Holy hannah, today was quite a day. We woke up super early and got ready to go to Bunabuyoka. It is an hour taxi ride out of town... the taxis are really like combis in mexico- 22 people in a minivan. Bumpy roads. No lanes. People everywhere. Cows in the middle of the road. It's great. When we finally got as far as the road would take us, we started our hour and a half hike to the village.... treacherous. Uphill the entire way. Hot. I use the excuse that I live at sea level...because I could NOT breathe. Meanwhile Dennis (the menace) was my biggest supporter, telling me he would never leave me behind. haha... long story short I pretty much threw up neon orange in the most embarrassing of fashions. In the combi/taxi I had eaten some cheese/pb crackers which are that glorious bright orange of fake cheese and let's just say they were pretty bad coming up.....
The hell hills were worth it though for the welcoming that awaiting us! There was guys with drums that met us just outside the village and played an awesome song for us to finish our hike out. As we got closer we could hear singing and could see a mass of kids in the distance. They had practice a song and dance for us and it was so amazing to watch! I was so in love with the village from the minute I walked into it. The people were so excited and friendly. The leaders told us that we were the only mzungus (white people) they had seen besides the HELP team last year (which everywhere I go, every meeting I have people are talking about Devin- I don't know how he did it- so into everything that people remember his name. Everyone is always so excited to find out that I know him and ask a ton of questions about him). Some kids were scared of us, but mostly everyone was excited! They took us into their church and the kids had a performance for us. They are such good dancers! They even tried to teach us to dance at one point- I think Josh has some pretty good videos of that, which I will try and get my hands on. The elders of the village are so excited to bring development to their tiny village. They were so excited with the school devin built last year that the parents pooled their money and started an addition. They really want their children to be able to go school. It is awesome the effort and money that they are putting in to show that they are really serious about the needs in their village. We want to help them finish the addition and then build a health clinic there as well. These are such good people, they deserve the best. I've never felt the spirit so strong as when these little kids were singing to us. It is a good place. Probably the most beautiful place I have ever been.
We had one really long meeting about the projects and everything had to be translated. So Tess would talk to us and then talk to the community leaders- they would argue/talk amongst themselves and then 5 mins later Tess would translate.... during this meeting It was like planning for as KJ called it "extreme home makeover village edition". They were talking about what the best way to construct the school and the clinic would be. I was sitting by Cami and Dennis the Menace. He proceeded to tell us how much he wanted a Mzungu wife and that one day God willing, he would. It would be a miracle... Cami, totally oblivious, keeps asking questions about where he will find one and what kind of girl does he like... hahaha she did not get the hint that he was talking about us... he told us that his color and our would make beautiful things... hahahhaha... and this was after I threw up in his general direction.. so haha there's always that....
After the meeting they feed us a huge lunch of posho, matoke, spooma, and avocado. It was actually really good. The best part was that we ate with our fingers... Mushy and gross and everything. The matoke was hot like fire and burning my fingertips. The best part was that everyone was eating with their hands besides the really really old guy with the indiana jones hat next to me... he had a fork.
The walk down the mountain was not as bad, but super muddy and a tiny bit slippery... and steep. It was a quite hilarious walk down as everyone is staring at you and saying hi. The taxi ride was just as good. Crammed in- this time with some pretty heavy african men- for a bumpy hour. Having to pee like nobody's business... I love Africa. Today was absolutely one of the best days of my life. So surreal.
The hell hills were worth it though for the welcoming that awaiting us! There was guys with drums that met us just outside the village and played an awesome song for us to finish our hike out. As we got closer we could hear singing and could see a mass of kids in the distance. They had practice a song and dance for us and it was so amazing to watch! I was so in love with the village from the minute I walked into it. The people were so excited and friendly. The leaders told us that we were the only mzungus (white people) they had seen besides the HELP team last year (which everywhere I go, every meeting I have people are talking about Devin- I don't know how he did it- so into everything that people remember his name. Everyone is always so excited to find out that I know him and ask a ton of questions about him). Some kids were scared of us, but mostly everyone was excited! They took us into their church and the kids had a performance for us. They are such good dancers! They even tried to teach us to dance at one point- I think Josh has some pretty good videos of that, which I will try and get my hands on. The elders of the village are so excited to bring development to their tiny village. They were so excited with the school devin built last year that the parents pooled their money and started an addition. They really want their children to be able to go school. It is awesome the effort and money that they are putting in to show that they are really serious about the needs in their village. We want to help them finish the addition and then build a health clinic there as well. These are such good people, they deserve the best. I've never felt the spirit so strong as when these little kids were singing to us. It is a good place. Probably the most beautiful place I have ever been.
We had one really long meeting about the projects and everything had to be translated. So Tess would talk to us and then talk to the community leaders- they would argue/talk amongst themselves and then 5 mins later Tess would translate.... during this meeting It was like planning for as KJ called it "extreme home makeover village edition". They were talking about what the best way to construct the school and the clinic would be. I was sitting by Cami and Dennis the Menace. He proceeded to tell us how much he wanted a Mzungu wife and that one day God willing, he would. It would be a miracle... Cami, totally oblivious, keeps asking questions about where he will find one and what kind of girl does he like... hahaha she did not get the hint that he was talking about us... he told us that his color and our would make beautiful things... hahahhaha... and this was after I threw up in his general direction.. so haha there's always that....
After the meeting they feed us a huge lunch of posho, matoke, spooma, and avocado. It was actually really good. The best part was that we ate with our fingers... Mushy and gross and everything. The matoke was hot like fire and burning my fingertips. The best part was that everyone was eating with their hands besides the really really old guy with the indiana jones hat next to me... he had a fork.
The walk down the mountain was not as bad, but super muddy and a tiny bit slippery... and steep. It was a quite hilarious walk down as everyone is staring at you and saying hi. The taxi ride was just as good. Crammed in- this time with some pretty heavy african men- for a bumpy hour. Having to pee like nobody's business... I love Africa. Today was absolutely one of the best days of my life. So surreal.
dennis... the all too friendly guide
awesome kids!!
super beautiful!
