Work-life balance is quite a task to achieve for new employees. The demands come with learning the job, integrating, making new friends and impressing the boss and colleagues.
To adjust to my new accountant job, I woke up quite early in the morning as my wife, Tamima and my little daughter, Rosa, 5, slept.
I also popped in later at night when the kids were asleep and Tamima picked an issue with that
“The kid needs to see you every night babe. Especially now that kindergartens are closed.
“I don’t know why you come late yet you are out of work by 5 pm?. I read your contract too,” she added.
Maybe she would have seen me immerse myself at work. I wanted to make new friends with an aim of easing my aspirations to scale higher and after work, I stayed for an hour or two to chat with the guys popping in for the evening shift.
I also used the moment to pick new clues and tips from the secretary and the HR.
Kev and Jeff, my deskmates, also took me under their wing to show me around town as my family and I had relocated from Mombasa to Nairobi.
I had never stayed around the city, just passed from time to time. Your guess is right, I was anxious to walk around the CBD, locate landmarks, enjoy drives and find my way home with the PSVs.
My boss paid for my cab through the company’s account but I wanted to enjoy the craze of the city for a while.
I treated my wife well, mind you. Picked gifts for her here and there and was also set to introduce her to my colleagues during a get-together or rather a welcome party at the end of the month.
She is a beautiful woman. One person who knows me inside and out and my best friend above everything.
That night I got home, she was already asleep. I warmed my food and rested beside her, promising myself to get home earlier and cancel the football night with the boys.
But I was in for a surprise.
The next morning, the secretary called my desk, stating that I had a visitor in the waiting bay.
“Were you expecting someone?” Jeff asked.
“No. I don’t know anyone else in Nairobi yet,” I added.
Sitting on the bench was Tamima. She looked pensive.
I felt some adrenaline and she made the situation so calm by hugging me closer and asking me to sit with her.
“I know you have lots of questions. Where is our daughter? Why am I here? How did I manage to get here?” Tamima stated.
But of course, I knew all the answers. She reads my mind.
“I want to see your HR and ask why you come home late.”
“Really Tamima. You could have called and I told you I have been hanging out with new friends, to know the space and the city better,” I responded.
“And I sit home alone, no friends, I don’t know anyone around save for you. And I have not yet received my feedback from the job I applied for,” she answered.
“But you lost your iPhone 13 the last time you tried walking in town alone or without understanding the city. Someone just plucked the phone from you by the window…,” I told her.
It happened that HR was passing by and she asked if everything was alright.
“Yes, and this is my wife Tamima,” I added.
“Oh great. We have heard about you Tamima. Joseph speaks a lot about you and I think we are planning for his welcome party.
“You know how big it was for us to scoop him from our rivals,” the HR jumped in.
Tamima smiled. What a relief. My wife can be dramatic at times. I understand her.
“She wanted to see you though,” I chipped in.
There was a brief pause before she asked us to walk in with her to her office.
I held Tamima’s hand and walked her across the office. She loved the public display of affection.
The three of us found Tamima’s questions quite funny. But she, at last, understood why I went home late.
It was my own fault. I delayed introducing her to my new friends, spent most of the nights out and did not care for her feelings.
This I would make it up to her later.
“Thank you,” Tamima stated, adding that she would now be on her way home, but pass by the town to see which phone I would buy her.
“But why go window shopping while you can buy this Xiaomi 12 that I am using. I was introduced to it by a marketing friend of mine. It’s the best so far.
Tamima and tech were inseparable and her curiosity was awakened.
The HR explained that most people were buying the Xiaomi 12 design due to its higher screen to body ratio and its punch-hole display. The phone also has a great hand feel, the perfect size for one-hand use.
“The camera hardware of the Xiaomi 12 is superior to the phone you lost: as it has a 50 MP main camera with OIS, a 13 MP ultrawide sensor, and a 5 MP telephoto macro camera.
“Its charge also lasts more on a single charge compared to your previous phone, simply because its battery is much bigger. It supports a faster-charging technology with a power of 67W and an even faster wireless charging with a power of 50W.
“In terms of configuration, the Xiaomi 12 is available in 12GB of RAM and 256 GB of storage,” the HR added.
Tamima looked at me and smiled. She didn’t have to say more.
“But while in the PSV or the cab, you need to be on the lookout for parking boys and urchins who steal through the window,” I warned her as we all laughed.
In the company meeting later that day, my boss, who was briefed on the surprise visit, made a light joke about it but also used it to change some work policy.
“From now on, our lunch hours have been extended by 30 minutes to 1 hour and 30 minutes to allow you to interact with family and friends outside or in the company.
“This is in addition to the tea breaks. We have a lot of work this election year and I will need you on board. We have also pushed our welcome parties to two weeks after new staff join us so that you can introduce your family and friends,” the CEO stated as we all burst into laughter.
All eyes were on me.
At exactly 5 pm, I left for home as my deskmates, Kev and Jeff joked that I should bring my wife for the football night rather than head home.
“She hates football,” I stated as we bumped fists and called it a day.
“But I know she will love the Xiaomi 12 the HR booked for you at her marketer,” Jeff added.
“Definitely, she loved the cameraman. She loves photos. Don’t stalk her on her IG though,” I stated as I rushed down the lift.