"There are always 100 reasons not to do it, but now that I'm here, I can tell you that they don't compare to the 1,000 reasons to go for it!" – Tom Mac-Kenzie
Adventure – the main reason for Tom to board the plane to Kenya
Published on 28 November 2020 – Tom Mac-Kenzie
Why did you want to work remotely in Kenya?
The main reason was the adventure! I had been following Charles on LinkedIn and Instagram for years and always wanted to go on a trip, but for some reason, it just never happened—until I saw that he was offering this remote working trip. No more excuses not to go, and plenty of reasons to go! In the Netherlands, I was working from home, restaurants were closed, pubs were closed, and the overall atmosphere felt dull and sometimes even negative. For me, it was the perfect moment to just leave, chase the sun, and seek adventure. Of course, it had to be safe, and the facilities had to be good enough to allow for proper work.
How do you like it? What things have surprised you the most?
I'm really enjoying it!! I originally booked for 4 weeks and now (halfway through) I’ve already decided to extend for at least another week, but maybe even stay until after New Year's. What surprised me is how much I’ve liked Nairobi. At home, I was mainly warned about how unsafe it is and how you have to keep a close eye on your belongings, etc., etc. And of course, there is crime here, but there are pickpockets in Rome, Paris, or Amsterdam too. Just use common sense and enjoy the city! The people here, in general, are super friendly and helpful. Where in the Netherlands, if you order an Uber, you get picked up by a boring Prius, here through Bolt, a Boda pulls up. A man on a motorbike who takes you anywhere for a few KES. I've explored the city several times on the back of a motorbike, and it was so cool!
How do you experience COVID in Kenya?
There’s so much control and discipline here in Kenya, much better than in the Netherlands! EVERYWHERE your temperature is taken, you must sanitize your hands, everyone wears a mask, and after 10 PM, there’s no one on the streets due to the COVID curfew. Once you're comfortably seated at the table, in the office, or lying on a beach chair, you can take off your mask, and within a few minutes, you forget all about corona. It’s really well organized here! The only downside to the curfew is that you have to leave on time because the staff also needs to be inside by a certain hour. So if you want to go to a bar or restaurant, go early and get back home on time! Nothing wrong with having a drink at 5 PM, right?
Are you more productive than at home?
Sometimes yes, sometimes no! I must say I didn't really have productivity issues at home, so improving productivity wasn't my reason for coming here. However, I do notice a big benefit from the time difference. Since it's 2 hours later here, I can work uninterrupted from 08:00 to 11:00 without being disturbed by my Dutch colleagues, who are still fast asleep. So the first 3 hours of the day are super productive!
Tips for others interested in such a remote working trip?
If you're coming here, reschedule your "late afternoon" calls to the morning. The first few days, I had meetings until 6:00 PM Dutch time, which meant staring at the screen until 8:00 PM local time. Since the curfew starts at 10:00 PM, you won’t have time to go into the city or grab a bite. So, try to manage your agenda as much as possible for the morning. Another tip for those who might not be used to working in a co-working space: get a headset with noise cancelling and a good microphone, so you can really tune out. (By the way, there are plenty of "phone booths" in the offices to really isolate yourself if needed). My next tip: manage expectations well with your manager and colleagues. If you want to stop working at 5:30 PM, it's only 3:30 PM in the Netherlands. So, make sure they understand that you'll pick up where you left off the next morning, but don’t let them chase you on the same day, because your day started much earlier than theirs, and now it's over! If you don't do this, you'll quickly end up working 10-12 hours a day. Personally, I don’t mind working more than 10 hours a day, as it allows me to take Fridays off. And that's my final tip: take Fridays off! Weekend safari trips take (travel) time, so use Friday mornings to prepare, so you can fully enjoy the environment, nature, wildlife, safaris, beaches, and more starting Friday afternoon!
Why would you recommend it to others?
Because it's just incredibly awesome! The weather is great, there's so much to do, the people are friendly, and the surroundings are beautiful! Why didn't I do this much earlier?! There are always 100 reasons not to do it, but now that I'm here, I can tell you that this doesn't compare to the 1000 reasons to do it!
Why did you want to work remotely in Kenya?
