Walking Water

Jack and Jill went up the hill

To fetch a pail of water.

Jack fell down and broke his crown,

     And Jill came tumbling after.

Today is my First day visiting South Africa to see how the donated bikes are working out. I came here with a big organization called Bicycles for Humanity.They have a mission to ship bikes here to make it easier for the community to go to school, fetch water, and medical supplies. I am mostly here to help fix bikes we have sent here in the past, but today I am carrying water for my use. There is usually a truck that goes to get the water every day for every one working with me, but once a week the truck will be off duty so we are responsible for getting water ourselves. I am lucky it only has to last 24 hours because I am only carrying one gallon. I have decided to help people by carrying some of their water. Water is heavy. Every one says a gallon is about eight pounds. I am only walking a mile so  I was planning on it only taking about an hour...I thought wrong. Sunday, Today is my day off so I wanted to teach a couple people how to ride a bike later, but I guess that is out of the question. 

                                                 Here is the Video that inspired me to Help:

A Visit with Rosa Day 6

Today is my last day and we are going to El Cajas National Park in Azuay. It is a big national park that has a deep lake high in the mountains of ecuador. It was amazing. I even found a really cool stone and we saw a llama in the hills. The landscape was surprisingly like Santa Barbara. Rosa Said She had always loved it here.

A Visit With Rosa Day 5

Today Rosa is teaching me to Bake tostadas. They were amazing. We even had smoothies. My favorite smoothie was the classic, a tropical smoothie with strawberries, pinapple juice, yogurt, apples, and more. I also enjoyed the tostadas which I got to put toppings on my self. I had guacamole, salsa, tomato, jack cheese and pinto beans. UMMMMMMM!

A visit with Rosa Day 4

Today we are taking a cab 56 minutes to the beach. It was a long drive but was amazing the water was so warm and all the plants are so pretty. The water was so clear I could see the bottom I felt like I could stay in forever. It was so much fun to lay in the warm sun, listening to crashing waves and watching the sun go down.

A Visit With Rosa Day 3

Rosa is taking me to her smoothie stand today. I am going to help her out with taking the orders. It is lucky for me they use U.S currency here.

A visit with Rosa Day 2

Languages.....

Hello...Hola

Thank you... Gracias 

your welcome...Su beinvenida

Where is the bath room... D ónde está el cuarto de baño

How are you...Cómo está usted

It is nice to meet you...Es un placer conocerte

How can I help... Cómo puedo ayudar

Yes... Si

Awesome... Impresionante

Goodbye... Adiós

A visit with Rosa Day 1

Today is monday, april 23, 2012. I am leaving for Libertad, Ecuador to see Rosa. The total cost of air fare will be 1,584$. The flight will take 10 hours on the way there and 12 hours on the way back. The fight has one stop and the lay over is 1 hour and 5 minutes. On the way back there is a lay over of 2 hours and 5 minutes. I will be leaving on Monday, April 30, 2012. I am super excited and can not wait to taste Rosa's smoothies and tostadas!

My visit with Bernard

Bernard

         Once upon a time a family of porcupines was walking through the forest. Silvia the mom came across a small, brown, ball of fur. It appeared to be a baby porcupine. The family did not know what to do, there was no mother around. Robin the eldest child said, “Why don’t we take the little guy home and warm him up and feed him?” Then, little boy, Sylvester excitedly claimed, “then, tomorrow we can find his mom!” Frank, the father decided to agree with the children and that was the final word. Only the next day came and they did not look for the fur ball’s parents instead they named him. He became Bernard the fur ball. Soon a whole year had gone by. After a whole year and everybody forgot Bernard was adopted. Silvia and Frank began to raise him on their own.

         When Bernard turned five he realized he was not maturing. His fluffy hair was turning into a silky coat instead of porcupine quills. He kept denying he was different saying he was just a late bloomer. Days pasted. Then weeks. Silvia and frank were getting worried. Bernard was on the verge of his seventh birthday when he accepted the fact he was different. Bernard was special.

         Bernard took a day to work up his courage and get his things packed away. Then, he told his mother what he had to do. She told him the story of his childhood and He happily set off in the direction of the woods hoping to find his true mother. Soon he arrived at the edge of the woods. Scared as could be, Bernard walked on into the dark mysterious forest. He knew after six years his mom very well may have moved away so he started looking around for anyone, any body at all that might have known his Mom. He soon came across a herd of grazing deer. Then, stumbled up to the nearest Doe. Bernard introduced himself as “Bernard the porcupine” and the Doe let out a cheerful laugh “ I am Sally, a doe and that is the silliest name I have ever heard.”

“Why?” asked Bernard

“Because” said Sally “you are a Hedgehog.” She directed him over to a nearby puddle and showed him his reflection. “Well thank you, I did not know,” replied Bernard. Then He told Sally his story and she said She had heard of a hedgehog looking for her baby over in the North Region, a beautiful place full of wild flowers and plenty of food but, over a day’s journey. Bernard knew he had to go. He decided to set camp for the night and leave first thing in the morning.

         The next day Bernard set off following a well-worn dirt road with a map from Sally. He passed four of the twelve landmarks before sitting down for lunch at the Bizzlehazzle Lake. A nearby frog leaped to his side and said “hello I am Jacky-Joe, I am trying to get to the North Region for a life of peace and happiness. Where are you headed?”

“I am on my way to the North Region, myself.” replied Bernard

“Lets travel together!” they said in harmony. The rest of the day went pleasantly. Bernard and Jacky-Joe set camp after they counted four more landmarks. They fell asleep in seconds.

They where happily sleeping when they awoke to an owl hoot, hoot, hooting at them. They quickly scrambled for cover but it was too late, the owl had spotted them. Bernard and Jacky-Joe climbed into an abandoned rodent hole and waited for the owl to pass. The owl tried and tried to grasp the hiding food, but his talons came out empty time and again until the stubborn owl gave up. Bernard and Jacky-Joe were victorious.

         Bernard and Jacky-Joe decided to start traveling early instead of returning camp. With a half-day’s travel ahead they began walking packs on their shoulders. The seconds were unbearable. Bernard was so excited and Jacky-Joe could not wait to see his new home. They practically ran to the North Region. They arrived in no time. When they reached the city gates Bernard was heart broken there were billions of animals rushing about to do what they needed to do. Jacky-Joe said his house could wait a day and decided to help Bernard. “Lets go to the county hall to see where she could be. Maybe they have a picture.” said Jacky-Joe. Once at the County hall they found his mother was the receptionist. She had the same twinkling eyes. Her desk plate read ‘Shelby Frusher’. Shelby and Bernard embraced. They were happy as could be. Jacky-Joe was welcomed into Shelby and Bernard’s home. They were all happy as could be and Bernard learned the amazing lesson of being persistent and accepting your self. He then went on learning about life untill his adult years when he moved back to porcupine village and write myths about accepting your self.

My Visit With Maruge Day 8

Thursday again. Time to leave I say goodbye and thank you to all my friends. I tell them I will keep in touch and the kind of moan as if every visitor says that so I promise myself as soon as I get home I will send a copy of the blog to Maruge. I am sure he will be excited to share it with his class. I get in the taxi/bus and wave goodbye. I stare though the dirt thrown up by the van, back at the distant school that I will never forget.

My Visit With Maruge Day 7

For dinner tonight we are having Githeri, a dish of kenyan corn and Beans. After we husked the corn we started to make dolls out of the corn husks. Corn husk dolls are a Native American Tradition. It was really hard but, a couple of little girls came over and taught us how. I began to wonder how they knew how to make them, they said one of there moms taught them. After we used all the corn husks we had five dolls and gave them to the group of girls. They made me a little corn husk puppy to take home and show my friends. I told them they should start a business.

My Visit With Maruge Day 6

Tuesday. On our walk to school today we walked past the drunks then the taxi/bus passed us A big cloud of dust settled on me and Maruge just laughed. I looked like a dust bomb went of Maruge had to stop walking he was laughing so hard. Soon enough I could not help laughing my self. I was so dirty. That is the dirtiest I think I have ever been. By the time we got to school I had wiped a way most of the dirt.

My Visit With Maruge Day 5

Monday. Today in class all the kids a making valentines for each other it is adorable. Some make cards for there parents, some for their friends. I have some Sweethearts with me for the kids and as I pass them around I watch them trade for there favorite colors and think about the sweet candy taste can affect a child. How happy it makes them. I also start think about the affect a child can make. People are always trying to make a child laugh because a child's laugh is contagious. After I pass around the treats I give some to the teachers and Maruge who are laughing at the childrens' expressions.

My Visit With Maruge Day 4

Sunday. A day to relax.  Maruge and I sit and talk about transportation and about how bikes change the way people live. Many people Maruge lives with don't know how to ride a bike or are not rich enough to have them. He told me the ODFL (one dollar for life) foundation gave 452 bikes to kenya in 2007. He said they need more bikes. Walking burns more calories than biking and often a far walk is the reason most kids don't go to school. Bikes can change lives. Maruge says lots of the bikes brake and are hard to get fixed so they don't last long. I think it would make a big difference if there were places like Bici Centro there. At stanford there are tables with a locked in pump and other tools locked down, imagine what a difference one of those would make.

My Visit With Maruge Day 3

Today is Saturday I am going with Maruge and we are taking the kids from school to the park. There is along walk to get there but we will have a picnic of goat cheese from Maruge's goat and crackers. I liked helping the kids up the ladder to the slide and pushing the tire swing. They all seem so happy.

My Visit With Maruge Day 2

Today is friday and Maruge is bringing me to school. He will not miss a minute. As I sit in on his class I realize how far he has come from pronouncing cat or hat to spelling please or opinion. Imagine if the whole world had his drive to do what they believe in. After class we listened to the radio while he milked the goat and I helped weed his garden. He has a very peaceful home.

My Visit With Maruge Day 1

Today, I am traveling to Eldoret, Kenya. I am using US air ways and it will take me about 19 hours just to get from Los Angeles to Nairobi. As usual the food is deadly and makes me think of the lost boys coming from sudan. I am very thankful I get to have the amazing experience of 'shadowing' Maruge in his school. I am very interested in what he will say and how he will react to things like sharpening his pencil. I wonder if his life has changed.

My stop in Eldoret, Kenya

On my way home from Panther's village, I stopped in kenya. I was invited to the village of Eldoret. Eldoret is the 5th largest town in kenya and is growing fast.

                             
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