a deeper level in China. In China? Yes. Then you came back. Then I came back. After you studied Chinese for two years? Yes. Roundabout. All right. So I'd like to know, I was experienced living in China. Did you experience all these culture shocks that we got to hear about? Yes I did. The one that always strikes me till today, I stayed three months before eating their food. So I would always go to the supermarket, buy bread and milk. Bread and milk, because at least bread is familiar, bread is bread, whatever you are. Bread is bread, whatever. And milk is milk. Milk can also be. I know. But anyway, so you lived off bread and milk because you can't eat snakes and dogs. Not really. I would just go to the hotel and I would not find anything comfortable apart from rice. But then I would think, how do I just eat dry rice with nothing else. So everything else was, I would just look at food and think, how can I do it for three months. First meal was the first one you had after these three months. The first meal was jiaozu, jiaozu are Chinese dumplings and I actually didn't like them. So when I tasted it and I thought, this is what I'll be eating every day, I was taking a buck and then I thought, but then anyway, I decided I have more than a year in this country. I must start integrating, I must start learning how to eat, you know, because I can't just eat bread. It's part of the culture as well. Yeah, it's part of the culture. And then again, you know. They don't have maize and beans there. No, they have. They have, actually. I couldn't chew a kiddo go to Nanyali baby. Funny enough, I wouldn't really find beans in the hotel. So if you really want to cook beans or maize, you have to decide to cook. And for me, I didn't want to cook, honestly. I just wanted to go and have my time studying and just having fun, no cooking. I didn't want to engage in such things. So you eat the Chinese dumplings, you only see it on Kung Fu Panda. I've only seen dumplings on Kung Fu Panda. They're now common. If you go to the Chinese hotels here in Kenya, there are so many. You can even buy this small supermarket near Yaya. They're there. They're there. Yeah. So Chinese culture is really getting. It's really in Kenya. Integrating with ours. It is. Alright. So life in China, did you experience any other thing that you experienced apart from the food, something that stood out for you? Language. Language was such a barrier. How many languages do they speak there? Okay, Chinese. They have 56 ethnic groups. And though Mandarin is the official language, which now we teach. But then if you're staying in the village or your university is in the village, you'll encounter these other dialects. That sometimes you're saying this in the market and somebody does not seem to understand what exactly you're saying. But they're all byproducts, for lack of a better word, byproducts of Mandarin. I think it's the other way. Mandarin is borrowing from. All of them. Yes, from all of them. And then coming out as one language, you know, like the way we would say Kiswahili, bringing us all together. Mandarin is bringing. Exactly. And then from the Arabic and then it brings us together. So Mandarin is actually intended to bring the whole Chinese community together. Like one language. So when I say I speak Chinese, is it the right thing to say? I speak Chinese or I speak Mandarin? I speak Mandarin Chinese. It's okay to say that. I speak Mandarin Chinese. Yes. What are the other Mandarin's that exist? The others are dialects. Like we have Cantonese, which is spoken largely in the south of China, Hong Kong and all those parts. But you'll find also in those areas, south of China and Hong Kong, they are also, if you go there like a Mandarin speaker like I, I'll still find myself getting along with them because they still understand. But there are also other dialects which are based on those other different tribes. And these are things you teach Canadians who are interested in going to China. Yes. Or understanding the Chinese culture. Yes. Alright, let's get back to the history before we get to today. Yes. After you came from China, you went back to Kenyatta University. Yes. That offered you the scholarship. Yes. So I came back and Kenyatta University offered me a job as a lecture of Chinese language and culture. So you English literature? Kando. Kando. But still language. I forgot. Yes. I didn't tell you that with English literature, I was under TSE. I was a high school teacher. Alright. Yes. So when I came back, everything just had to stop with high school and English. And now I got integrated into Kenyatta University community and started teaching. Chinese. Chinese. Alright. So at what point did you figure, okay, we need a cultural center. We have the cultural centers for the Germans. Yes. Yeah. The Gotta Institute. We have cultural centers like that. Loans for SAV, we have the British Council. At what point did you see the need for a cultural center that brings together Chinese people and Kenyan people? In 2011, I came back in 2010. So I had already taught at Kenyatta University for a whole year. And then I just realized that there is need for more. Because in the universities, we have what we call the Confucius Institutes or the Chinese Institutes. They integrate all these things. But then with these institutes, they focus on a certain group of people, mostly the young ones who come in the university. But then what about all these other people? People who are not also able to go to the university. People who are not as learned as much. Yet, when the Chinese people come, they're integrating with the learned and the non-learned. They're integrating with the people. So what do we do about this other group? And that is when I thought, no, I must focus on this group that has not been focused upon. Yes. So you're focusing on each and every person in the society. Exactly. That the Chinese people are going to interact with. Yes. And interact with the Chinese in terms of business as well. Exactly. What are some of the services offered at the cultural center? At the cultural center. We have now grown, but when we were beginning, we were only just offering Chinese language and culture to the business community. And then now we opened up, not just to the business, but to every other person. So we have courses from children to adults. And besides the Chinese language and culture courses, we do translation. We have lots of, you know, with the coming in of Chinese people, the immigration, Nyaya House, they need documents to be translated. There are academic documents to English. So we do translation. We also do interpretation. We also do homeschooling. Our teachers go to their homes to teach there. And we also coordinate with some schools like we so far coordinating with two international schools where we teach Chinese in their schools. So we are the ones in charge of the program. Wonderful. So translation is a core business for you guys. It is. It is very core. I think every week we have documents coming in the center from immigration just to do the Chinese to English translation. All right. So what are some of the documents that you translate? Academic certificates. Academic certificates. They are degrees and master's certificates. All right. Wonderful. And they are letters as well. And they are letters. But mostly it's normally the academic certificates. Academic certificates. Yeah, because when they want to get their work permits, they need their documents to be looked upon. And, you know, they are in Chinese. So we need to transfer them to English to say what exactly is in this document. Wonderful. You say how many teachers do you have right now? Now we have seven teachers. Seven teachers as we speak. Yes. Where did you get them from? Now, after we came back from China, of course, many other people started learning Chinese. And I remember from my university, Kenyatta, more people were given scholarships after us and they went to China and they came back. So that tells you that more people came when they had the knowledge of teaching. Because when you go to China with that program, you train as a teacher. So they came back knowing how to teach. And that's how I managed to get teachers from the lot that is coming back from China. Wonderful. But even others who have not gone to China, we have Kenyans who are really doing well. They've never been to China, but their language is really good. And they've gotten to a higher level where they can teach. We also hire them. You also hire them. So they're job opportunities because people always ask. Yes. They are especially under Chinese language at this moment. Honestly, they are. And I'll tell you why. In 2020, January, the government will be releasing or launching the Chinese program in primary and high schools as a pilot program. So at the moment, the curriculum is being prepared and being finalized and everything. So you can imagine those who have studied at a certain level. Our kids are going to be learning Chinese in school. Oh yeah. Yeah. You'll be shocked. Do they have the option of deciding whether to or not? They do, of course, because there will be other foreign languages. Yeah, but... Chinese is going to be one of them. Chinese is one of them. All right. And I would encourage them to do Chinese. To do Chinese. Yes. Reason being, Chinese is a big market for Kenyan products. Big market for Kenyan products. Africa, China is something to reckon with. China has, in a nutshell, taken over Africa. And we cannot do anything at this moment. They are the ones doing everything, our roads, infrastructure, every other sector they are there. So you see, we say in English, if you can't beat them, join them. All right. You might learn something from them. Exactly. What we have joining is just learning the languages and cultures that you learn them. Learn the language first. And infiltrate them. Yes. All right. So on the flip side, do you find Chinese people wanting to learn Swahili and approaching? Yes. Yes, we do. Quite many. Just that, for us, we did not want at the beginning to integrate everything. Because sometimes in business, if you are doing almost everything, you can fail. But, yeah, we have done small trainings in companies, like we have done in companies where we will teach a little Swahili, basic Swahili, or basic English. Because some of the Chinese who come in don't even know so much English. So they want English to polish their English or Swahili. So, yeah, we do. But not in a huge way as we do for Kenyans to Chinese. All right. Wonderful. So, where are you guys located? We are located just here, Koinange Street. Koinange Street. Yeah, in a building called Ratansi Educational Trust Building. Ratansi Educational Trust Building at Long Koinange Street. Yes. How can people find you on social media? Oh, through Discovery Chinese, Facebook, Discovery Chinese. And we are also on Instagram, Discovery Chinese. But we hit a lot on Facebook and on YouTube, Discovery Chinese Kenya. All right. What type of content is on your YouTube channel? Teaching. Teaching. Basic Chinese. Basic Chinese. So I can learn Chinese from your YouTube channel. Yes. Yes, you can. Are you teaching some of the videos? Yes. I'm actually like the main tutor there. The main tutor there. Yeah. All right. So, okay, we've talked about the opportunities that Kenyans can get in learning Chinese and Kenyans can get in China as well. The big question is always trade because language opens up trade. Trade. When you guys can understand each other, there's the possibility of trade occurring. Yes. So, is it a service you're offering to Kenyans who want to probably sell their products to the Chinese market or do business in China? Actually, to be honest with you, some of our evening students, evening class students, are students who are already interacting with the Chinese in terms of either they are doing business with the Chinese or they are working in Chinese companies or they are, you know, they are agricultural in the agricultural sector and they started this business of, you know, the avocados and all that. Vocados are going to China in abundance. They are. And so, when they come, they tell us what they want. They just want language for buying and selling. So, we train them on that. We don't actually engage them in all these other things. We just focus on what the client wants because for them, it's only the trade. So, there's a package for traders. Yes, there is. You learn how to haggle. Yes. You learn how to regain. Exactly. You learn how to tell the numbers and everything. Yes. And the language of business. And that's it. Because you don't need more than that. There's no need of introducing you to a whole course. Yet you won't use it. So, we introduce you to only what you will need. All right. Yes. So, there's a package for traders. There's a package for linguists. People who are passionate about language. Yes. What kind of packages exist as well? We also have packages for who now want to do translation and interpretation. It's quite deep. This is deeper. Very deep. So, you have to go all the way up to level four, five and six. Six is the highest. Six is the highest level. Yes. But for business people, level one is enough. And even that level one, we will tailor make it. If you are a student from high school, you'll do the whole of level one. But if you are a business person, we will cut your level one to just what you need. All right. Just what you need. So, this thing is tailor made. Yeah, it's tailor made. And that's what makes us unique from all the other places. Yes. Because we just work with the need of the student. The need of the student. The students can go from class one to level one to six. Level one to six. Yes. But the age is of the of your students. What is the average age for of your students? Okay. Now, since we opened up to everyone, we have a large group of students who have just cleared high school. I think those are 18, 19. And then we have the stage that they are in. They are working. They are the working class. They are not very old. They are 21st to 35. But can you imagine? We have 50s. People in their 50s. Yes. We have 50s. And the oldest students. These ones are the ones who are exporting avocados here. Actually, these are the businessmen. The businessmen. These are the, you know, the strongholds. They've seen a market of two billion people. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. They might not necessarily, most of them come to the center. They might just decide, I'll be in my office, send me a teacher. I'll be in my house on Saturdays, send me a teacher. Because some of them are really, can I say, high profiled. They don't want to come to the center. But wherever they are, we'll send a teacher to them. All right. There's culture. I'd like to put you on the spot a bit. There's this attitude. Yes. Kenyans. I know. Africans have towards Chinese people. Yes. Have you interacted with it? Have you had one or two things about what Kenyans think about Chinese people? A lot. A lot. What are some of the misconceptions? A lot. And mostly it happens at the workplace. Chinese are, can I say, they are crazy in working that they would want to, they can even work up to nine o'clock. But Kenyans know my time is eight to five p.m. That's our culture. Our work culture even low-ice, isn't it? So there's always that conflict. This Chinese don't understand me. I want to leave for home at five o'clock. There's no overtime. But a Chinese is thinking, why should I give you overtime? You should continue working. I'm also here. I've not also gone home. So this has actually been the fundamental crash in the employment places. People don't understand each other. When it comes to the labor. When it comes to labor laws, I think, and probably this is something that would come from the government. Like to assure your work is eight to five. But if you agree with the Chinese to extend. So there's that. There's also the issue of there are some things we do, but the Chinese don't do. There are some things the Chinese will do and we don't do. And you find that Kenyans can't understand. They don't understand why should you do this? Why should you do this for me? Yet for us, we don't do this in my home. And so the Kenyans are wondering, you are a foreigner. You've come to my country. You should follow what I do. But the Chinese, on the other hand, they can't understand. Then they are so entrepreneurial. That's why you would hear the cases of Gekomba. Because a Chinese can go to the village and fit in. You know, it's not even like Kamsungu. A Chinese can go to the slum and fit in. So long as his business will succeed. Yeah, Anashida. They come and eat. You know, Anashida. But now a Kenyan is wondering, why are you coming up to the most down level to take over my business? But you see, it's because of the mindset of a Chinese. Yeah, it's very different. And they think I can offer anything you need. As long as it brings me money. As long as it brings me money. So this is where they are going to conflict with the Kenyans? With the Kenyans. Yes. And then they can offer it at whatever price. You can get this fund and the same fund still at, you know, like at 1,000. But the same one at 20,000. But the quality is going to be different always. So these are some of the conflicts Kenyans have with the Chinese people. Have you had any complaints from the Chinese people about Kenyans? One time I was in the supermarket and one of them gave some type of where I almost called him out but I figured maybe it's where it is from. What are some of the things they don't like about Kenyans? Stealing. Stealing number one. Yeah. Unfortunately, even as a Chinese sometimes may be awkward but also some Kenyans have taken advantage. So they steal a lot. And I'll tell you how they steal. The Chinese mostly will not keep their money in the bank. Sometimes you might see a Chinese carrying a backpack. A Major Pesla. Now do you wanna walk too? Because in China it's normal. It's okay to walk like that. So a Kenyan knows this Chinese has hidden money. It's not even hiding. It has put his money, you know, a lot of money down there. And then they will steal. So it's been very difficult for Chinese to find loyal people. You know, many loyal people who would work for them. And even when they approach us to, you know, like to give them people who can't work with them, they'll say, please give me somebody who will not steal. You know, and it's difficult even to know who will steal and who will not steal. So a Kenyan needs someone to protect him. So here, it's such a challenge for the Chinese people. Then some of them complain of laziness. For me, being a Kenyan, I don't think it's laziness. It's just a misunderstanding of. For me, I want my work to end at five. Because I have a family. Yeah, I have a family. I have a social life. Remember, this Chinese probably has left his family in China. He's been, he's come here as an expatriate or something. He doesn't have a family to go back to. But me, I'm thinking, no, I need to go home. Okay, the most important thing is your family. Yes, sometimes. Because my husband actually works with a Chinese company. Sometimes they may say they are going for another meeting at six. So another meeting is beginning at six. We are waiting for him and we are wondering. Wow. And they will go up to 9 p.m. or whatever time. And they expect you to be there tomorrow at the same time. The same time. Yeah, as early as you should be. So these are some of the things. These are some of the clashes. So Kenyans think they are too much fast. Exactly. Chinese people think Kenyans are lazy. Yeah, Kenyans are sometimes lazy. And this is why you come in. To merge the cultures. To merge the cultures. To bring integration. Exactly. To bring the understanding. And it starts with language. Yes, it starts with language. And even if, because not all of us would want to study a foreign language, not everyone will have the passion to study Chinese language. But it's important, if you are integrating with the Chinese people, then to at least understand the culture. The culture is fundamental. Very important. It's very important. This is something you can find at Discovery. At Discovery Chinese. Discovery Chinese. Yes. Located along Koinanga Street. Koinanga Street. The name of the building again. The Tansi Educational Trust Building. All right. What about the social media handles? On Facebook at Discovery Chinese. And on YouTube Discovery Chinese Kenya. All right. Thank you very much for whatever you're doing. In terms of integrating Kenya and China, we need, this was overdue. And I'm so glad somebody recognized this place for this. So I'm told, today's your birthday. Happy birthday. My goodness, we're told. Yes, we do our research very well. Thank you. So I think like this when you were born. Yes. One week's time, your junior is going to be coming. You might share birthday. Ten million. Ten million. All right. So we'd like to appreciate you a bit. As Y254. And Discovery Chinese Collabo Utashizi. Discovery Chinese in collaboration with Y254. We'd like to celebrate you a bit. Thank you. And just wish you a happy birthday. And thank you for what you're doing. And we have a token for you right there. From your people. Yes. Okay everybody is crazy. Wow. Everything. We just come around, come around. Oh, God. Thank you very much. So, we'll sing a happy birthday as we wrap this up in Chinese. Yes, let's do this. Yes. Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday to you. Oh, God. I'm doing this all over again. All right. Since you're familiar with the place. She's been here. We've worked with her for a while. You can cut the cake. And she'll get the first bite at 11.20. We are in the cinza. All right, as she does that, WhiteFive4 channel on Twitter, WhiteFive4 underscore channel on Instagram, and WhiteFive4 on Facebook is a way to interact with us. Ashtag is why in the morning, Ashtag is Wednesday, and Ashtag is strength of a woman, and our strength of a woman of the day is trying to integrate the Kenyan and the Chinese culture to make a better environment for doing business. She goes by the name Faith Moria. I'd like to call her Warrior now, and we'd like to feed her to get a very huge chunk of cake in her mouth, as we wrap this up. Remember, Kallavi Val is coming up next with Girl's Talk, a hot topic. You don't want to miss it. So once again, yeah, happy birthdays I need. All right, all right, all right. So, I think we've come to the end of this. It's time to eat the cake and invite people to eat the cake with Faith, as she celebrates her birthday. Don't go anywhere, don't touch that top.