Walk to water

I few days ago, the whole SBMS sixth and seventh grade walked with one to six gallons of water from Rocky Nook Park. We walked all the way up APS at seven in the morning. It was hard but not too difficult. We did it to relate with many people around the world who have to do the same around the world. I thought it was a really cool thing to do. If I ever become a teacher I would do that.

Famory, Sikasso Mali 2

For a moment I thought I was at home. Then I remembered where I was. As I came awake I realized that someone was rubbing my hair. I shifted and heard a stifled giggle. I looked up just in time to see Gerard and Jean dive into their beds. My Mom had made me get a fresh haircut before leaving. I guess that it doesn't matter where you are but people can't resist petting my buzz cut(sigh). I laughed and they started laughing too. We all got out of bed and went outside. We played around for a while. Famory came outside and said he was going to work. I asked if I could come. I really wanted to see what it is like. Also I wanted to see what my money went to.  We walked to the town, and then walked  around. We passed lots of interesting people. One older man was playing music, two women had a coal stand, and many other people doing things like that. Seeing another culture is so cool. Everything is so different and trying to soak it all in is overwhelming. It's like trying to listen to a conversation except that everyone is saying the words in a completely random order and not using vowels. We arrived at his food stand and I recognized it from the picture. He took a board of the front of the little shop and we sat on two stools. Then we waited for customers. It wasn't super busy but every once and a while someone would come and buy something. It wasn't like America where people would look around and decide what to buy or if they were going to buy at all. When they came in Mali, they knew what they were going to buy and they didn't waste a lot of time doing it. Famory looked happy at the end of the day. He put the board up again, and we set out. We walked a little and he pointed things out to me and I asked questions. But we decided to head home soon before it got dark. I thanked him for the day and went to sleep, promising myself I would wake up at 8:00 but when I woke and looked at my watch it was 10:00.

Famory , Sikasso Mali

Famory met me at the airport. It was nice to meet him in person. However we had already been emailing each other for a few weeks since I learned I was visiting him. We walked to a bus and then had to walk about 5 miles to his house.

Famorys house was interesting. It was to big to be called a shack and too small to be considered a full house. It was caught somewhere in between. It had a small porch in front and three rooms. Well, it was more like two and a half. There was Famory and his wife's room, and then there was another room with a wood divider in the middle. More door than wall so you could see through on both sides. Famorys two boys slept on one side of the divider, Famory and his wife slept in the big room and the smaller room was like a living room with the door to the outside. Famory and I stepped inside. His two boys both looked alike, one was just a little taller than the other. His wife came in and said hello kindly and said she was going to get me something to eat. I wasn't that hungry, just really tired but I didn't want to be rude so I thanked her and said okay. Famory introduced me to his two kids, Gerard and Jean. They said hello shyly and hid in their room. It was only four o'clock but I was practically asleep. By the time I touched the mattress I was asleep.

Famory Currency Sikasso, Mali

 I need to bring money to Mali for food, souvanirs etc. I didn't know how much to bring but when I looked this is what I found. You multiply whatever you have by five to make it what you would have in France.
1=5
2=10
10=50
20=100
So I realized that my 25 dollars was really 125 dollars, to Famory. Au revior.

Famory phrases Sikasso, Mali

In Mali the official language is French. There are also a lot of other languages but French is dominant. Also Famorys original Kiva request was made in French so I think learning French is a safe bet.
Here are the top ten phrases I need to know in order of importance:
1. Where is the bathroom? Ou est la salle de bain?
2. Hello! Bonjour!
3. What is your name? Qel es votre nom?
4. Is there food? Y at-il des aliments?
5. How are you? Comment allez vous?
6. My name is Alex. Mon nom est Alex.
7. Yes. Oui.
8. No. Aucun.
9. What? Que?
10.  Why? Pourquoi?
You might notice that I made most of them questions. I'm expecting to be asking more than answering considering I'm in Famorys home not mine. Rendez-vous au Mali.

Famory travel, Skikasso Mali

I get to go visit Mali and stay with Famory my Kiva loan. I'm going to be flying to Wayerma Sikasso, Mali. It is going to cost about $2,200. I'm really excited to meet Famory and his family. It will help make a connection to any future Kiva loans.  

Hero journy

Howard the Hyena

Howard the Hyena lived on the plains of Africa. He was always hungry but the other hyenas would always take his food before he could eat it. They scared Howard and so he let them eat his food. One day Howard was walking through the jungle. He found an old Hyena lying on its side. It has grey hair on it and was breathing heavily. “Food!” it wheezed. Howard ran to fetch the Hyena some food. He grabbed a stray animal and dragged It back. He was almost there when he heard a growl behind him.

It was the other Hyenas. They went to take his food but he heard another growl and the Hyenas all ran away. Howard looked behind him and saw the old Hyena. The Hyena said” My Name is Greyfur the Hyena. I‘ve been watching you and saw how the others always steal from you.  I tested you to see if you would try to bring me food. Now, the reason the Hyenas can steal from you is that Hyenas get scared easily. So when you see them just growl loudly.”

The next day Howard sat down to eat his meal the other Hyenas appeared and prowled towards him. Howard was terrified but he mustered all his courage inside of himself and snarled trying not to sound as scared as he was. The other Hyenas immediately started whimpering and ran away. Howard smiled.

Years later Howard was getting old and had lived a good life. One day he saw a young Hyena whose food was taken by other Hyenas. He had an idea. Maybe he could arrange a meeting with the child. In a few hours Howard was lying in a clearing breathing heavily. “Food!” Howard wheezed. The young Hyena ran into the bushes. Later a brief exchange was made between the two. The next day Howard saw the young Hyena snarl at the others and get to keep his food. Howard laughed and said to himself “Circles within circles.”

Visiting Maruge's School

I got to teach a lesson in Maruge's class. It was awesome. The kids all devoted themselves 100%. They all listen attentively and they get really happy when they succeed. I went through there ABC's with them. It was interesting to see how much they were alike to kids here. Some of them reminded me of my little brother. It was cool to see on the other side of the world, that children were doing the some of same things they are in America.

My visit with Maruge

When I got the letter that said I was going to get to go and see Maruge's school, I was overjoyed. I wonder what it will feel like to be surrounded by all of the kids jumping up and down and playing games. I think that this will give me a great perspective of the world and look forward to when this plane lands and I get to step into a different world.

MY STOP IN ELDORET, KENYA

   Coming back from South Sudan I was invited to stop and visit the village of Eldoret, Kenya. I had helped out with Maruge's class but I hadn't really seen or felt much of the culture aside from the school. So when class let out Maruge and I set out into the village.
   We strolled around the houses as Maruge pointed out things that you could only see or know if you lived there. All about who lived where and what they did. I stayed at his house for the night. It was small and cramped but oddly comforting.
   I woke suddenly and saw it was still dark but had a morning feel to he air. For a moment I thought an animal was outside but then common sense kicked in and I saw through a crack in the wall that Maruge was standing ten feet away from the house with his hands behind his back looking into the distance. He just stood there taking deep breaths for I don't know how long. I watched until a shaft of light swept over the hill. I think I heard Maruge sigh. You could just see the top of a blazing orange sun. I had to get better view that the small crack in the wall.
   I got up trying to be quiet but tripped over something a fell with a loud crash. I heard Maruge just chuckle softly from outside. I then (quietly) moved outside and stood next to Maruge. It was even more grand than from inside. The sun was almost half way visible now, it burned with such intensity that it seemed to shimmer and ripple with heat.The sky was quickly coming awake. I looked at Maruge his eyes turned to meet mine. His eyes were like the sky when the sun first rose. Dark but with some light coming from the edges. They where speckled with stars and seemed to be endlessly deep. He smiled and said,"Good morning."
   "Good morning." I replied. He walked back inside and I followed. He laid down in his bed and almost instantly fell asleep. I quickly followed suit.
   The next morning after getting ready I went outside (quietly this time because Maruge was still sleeping).  I jogged up to the hill that we watched just a few hours ago (even though it seemed like a year. Weird.)and looked at the sun now. It was almost at the top of its circle and was now much more like our sun at home. More yellow, more bright, less fiery, and harder to look at directly. The difference between looking at a fireplace and a search light. Maruge appeared behind me and yelled,"BOO!" I practically fell over. Maruge cackled and I tried to keep some dignity.
   I realized it was my last day. We walked into the village and got a ride to the city. I got out and surveyed the scene. It reminded me of what La would be if nothing had an maintenance for five years. Still a city, just with a kind of scruffy look. We went to the airport and got ready to leave. I said goodbye to Maruge. It was kind of an awkward moment because we said goodbye but I didn't actually have to go yet. But we were saved by the intercom. It told my flight to board. I say be one last time. "See ya." He says, and then gives me knuckles. Maybe he learned something too. I sure did.
 That sunrise reflected Maruge a lot. Unnoticed by many but when you take the time to look it is a truly amazing sight.




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