Walk to Water

I hopped out of the heated car into to the cold fresh air. The breeze brushed up against my skin giving me goose bumps. I saw Alea in a nearby car and I waved. I got my jugs of water out of the car along with my pole. My plan was to tie two jugs to each end of the wooden pole and carry it over my shoulders. I walked to the meeting area and got ready to fill up my 4 jugs. My friends and I got in the long line ready for our new adventure. We all quickly filled up our jugs and got our carrying supplies ready to go. I tied my jugs on to the stiff wooden pole. I tried it out. It was very heavy and pushed against my neck bone. The water hanging from small ropes swayed back and forth making me unbalanced. Someone interviewed me about the day and after that my shoulders an neck were already sore. I put my contraption down and ran to the creek to meet my friends. We sat on a huge giant cold rock and talked until we were called over for the pusha. Both the 6th and 7th graders circled up and massaged each other. After we went arm in arming touching the person next to us and took a moment to think about today's journey. I thought about how hard it would be and about how people in Africa have to get up around 2:00 in the morning everyday and walk to water for about 5 hours. We dumped our back packs into the back of the truck and started getting ready.I made a last minute decision that I was going to not use the pole and just carry the jugs. I put two jugs in my emptied backpack and I held two. It was much easier. I thought it wouldn't be so hard to go barefoot so I tried it. John said we could go and we all started off on our journey. We barely reached the end of the parking lot and then the complaining started. "Oww, my feet hurt!"or "Oww my back hurts!" Every where you could here people starting to complain. The rough gravel poked my bare feet as I walked along the side of the road. I felt pokes and pinches on my raw feet. After about a quarter of the way I decided to put my shoes on. After I put them back on I continued on with the journey. My arms started getting heavy and my shoulder and back started to slouch and hurt. We took breaks here and there but it seemed longer than it really looks. To make time go faster, my friends and I sang and laughed along the way. We finally arrived at SBMS and it was so exciting to be done with the adventure and to have accomplished this hard task. I literally screamed and ran to the flat ground the school building sits on. I felt weak and tired. While I was in the moment I felt tired and thought why did we have to do that it was so hard. When really it wasn't. I thought about the people in Africa and how they had to do that everyday. And it mad questions pop up in my head like, Why don't they just move closer to the well? or Why don't they just build a well closer by them? The assignment was a good way to get closer to other people around the world and with what they have to deal with everyday.

Kiva

On my last day with Teresita, we walked to the village. The village was not to far away. We bought fresh vegetables and fruit in the market. As we were walking down the dirt road music started to play and a group of people danced to a filipino song. Teresita and I listened and watched the dancers. At the end, everybody clapped and carried on with their usual business. Along the road there were other street performers playing different instruments and singing. There were a bunch of different stands some selling food and others supplies. Teresita and I walked back to her house and relaxed for the rest of the day. We drank hot green tea ate the fresh fruit and veggies we bought at the market.

Kiva

This morning i woke up late and by the time I was already up Teresita was gone. I relaxed and listened to the sounds of nature and thought about our conversations last night. I sat on her front porch taking in this experience. After a while, I got back on my feet and began to start up the day. I got ready quickly and brewed some green tea. I quickly gulped down the hot tea and ran out side. It was drizzling outside so I ran to her store. Everything was green and flourishing around me. The ground was wet and muddy. My red converse splashed through the mud causing it to come back up and splash on my knees. I arrived at the clothing store soaked in rain water and covered in mud. Teresita took me by the hand and pulled me into her store gently. She wrapped me up in a warm blanket and sat next to me. She said I didn't have to come to work with her her but I replied I like accompanying you. We sold clothes and talked the rest of the day and by the time it was time for us to pack back up, the sky was clear and sunny. There was a bright rainbow shining in the sky. We walked home enjoying the beautiful weather.

Kiva

I woke up in the morning to the lingering smell of live stalk and farmland. I walked out of Teresita's small house into the fresh open air. It was foggy, moist, and I could tell it was early morning because of the thin coat of dew covering everything. There was large open farmlands spread out all over from where the eye can see. Teresita was getting ready to go to her nearby clothing store. I helped her carry her new supplies to her little business. Once we arrived, I helped her set up things in the store. We waited for customers to come buy. Since it was still early we did not sell as much compared to the later times. Teresita sold things such as skirts, aprons, and pants. After a long day of vending, we headed back to her house for dinner. She cooked a traditional Filipino dish called Chicken Adobo. This dish is basically marinated chicken. I made an appetizer called Lumpia. This dish is spring rolls filled with a variety of fresh vegetables. After dinner we talked about ourselves. I talked to her about how my family originates in the Philippines and what it is like living in America. She told me about her ancestry and how it is living in the Philippines

Chicken adobo recipe

Kiva

Currency exchange rate
US dollars = Philippine pisos
              1 = 42.75600
              5 = 213.780
            10 = 427.560
            20 = 855.120
          100 = 4,275.60

Kiva

Tagalog
I love you- mahala kita
Good bye- Paalam
Thank you- Paalam na
How are you- Cumusta ka
Where is...- Sino ang
Good morning- Mabuting umaga
Good afternoon- Mabuting hapon
Nice to meet you- Mabuting makila kita
See you later- Atsaka na
Your welcome- walang anuman

Kiva

I get to go and visit Teresita Chiu in Dalaguete, Cebu in the Philippines. I will fly in an airplane to meet Teresita. I am really excited and can't wait to meet her.

A Heroes Journey

A Mermaid Adventure

There once lived mermaids in a colorful, magical,and golden city called Atlantis where many different mermaids roamed around. They all were very different, like their tails were a different colors, except they all had one thing in common. They all had magical golden hair with colorful streaks. Their hair could glow and heal things. Everybody had this special, powerful feature in the city except one mermaid, Sarina. Sarina was different, she felt left out and wanted to have hair like everybody else. One day Sarina overheard a group of mermaids talking about a magical comb that can turn any mermaid's hair like their hair. Sarina heard this call to adventure and decided to take of on a journey to find the comb. Before she took off she doubted herself. "Should I really do this? Is it that important? I have never been out in the big blue sea by myself before." The mermaid worried about the journey, but then she got more courage and decided to go for it. She thought to herself, "What is the worse thing that could happen?"


After swimming for awhile Sarina got caught in a fisherman's net. She tried pushing, shoving, and tearing the net but nothing would work. The net started to rise up out of the water and Sarina thought her journey was over and doubted that she would find a way out. The mermaid was soon well out of the water and was being cranked onto the deck. The fisherman saw Sarina struggling and got his knife. Sarina thought to herself, "He is gonna do what a normal fisherman would do, kill me." The mermaid yelped, "Please don't kill me!" The fisherman replied, "Hold still this won't hurt." Sarina closed her eyes and took in all the good things that happened to her in life. Then after a few minutes the fisherman said, "Your free" and the mermaid saw that he just had cut the net so she could get out. Sarina thanked the fisherman and jumped back into the big blue ocean.

Sarina encountered a big bright, colorful reef. The sunlight shined through the clear glistening water and onto the majestic coral reef. The mermaid saw many different fish and other mermaids sitting, swimming, resting, eating, and having fun all around. She thought it would be a good time to take a rest from her journey. Sarina looked around and saw mermaids carrying around platters with small seaweed cakes on them. She was offered one and ate it. When she ate it, it was like a party in her mouth. It tasted so good and she just wanted more. The mermaid was forgetting her past and her future. She was stuck in the present forgetting about time. The mermaid was under a spell, tricked to stay there forever. Sarina snapped out of it and remembered the comb. She started to head towards the exit when several times a waiter came up to her and asked, "Would you like another seaweed cake?" in a possessed voice. She wanted one so bad but knew if she ate another she would just be back under the same spell. Sarina reluctantly replied back, "No, thank you." The waiters quickly said, "We insist, it is our gift to you."The poor mermaid didn't know what to do so she quickly swam out as fast as she could. They chased after her but Sarina soon lost them.

Even though Sarina lost the mermaids a while ago, she thought they were still on her tail so she took a short cut through a trench. Sharp rocks were sticking out everywhere and Sarina tried to dodge them. While she was quickly darting through the rocky trench, her tail whipped around and hit a rock. Her tail started to bleed. The blood swirled around in the cold blue water. She knew she was going to be in trouble. Sharks lurking in the distance smelled her blood. They came swimming as fast as they could toward her blood scent. Sarina still in the trench also tried to swim as quickly as she could. But the sharks were much faster and soon caught up to her.They were ready for a meal. They bit at her tail as she tried to swim away. Luckily a nearby dolphin heard her cry. The dolphin came hurrying over to help. The dolphin saw the sharks attacking the mermaid so she thought fast and whipped the sharks with her tail. They slammed on the ground and got back up furious. The dolphin once more whipped the sharks with her tail and they swam away pouting. Sarina went up to the dolphin and thanked her. The dolphin replied, "No problem those sharks are always getting into trouble."The mermaid tried to keep swimming but her tail hurt so bad and was throbbing like crazy. The dolphin saw her suffering and came up to her once more, "Would you like me to take you to your destination?" Sarina replied back, "Yes and thank you so much!"Sarina held onto the dolphin's fin and they glided trough the silky water to her destination.

Sarina and the dolphin arrived at an old sunken ship. There was parts missing of the boat and it was clearly really damaged. The mermaid swam into the ship while the dolphin waited for he outside. The ship was filled with jewels, pearls, diamonds, and all sorts of treasures. She wanted to take it all but was more focused on finding the comb. She looked everywhere, in boxes, in piles of jewels, in drawers, and under furniture. She looked everywhere, but couldn't find it anywhere. Just when the mermaid was about to leave she saw something glisten underneath the floor board. She lifted up the piece of wood, there it was, the comb. She picked it up, the wonderful, magnificent, and magical comb. She combed her hair with it and from dull to golden it turned. After her transformation she quickly healed her tail so she could swim right again. The mermaid swam out of the wrecked ship and the dolphin and the mermaid departed. They said good byes and the dolphin said, "If you ever need help just whistle." Sarina kept that in mind as she kept swimming.

Sarina was so happy and please with her new power and hair that she forgot where she was and forgot the way. She was lost. The mermaid swam into a nearby cave hoping to find a creature that would give her directions. There was a mermaid in the cave who was just like Sarina before she used the comb. She had long, flat, dull hair that was powerless. Sarina asked for directions back to Atlantis. The other mermaid, Grace, insisted, "Sit down and tell me your story". Sarina told her everything about her journey, the fisherman's net, the coral reef, the sharks, and the comb. Once the other mermaid heard about the comb she asked to see it. Sarina gave it to her and the mermaid used it on her hair. Grace's hair became powerful and it drained the power from Sarina's hair, for the comb could only make one creature's hair like this. Sarina trusted the other mermaid and was bummed about her decision. Grace then locked her in a cage so she could not get the comb. But Sarina knew just what to do, whistle. And soon enough the dolphin came zooming to the rescue. The kind dolphin let her out and they got the comb. On the way out of the mystical sea cave, Sarina quickly combed her hair and drained the power from the other mermaid's hair. Sarina then heard Grace crying. So she went back into the cave and gave her the comb. Sarina implied, "You can have the comb because to me friendship is more important than my hair. I like being different anyways." Grace replied back,"Thank you so much, and you know what friendship is more important than this comb and i also like being different." Grace and Sarina threw the comb on the ground so that nobody could change, they should be happy just the way they are and it is good to be different. The two mermaids picked up the shatter pieces of the comb and put it in a box they hid in the cave. Sarina, Grace and the dolphin swam back to Atlantis and lived happily ever after as great friends and misfits :)

A visit with Maruge day 7

The 7th day was my last day with Maruge. I woke up early and packed my bags so that when Maruge woke up I could talk and spend my last few hours with him. We hung out a while and then Maruge took me to a courtyard with the whole village. They all gathered around me wishing me a safe journey home and saying good byes. I thanked them all for a lovely stay with them in Eldoret. Then it was time for me to go. Maruge came with me to the airport and walked me to the gate. He hugged me good bye and then I walked into the walkway to the plane. I glanced back once and a while to see if he was still there and that our memories were also still there. I sat in my seat in the plane and listened to the music on my ipod. While I was sitting there I zoned out and was thinking about Maruges story, everything that happened in his life, who he inspired, and what he did. Maruge inspired me to fight for what I believe in and to cherish what I have while I got it because someday it may be gone.

A visit with Maruge day 6

I woke up that morning and sat up just thinking. Remembering all the times in my life that I thought was terrible, hard, confusing, and over whelming. All of them combined was nothing compared to what Maruge went through. The English men killed his family and his friends. They took everything away from him. He was a prisoner, but he was brave and fought for his rights. If Maruge didn't do what he did things would be different for everybody. As I thought about this I felt like I was baby complaining about the things that happened to me when Maruge was being tortured and sacraficing his life for others. When I heard and saw his story. I was touched it changed a feeling inside me. I felt different but i didn't really know the feeling truly.

A visit with Maruge day 5

On the 5th day visiting Maruge we walked out of his village and around the wide open areas. We listened to the peace and quietness with just us two. This was the only time I got to really see the real Kenya underneath all the cities and crowded people. We walked on the dry cracked dirt silently taking in the moment of being where we are and who we are with. This moment reminded me of John my Social Studies teacher. I thought he would have liked being here with Maruge and I walking together in kenya discovering new friendships. This is a time John would say to use all your senses. Listen to your surroundings, watch the things around you...etc. he would say to think deeper into your thoughts, what you are thankful for, everything you've done so far, and what you are going to do later. This was a time to think. Forget about all the hardships in your life stay in the moment and the moment will stay with you........

A visit with Maruge day 4

On the 4th day of visiting Maruge in Eldoret, Kenya Maruge and I just relaxed and did nothing big. We worked on his little farm and walked around his village and talked to the villagers. Later that day Maruge went to school for a little while I stayed at his hut. While he was gone I managed to cook a surprise dinner for him. I made a traditional kenyan chicken stew so he could have something from where he is from and I also made lumpia, which is a traditional dish in the Philippines, so he could taste a recipe from my tradition. When Maruge got home he was very surprised to see a home cooked meal on the table. I think it made him very happy that I did this for him and I also think he enjoyed the meal.

lumpia recipe and information

A visit with Maruge day 3

On the third day Maruge wanted to show me something different that his rural town. He took me to down town Kenya the most busy, crazy, and urban place in Kenya. I was wondering why Maruge, an old man, wanted to take me to a busy, insane place crowded with so many people. But there was one thing Maruge wanted to show me. So we hopped in one of the van buses and headed toward the city. On the way to the city we listened to kenyan music. When we arrived at the city Maruge to me to meet the board. When I met everybody and toured around the place it reminded me of the movie, The First Grader, when Maruge took off his shirt and  showed the board his scars the English men gave him. This was a touching and memorable part in the movie. After we went to the board Maruge and I took a van all the way back to Eldoret. When We got back Maruge and I walked around his village and talked.

A visit with Maruge day 2

I woke in the morning to the sound of crowing roosters. I looked out the window and saw Maruge bent over watering his little farm. He then walked down a hill and came back up it with two buckets of water. I quickly got dressed and then rushed outside to help Maruge with his little farm. We planted more seeds and I helped feed his live stalk. After  two hours of hard work and the sun beating on our backs Maruge and I went inside. We ate cassava root, with pineapple and watermelon. After eating a yummy breakfast, Maruge put on his school uniform and gave me a uniform to put on. After putting on the uniform we walked to his school. Maruge's teacher let me have class with them. I got to see what it was like having class at Maruge's school. I also got to learn what they were learning. All the kids at the school were very excited and enthusiastic about learning. After class I got to play with the school children they taught me a song and dance. I had a lot of fun with Maruge's classmates.

Cassava root

A visit with Maruge day 1

I got off a plane in Kenya in the morning. The sun was just rising over the horizon. The sky was filled with murky colors. I picked up my baggage and waited for a bus to come heading for Eldoret. A colorful van with the music cranked up all the way pulled over to the curb. A colored man walked to the curb grabbed my bags and put them in the trunk. I was confuse on what he was doing. I was just waiting for the bus. Then he said, "Are you coming or not?". I soon realized that the van was a bus. I hopped in the van and we started to drive along the jagged roads of kenya. The van smelled like farm animals, dirt, and food. While we were on the road the van bounced up and down and it felt like the bus was going to tip over when we rolled over pot holes. When we cam to my destination and were done from driving on the rocky road I saw a man standing with a goat on a leash. It was Maruge. He greeted me as I got out of the van. He also gave me the goat on the leash. He said it was a welcoming gift. Maruge then took me to his little, rural home. He house was made of wood and clay. He took me inside and showed me the cards he learned to read with. He then took me to his school where he made history. He introduced me to his teacher. She was very friendly. All the little school children ran up to me and  jumped and danced around me. The rest of the village came and some of them performed a welcome song and dance a walked us back to Maruge's place. I liked the children so much Maruge said he would take me to see them again tomorrow.

My stop in Eldoret Kenya

On my way home from visiting Panther in his beautiful home village in South Sudan, I stopped in Kenya. I was invited to visit the wonderful village of Eldoret.



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