Walk to water

I woke up at 6 o'clock in the morning. This was a normal day for me. I stood up and got dessed. Then I got my four, 5 gallon water jugs and started walking. It took me hours to finally get to the well. By then, the sun was high in the sky. My back was burned and I was beyond tired. I filled up my water jugs, and only one had a lid. I carried one jug on my head, one by each arm and I rolled the one with the lid on the ground. This was what I did every day. My feet burned on the hot ground. As I got back to my hut. It was starting to cool off. This was when I did all my other chores. My live was hard but I was grateful.

These are some kids who live in my village.

Visit with Nenita Day 6

I woke up feeling different. I was lying on my mat with the tarp above us as the sun rose. It was my last day in the Phillipines, and the next day, me, Lily, Amamda, Bella, and Grace, would be hopping on the airplane and going back to Santa Barbara where we would tell John S.B. all about our adventures. But today I felt different. Then I realized why! I had changed! I had changed scince I had met Nenita and lived in her lifestyle and seen what poverty can be like in other countrys. I had changed! We hiked happily back down the mountain, talking and laughing all the way!

Visit with Nenita Muleta Day 5

The next day, we woke up bright and early. Nenita took us up into the mountains and we went on a hike. The flys were all around us. It was so hot. It was one of the worst experiences I've ever had but it was worth it when we got to the top. The view was amazing!! The clouds were below us and the sun was just setting, so the clouds were all sorts of colors. It was truly magical!!! "We'll be camping here for the night." She hung a tarp over a tree branch and staked each corner to the ground. We set up our sleeping mats and got under our blankets. I looked up at the little sliver of stars that I could see through the rip in the tarp. I was very thankful to Nenita, and all she had done for me. I went to sleep feeling calm and peacful...

Visit with Nenita Muleta Day 4

The next day, we wake up bright and early. We meet Nenita's family and than we go andjhelp Nenita out in her shop. She sells bananas and charcoal. We halped some customers but realized thast there were only a few customers. "Where are all your customers?" I asked. "We only get a few a day. That's just the way things are around her." she answered.

Visit with Nenita Day 3

Nenita took us down to the market the next morning. I wanted to buy some fish so I asked the man at the stand what the currency exchange is for $. One dollar was 42.81399, five dollars was 214.070, ten dollars was 428.140, and one hundred dollars was 4,281.40. We ate a big feast that night!

Braised fish in Baby Bok Choy and Shiitake

Visit with Nenita day 2

We finally got to the phillipines!!! Im so exited! Nenita led us off the plane and we walked back to her house. She showed Bella, Lily, Grace, amanda, and I our room, which was a small room at the back of her house which smelled like bananas and charcoal. I found a book that had all the words in phillipino so I decided to look some up so that I could speak to the people in the phillipines without using sign language. Here are some of the words that I think will be most useful.

Hello/How are you - Kumasta

Goodbye - Paalam

I am fine - Mabuti

Please - Paki

Thank you - Salamat

Your welcome - Walang Aluman

Yes - Oo

No - Hindi

Hot - Mainit

Cold - Malamig

Day 1 with Nenita Muleta

Im so exited! I'm going to the Philippines to visit Nenita Muleta, the woman that I funded through kiva.org! Grace, Amanda, Lily, and Bella walk up. "We're ready to go!" said Bella. "Okay!" I followed them onto the plane.

My Visit with Maruge and Friends 7

As the air plane left the ground I waved down at Maruge. Then I looked foreward. What did I learn? I took out my journal and started to write. With Maruge, I learned so much. I learned that not every one in the world has as much as we have in the United States. I had a great time in Kenya, learned that having fun doesn't have to be being in the city, where there are alot of people, or going to a party. We can have fun by swimming in the river, and playing outside. I learned alot from Maruge and I hope to go back and visit him again someday.

My Visit with Maruge and Friends 6

"Wait!" Maruge ran up to me as I walked towards the air plane. "Here." he handed me a beatiful ring that he had bought from the weaver one day. It was delicate and was woven out of thin dry grass and yukka plant. "Thank you so much!" I shouted and ran and hugged him. Then I ran into the air plane.

My Visit with Maruge and Friends 5

The next few days passed by in a blur. We had alot of fun. But finally, I had to leave. Maruge came to the air port with me. "Thank you for coming!" he said as I walked away. "Wait!" shouted, running after me. I have something for you!"

My Visit with Maruge and Friends 4

     This morning, we are going to go and milk Maruge's goats. Maruge took me to see his goats. One was named Rafiki. The other one was named Kijana. Kiljana means child and Rafiki means friend in Swahili. They were both very nice goats.
     After we milked the goats, we went back into Maruge's hut. For breakfast, he served me Ugali, it's a little bit like maize meal. It was actually very good but at the beginning it was a little bitter. "I have a surprise." he said. "I heard your friend Emma was here also. Well, I hooked up with her and today, we are going to Lake Turkana!" "Yay!" I shouted. We finished our breakfast pretty quickly, then walked down to the market where we met Emma. Then we got on a dirty bus and rode to Lake Turkana.

My Visit with Maruge and Friends 3

     The next  day, I woke up bright and early. I looked around. I was in Maruge's hut. It was dark because the thin fabric curtains were still closed. I sat up on my mattress. Through the dim light I could see a little brown wooden desk and another mat on the ground. It was empty. I wonder where Maruge is?" I thought. I wandered outside. Maruge was sitting on a wooden bench outside his hut reading the letter that the president had sent him about the inhuman treatment he had indured in the war. His eyes glistened with tears. Later he told me it was his 50th time reading it.
     Later on in the day, we went to the school. We didn't really learn anything, he just showed me around and introduced me to people. First he introduced me to the teacher, Jane. She was very nice. Then he introduced me to his best friend, where, in the movie, she told him she was going to be a doctor when she grew up, to help him. I forgot what her name was already.

My Visit with Maruge and Friends 2

     After sitting in the airplane for a very long time, I finally got to Kenya. I was so exited I rushed out of the plane. Sitting there on a bench waiting for me was Maruge! I rushed over to him and hugged him. "Hello!" He said. I have lots of great activities planned for us, but first lets go to my house so you can rest up. I heard there's something called...jetlack?" "Jet lag." I explained. "I still can't believe how big that air plane is." He marvled. I looked at the plane critically. "I guss you could say that." I said. He took my two giant suit cases. What are you bringing in those suit cases?" he joked. "An elephant?"

My Visit with Maruge and Friends

I got on the plane last night. By now, it's early morning and I'm watching the sun come up through the small plane window. I can see girraffs roaming the plains. The clouds are tinted a orangish color. I haven't got any sleep since the night before last night. I'm so exited! I'm going to Eldoret, Kenya to visit Maruge from "The First Grader"! Last night we passed Mt. Kenya, a big, beautiful mountain. The flight attendant pointed it out to us. Right now, we are flying over Rift Valley, a giant valley that is very deep. It has a ton of volcano's in it. It is an exquisite site.

My Stop in Eldoret, Kenya

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




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