When we got news of the scholarship I was in 2 minds. I was ready to leave my village and see the world but I realised things were very different out there.
To backtrack slightly - I'm Gayle. I was brought up in a small, tribal village in Zimbabwe. I lived in a pretty small house with my parents and 2 sisters. It was a pretty primitive life, but happy nonetheless. At 21 I was awarded a scholarship to go to train as a nurse in England, through a worldwide charity organisation.
I was so thrilled - a huge honour for my family and a great opportunity for me to break away from the rather backward life I faced.
Even the way we dressed was way behind city life, loose traditional clothing, often barefoot. Some of the women in the village still lived bare chested. I had never worn a bra before I went to the nearest city with my mother to buy clothing for me in England.
The day arrived and it was a wrench to leave my family. My boyfriend saw me off too. We had been together 4 years and would have married. But culture dictated no intimacy before wedlock so while we had kissed our relationship had gone no further.
The extent of my sexual experience was limited to my boyfriends kisses and one evening (when i was drawing water) an advance from one of the older village men (married) who kissed me and groped my breasts.
It was hard arriving in England, a coloured girl in a white society. But i was made very welcome by the other trainee nurses and soon settled in. I got on with my roommate, an Irish girl, which was a big help. Work was OK, I was always a fast learner and it was fun meeting new people, improving my English etc.
Time off was harder - the other girls went out a lot, had boyfriends and it amazed and even shocked me to see them so open with men and to hear them discussing what they did.
They were good to me, tried to get me involved, offered to set me up on dates - but I knew I wasn't ready for that.
Eventually, after getting more comfortable talking to guys through work and on the few occasions I went out with the girls I agreed to a date with my roommates brother. I had met him a few times and he seemed nice.
The date was just out for a pizza and to a pub. We got on well, chatted a lot. I found myself relaxing and to my surprise enjoying myself. He drove me back to the nurses quarters and gave me a brief kiss on the cheek as I got out.
The following week we went to the cinema..my first time in a cinema!
Well it was very quiet, few people there. I was fascinated by the big screen. It felt OK when he put his arm around me. I relaxed after a bit and sat against him. I must have sent out a message because to my surprise he moved and kissed my lips.
I was a bit surprised but realised this is what was expected of me..so I let him kiss me. It felt OK, felt him open my mouth, his tongue in my mouth. I had done that a few times before so I let him continue. It even felt nice - I felt quite wild, so far from home.
Well...his kissing got quite passionate..his hands roaming over my back. Then to my horror they moved over my breasts through my sweater. I froze..rigid. Not sure what to do,I couldn't make a scene. He was kissing my neck..then I felt his hands opening my bra.
I asked him to stop ...that I wasn't ready for that. To his credit he did.
I did up my bra...sat back..his arm still around me.
After the film we went for a drink then he drove me home. When he asked me out again I declined.
It was some months before I got the courage to go out with another guy. I double dated with another nurse. I was with her boyfriends friend. Again the guy was nice and we got on well. We had a few drinks ..went to a club. My friend was all over her boyfriend, lots of kissing and at one stage in a corner of the club he clearly had his hand under her top.
Well..we drove back to the nurses quarters, my friend went inside with her boyfriend. I had more to drink than usual and I suppose seeing my friend so intimate with her boyfriend had got me thinking, so when the guy moved to kiss me it felt OK and I kissed him back.