Isaac Mboya

Isaac is featured in our ‘Humans of LJMU’ series in collaboration with the ‘Humans of Liverpool’ social media account, sharing the stories of the people who make our city, communities and university the vibrant, inclusive place it is in celebration of our bicentenary year.

He joined LJMU under our Positive Action Programme, which is aimed at addressing the under representation of ethnic minority people in the workplace. In his interview Isaac shares his personal journey to working in the UK, how he loves fixing problems while at work and the scouse lingo that makes Liverpool such a friendly city.

Isaac’s ‘Humans of LJMU’ interview

“I love the city. I love the banter here. I love people who are free. We have a saying back home ‘if you're too serious, you will die’. Laughter adds to your days if you don't embrace it you take years off your life. Although we speak English in Kenya, when I moved here, I had this slang mix of English and Swahili. And I would speak English but think in Swahili. It was strange. Now, with speaking English every day I can speak fast like I can in my mother tongue. At first, I worried, I'm coming to England where people speak perfect English, but everyone here speaks in slang anyway, so I'm not so concerned about my accent now.

“I'm a trainee at LJMU, working on reception. I came here to join my wife after two years of long-distance whilst I was back in Kenya. She encouraged me to apply as she is an alumni and had a great experience here. I love talking to people, being helpful, fixing problems.

“If I won the jackpot today, I would still live in Liverpool, this is such a nice place. If you say hello to people in some other cities, they look at you strange. Here people say, ‘hiya kidda!’”