First of all, I would like to sincerely thank everyone who sent me a card and/or box. It means a lot to me that you took the time out of your day and thought of me. I recommend not sending any more packages becasue the mail system is random and can't count on a delivery before I leave for Rwanda.
I am not really sure what to update anymore. Life here is just like living daily life, I am so used to it it's hard to know what people would want to read. I will try to give something.
Last Friday we went on a field trip to the Buganda Parliment building and the Kabaca's Palace. Having been to a lot of touristy places like these in the past, I felt these were rather more plain looking. On the land of the Kabaca's Palace is an underground torture area. I don't know how many of you have seen The Last King of Scotland about the president Idi Amein who regined in the 70's. The man giving us the tour said the president's actions were much worse then seen in the movie. In the torture chamber they filled it with water and put lines of electricity running into the water. Also while we were in this chamber, in the last room there were a bunch of bones. We were told they were remains from the many people killed. Once one entered this area, they weren't coming out alive. In this place, I could feel an intense dark spiritual battle. It was hard to witness. I can't imagine what Rwanda is going to be like. I just watched Sometime in April last night, it's about the 1994 genocide. If you want to cry for 2 hours, I recommend that movie. The thing that makes it so hard is the reality it is. I was watching it and thinking this is true- 800,000 people killed in 100 days. How could people do this to one another?
On a brighter note, I went to Kampala on Saturday to watch a couple of friends get baptized. It took place at Lake Victoria and on the same beach was at least a thousand of indivduals dancing and singing and many of them to be what looked liked to be getting baptized. However, we found out it was actually a colt and people were money to be dunked in the water for "healing."
Yesterday, I spent the day hanging out with my sister. We had a lot of fun and it was nice to have a low key day.
Our house has been under construction for the past few weeks so everything has been crazy. I finally put my mosiquto net back up last night and yet I still managed to get attacked with many bites. My hands are covered in bites. The other night one of our dogs ate one of our cats. I bet it tasted like chicken...
I know there is more I could say, but for today I am done with an update. I have homework I need to be doing.
Peace.
Monday, March 30, 2009
Monday, March 16, 2009
The One With The Fight Against The Nile
Sorry, it’s been a while. Lots has happened and frankly, I’d rather live my life then type about it. But I will still be kind to my mother and update. Considering she called me yesterday just to beg for an update...
--By the grace of God, I got to go rafting on the Nile. Also, by the grace of God, I survived. Last Friday, a group of 26 American students set out for Jinja where we stayed in a youth hostel with hot showers! This was my first shower in over 2 months. It was actually a very strange feeling, but my back is the cleanest it’s been and I hadn’t washed my hair in 8 weeks, I did that too!
Saturday morning we woke, ate breakfast, put on a helmet and life vest, and jumped into the back of a truck. We made our way down to the Nile and split into groups of 5 or 6, got a raft, a guide, grabbed a paddle, and began our adventure down the Nile. My group included 3 IMME and 3 USE students, it was good to mix it up with some on-campus students. Team Smashley (changed to the name of Flashy Smashy by our guide) consisted of Nicole, Chuck, Emily, Kristen, and Ashley with the team guide as Nathan- a 24 yr old with the sweetest job ever. He is professional kayaker and has traveled around the world for competitions. He was pretty awesome and quite hilarious.
We began our journey down the Nile with some flat water so the guide could explain safety and what to do. Within 5 minutes of being on the raft, we came upon some grade 2 rapids, just before reaching them our guide was like “Jump out.” All 6 of us just looked at one another debating whether or not he was serious (he liked to joke a lot) and when he said it again, we al just did it and jumped. We were the only boat to do this. Ha. We “floated” the rapids and were allowed back in the boat, it was actually pretty fun. Another 5 minutes in the boat and going over more orientation crap and flipped the boat. Good practice for the rapids I spose. I just found this whole thing quite funny. The guide was crazy and everything was striking me as hysterical.
We made our way further down the Nile and reached our first major rapid of a grade 4. We made it through just fine and got to the next rapid named 50/50, which should really be called 95/5. Almost instantly our boat decided it didn’t like us anymore so it flipped us out. On the way out of the boat, I managed to get into a fight with my paddle, but don’t worry I beat its butt. The Nile was waiting for me; it too wanted to fight, it put up a good one too. It held me under but I’m feisty and was ready to fight. I fought back and was able to get some air before round 2. This happened a few more times until I punched hard and got out of that current. I just rode the rest of the rapids in the water. I was having a blast, I never had the thought I could drown—the only thought I had similar to that is, oh I should get some air. Thinking about it now, I find that strange. But seriously all I could think was I need to get one of these, it’s so fun. Each time the current pulled me under, I just said ‘oh no you didn’t, I gots to breath and you don’t so try me, I will win.’ -which I did. I did end up with a fat lip and new tattoo on my face. It looks quite lovely. Well, once I got outta that spot and down the rapids, I was having so much fun I forgot to get rescued. It didn’t even cross my mind until a kayaker came outta nowhere and made me stop having so much fun and grab his kayak. He took me to my upside down raft, where everyone was already waiting; we flipped it over and hopped on.
The next rapid came around the bend and was a 5, the longest and hardest one of the day. It gave us a good ride. We stayed in the boat this time. We did a few more rapids ranging from 3-5 and then had a break in between so we all jumped in the water and floated some of the way. But the funniest part is when I went to jump, I was told to do a canon ball and when I went to do it, I slipped and did the best belly flop in town.
We got back in and did a few more rapids, tried to flip our boat but we couldn’t. Team Smashley just had too much skill. We had another stretch between rapids so we had the coolst picnic ever. We ate fresh pineapple floating down the Nile, looking at the monkey, water snakes (no thanks) and HUGE lizards. This time we weren’t allowed to get in the water because they have crocodiles in this part of the Nile.
We finally got to the next rapid, only it wasn’t a rapid; it was a freakin waterfall! I am not kidding or exaggerating on this, its name is even Bujagali Falls. This time, due to the recommendation of the guide and the shallowness of the area and rocks everywhere, we decided to try and stay in the raft. We went down and were quickly losing balance, tipping the boat. All of us started tumbling towards the water, but somehow stayed in. it boggles my mind. When we were clear of the rapid, we all stared at one another in disbelief. All we could think was ‘what just happened? How are we still in this raft?’ for like 5 minutes we couldn’t believ we were still in the raft. At one point, I was literally touching the water when the raft began tipping. Jesus held us in. that’s the only explanation I can get to.
As the boat moved towards the next level 5 rapid, we found out the name of it is The Dead Dutch Man. A man died trying to go down the rapid with just a jerry can and he died. Yeah, that wasn’t the best idea. There is no way any one would survive without the proper equipment. Well after the rapid there is a section of the river that forms a little holding pool tyoe thing. Apparently right after the rapids and edged on a rock towards the holding water was a dead body. I never saw it, thankfully, but a lot of my friends did. at first, they thought it wsa fake, but the guides made it evident that it wasn’t. they tried distraction techniques too. The body was turning colors and with the detail and description from those who saw it, it was real. The guides made it clear it was real, though they had never seen it before. I’m glad I didn’t see it.
We went on because there was nothing we could do. We got to the next few rapids and tried flipping, but couldn’t for some reason. I guess it’s because we are too awesome.
Around the next bend, I heard the loudest set of rapids and became anxious, but right before we reached them, we were told to paddle to the shore. We had to get out because the grade of this one was a 6+. It was wicked! One of the kayakers went through it (and survived), it was crazy intense. We carried the raft towards the end of the rapid, but not quite to the end. We put the boat back in the water and got in. this was the only time I was genuinely nervous/scared. We rafted through the last section of the rapid and did not die. The boat before us landed in a whirlpool area upside down, trapping some of the peeps under for a good minute. I was so nervous! But we made it through. I am surprised we didn’t flip. It was nuts!
We got out of the boats and loaded a truck and went to a BBQ. The perfect way to end a full day of rafting. I want to go again! Anyone wanna come over and go?? It’s the perfect excuse.
The rest of the time in Jinja was spent hanging around. Some of us went to a Chinese restaurant. We were curious about Ugandan Chinese food. I must say, it was quite tasty. Some people went bungee jumping, but I decided not to so I could experience my first time falling through the air with my mother when we go skydiving. ☺
Peace.
--By the grace of God, I got to go rafting on the Nile. Also, by the grace of God, I survived. Last Friday, a group of 26 American students set out for Jinja where we stayed in a youth hostel with hot showers! This was my first shower in over 2 months. It was actually a very strange feeling, but my back is the cleanest it’s been and I hadn’t washed my hair in 8 weeks, I did that too!
Saturday morning we woke, ate breakfast, put on a helmet and life vest, and jumped into the back of a truck. We made our way down to the Nile and split into groups of 5 or 6, got a raft, a guide, grabbed a paddle, and began our adventure down the Nile. My group included 3 IMME and 3 USE students, it was good to mix it up with some on-campus students. Team Smashley (changed to the name of Flashy Smashy by our guide) consisted of Nicole, Chuck, Emily, Kristen, and Ashley with the team guide as Nathan- a 24 yr old with the sweetest job ever. He is professional kayaker and has traveled around the world for competitions. He was pretty awesome and quite hilarious.
We began our journey down the Nile with some flat water so the guide could explain safety and what to do. Within 5 minutes of being on the raft, we came upon some grade 2 rapids, just before reaching them our guide was like “Jump out.” All 6 of us just looked at one another debating whether or not he was serious (he liked to joke a lot) and when he said it again, we al just did it and jumped. We were the only boat to do this. Ha. We “floated” the rapids and were allowed back in the boat, it was actually pretty fun. Another 5 minutes in the boat and going over more orientation crap and flipped the boat. Good practice for the rapids I spose. I just found this whole thing quite funny. The guide was crazy and everything was striking me as hysterical.
We made our way further down the Nile and reached our first major rapid of a grade 4. We made it through just fine and got to the next rapid named 50/50, which should really be called 95/5. Almost instantly our boat decided it didn’t like us anymore so it flipped us out. On the way out of the boat, I managed to get into a fight with my paddle, but don’t worry I beat its butt. The Nile was waiting for me; it too wanted to fight, it put up a good one too. It held me under but I’m feisty and was ready to fight. I fought back and was able to get some air before round 2. This happened a few more times until I punched hard and got out of that current. I just rode the rest of the rapids in the water. I was having a blast, I never had the thought I could drown—the only thought I had similar to that is, oh I should get some air. Thinking about it now, I find that strange. But seriously all I could think was I need to get one of these, it’s so fun. Each time the current pulled me under, I just said ‘oh no you didn’t, I gots to breath and you don’t so try me, I will win.’ -which I did. I did end up with a fat lip and new tattoo on my face. It looks quite lovely. Well, once I got outta that spot and down the rapids, I was having so much fun I forgot to get rescued. It didn’t even cross my mind until a kayaker came outta nowhere and made me stop having so much fun and grab his kayak. He took me to my upside down raft, where everyone was already waiting; we flipped it over and hopped on.
The next rapid came around the bend and was a 5, the longest and hardest one of the day. It gave us a good ride. We stayed in the boat this time. We did a few more rapids ranging from 3-5 and then had a break in between so we all jumped in the water and floated some of the way. But the funniest part is when I went to jump, I was told to do a canon ball and when I went to do it, I slipped and did the best belly flop in town.
We got back in and did a few more rapids, tried to flip our boat but we couldn’t. Team Smashley just had too much skill. We had another stretch between rapids so we had the coolst picnic ever. We ate fresh pineapple floating down the Nile, looking at the monkey, water snakes (no thanks) and HUGE lizards. This time we weren’t allowed to get in the water because they have crocodiles in this part of the Nile.
We finally got to the next rapid, only it wasn’t a rapid; it was a freakin waterfall! I am not kidding or exaggerating on this, its name is even Bujagali Falls. This time, due to the recommendation of the guide and the shallowness of the area and rocks everywhere, we decided to try and stay in the raft. We went down and were quickly losing balance, tipping the boat. All of us started tumbling towards the water, but somehow stayed in. it boggles my mind. When we were clear of the rapid, we all stared at one another in disbelief. All we could think was ‘what just happened? How are we still in this raft?’ for like 5 minutes we couldn’t believ we were still in the raft. At one point, I was literally touching the water when the raft began tipping. Jesus held us in. that’s the only explanation I can get to.
As the boat moved towards the next level 5 rapid, we found out the name of it is The Dead Dutch Man. A man died trying to go down the rapid with just a jerry can and he died. Yeah, that wasn’t the best idea. There is no way any one would survive without the proper equipment. Well after the rapid there is a section of the river that forms a little holding pool tyoe thing. Apparently right after the rapids and edged on a rock towards the holding water was a dead body. I never saw it, thankfully, but a lot of my friends did. at first, they thought it wsa fake, but the guides made it evident that it wasn’t. they tried distraction techniques too. The body was turning colors and with the detail and description from those who saw it, it was real. The guides made it clear it was real, though they had never seen it before. I’m glad I didn’t see it.
We went on because there was nothing we could do. We got to the next few rapids and tried flipping, but couldn’t for some reason. I guess it’s because we are too awesome.
Around the next bend, I heard the loudest set of rapids and became anxious, but right before we reached them, we were told to paddle to the shore. We had to get out because the grade of this one was a 6+. It was wicked! One of the kayakers went through it (and survived), it was crazy intense. We carried the raft towards the end of the rapid, but not quite to the end. We put the boat back in the water and got in. this was the only time I was genuinely nervous/scared. We rafted through the last section of the rapid and did not die. The boat before us landed in a whirlpool area upside down, trapping some of the peeps under for a good minute. I was so nervous! But we made it through. I am surprised we didn’t flip. It was nuts!
We got out of the boats and loaded a truck and went to a BBQ. The perfect way to end a full day of rafting. I want to go again! Anyone wanna come over and go?? It’s the perfect excuse.
The rest of the time in Jinja was spent hanging around. Some of us went to a Chinese restaurant. We were curious about Ugandan Chinese food. I must say, it was quite tasty. Some people went bungee jumping, but I decided not to so I could experience my first time falling through the air with my mother when we go skydiving. ☺
Peace.
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
The One where I Ask for Prayer
I don't have time this week to do a real update, I actually have homework to do...
But I am requesting prayer for my brother here in Uganda. I cannot go into further detail as to why at this time, but please please pray.
Thank you all so much!! I know how powerful prayer is and the more people pray the better! The Lord is so good!!
But I am requesting prayer for my brother here in Uganda. I cannot go into further detail as to why at this time, but please please pray.
Thank you all so much!! I know how powerful prayer is and the more people pray the better! The Lord is so good!!
Monday, March 9, 2009
The One Where I Don't Have Time To Actually Update
This isn't really an update, but I just thought I would let y'all know I put some pictures from Kapchorwa up on Facebook. Check em out!
Thursday, March 5, 2009
The One With The Mountains.
Another Installment from the bush.
On my second day, I had another interesting visitor to my bed. This time it was a little bigger and a little more startling than the previous ones. It was a chicken! The chickens go where ever they want and the door to my room didn't close all the way and one early morning one jumped up onto my bed. It was hilarious but not my kind of alarm clock.
On the subject of interesting animal stories, after a week in our home stays all 38 students went to Sipi Falls and stayed there for a couple days. One day we went hiking in the mountains and I hadn't eaten for a couple days so that wasn't the smartest idea. The trails here don't zig zag up like in America, but the trail goes pretty much straight up/down. It was hard. I only fell going down twice. I found this quite remarkable. The ankle didn't appreciate this but whatev. It was gorgeous but a strenuous hike, in fact there was a section of it that had a ladder made becasue it wsa so steep. First, we hiked down to the bottom of the falls and then went up the other side. Well, being weak from no food for 2 days and going up so fast caused a major drop in blood sugar. I was about to pass out, so I stopped. I was shaking really bad so a friend gave me a juice box and it helped get sugar into me. As we continued climbing, the Lord taught me humility. I have a hard time accepting help for some reason. But I couldn't do it alone. One of the local Ugandans took my hand to help me steady myself. At first, I fought off his hand because I was determined to do it alone, however, God was like "girl, you are gonna learn humility and accept help becasue otherwise you ain't gonna make it." So after a struggle with myself, I allowed him to help me. At first, I was not ok but as time went on, I learned how to accept the help. It was such a silly way to learn such an important lesson. But now I am glad for it. As we were crossing the main road to continue on with the hike, some others had decided to go back and I knew I needed to too so I wouldn't pass out on anyone. We walked the main road back. It was much easier then the side of the mountain. We got back and I drank more juice. I felt a million times better so I decided to take a shower. There are 2 showers and my friend was in one, so I took the other and the door didn't latch all the way. In the middle of my shower the door opened and a cow walked in! I couldn't believe my eyes! A cow was in my shower with me! It just wanted a drink of water. Ha! That was definietly a memorable shower.
After some of us cleaned up we went to a coffee plantation. We learned all the steps, well in Africa, it takes just to make a cup of coffee. It was really interesting. We made our own cup of coffee right off the plant! It was delicious! The freshest cup I've ever had.
The next morning was Sunday so we took a little jaunt up to the tippy top of the mountain. It was gorgeous!! We could see all the land for kilometers! We had an awesome worship service up there!
Back to my time with my family in Kapchorwa [sorry, I am jumping all over the place]. My mom there is only 32-- her eldest is 15. You do the math. She is young and I think we clicked so well becasue we were more of friends, I dunno. She is an amazing woman! I really look up to her! Her faith is so strong! Every morning she came into my room at 6:30 to wake me up and pray with me but then she wouldn't let me get up yet. She made me go back to sleep until 8. Which feels like I am sleeping in when I wake up at 8! I get excited to sleep till then! How weird is that?! I remember when I was in America and slept until 1 in the afternoon... Anyways, our morning prayers blessed me so much! I was talking with her about how grateful I am for having the opportunity to join their family and she goes "You know, God is amazing! It's so good to see how he plans these things out. He knew before either of us were born that we would have this experience with one another. He has blessed my family with your presence."
I wish I could continue writing, but I have to read a book for class in 40 minutes...
More later.
Peace.
On my second day, I had another interesting visitor to my bed. This time it was a little bigger and a little more startling than the previous ones. It was a chicken! The chickens go where ever they want and the door to my room didn't close all the way and one early morning one jumped up onto my bed. It was hilarious but not my kind of alarm clock.
On the subject of interesting animal stories, after a week in our home stays all 38 students went to Sipi Falls and stayed there for a couple days. One day we went hiking in the mountains and I hadn't eaten for a couple days so that wasn't the smartest idea. The trails here don't zig zag up like in America, but the trail goes pretty much straight up/down. It was hard. I only fell going down twice. I found this quite remarkable. The ankle didn't appreciate this but whatev. It was gorgeous but a strenuous hike, in fact there was a section of it that had a ladder made becasue it wsa so steep. First, we hiked down to the bottom of the falls and then went up the other side. Well, being weak from no food for 2 days and going up so fast caused a major drop in blood sugar. I was about to pass out, so I stopped. I was shaking really bad so a friend gave me a juice box and it helped get sugar into me. As we continued climbing, the Lord taught me humility. I have a hard time accepting help for some reason. But I couldn't do it alone. One of the local Ugandans took my hand to help me steady myself. At first, I fought off his hand because I was determined to do it alone, however, God was like "girl, you are gonna learn humility and accept help becasue otherwise you ain't gonna make it." So after a struggle with myself, I allowed him to help me. At first, I was not ok but as time went on, I learned how to accept the help. It was such a silly way to learn such an important lesson. But now I am glad for it. As we were crossing the main road to continue on with the hike, some others had decided to go back and I knew I needed to too so I wouldn't pass out on anyone. We walked the main road back. It was much easier then the side of the mountain. We got back and I drank more juice. I felt a million times better so I decided to take a shower. There are 2 showers and my friend was in one, so I took the other and the door didn't latch all the way. In the middle of my shower the door opened and a cow walked in! I couldn't believe my eyes! A cow was in my shower with me! It just wanted a drink of water. Ha! That was definietly a memorable shower.
After some of us cleaned up we went to a coffee plantation. We learned all the steps, well in Africa, it takes just to make a cup of coffee. It was really interesting. We made our own cup of coffee right off the plant! It was delicious! The freshest cup I've ever had.
The next morning was Sunday so we took a little jaunt up to the tippy top of the mountain. It was gorgeous!! We could see all the land for kilometers! We had an awesome worship service up there!
Back to my time with my family in Kapchorwa [sorry, I am jumping all over the place]. My mom there is only 32-- her eldest is 15. You do the math. She is young and I think we clicked so well becasue we were more of friends, I dunno. She is an amazing woman! I really look up to her! Her faith is so strong! Every morning she came into my room at 6:30 to wake me up and pray with me but then she wouldn't let me get up yet. She made me go back to sleep until 8. Which feels like I am sleeping in when I wake up at 8! I get excited to sleep till then! How weird is that?! I remember when I was in America and slept until 1 in the afternoon... Anyways, our morning prayers blessed me so much! I was talking with her about how grateful I am for having the opportunity to join their family and she goes "You know, God is amazing! It's so good to see how he plans these things out. He knew before either of us were born that we would have this experience with one another. He has blessed my family with your presence."
I wish I could continue writing, but I have to read a book for class in 40 minutes...
More later.
Peace.
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
The One With Compassion
Another Installment from Kapchorwa.
One of my cousins in rural Uganda works for Compassion International-- for those of you who don't know what Compassion is it's a child sponsorship organization. They range from small children and you can even sponsor students to attend a university- there are some students here on campus sponsored.
Well, I had the privilege of chatting with him and asking him questions, it was amazing to be on the receiving side. My little 6 year brother is sponsored. As lame as this sounds, I never thought much about the sponsored children. I saw them as a poor little kid who had nothing to eat and I pitied them. But my eyes were opened. Benja is a happy, healthy little boy who loves doing little boy things just like any little boy in America. He is human, not a picture. I never realized how much brings into a community when a child is sponsered. It provides schooling for a child, thus paid teachers. Gives clothes, thus seamstresses. It gives a healthy amount of food, thus more for the farmers. And the cycle continues. Yes, the community recieved a push from peeps in America, but now they can sustain businesses and have money for the necessities of life. The economy of the local area recieved a major boost from the outside and I cannot tell you how amazing this is to see!!
Along similar lines, it's not just the West helping those in need. It's the ones who need that are helping! Every Sunday, my mother goes to a "party" with fellow women of the community. I had the honor to attend while in Kapchorwa. Each woman brings what money they have left from the week and puts it together and it provides schooling costs (school is not free here) for one of their children. Since not all kids in the area are sponsered, the community takes care of them. With the little money left over each week and instead of keeping it for themselves or saving it, they pull it together and do this amazing thing when they have little themselves. I was/am so blown away by this. This is the body of Christ in action!
Another Kapchorwa installment to come later. And one with pictures-- it won't let me add any today.
Peace.
One of my cousins in rural Uganda works for Compassion International-- for those of you who don't know what Compassion is it's a child sponsorship organization. They range from small children and you can even sponsor students to attend a university- there are some students here on campus sponsored.
Well, I had the privilege of chatting with him and asking him questions, it was amazing to be on the receiving side. My little 6 year brother is sponsored. As lame as this sounds, I never thought much about the sponsored children. I saw them as a poor little kid who had nothing to eat and I pitied them. But my eyes were opened. Benja is a happy, healthy little boy who loves doing little boy things just like any little boy in America. He is human, not a picture. I never realized how much brings into a community when a child is sponsered. It provides schooling for a child, thus paid teachers. Gives clothes, thus seamstresses. It gives a healthy amount of food, thus more for the farmers. And the cycle continues. Yes, the community recieved a push from peeps in America, but now they can sustain businesses and have money for the necessities of life. The economy of the local area recieved a major boost from the outside and I cannot tell you how amazing this is to see!!
Along similar lines, it's not just the West helping those in need. It's the ones who need that are helping! Every Sunday, my mother goes to a "party" with fellow women of the community. I had the honor to attend while in Kapchorwa. Each woman brings what money they have left from the week and puts it together and it provides schooling costs (school is not free here) for one of their children. Since not all kids in the area are sponsered, the community takes care of them. With the little money left over each week and instead of keeping it for themselves or saving it, they pull it together and do this amazing thing when they have little themselves. I was/am so blown away by this. This is the body of Christ in action!
Another Kapchorwa installment to come later. And one with pictures-- it won't let me add any today.
Peace.
Monday, March 2, 2009
The One With the Rural Beginnings.
I am back from Kapchorwa. I had an AMAZING week! So much to tell and not a lot of time, I will have to do this in separate installments.
First of all, I can eat again! Not a lot and random days I still can’t, but I am getting there. The family I stayed with didn’t understand the fact I can’t eat a lot so I got really good at feeding the chickens and dog when they weren’t looking. I also played with the food to make it look like I was eating. I got good at that too.
I am also a little surprised I left without a husband, or at least a fiancé. Not kidding, I got proposed to 7 times in 10 days. All by different guys too. My second night there, my mom was trying to arrange a marriage with the neighbor who is 29! A little old for my taste. His name was Sam and for the remainder of the week he kept bringing it up. In this culture, a bride price must be paid. The norm is 7 cows, well one guy offered my parents 40 cows! I was really tempted to take him up on that. I was seriously close to calling my parents and asking them if that’s cool. I guess I’m worth something here. I also have plans to go Kenya in August ;). I was asked to go back to Kenya with one of the guys to meet his family. I told him I would go. I hope he doesn’t get too broken hearted when I don’t show up.
My mother is a primary teacher and my father is a farmer and owns a little shop. They have 4 kids, the eldest is 15 and 13—they are both at boarding school so they weren’t there. But the youngest 2 were there, Benja is 6 and Queen Esther is 18 months. She was a brat, but still cute. Benja was awesome, I played with him a lot. I also got to go to school with my mom everyday. That was quite awesome. I literally hung out with 400 kids. They love to sing and always wanted me to sing to them. I couldn’t remember many songs so I made them up. Haha. Except for the hokey pokey and the chicken dance, they never heard the same dong twice. The hokey pokey was a hit. The first time I did it and finished, I got a standing ovation. You would have thought I had just performed the ninth symphony blind and deaf.
I learned how to carry things on my head. I am pretty good at it now. It’s not as hard as it looks, except when you have an entire tree trunk on your head walking up hill for half a mile. But it was definitely interesting.
I have class soon so more to come later. Peace.
First of all, I can eat again! Not a lot and random days I still can’t, but I am getting there. The family I stayed with didn’t understand the fact I can’t eat a lot so I got really good at feeding the chickens and dog when they weren’t looking. I also played with the food to make it look like I was eating. I got good at that too.
I am also a little surprised I left without a husband, or at least a fiancé. Not kidding, I got proposed to 7 times in 10 days. All by different guys too. My second night there, my mom was trying to arrange a marriage with the neighbor who is 29! A little old for my taste. His name was Sam and for the remainder of the week he kept bringing it up. In this culture, a bride price must be paid. The norm is 7 cows, well one guy offered my parents 40 cows! I was really tempted to take him up on that. I was seriously close to calling my parents and asking them if that’s cool. I guess I’m worth something here. I also have plans to go Kenya in August ;). I was asked to go back to Kenya with one of the guys to meet his family. I told him I would go. I hope he doesn’t get too broken hearted when I don’t show up.
My mother is a primary teacher and my father is a farmer and owns a little shop. They have 4 kids, the eldest is 15 and 13—they are both at boarding school so they weren’t there. But the youngest 2 were there, Benja is 6 and Queen Esther is 18 months. She was a brat, but still cute. Benja was awesome, I played with him a lot. I also got to go to school with my mom everyday. That was quite awesome. I literally hung out with 400 kids. They love to sing and always wanted me to sing to them. I couldn’t remember many songs so I made them up. Haha. Except for the hokey pokey and the chicken dance, they never heard the same dong twice. The hokey pokey was a hit. The first time I did it and finished, I got a standing ovation. You would have thought I had just performed the ninth symphony blind and deaf.
I learned how to carry things on my head. I am pretty good at it now. It’s not as hard as it looks, except when you have an entire tree trunk on your head walking up hill for half a mile. But it was definitely interesting.
I have class soon so more to come later. Peace.
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