walk to water day 2

I felt her shake me awake. She told me we had to start walking now to get there in time and get back before dark. I was starting to rethink this idea. I got up and we started on the walk. 4  hours later I started to see kids not much younger than 6 walk by me with 3 gallon buckets on their head.

I didn't think touch of it until we got to the water hole and I started to try to walk.

I felt like I was going to get crushed by the water.

Than I realized how much the little kids were carrying. I slowly started to walk. I could feel my body straining to carry the water on my shoulders. After it had felt like we had been walking for a hour I asked her how much farther we had to go before we got to her house. She just looked at me and asked if I really wanted to know. I just sighed and kept walking. As I was walking a 2 quotes kept popping up in my mind. " The road of life twists and turns and no two directions are ever the same. Yet our lessons come from the journey, not the destination.”  “Focus on the journey, not the destination. Joy is found not in finishing an activity but in doing it.” I thought about how that was not the case in this journey it was about getting the water home to survive. Those quotes made me keep one walking. 

Walk to water day 1

Since I was already in Africa I decided to visit one of my friends from Tanzania. I called her she told me she lived in Mtwara Region. I went to the airport I told them I needed a ticket to Mtwara Region. They gave me one and I went off to where the plane was. I boarded the plane and I was on my way. I heard the pilot say the we were now arriving in Mwanza Region. For a second every thing seemed alright but then I realized the pilot said Mwanza Region not Mtwara Region. The plane landed and I had no idea what to do or where to go. I started walking down the road after a few hours it started getting dark. I heard some one yell some thing. From my limited knowledge of the Tanzania language the woman was tell me to come in side. It was getting dark, I was hungry and I was tired so I went inside. She gave me some rice and what was left of the water. After dinner I offered that in the morning I would help her get some water. She said Thank you and I fell asleep.

Visit with Zainabu day 4

I slowly got out of bed I didn't want to leave. I packed my stuff up. As I was about to go out the door I heard Zainabu say " where do you think you are going with out saying goodbye?" I told her I didn't want to wake her up. She came over and gave me a hug. We said our good byes and I stepped out the door.
I got a taxi to the airport I went to my airplane. As the airplane as taking off the sun was still rising.

I said good bye.

Visit with Zainabu day 3

I woke up to the sun streaming through the window. I could smell the freshness from after a day of rain.

                                                                            

Than I remembered I had gone to sleep in front of fire place. I was about to get up but than I realized that there was a blanket over me. I asked Zainabu where it came from she said I had looked a little cold so she put a blanket over me. I said thank you and I got up and looked around for something to have for breakfast.She saw me looking around and told me that we were going to have breakfast outside today. I went outside and I sat down and enjoyed the sunshine. I knew I had to really enjoy this day because it was my last. :(
I could smell the food before it even came outside. My mouth started to water. She walked out side carrying a big plate of eggs. 

Before my mind decided to eat it my hand was already on the fork. I took one bit and I was in love I asked her what the recipe was she told me she would never tell. I said ok and went on eating.When I was done she gave me another plate. I just looked at the plate than at her she looked at me and I could tell she was bring not to laugh. She had a twinkle in her eye. She told me that it was for the kids. I looked at her and said thank goodness and got up to brush my teeth. After I finished we went for a walk around town. As I was walking around it came to me I was going to really miss this place. As I was about to ask her where we should go next my phone rang. I picked it up the air port was calling saying that they over booked the flight I was going to go on tomorrow they asked me if there was any way that I would be ok with leaving tonight. I looked over at Zainabu and I knew I couldn't leave today I told the airport person that it would not be ok they would have to ask another person the switch planes they said ok and hung up. For the rest of the day Zainabu and I had a even stronger friendship. Before I knew it, it was night time. We had dinner and I went to bed.  

Visit with Zainabu day 2

When I woke up I heard the pitter patter of rain of the roof. I got up and heard a rumble I could feel it start in my toes and go up to my head. It shooke my whole body. I looked around for Zainabu. I could hear her son. I walked over to where her son was, I asked him where Zainabu was he just pointed outside. I went over to the door and I saw her sitting out side filling up water jugs.

I asked her if she needed any help she said no but thanks for asking. As she was walking in I could hear the water in her shoes slopping around. The first thing she said was that it was cold and that we should get a fire started in the fire place. As soon as the fire lit the whole house transformed. It just felt cozier more like home.

I felt like I stared at the fire for hours. 

I felt my eyes slowly start to close I drifted off into a deep sleep. 

Visit to Zainabu day 1

I got off the plane and I looked around it was not what I expected it to look like. I thought it was going to look like where Maruge lived. But I was wrong it looked like a a big city. I looked around for Zainabu I could not find her, so I decided to take a look around. After I had been walking for about a hour I saw Zainabu sitting near her house.

The first thing she said was that she was sorry she totally forgot that I was coming today. I told her it was fine. After we said hi I asked her how her Water business was going she said great, She thanked me for finishing her loan. I told her I was glad I could help. By the time we were done talking it was time for dinner. She asked if I wanted to go out to dinner I said I'd love to. I could smell the restaurant from a few blocks away my mouth was watering just from the smell. I asked Zainabu where we were going she said to the Blue Room. I got a hamburger and she got fish. We got to her house and fell asleep.

Currency

The currency in Mombasa, Kenya is Shillings
1$= 1,627.5720 Somali Shillings
5$= 8,137.8600 Somali Shillings
10$= 16,275.7200 Somali Shillings
20$= 32,551.4400 Somali Shillings
100$=  162,757.2000 Somali Shillings