Introduction to writing directions

What are directions?

No doubt you have already had to tell someone how to get somewhere many, many times in your life. You have probably also been annoyed when trying to follow poorly explained directions. Being able to give accurate and clear directions is a very useful life and language skill. We all need to be able to explain how to get somewhere.

What are some of the features of directions?

  • You use the imperative (or command) form of the verb, as if you are ordering someone to do something: for example: Go left; turn right; walk one hundred metres.
  • You write/speak as briefly and accurately and simply as possible, but take care that no step is left out. The audience must not be confused or distracted by fancy words or irrelevant description.
  • Directions are presented chronologically. That is, one after the other in the order of the parts of the journey. Imagine the route unfolding. Then describe it each step in logical, chronological order, without leaving something important out. It is confusing for the listener if you interrupt yourself, as in this example: “Oh wait, I forgot that there is a Y junction before that.”
  • They include the location and/or name or address of the starting point and of the destination.
  • Give approximate distances when appropriate (or exact ones if possible). For example, “… about ten metres later …” or “Drive 25 kilometres.”
  • Where possible give useful hints such as how many streets to cross until the destination street or a turn is arrived at.
  • Use landmarks (things that are easy to notice) such as koppies, buildings, trees, unusual objects, well-known shops, colours of fences. Insert them into the directions as in, “When you get to the Chicken Licken on the right, you are almost there.”
  • Accurately use specific words of direction and location, such as: at the intersection/T-junction/Y-junction/stop street, turn right/left, head north, go half way across the park, keeping going straight, follow the curve until…
  • Write logically and very concisely. The Grade 12 examination memos currently say that full sentences are not needed and you can use point form. However, to be safe use short sentences such as, “Turn right at the intersection. Walk about one hundred metres.”
  • This is a shorter transactional text so depending on your grade you will use between 50 – 90 words. Check the word length required.
  • In exams at FET and senior phase you are usually marked out of 20, like this, for directions: Content, planning and format (12 marks); Language, style and editing (8 marks). These categories tell you what you need to think about, and for example, that you must show you have planned and edited properly, using process writing.
  • Note that the current FET and Senior Phase curriculum and examination questions say that, “No marks are awarded for sketches or maps.” Therefore only include these if they are specifically asked for by your exam question.

The layout of directions

Directions can be in point form or in a paragraph. Check whether your exam question asks for a specific layout.

Examples of examination questions

Here are some examples of questions, including from past examinations:

  • You are sick in bed and a friend wants to visit after school. Give him/her directions from your school to your house. You must include landmarks, distances and specific directions. NOTE: Do NOT include illustrations or drawings.
  • Your school is hosting a debating competition at the town hall. A teacher from another school knows his/her way only to the museum. He/She needs directions from there to the town hall. Write out the directions you will send to the teacher. In your response, you must refer to streets, intersections, turns, buildings and other landmarks on the route.
  • Your friend is visiting your home and has run out of airtime. Write down directions to the nearest shop where she/he can go to buy more.

How to plan writing directions

Plan your content like this:

  • Think about and visualise the route. Jot down short notes.
  • Check over the route in your mind again, to make sure your steps are logical and nothing is left out.
  • Plan what direction, distance and landmark words to use.
  • Remember to include your starting point and destination.

Should you choose to write directions in an exam?

This is a good choice for an examination if the question suits where you live, or you are very familiar with the sort of environment described. Look at the sample questions – would you be able to visualise and write about the one that includes the Town Hall and Museum? Do not choose this type of question if you struggle to write logically and briefly, or if you know you are bad at giving directions!

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Essay on My House in English: Check 300, 500 & 800 Words Essay

Home is where the heart is, and within the sanctuary of our homes lies a special place that holds memories, shelter, and comfort – my house. From the architectural style to the interior design, every aspect of the house speaks volumes about who we are and what we value. But beyond its physical attributes, the house holds a deeper significance in our lives. It’s where we create cherished memories, celebrate milestones, and forge bonds with loved ones. A house is more than just a place to live; it’s a symbol of stability, love, and the countless moments that make life worth living.

In this article, we’ll explore writing an essay on my house, exploring its significance, structure, and the role it plays in shaping our lives.

Table of Content

Important Terms for House

10 lines on my house, 500 word essay on my house, 800 word essay on my house.

Here are some terms that can help you write an essay on my house:

  • House: A building or structure where people live, providing shelter and accommodation.
  • Home: Not just a physical structure, but also a place of belonging, comfort, and emotional attachment.
  • Architecture: The art and science of designing and constructing buildings.
  • Interior Design: The arrangement and decoration of the interior spaces of a house to create a functional and aesthetically pleasing environment.
  • Floor Plan: A diagram showing the layout of rooms and spaces within a house, including dimensions and furniture placement.

Here are 10 lines that can help you write an essay on My House:

1. My house is a cozy place where I feel safe and happy.

2. It has a welcoming door and colorful flowers in the garden.

3. Inside, there’s a living room where my family plays games and watches TV together.

4. The kitchen smells delicious with Mom’s cooking, and I love helping her sometimes.

5. Upstairs, my bedroom is my favorite spot, filled with my toys and books.

6. From my window, I can see the trees and birds chirping in the morning.

7. Outside, there’s a swing where I love to play with my friends.

8. Sometimes, we have a barbecue in the backyard, and it’s so much fun!

9. My house is where I make lots of happy memories with my family.

10. I’m grateful for my house because it’s where I feel loved and cozy every day.

My small house may be tiny in size, but it is bursting with charm and coziness that make it a special place for me. Situated in a quiet corner of the neighborhood, my cute little house stands out with its colorful exterior and welcoming front porch that beckons visitors with its friendly vibe.

As I step through the front door, I am greeted by a snug living room that feels like a warm hug. The space may be small, but it is filled with love and laughter, making it the heart of our home. A comfy sofa sits against the wall, inviting me to sink into its soft cushions and relax after a long day at school. The kitchen, though compact, is a bustling hub of activity where delicious meals are cooked with care and shared with family. Every inch of space is cleverly utilized, from the neatly organized cabinets to the cozy dining nook where we gather for meals and conversations. The aroma of freshly baked cookies or simmering soup fills the air, creating a sense of comfort and warmth. Upstairs, my bedroom is a cozy retreat that reflects my personality and interests. The limited space has been transformed into a magical haven where I can dream, play, and unwind. A colorful bedspread adorns my bed, while shelves filled with books and toys add a touch of whimsy to the room.

One of the most delightful features of my small house is its backyard, a tiny oasis of greenery and tranquility where nature’s wonders unfold. A small garden patch blooms with vibrant flowers and fragrant herbs, attracting butterflies and bees that flit about in the sunshine. A swing set beneath a shady tree offers hours of fun and laughter as I soar through the air with glee. Despite its size, my small house is filled with big memories and moments that make it truly special. From family movie nights in the living room to impromptu picnics in the backyard, every corner of my house is alive with joy, love, and togetherness.

In conclusion, my small house may be petite in size, but it is grand in charm, coziness, and character that make it a cherished haven for me. Its compact layout encourages creativity and imagination in design, while its warm ambiance fosters a sense of comfort and belonging. My cute little house may be small on the outside, but it is mighty in love, laughter, and happiness – qualities that truly make it feel like home.

My house in Delhi is not a grand mansion, but a cozy middle-class home that holds a special place in my heart. Situated in a bustling neighborhood, it stands tall with four floors that offer ample space for my family and me to live, play, and create memories together. Despite its modest size, our house is filled with love, laughter, and warmth that make it a cherished haven for us.

As I walk through the front door of our house, I am greeted by a cozy living room on the ground floor that serves as the heart of our home. The walls are adorned with family photos and colorful artwork, creating a cheerful and inviting atmosphere. A comfortable sofa and a small coffee table sit in the center of the room, inviting us to relax and unwind after a long day at school or work.

The kitchen, located on the first floor, is a bustling hub of activity where delicious meals are prepared with love and care. The aroma of spices and cooking fills the air as we gather around the dining table to share stories and laughter. Despite its compact size, the kitchen is well-equipped with all the essentials needed to whip up our favorite dishes and treats.

Each floor of our house has its own unique charm and purpose. The second floor houses our bedrooms – cozy retreats where we rest and recharge after a busy day. My room is filled with my favorite toys, books, and posters that reflect my interests and personality. From my bed by the window, I can watch the world go by and daydream about adventures yet to come.

The third floor is a versatile space that serves as a family room where we come together to watch movies, play games, or simply spend quality time with each other. The walls are lined with shelves filled with board games, books, and family photos that tell the story of our lives. It is a space where memories are made and bonds are strengthened through shared experiences and laughter.

The fourth floor leads to our rooftop terrace – a hidden gem that offers panoramic views of the city skyline. From here, we can watch the sunset paint the sky in hues of orange and pink, listen to the sounds of the city below, or simply bask in the warmth of the sun on lazy afternoons. It is a peaceful retreat where we can escape the hustle and bustle of daily life and enjoy moments of tranquility together.

In conclusion, my house in Delhi may not be extravagant or luxurious, but it is filled with love, laughter, and cherished moments that make it truly special. Its four floors offer ample space for us to live, play, and grow together as a family. From cozy bedrooms to bustling kitchens, from family rooms to rooftop terraces, every corner of our house holds memories and experiences that shape who we are and bring us closer together. Our middle-class home may not be grand in size or stature, but it is rich in love, warmth, and happiness – qualities that truly make it feel like home for me and my family.

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My House Essay- FAQs

What is a house.

A house is a structure designed for human habitation, providing shelter, comfort, and privacy. It typically consists of rooms for living, sleeping, cooking, and other activities.

What are the different types of houses?

There are various types of houses, including single-family homes, apartments, townhouses, condominiums, and mobile homes. Each type has its own layout, size, and ownership structure.

What factors influence the design of a house?

The design of a house is influenced by factors such as location, climate, cultural preferences, budget, and the needs of the occupants. These factors determine aspects like architectural style, materials used, and layout.

How does a house contribute to our well-being?

A well-designed house can contribute to our physical, mental, and emotional well-being. It provides a safe and comfortable environment for rest, relaxation, and social interaction, promoting overall quality of life.

What are some common household maintenance tasks?

Common household maintenance tasks include cleaning, repairs, landscaping, and regular inspections of systems such as plumbing, electrical, and HVAC. These tasks help ensure the safety, functionality, and longevity of the house.

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My Home Essay

500 words on my home essay.

A home is a place that gives comfort to everyone. It is because a home is filled with love and life. Much like every lucky person, I also have a home and a loving family. Through My Home Essay, I will take you through what my home is like and how much it means to me.

my home essay

A Place I Call Home

My home is situated in the city. It is not too big nor too small, just the perfect size. My family lives in the home. It comprises of my father, mother, sister and grandparents. We live in our ancestral home so my home is very vintage.

It is very old but remains to be super strong. There are six rooms in my home. Each family member has a unique room which they have decorated as per their liking. For instance, my elder sister is a big fan of music, so her walls are filled with posters of musicians like BTS, RM, and more.

Our drawing room is a large one with a high ceiling. We still use the vintage sofa set which my grandmother got as a wedding gift. Similarly, there is a vintage TV and radio which she uses till date.

Adjoining the drawing room is my bedroom. It is my favourite room because it contains everything that I love. I have a pet guinea pig which lives in a cage in my room. We also have a storeroom which is filled with things we don’t use but also cannot discard.

Our lawn in front of the house has a little garden. In that garden , my mother is growing her own kitchen garden. She is passionate about it and brings different seeds every month to grow them out and use them in our food.

The fondest memories I have in a place is my terrace. Our terrace is huge with many plants. I remember all the good times we have spent there as a family. Moreover, we play there a lot when my cousins come over. Thus, every nook and corner of my home is special to me.

Get the huge list of more than 500 Essay Topics and Ideas

Appreciation Towards My Home

I know a lot of people who do not have homes or not as big as mine. It makes me more grateful and appreciates my home more. Not everyone gets the fortune to have a good home and a loving family, but luckily, I have been blessed with both.

I am thankful for my home because when I grow up, I can look back at the wonderful memories I made here. The walk down the memory lane will be a sweet one because of the safety and security my home has given me. It is indeed an ideal home.

Conclusion of My Home Essay

My home is important to me because for better or worse, it helps me belong. It makes me understand my place in time and connect with the world and the universe at large. Thus, I am grateful to have a place I can call home.

FAQ on My Home Essay

Question 1: What is the importance of a home?

Answer 1: Home offers us security, belonging and privacy in addition to other essential things. Most importantly, it gives us a place with a centring where we leave every morning and long to return every night .

Question 2: Why is home important to a family?

Answer 2: A home signifies a lot more than a house. It is because we find comfort in our home as it contains memories and a place where our bonds strengthen. It is where we get plenty of benefits.

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Essay on My House

Students are often asked to write an essay on My House in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on My House

Introduction.

My house is my comfort place, a sanctuary that provides me warmth and security. It is a medium-sized bungalow located in the heart of the city.

The exterior of my house is painted in a soothing white shade. It has a beautiful lawn with colorful flowers that bloom year-round.

Inside, there are four rooms, a kitchen, and a living room. My room is my favorite, decorated with posters and my artworks.

My house, though not a palace, is a place I call home. It is where I grow, learn, and create memories.

250 Words Essay on My House

My house, a place of tranquility and solace, is not merely a physical structure but a repository of memories and emotions. It’s a symbol of my family’s unity and the collective dreams we share.

Architectural Design

The architectural design of my house is a blend of modern and traditional aesthetics. The exterior is adorned with a stone facade, while the interior is marked by sleek, minimalist design elements. The house is designed to maximize natural light, with large windows that invite the sun’s rays, enhancing the overall ambiance.

Interior Spaces

The interior spaces of my house are thoughtfully designed, each room serving a unique purpose. The living room, with its comfortable couches and warm fireplace, is a hub for family interactions. The kitchen, a symphony of contemporary appliances and traditional utensils, is where culinary experiments take place. My room, a personal sanctuary, is a reflection of my personality, adorned with books, artwork, and mementos.

Sustainable Features

Sustainability is a key feature of my house. We have solar panels on the roof, rainwater harvesting systems, and a small vegetable garden in the backyard. These elements not only reduce our carbon footprint but also foster a deeper connection with nature.

In essence, my house is more than a physical dwelling; it’s a space that nurtures growth, fosters love, and encapsulates the essence of ‘home’. It’s a testament to our values and aspirations, a constant reminder of our roots and the journey we’ve embarked upon as a family.

500 Words Essay on My House

A house is more than just a physical structure, it is a sanctuary, a reflection of one’s personality, and a testament to one’s journey. My house, nestled in a quaint neighborhood, is a symbol of my family’s love, unity, and memories. This essay aims to delve into the intricacies of my house, exploring its architectural beauty, the emotional resonance it holds, and its role as a space for intellectual growth.

Architectural Aesthetics

The architectural design of my house is a harmonious blend of traditional and modern elements. The exterior is adorned with a warm brick facade, while the interior boasts a minimalist design. Large windows allow natural light to flood the rooms, creating an atmosphere of warmth and openness. The living room, with its high ceilings and a classic fireplace, serves as the heart of the house. Each room, from the cozy bedrooms to the spacious kitchen, is designed with functionality and comfort in mind. The house’s architecture, while aesthetically pleasing, also reflects the values of simplicity and practicality.

Emotional Resonance

My house is a repository of memories and emotions. Each corner tells a story, each wall echoes laughter, and each piece of furniture carries a tale of time spent with loved ones. The dining table, for instance, is not just a piece of furniture, but a symbol of family togetherness. It has witnessed countless family dinners, heated discussions, and joyful celebrations. The cozy reading nook in the corner of my room is my personal sanctuary, a space where I retreat to immerse myself in the world of books. The emotional resonance of my house extends beyond its walls, shaping my identity and sense of belonging.

Space for Intellectual Growth

My house also serves as a space for intellectual growth. The study room, equipped with a vast collection of books and a peaceful ambiance, encourages learning and creativity. It is here that I have spent countless hours engrossed in books or brainstorming for college projects. The walls of the house are adorned with artworks and photographs, stimulating intellectual curiosity and fostering an appreciation for art. The living room often transforms into a space for intellectual discussions, where ideas are exchanged and perspectives are broadened.

My house, while being a physical structure, transcends its material existence. It is a living entity, breathing with the life stories of its inhabitants. It is a symbol of love, a vessel of memories, and a catalyst for intellectual growth. More than a house, it is a home, a space that nurtures and molds its inhabitants, shaping their identities and experiences. As I move forward in life, my house remains an integral part of my journey, a constant reminder of my roots and a beacon guiding me towards my future.

That’s it! I hope the essay helped you.

If you’re looking for more, here are essays on other interesting topics:

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Happy studying!

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Tips to Follow Directions in Writing Assignments

direction to my house essay

Get 400 words proofread and edited for free

In a previous post, I wrote about relatable lessons for writers I’ve observed when teaching my fifth-grade students. Specifically, good writers know what good writing looks like, take a creative approach to finding a topic that keeps their interest, organize their thoughts before beginning to write, and understand and practice the parts before attempting the whole. These are common struggles for writers of all levels.

In today’s post, I’ll share my thoughts on another relatable lesson. Good writers follow directions! Following directions is key in most activities, especially for writing assignments, which are most often accompanied by extensive written directions. But how often does a writing teacher go to grade written work , only to find that a significant portion of the students failed to follow the directions? Very often!

Get a free sample proofread and edit for your English document. Two professional proofreaders will proofread and edit your English document.

I know quite a few educators from elementary school through college, and in discussions over the years we have agreed this is a big problem. In today’s post, I’ll offer writers tips to avoid setting yourself up for failure by failing to follow directions.

Write the Right Amount

This may seem like a no-brainer, but write how much is requested. An assignment or prompt typically specifies how long the answer should be:

  • “Write a paragraph in which you…”
  • “In a well-developed two-page essay, respond to one of the following prompts.”
  • “Make sure to have a maximum word count of 250.”

Even when specified so clearly, students often fail to write the correct amount. A college professor I know recently told me about half of his class responding in a single paragraph to an essay that he instructed them to write in two pages. Many of my fifth graders will often write five words in response to a question for which I requested a full paragraph (not even in a complete sentences, but don’t let me get started on that…). Here’s a guide to how many words, sentences, and paragraphs make up written responses of various lengths in elementary to high school assignments:

*If you’re working with Microsoft Word, it keeps a count of your words in the lower left-hand corner. If you want to know the count for a section of the page, highlight it, and the word count will show how many words are in just that second (e.g., 256 OF 879 WORDS).

A good general rule is two to three paragraphs per page.

Write the Right Stuff

You cannot do what you do not understand, so the first step in a writing assignment is making sure you understand the instructions. Assuming you take the time to notice, knowing how much to write is simple, but knowing what is being asked is not always easy. Begin by reading the question and instructions carefully, and ask your instructor if you are not sure what is being requested. Putting the prompt of assignment into your own words in list form can be helpful, especially for prompts with multiple parts. This list can later be a checklist you use to determine if you’ve completed the assignment.

direction to my house essay

Once you are sure you understand what is being asked, plan your attack. A few notes might suffice, or you might want to do a full outline for your essay. The more complicated the assignment, the more detailed your planning process should be. No matter whether the task is complex or simple, make sure your plan accounts for all parts of what is being asked. It is incredibly common for a written response to start out in a promising direction, only to have peter out before it addresses all that it is supposed to.

After writing and revising, take a look back at the assignment and any lists or outlines you’ve created in planning your work and make sure you’ve accomplished what you set out to do. The best-laid plans are only effective if they are followed through. Revise further, proofread, and you should be good to go!

Special note to university and high school students: Many institutions have writing centers to help you throughout the writing process, so take advantage of this if available.

Final Thoughts

If you are not a student, keep in mind that writing tasks outside of class require the careful approach described in today’s post as well. Reports for work, application essays, short answer questions on forms, and written portions of standardized tests require writers to follow the directions to be successful as well.

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  • My Dream House Essay in English for Students

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Read My Dream House Essay on Vedantu

English is one of the leading languages ​​in the world. Since English is the language of international trade, English is a basic requirement for everyone. Not only that, you can also interact with people from all over the world. Today, fluency in English is one of the basic requirements for a trouble-free life. To be perfect in any language, you must be able to write, read, and speak. These skills include understanding the grammatical aspects of English, writing letters, essays, etc.

Essay-writing is a fun activity for every kid. Kids enjoy writing essays as it gives them creative freedom and allows them to express their thoughts. Essay writing has many benefits: it improves students’ command over the language, allows them to learn sentence formation, etc. Kids can get free essays on several topics on Vedantu’s site. 

My Dream House- An Essay 

I always imagine how my future house will be. A home is a place surrounded by the people one loves. A house is not made beautiful by its furniture or decor, but by the people that live inside it. My dream house should be a house that I can share with my family when I grow old. I always dream of a wooden house in the hilly areas. My dream house should be the one facing a small river. Through the windows, I could see the sun setting and disappearing into the mountains. My dream house would have a small garden where I will grow my own vegetables and fruits. 

The house that I fancy would be considerably big with four rooms and a spacious common area. My dream house should be comfortable for my parents, grandparents and siblings. The house should be equipped with all the modern amenities. It should have a big TV with a home theatre system and a Playstation attached to it. The walls of the house will have light colours that will make it appear bright. There will be sufficient light bulbs and lamps in every room. I also dream of a chandelier in the guest room and a big sofa where everyone will sit and enjoy watching TV together. My grandparents love reading. I wish that my dream house will have a reading space with lots of books.

I have a 3-year old pet dog called Tiger. I also want to have a small yet cosy space in my house for Tiger where he can sleep and relax when he grows old. The house will have beautiful interiors and will have all the facilities like a modern kitchen, three bathrooms, a staircase leading to the terrace, ACs, etc. My dream home should be the one where we all can live happily and comfortably.  

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FAQs on My Dream House Essay in English for Students

1. Why should students write essays about My Dream House?

Essay writing is loved by all ages. When writing an essay on any topic, they can describe their chain of thoughts and ideas. Children must be able to understand the importance of home. Home is a symbol of togetherness and love. Writing an essay about my dream house gives students the opportunity to express their feelings about the dream house in simple words. My dream house essay tries to introduce children to the most important aspects of a home that they can include in their essay. Everyone has their own idea of ​​the perfect home. With this article, the experts try to write what a children's dream house looks like. Writing a short essay about my dream house encourages children to gather their thoughts and develop their own ideas about the subject. It develops better language skills and increases self-confidence. Therefore, writing essays has been a part of the curriculum since the formation years of children. 

2. What is a dream house?

Home is the dream of many people because it is one of the few things that give happiness and comfort to everyone. Dream homes can have designs that vary from person to person and this has led to many beautiful dream homes. A dream home should be a place where the person finds comfort, no matter where they go, they will find peace at that one place. A dream house is a place that a person dreams and each day wishes to be in that place. There are many essays on dream homes that can easily be found on the Vedantu website for the students to refer to. 

3. Why should students be encouraged to write essays?

An essay is written to convince someone about a certain topic or just to inform the reader. In order to convince or properly inform the reader, the essay must include several elements that are important to be convincing and logical. Essay writing is a very important part of the English curriculum because it understands how to describe something in words or how to express your point of view without losing its meaning. Essays are the most important way to understand the structure of writing and present it to the reader.

4. How does Vedantu help students write essays?

Writing an essay takes a little guidance and a lot of practice. To understand this, Vedantu offers students various essays on various topics to understand the proper way to write an essay. Students can refer to these essays and reproduce them in their own style to get a better test. On the Vedantu website, there are complete guidelines on how to write an essay and its types. These tips and ample examples available on the website are the perfect guide for any student to write an essay.

5. What perspectives should students keep in mind when writing an essay entitled My Dream House?

Home is a completely safe place to live with our family. We live with our parents, grandparents, and siblings and it is a place that gives us love and warmth. In this article, we'll review the essay ook, "My Dream Home," and understand the importance of a dream home from a toddler's perspective. When I write "My Dream home", the child needs to understand the importance of the dream house in his life. In addition, children should see the house as a symbol of human togetherness, a place where everyone learns the first steps in his life.

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How to Give Directions

Last Updated: March 10, 2024

This article was co-authored by wikiHow staff writer, Christopher M. Osborne, PhD . Christopher Osborne has been a wikiHow Content Creator since 2015. He is also a historian who holds a PhD from The University of Notre Dame and has taught at universities in and around Pittsburgh, PA. His scholarly publications and presentations focus on his research interests in early American history, but Chris also enjoys the challenges and rewards of writing wikiHow articles on a wide range of subjects. This article has been viewed 522,805 times. Learn more...

Whether you’re telling someone how to get to your house or guiding a stranger to a local museum, you should know how to give good directions. Giving directions, though, is more complicated than just telling someone how to get to a certain location. To give good directions, you need to present the information in the way that’s best suited to how the other person processes information. For instance, some people do better with specific mileages, while others understand rough drive times best. You also have to communicate effectively and pick the most appropriate route in order to help the person stay on track and reach their destination.

Guiding Them By Landmarks and Drive Times

Step 1 Picture yourself going along the route with them.

  • Instead of directing them from beginning to end, think of it as directing them from landmark to landmark.

Step 2 Tell the person about important and hard-to-miss landmarks.

  • So, for instance: “Go this way for a couple minutes until the old post office with the big metal dome is on your left; then turn left and go for about 5 minutes until you see a McDonald’s and Wendy’s right across from each other…”
  • Some landmarks to point out include: historic buildings, signs, or monuments; churches, synagogues, or other religious buildings; large businesses like a box store or car dealership; geographical/environmental features like hills or rivers; roadway characteristics like a bridge or a fork in the road.

Step 3 Specify whether something is on the left or right of the road.

  • Make it “look on your left for the gas station with the tiger statue above the sign,” not just “turn when you get to the gas station with the tiger statue.”

Step 4 Provide travel time estimates for the whole trip and each component of it.

  • Let the person know that if they’re traveling the speed limit, they should be able to arrive at their destination in a certain amount of time.
  • If they’ll have to make some turns, tell them how long they’ll be on specific roads before they should turn.
  • For example: “The whole trip takes about 10 minutes. You’ll turn left here and go for about 3 minutes until…”

Mapping Out Distances and Compass Directions

Step 1 Create a mental map of the route, and share it.

  • In this case, your directions will sound like the following: “Drive north on Hamilton for a little over 3 miles (4.8 km), then head east on Church Street…”

Step 2 Specify distance from point to point.

  • City blocks and highway exits are also an acceptable unit of distance to use, even though the exact distance between them varies: “Go two blocks north, then get on the freeway and head west to the fourth exit…”
  • A rough estimate is better than not giving any sense of the distance from one point to another.

Step 3 Refer to the cardinal directions.

  • So: “Turn right at the the light onto 5th street and go south for half a mile, then merge onto route 35 South…”

Step 4 Draw a map.

  • The rudimentary map doesn’t need to be to scale, but you should write in general mileages and use a general map orientation (that is, with north to the top).

Choosing the Right Route to Describe

Step 1 Explain the route based on where the person is coming from.

  • This isn’t an issue if a stranger stops you on the street, but it is important to know whether your mother-in-law will be leaving from her house or her office in the next town over.

Step 2 Give the simplest route.

  • Favor routes with less turns, even if they take a bit longer.
  • Focus on routes where the person can stay on one road for a long time.
  • Pick routes that avoid confusing intersections, roundabouts, or bypasses.

Step 3 Share the safest route.

  • The winding back road may save you five minutes versus using the highway, but you’ve driven that road many times and know all the curves and twists — and they don’t.

Step 4 Don’t suggest routes you haven’t taken.

  • Skip “Well, my buddy goes this way…” and stick with “I’ve gone this way many times, even if it takes a few minutes longer…”

Step 5 Warn the person about confusing parts of the route.

  • Roads that merge with little notice
  • Turns that are very slight
  • Roundabouts

Communicating Effectively

Step 1 Speak slowly and clearly.

  • Even if all locals know the highway as the “Parkway East,” refer to it as “I-376 East,” which is what the road signs read.

Step 3 Don’t assume the person knows anything about the area.

  • Avoid things like “Remember where Joe’s old house was? You’ll turn right after that” and go with “You’ll turn right at the stoplight onto 11th Street, which comes about half a block past where Joe used to live.”

Step 4 Ask the person if they have any questions.

  • If they seem to be struggling with the directions you’ve given in “route perspective” form, consider trying “survey perspective” instead — that is, replacing visual landmarks with mileages and north, south, etc.

Community Q&A

Lewy

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  • ↑ https://www.citylab.com/transportation/2012/07/why-americans-and-europeans-give-directions-differently/2494/
  • ↑ http://articles.latimes.com/1993-04-04/news/mn-19177_1_german-tourist
  • ↑ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1705977/

About This Article

Christopher M. Osborne, PhD

If you need to give someone directions, point out hard-to-miss landmarks in your directions, like bridges, large businesses, churches or synagogues, or anything else which will stand out during the trip. Specify whether landmarks or turns are on the left or right side of the road, and try to give the person an estimate of how far or how long they’ll have to travel before their next turn or destination. To learn how to draw a map for the person you’re giving directions to, read on! Did this summary help you? Yes No

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Asking for and g iving directions English lesson

Sometimes you may asked from someone for directions., giving and asking directions english lesson.

This lesson you will be learning how to give directions to another person when they ask you for directions on how to go somewhere.  and also give examples of how to ask for directions as well. 

Important verbs and prepositions when giving directions

Giving directions

Asking somebody for directions

** Hint The key words are highlighted ** 

Questions you can ask about directions

Can you please tell me how I can get to Oxford Street?

Where is the nearest supermarket?

How can I get to the  local market?

I'm trying  to get   to Downing Street.

How do I get to the office?

What's the best way to get to your house next ?

Where is Mc Donalds can you tell me please?

How to give directions to somebody else 

Turn back , you have gone past the turning.

Turn left when you see a roundabout.

Turn right at the end of the road and my house is number 67.

Cross the junction and keep going for about 1 mile.

Take the third road on the right and you will see the office on the right

Take the third road on the right  and you will see the shop on the left

Take the second road on the left  and you will see the house on the left

Take the second road on the left  and you will see the hospital straight ahead

The hospital is opposite the railway station.

The shop is near the hospital.

The house is next to the local cricket ground.

The shop is in between the chemist and KFC.

At the end of the road you will see a roundabout.

learning English directions turn left

At the corner of the road you will see red building. Just around the corner is my house you will need to stop quickly or you will miss it.

Go straight on at the traffic lights.

turn right at the crossroads.

Follow the signposts for Manchester.

Giving directions conversation

When giving directions to someone it is best to use short basic English sentences. Speak slowly when talking to the other person and spell out words if they don't understand and if possible draw a map.

Mr Bean : - Please tell me how I get to your apartment?

Mrs Smith: - Are you coming by car or by bus?

Mr Bean : - I am coming by car.

Mr Bean : - Please could you tell me the easiest way of getting to your apartment?

Mrs Smith: - Take the M6 to Manchester and come of at junction 6

Mr Bean : - Manchester can you spell that for me

Mrs Smith: - M a n c h e s t e r

Mr Bean : - Thanks

Mrs Smith: -  OK, then turn right at the roundabout and take the first left my house is on the left next to the local food store.

Mr Bean : - Is that the quickest way of getting to your apartment?

Mrs Smith: - Yes, it is the quickest way by car.

Mr Bean : - Would you draw me a map please I don't know the area.

Mrs Smith: - Yes.

Mr Bean : - Thanks.

And finally some tips

Speak slowly so the other person can understand.

Speak slowly so the other person can write down the instructions if talking on the phone.

When speaking with someone, use your hands to demonstrate what you mean,  left, right, or straight on.

Always try and use the word "please" when you are asking someone for directions. It's polite, and people are more likely to help you!

Lessons that might be related to giving directions

Asking for and giving directions English lesson

Asking and giving directions conversation English lesson

Conversation about giving directions

Directions - Asking people - Learning English

Directions Left / Right and Around the corner English lesson

Print the English lesson on how to give directions

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direction to my house essay

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Directions to My House

Directions to My House  is a collection of essays, poems, artworks, and personal photographs by the artist Zarina Hashmi with Sarah Burney.

“Memory is the only lasting possession we have,” begins Zarina, who was the A/P/A Institute at NYU 2017-18 Artist-in-Residence. In the pages that follow, she reflects on her life—her family’s experience during the 1947 Partition of India, her long career as an artist, and the many cities that she has called home. The book includes never-published material, and chronicles the artist’s travels and life around the world through multiple forms of expression.

Zarina, who was born in Aligarh, India in 1937 and who has lived and worked in New York for more than four decades, adopts the recurring themes of home, displacement, borders, refugees, and memory.

Published by the Asian/Pacific/American Institute at New York University, 2018

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Juan Felipe Herrera reads his poem " Five Directions to My House " as part of Poet-to-Poet, the Academy of American Poets' educational project for National Poetry Month 2014.

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direction to my house essay

How to Give Directions in Twi

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In our last lesson, we looked at the how to introduce ourselves in Twi, and a few basic phrases . The present lesson explores a number of directional expressions in Twi. If you ever find yourself giving or receiving a direction to/from an Akan speaker, this lesson, I believe, will be very useful.

Directions in Twi

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direction to my house essay

Useful Twi Phrases for Expressing Disagreement

In our last lesson, we looked at some useful Twi phrases for expressing agreement. Today, we’re going the opposite direction. We’re looking at some Twi

direction to my house essay

Useful Twi Phrases for Expressing Agreement

Welcome to another lesson in the MUST-KNOW TWI PHRASES series. In our last lesson in the series, we looked at some common Twi phrases that

direction to my house essay

Useful Twi Phrases for Expressing Opinions

The present lesson continues our MUST-KNOW TWI PHRASES SERIES. Thus far, we have looked at: 25 Must-Know Twi Phrases for Learners & Tourists 10 Must-Know

direction to my house essay

11 Must-Know Twi Phrases for Learners and Tourists

This is the third lesson in our must-know Twi phrases series. The first one covered 25 phrases, which you’ll find here. In the second one,

direction to my house essay

10 Must-Know Twi Phrases for Learners and Tourists

You’re welcome to the second lesson in our must-know Twi phrases series. In the first one, we looked at 25 Twi phrases to help you,

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Giving Directions in English

02 Dec 2019

When you’re in a country you don’t know, you can easily get lost at some point during the trip, even if you have a map. So it’s really useful to know how to ask for and understand directions in English so you can reach your destination. It’s also great to be able to give directions yourself to tourists or foreign colleagues.

So what words and phrases can help you give and ask for directions? Read on to find out!

First of all, you need to know some basic vocabulary. The most important words and phrases are:

direction to my house essay

It’s also helpful to know some common places people visit in a city, such as the following:

direction to my house essay

Here are some examples:

  •   Go along the street until you reach the traffic lights.
  • You’ll see a bank on the left.
  • It’s about two blocks from here.
  • I prefer going to the airport on the highway because it’s faster.

 Some prepositions and adverbs can also help when you’re giving directions:

direction to my house essay

For example,

  •   My office building is in front of the mall.
  • Go straight on for about one kilometre.
  • The cinema is next to the bank.

Asking for directions

When you ask for directions, remember above all to be polite. So start by saying one of the following phrases:

  •   Hello. Can you help me, please?
  • Good morning. May I ask for some help?
  • Excuse me, could you help?

 Once you have someone’s attention, you can ask for help to reach your destination. You can do that by using one of these phrases:

  •   Could you tell me how to get to the bank?
  • Do you know where the museum is?
  • We can’t find the subway station. Is it near here?
  • Where can we find a park near here?

 If you’re not sure you’re going in the right direction, you can make sure by asking:

  •   Are we on the right road to the city center?
  • Is this the right way to the mall?
  • What’s the best way to get to the airport?

Giving directions

In the same way that you need to ask directions when you travel abroad, foreigners visiting your city might ask you directions, and what better way to practice English than to help them? 🙂

Here are some common phrases you can use:

  • Go past the cinema. (Pass the cinema.)
  • Go along this road.
  • Go straight on/ahead. (Stay on this road – don’t turn.)
  • Go through the tunnel.
  • At the roundabout, take the first exit.
  • Turn left at the crossroads.
  • Take the second right.
  • It’s on your left.
  • You’ll see it in front of you.
  • It’s on the other side of the road.
  • You’re going the wrong way.

If you travel abroad for work or pleasure, knowing how to ask and understand directions is really important. 

The best way to learn directions is to do a proper English course that gives you the chance to practice in a controlled environment with guidance and feedback. At Wall Street English you can learn how to give and understand directions through fun interactive activities and by practicing in small classes led by native teachers.

Do this short quiz to find out what level you are and start learning now!

This post has been adapted and translated from the original content by  WSE Argentina  here:  Aprendé a pedir y a dar direcciones en inglés

For young people today, learning English is essential. What is the best method for your child to learn English? Read on to find out.

Find out 5 ways that learning a new language can help you career prospects

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Ready to chat to a member of the Wall Street English team? We’re here to help you.

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direction to my house essay

Honeybees Invaded My House, and No One Would Help

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By Sarah Kliff

  • Published April 30, 2024 Updated May 2, 2024

Responding to fears of a “honeybee collapse,” 30 states have passed laws to protect the pollinators. But when they invaded my house, I learned that the honeybees didn’t need saving.

I noticed the first bee one afternoon as my dog gleefully chased it around the house. When the pest settled on a window by the stairwell, I swatted it with a cookbook and cleaned up the mess.

Five minutes later, another bee buzzed at the same window. Then a third in my kids’ room. When I heard a loud droning coming from inside a wall next to my son’s bed, the ominous situation finally hit me: The house was infested.

Listen to this article with reporter commentary

This was early April, the start of “swarm season,” when honeybee colonies search for places to build new hives. A small gap in the roof gave them access to our attic and put us on the honeybee real estate market.

But in those first frantic hours, as I darted from room to room slamming the book on them, we thought the insects might be wasps. My husband called an exterminator, who agreed to come the next morning. Then a bee-loving friend who saw a photo told us they were honeybees. When we updated the exterminator, he canceled the appointment.

Once honeybees move in, it turns out, they are particularly difficult to evict.

Several bees crawling at the bottom of a window screen with blinds.

Over the past two decades, fears of a collapsing honeybee population have inspired elegiac journalism and 30 state laws aiming to protect pollinators. Three states have given special tax breaks to beekeepers, and others have devoted millions to studying the disappearing colonies. In Washington, where I live, the DC Beekeepers Alliance notes that it is “illegal for pest control contractors to spray honeybees.”

As evening approached and a gray cloud of bees grew steadily outside our roof’s crack, we headed to a hotel, kids and energetic dog in tow. My 2-year-old danced around pretending to be a bee, her hands pointed into a stinger. My 5-year-old asked why the bees had chosen our house. Great question, bud.

My husband and I stared at our phones on the crisp hotel sheets, panic-searching online for answers. Bee species and humans are the only animals that can communicate directions to a new place without directly leading others there. And honeybees engage in an elaborate, democratic process to choose new homes. They prefer to build hives in tight spaces about the size of a large backpack, often within crawl spaces, walls and attics. Once established in a comfy spot, they can stay there indefinitely, building hives and producing honey.

We sent a few panicked messages to local WhatsApp groups, read blog posts about citronella deterrents and found a “ bee repellent ” Spotify track that sounded like a never-ending beep. We commanded the Alexa speaker back in our kids’ room to play the noise on loop all night.

The next morning, we returned to the infestation and started working the phones, to much disappointment. “When we identify a honeybee issue, we try to have a local beekeeper assist,” Ben Hottel, an entomologist and spokesman for Orkin, a pest control company, later told me.

One exterminator finally agreed to come by, only to dash our hopes upon arrival. He wouldn’t touch the bees but said that he knew a contractor who would commit illicit bee murder. We declined.

I considered buying a can of Raid, but I felt too guilty. I had a vague sense that honeybees needed saving, and some of my neighbors felt strongly about the issue. “They are so important to our ecosystem,” one neighbor advised on WhatsApp. “Their number is dwindling.” She suggested we call a beekeeper.

So we tried the swarm squad , a volunteer group of beekeepers who will collect wayward colonies. Unfortunately, the squad generally only deals with outdoor hives. A representative recommended a dozen other beekeepers with indoor expertise.

Every one of them told me the same thing: Our problem was too small.

When a colony is looking for a new home, it sends out a few hundred “scouts” to find options, each visiting 10 to 20 possible locations. When a scout likes a place, it returns to the hive and performs a “waggle” dance that tells its brethren exactly how far and in what direction they need to travel to find the potential home. The more vigorous the dance, the more a scout likes the location. Eventually, the thousands of hive dwellers vote on which place they like best.

Apparently, scouts were sizing up our home. To us, they were plenty alarming on their own. But the beekeepers reassured us that they were unlikely to sting; they didn’t have a hive or queen to defend. Call us back, they said, when you see a few thousand bees.

There was little else to do but wait and see if the colony would choose us. I repacked our suitcase for another night away. Maybe this was my family’s small contribution to saving an imperiled species, I thought.

What I wish I had known then: Honeybees do not need saving.

The same week that the bees turned up at my house, the journalist Bryan Walsh revisited a 2013 cover story for Time magazine in which he had lamented a future “world without bees.” Looking back, he said, the article didn’t hold up.

“A lot of the coverage at the height of the beepocalypse fears — my story included — used the mass death of honeybees as a symbol of how human beings had pulled nature out of whack,” Mr. Walsh wrote in a new essay in Vox . “But it’s not.”

Just last month, new federal data showed that the number of honeybee colonies has increased by 31 percent since 2007. A vast majority of those insects are used in commercial farming, carted from state to state to pollinate crops.

“Honeybees are not endangered nor at risk of extinction,” noted a 2023 report from the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation. “The fact that honeybees are domesticated and managed negates the possibility of being endangered.”

Honeybees are an invasive species that were brought to the United States from Europe. Saving one of their colonies can actually hurt native bees, many of which are endangered. A recent study in Montreal found that when the number of honeybee hives rose in part of the city, the number of native bees declined.

“You are not helping a wild species” when you save a honeybee swarm, said Rich Hatfield, a senior conservation biologist at Xerces. “You are introducing 10,000 to 50,000 mouths to feed to an environment that may not have enough resources.”

The bees in my house were looking for resources. Left on our own, we cobbled together a plan to make our real estate seem as unappealing as possible.

We tried to sequester as many of the honeybees as possible in the attic. It was better if they didn’t leave, the beekeepers had said, so they couldn’t go waggle to their friends. They gravitate toward light, so we flipped on a lightbulb and watched a dozen immediately swarm around it.

Two beekeepers gave us their blessing to kill the honeybees that had already made it into our house, suggesting a vacuum method. Within minutes, honeybees filled our Dyson.

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Bees are most active in the warm temperatures of late afternoon. We anxiously waited for a swarm to descend. Around 4 p.m. we went outside and stared at the sky, just as we had a few days earlier for the solar eclipse .

The swarm never showed. By evening, fewer bees were roaming around the house, and the attic buzzing had grown softer. We slept at home with the Dyson near the bed.

The next morning, my son discovered dead bees in his playroom, and the dog ate some carcasses on the floor. Thirty-six hours after the honeybees had arrived, they were gone.

Stunned by the bizarre experience, I called Thomas Seeley, a professor at Cornell who has studied honeybee behavior for more than 40 years.

Ours had been a close call, Dr. Seeley said. The fact that a scout bee’s shimmy had convinced scores of others to check out our house meant that we were “clearly on the list of serious possibilities,” he said.

I peppered him with mitigation questions. Should we have tried citronella candles? No, they actually like that smell, he said, but moth balls could have helped. And what about the beeping Spotify track — did that help steer them away? Bees can’t hear, he said.

I searched for honeybee-related posts on my neighborhood email listserv, where people regularly write in looking for exterminators. “Don’t worry folks, I’m pro-bees!” read one message from a neighbor with a swarm last spring.

I noticed a new post, dated one week after the bees had left us. Bees had taken root on the poster’s deck, she said, attaching a photo of a dense yellow swarm. Perhaps, I thought, our scouts had found their new home.

“Called 311 and they weren’t super interested,” she wrote. “Any ideas? We’d like to save these bees.”

Audio produced by Parin Behrooz .

Video illustration by Yann Guichaoua/Creatas Video+/Getty Images

Sarah Kliff is an investigative health care reporter for The Times. More about Sarah Kliff

The Great Read

Here are more fascinating tales you can’t help reading all the way to the end..

When an illegal smoke shop opened across the street, an Upper West Side councilwoman, vowed to close it. What happened next was “like a Fellini movie.”

The diabetes drug Ozempic has become a phenomenon, and its inescapable jingle — a takeoff of the Pilot song “Magic” — has played a big part in its story .

A man’s five-year stay at the New Yorker Hotel cost him only $200.57. Now it might cost him his freedom .

Researchers are documenting deathbed visions , a phenomenon that seems to help the dying, as well as those they leave behind.

Around 2020, the “right” pants began to swing from skinny to wide. But is there even a consensus around trends anymore ?

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direction to my house essay

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A Letter to the Expressway Contractor | Keith Ang’ana | Essay

by Keith Ang'ana

May 08, 2024

direction to my house essay

Dear Expressway Contractor,

I hope you are well. I am writing this letter to you in reminiscence of an experience I had 2 months ago, back when it was still raining. On that particular day, I was walking in town on my way to State House Road, but, of course, not to State House itself. Besides, what reason would I have to visit a residence whose owner is never around?

Once I got to the University Way roundabout at the junction with Uhuru Highway, just past the KEMU Towers’ entrance, I immediately found myself between Scylla & Charybdis. You see, while constructing the expressway above, you ended up ruining the walkways below, leaving them in a mess. That, I’m sure you’re aware of, since it’s a normal occurrence in almost all construction works. Well, last time I checked, Ksh 9 billion had been allocated for the repair of the road below, though nothing has seemingly happened since then. Since it had just rained, the place had become so muddy. Very muddy, that, as a Bukusu, I’d be forgiven to think of this being the exact spot where our Almighty Lord Were Khakaba created Mwambu & Sela, the first Bukusu man and woman, and then breathed life into their nostrils.

Even though I was just going to State House Road, but not to State House itself, I had to get there while both alive and clean. However, presented to me here was an ‘either-or’ situation. I had to choose either of these two options in order to pass this level:

i. Walk on the road and risk the cars and nduthis hitting me from the back.

ii. Walk through the muddy area and risk falling.

Well, it is in moments like this that I usually thank my mom for signing me up to ballet classes when I was a kid. There, we learnt how to balance on a single foot, and not only that, but also to balance on a single toe of that single foot, and if that’s not enough, we even learnt how to balance on one corner of the nail of the single toe of that single foot. Therefore, I applied my ballet skills and balanced, alternating between my left and my right foot, till I got to the end of the muddy area without falling, even when the winds of change tried to blow against me. All along, Tchaikovsky’s classical ballet composition, The Nutcracker Op. 71, Act II: No 13, “Waltz of the Flowers,” was playing in my head, and I even pictured myself back at the Braeburn Auditorium. What a way to re-ignite my childhood memories.

Such privileges as this, I believe, are what make the urban middle-class – sorry, the middle-income-earners become the subject of hate from members of other classes. Simply because not everyone had the ability to pay for their kids’ ballet and salsa dance classes, and now, faced with adversity, we’re the only ones having an easy time. To those who were stuck at that muddy area, then, I directed them to visit Nairobi Sports House where they could buy swimming flippers and use them while crossing that muddy area, as ducks use their webbed feet. Trust me, it worked.

As if to make the situation more poetic, right above the muddy spot was a billboard advertisement by Fly Emirates, with the tagline, ‘Fly better to the wonders of Dubai’ and with an image of a couple walking barefoot in the sandy beach, smiling. I mean, if you had partnered with Fly Emirates to make us go to Dubai by force, then you shouldn’t have had to chase us this way. We have enough reasons to leave the country, only that the Immigration Department at Nyayo House has delayed in processing our passports. Once that is done, we’ll all happily fly out to each of those countries where the President had successfully managed to negotiate 250,000 jobs for us.

I am also reminded about another day when my friend Zawadi and I had gone to Panari Hotel along Mombasa Road for an ice-skating activity; another middle-income-earners activity, you might say. After having a good time for an hour in the cold area, we finally left the premises and were ready to get home. In case you have no bearings about the exact position of Panari Hotel, then may I inform you that it’s on the left side of the road as you’re headed to Mombasa. Seeing that we intended to head back to the Nairobi CBD, we had to find a way to cross to the other side. Between us and the other side were 8 lanes.

In an ordinary circumstance, Zawadi and I, like any other fellow Nairobian who has been disengaged by the poor infrastructure in the city, would run across the road to the other side. Isn’t that what people do on Outering Road at Mutindwa market, despite there being a footbridge? Or even at the Pangani interchange on Thika Road (just outside the Jubilee House HQ), despite there being a footbridge too? Whoever said “Rules are meant to be broken” must have been a Nairobian, because, looking around, that clearly is the modus operandi of the city.

You, however, must be a visitor to the city. Because you don’t seem to believe in our way of life, and instead, want to change our culture. Why do I say so? Simply because you installed a wire mesh on both sides of the expressway. So now, Zawadi and I, as well as other law-bye-bye-ing citizens, cannot run across the road to get to the other side.

In that case, therefore, we tried to look as far as possible on both directions for any sign of a footbridge, but we couldn’t get any. It was then that we recalled that you were brought here on a mission to help the Upper-Class, not us middle-income-earners, to move around the city with ease. Therefore, if anything, there could only be flyovers for cars. The two closest ones that we could think of were at Cabanas and at Ole Sereni.

Ole Sereni, being the nearest, thence became our destination. Under the toiling sun, we started The Great Trek from Panari Hotel, all the way to Airtel, where we would then cross the flyover as if we’re joining the Southern Bypass. Being regular hikers, we are only used to walking in the wild, so this trek on the tarmac proved to be a challenge to us. If you can recall the Southern-Bypass flyover well, the entrance/exits form a perfect clover-leaf, hence we had to follow it as if we were also cars. After half an hour, gladly, we got to Nextgen Mall where we were to board a matatu to town.

Just then, our fitness health trackers started beeping to notify us that we had clocked the day’s step targets. Wow. Whoever said, “Every cloud has a silver lining,” didn’t lie because, despite grumbling about having to walk for 5 km just so that we can cross the road, we ended up burning a lot of calories; a problem I believe you know faces us middle-income-earners.

In my extensive survey of the expressway, I noticed that you only maintained four footbridges; the one at General Motors, the one at Bellevue the one at Nyayo Stadium and the one at Westlands. I fail to understand why you don’t care about the fitness of the people in those areas, as much as you do ours, so I would encourage you to take them down. The one at General Motors could be preserved, since it once had a huge spherical ball that made it an engineering artefact. As for the rest, they should be demolished since they desecrate the beautiful expressway you bequeathed us. Let Nairobi be a walking nation. Otherwise, didn’t we walk all the way to the polling station to elect our God-chosen leaders?

Speaking of our God-chosen leaders, I saw that you also installed noise-proof glass panels on the expressway just next to parliament, in order to shield them from noise from vehicles passing by, but most importantly, to shield them from any possible security attacks. That was commendable. For anyone who might say that you are biased towards the politicians and not to citizens, please remind them that, also just outside Parliament, you erected the expressway pillars smack right in the middle of the pavement. Therefore, idle pedestrians, who would otherwise pose a security risk to the users of the road below, can no longer walk on the side of the road, saving motorists from any threats.

As I finish off my letter, I’d encourage you to fret not, for I, together with my fellow ballet classmates and hikers, are having fun finding our way around the expressway with the slightest summoning of inner strength. May God bless you with more construction tenders.

I’ll leave you with a quote from William Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice:

“If you prick us, do we not bleed? If you tickle us, do we not laugh? If you poison us, do we not die? And if you wrong us…” (Shylock, Act 3 Scene 1)

Yours Truly, Ballerina Keith Ang’ana

Photo by Joseph Ndungu on Unsplash

  • Keith Ang'ana
  • social commentary
  • sociopolitical

direction to my house essay

The writer is a flaneur who casually walks around Kenya with his physical map and compass, just discovering new locations, and studying the societies that live there, like an 1800s British explorer would do. Once he has settled down, he writes articles for The Star newspaper, as well as The Elephant.

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    Directions to My House chronicles the fascinating life of Zarina Hashmi in her own words and images. Beginning in pre-Partition India, Zarina describes a traditional Muslim home in the small university town of Aligarh, India, the fragrant, enclosed, garden planted by her mother, Partition through the eyes of a ten-year old girl, coming of age in Paris in the 1960s, the art communities in the ...

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  24. A Letter to the Expressway Contractor

    Dear Expressway Contractor, I hope you are well. I am writing this letter to you in reminiscence of an experience I had 2 months ago, back when it was still raining. On that particular day, I was walking in town on my way to State House Road, but, of course, not to State House itself. Besides, wh

  25. Directions from My House To School by Jazmine Wanzer on Prezi

    Directions from My House To School. Get in your car and pull out of the drive way heading right. Go staright until you get to Washington Ln and turn right. Go all the way down until you get to Chapman Rd, then turn left. Go all the way down until you get to Pleasant Run Rd. design by Dóri Sirály for Prezi.