Kenyan native, OC instructor brings circle of life to class
Sophie Siemion
Issue date:
12/5/07
Section:
News
- Page 1 of 1
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for three years, but it was more than
10 years ago that Dr. Koi Tirima's big
move from Kenya plunged her into a
life of degrees, kids and hard work.
Before her move, Tirima decided
to marry Simba, her husband of 14
years, and after "schmoozing" her
grandmother, received the OK.
"He (my father) chose the
cathedral with the longest aisle
in case I changed my mind I had a
chance to turn around," Tirima said
of her wedding.
It was in following her husband's
move to the United States that Tirima
began her intense and dedicated path
to becoming a teacher.
She received her bachelor's
in English at Washington State
University, master's in teaching
English as a second language at
University of Idaho and most
recently received her doctorate at the
the University of Idaho.
"For me this is one of the most
rewarding things,"
Tirima said, "to know
I have an impact on
people's lives."
Even amidst
her schooling and
dissertation research,
Tirima fi lled her life
even more with two
children.
"They're the reason
why I keep going,"
Tirima said.
She taught adjunct
English courses at
the University of
Idaho for eight years
before eventually
transferring to OC, and her husband
still teaches environmental law at the
University of Idaho.
Tirima and her two children now
live in Bremerton, while her husband
lives a day's drive away in Moscow,
Idaho.
"The teaching wasn't hard it was
just being away from my community,"
Tirima said.
She added the best decision she
ever made was coming to OC. "I get
paid to do what I like to do."
On Nov. 27, Tirima was asked
to speak as a guest lecturer in a
geography class on campus, in
response she said, "I can't turn that
down."
"She is just excellent," geography
professor Dr. Susan Digby said.
"Really refreshing."
"I want to put more of a human face to
Africa," Tirima said.
In her lecture Tirima told students yes,
Lion King imagery is accurate, and yes,
they still circumcise men around the age
of 12.
"I remember consciously making up my
mind to help people see what my life was
in Africa," Tirima said.
This conscious decision includes her
goal of bringing "perspective from Kenya"
to OC.
Even after moving to the states, Tirima
has tried not to forget the culture she came
from or how she was raised.
"My kids don't grow up on Nesquik,"
Tirima said.
She continues to cook Sorghum porridge
with the traditional Kenyan utensils,
and use her favorite recycled aluminum
pot from Kenya.
Her cultural raising and personal beliefs
are able to help her in the classroom for the
combined psychology and English course,
"The Making of a Life" which she teaches
alongside Multicultural Services Director
Rachel Wellman.
"The way we live our lives is interconnected.
We seldom have little parts of
our lives that don't interact," Tirima said.
"That's what education is all about."
"It makes you realize that we're all part
of the world as mankind," geography
student James Oxier said. "It puts it in
perspective."
Tirima's love of her country combined
with her passion for teaching have the
potential for an extremely unique learning
experience for OC students.
"I want them to remember the first time
they met a person from Africa it was a
good experience," Tirima said.
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