Google Earth

Monday, January 16, 2012

DAY FOUR WITH MARUGE

To day we were trying to get to the market so we could by some great snacks, there were all kinds of food, fruit, vegetables, and a lot more. When we were walking around Maruge ran into a long lost friend, his name was Akiki. Maruge told me he was in the camps with him and were really good friends back then.
We got all of are food and snacks and headed back to Maruges house, his friend tagged along so they could triad addresses or be in contact some way. When we got home I asked them what the camps were like and how did they effect you. Akiki told me the camps were un describable. So I asked Maruge he said "the camps were very bad they took my life away. By killing my wife and baby. They also beat me, thats why I need my stick. I was shocked, in my head and mind I was crying. Its so disgusting that the British could do this to other people.


Later that day we ate some of the delicious food we got at the market, we had bananas, mango, karats, and many other things as well. It was a very good lunch I told Maruge I haven't had this good of fruit for a long time. He was not understanding, he said "if you grow it who can it not be fresh. I told him about the big trucks that bring it from other places. He thought that was stupid, and I do to. After that went to his house and just hung around for a bit, it was nice to take a break. Later that day I told Maruge I wanted to get something to take back with me so he said "why buy when you can find or make." So were went for a walk through his village, trying to find something. We couldn't find anything so when we got done with are walk Maruge told me to keep his walking stick. I was shocked, he had been through so much with hat and uses it every day. I said thank you so much and he said "your welcome."


Next we went to a place called Sipi Falls it is a water fall that is amazing, and at the top of it you can see all of Uganda. So we went to the water fall and I couldn't believe my eyes it was one of the most beautiful things I've ever seen in my life.



The water fall was great I never wanted to go. He said we could swim if we want, so I took off my shorts and went in, in my boxers. It was cold but supper refreshing and an amazing feeling when you were under it. There was also a little hut at the top that someone lived in, I was so jealous. If I had a hut there I would be the happiest kid alive. Later Maruge told me it was going to be dark in about 30 min and we had a hug hike ahead of us so we had to head back. It was pitch black and I was really scared but he told me that we would be fine and it was just around the corner, so I ran over there and he was right the end of the trail was right here so we hitch hiked back and fell asleep.  

Wednesday, January 11, 2012

DAY THREE WITH MARUGE

To day we had a lot of plans because Maruge didn't have school. He wanted to spend a lot of time with me, so we decided to go to a lake that he likes to swim and relax at. It was a long journey to get to it, we went through the jungle over a mountain and through lots of trees. It was a really fun journey. We finally got to the lake it was amazing there was no one there and some of the most colorful birds I've ever scene. When I'm with Maruge I feel so connected to the earth and not all the stupid stuff that go's around. At the lake Maruge told me he was going for a swim across the lake because there was a well on the other side that he liked to drink out of. So I went with him. After a cold but refreshing swim we were there.




When we got to the well he said that the old villagers made it by hand and it was really important to him. I was really surprised that he new all this stuff about the well and his ancestors. He got a hand full of water and drank it very quietly, for respect of his ancestors. He then told me we had to swim back I was freezing so I swam as fast as I could. Later that day we went back to his hut and took a long nap. We woke up around 4 and were ready to do another thing. We went to his friends house and he introduced me to all his friends and said I was a very special person, that made me feel really good. I said thank you and then they gave us each a beer and said lets have some fun. I told them I wasn't aloud to drink it so, I gave it back and they gave me some water. Were we were there I let Maruge just hang out with his buddies and I went for a walk. We met back up within 45 minutes and went back to his house. 



When we woke up it was around dinner time so we had some soup that Maruge made us it was very good. There was chicken, great bread, and many other little things in it to. It was a long day so after dinner we talked for a bit, but were really tiered so went to bed. It was a really good day. Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz...


DAY TWO WITH MARUGE

Today was Friday we woke up and Maruge was stressed because yesterday when we fell asleep he for got to do his home work, so I helped him with it really quick because school started in 15 minutes. He needed to practice his reading on his little flash cards so I told him to give them to me and I would test him on the way. He was so happy. At the end of all the cards he got them all right so I gave him a high five and he walked through the gates.


While he was at school I wanted to learn a little more about his culture so I went on a tour of there city, every thing was very little the were no ski scrappers or huge houses it was all tight and small. I really liked that, even though my own space is great it was really nice being apart of a community that depended of each other. My favorite part of the tour was when we stopped to help the children with there chores. We were driving bye and all the little girls were raying really heavy water jugs to the driver pulled over and asked them if they needed help the said "yes" so we all grabbed one and took it to there huts. We got back in the car and drove away. Later that day I picked up Maruge and we went out to the jungle and he showed me the monkeys, he said they were his favorite animal and he loved to watch them. It was amazing to see them jump from tree to tree like that.


It was time for dinner and we were both really hungry so we stopped at a market and got some grub. I got a salad and some ripe fruit. It was great! Maruge got just fruit and ate very little so I asked him why don't you want to eat he said "I don't have a lot of money and I need to save some for another time." That made me realize how much of a pig I was but I thought it was just a little bit. Here in africa people starve and in the U.S. we eat as much as we want.  
                
It was a great day I learned a lot about the culture here and how people are so kind and helpful they are. I wish are country could be this kind to each other.              
                                            

DAY ONE WITH MARUGE


Today I landed in Maruge's village he was very nice. He was so happy I was there because he couldn't wait for all the fun stuff he had planned for us. But it was minimized because of his school. It was about one in the afternoon there so he had to get back to school so he didn't miss it. When I arrived he told me he had school from ten to four so he was gone most of the day.




It was about 3:30 I was super excited for Maruge to get out of school, I was supposed to pick him up so I went really early like 20 minutes early. The bell rung and he walked out I was watching him walk and thinking about his story and what the british did to him and it made me appreciate how positive and giving he is. It also makes me feel so spoiled, he got whipped and other terrible things and I get to go to a private school with computers, phones, and other amazing qualities. He final got to the car and the first thing he said was "Lets eat I'm starving" I started laughing so I started the car and we drove away. That day we had dinner really early, I was tiered from flying and he was tiered from school. So we ate and then fell asleep in his warm and little hut.


Tuesday, January 3, 2012

MY STOP IN ELDORET, KENYA

On my way home from South Sudan, I stopped in Kenya. I was invited to the village of Eldroet.


View Larger Map