We left very early Monday morning and drove forever. I think we drove to Europe. It seemed like we drove and drove and when we could not drive anymore we drove some more. I think I saw a sign that said “Welcome to Paris”. When I say we drove I don’t mean on a luxury coach or on a highway. I mean a dirt road with pot holes the size of the tower at the Valley Ho.
Upon arrival Monday we were taken to Tooro High School. This is a school in the middle of nowhere. This school stated just a year or so ago with a handful of students. With the help of the organization that I came with the school has now about 140 students, most of them orphans. It’s amazing that these kids thrive in this environment and all have uniforms and people who care about them. The girls all live at the school because as orphans they would be attacked or raped. The kids then did several songs for us each one better than another. I then wanted each student to place a fingerprint in my book and sign their names. They were lined up and were so interested in being in the book that they wanted to know if they could sign a classmates name as she was not at school due to illness.
We then checked into our “Hotel” it was called Tooro Hotel. It had 11 rooms and we bought it out. It was a negative 3 star hotel. It did not even have a concierge. It did have a security department though. He even had a very loaded m-16. It however was the best night’s sleep I had since being here. It actually had a real bed and hot water. That being said the pressure was so low that it actually dripped, but it was hot water.
On Tuesday we woke up even earlier and drove even further into the jungle. I mean the remote remote jungle. We went to a village that had never seen white people. I thought how could this be true, but it was. The entire village turned out to see us. Some of these people travel miles on foot to be there. There were a couple of hundred people there and most just stared at us as we were so different and we had cameras and video recorders. When we take pictures or video we show them to the people and sometimes it the first time they have seem themselves for the first time other that in a murky water reflection. They have no mirrors and certainly no cameras. When they see themselves in our cameras they go crazy. They love it. There was one very young girl who was screaming because she was afraid of the “White” people. She was terrified. She must have been about 4 years old and she was screaming something clearly telling her parents how afraid she was. The entire village was laughing at her. I then approached her slowly and then gave her my hand. She touched it and realized that she would not explode or melt she stopped crying. It was really interesting.
There was another ceremony about us being there and there was yet another animal given to us that we had to take. This time it was a rooster. Yeah now we have a Hen & a Rooster. Yes we now have eggs.
We then drove a total of 10 hours back to the compound. We all just wanted get back and take cold showers and have dinner and get on the internet. It’s very very weird to be in the jungle and have no idea of what time it is or what is happening around the world and more important that that if the Cubs won.
As we drove up to the house the power went out. It was the worst. That meant no internet or anything else. I brought 2 glow sticks and everyone made fun of me. They were not making fun of me now as they came in handy. Oh well we broke out an old movie and watched it on a charged computer. It was funny to see 6 people crowded around a computer watching a movie in the dark. The power went back on just before we went to bed. It will be Wednesday which means T minus 5 days left.
Upon arrival Monday we were taken to Tooro High School. This is a school in the middle of nowhere. This school stated just a year or so ago with a handful of students. With the help of the organization that I came with the school has now about 140 students, most of them orphans. It’s amazing that these kids thrive in this environment and all have uniforms and people who care about them. The girls all live at the school because as orphans they would be attacked or raped. The kids then did several songs for us each one better than another. I then wanted each student to place a fingerprint in my book and sign their names. They were lined up and were so interested in being in the book that they wanted to know if they could sign a classmates name as she was not at school due to illness.
We then checked into our “Hotel” it was called Tooro Hotel. It had 11 rooms and we bought it out. It was a negative 3 star hotel. It did not even have a concierge. It did have a security department though. He even had a very loaded m-16. It however was the best night’s sleep I had since being here. It actually had a real bed and hot water. That being said the pressure was so low that it actually dripped, but it was hot water.
On Tuesday we woke up even earlier and drove even further into the jungle. I mean the remote remote jungle. We went to a village that had never seen white people. I thought how could this be true, but it was. The entire village turned out to see us. Some of these people travel miles on foot to be there. There were a couple of hundred people there and most just stared at us as we were so different and we had cameras and video recorders. When we take pictures or video we show them to the people and sometimes it the first time they have seem themselves for the first time other that in a murky water reflection. They have no mirrors and certainly no cameras. When they see themselves in our cameras they go crazy. They love it. There was one very young girl who was screaming because she was afraid of the “White” people. She was terrified. She must have been about 4 years old and she was screaming something clearly telling her parents how afraid she was. The entire village was laughing at her. I then approached her slowly and then gave her my hand. She touched it and realized that she would not explode or melt she stopped crying. It was really interesting.
There was another ceremony about us being there and there was yet another animal given to us that we had to take. This time it was a rooster. Yeah now we have a Hen & a Rooster. Yes we now have eggs.
We then drove a total of 10 hours back to the compound. We all just wanted get back and take cold showers and have dinner and get on the internet. It’s very very weird to be in the jungle and have no idea of what time it is or what is happening around the world and more important that that if the Cubs won.
As we drove up to the house the power went out. It was the worst. That meant no internet or anything else. I brought 2 glow sticks and everyone made fun of me. They were not making fun of me now as they came in handy. Oh well we broke out an old movie and watched it on a charged computer. It was funny to see 6 people crowded around a computer watching a movie in the dark. The power went back on just before we went to bed. It will be Wednesday which means T minus 5 days left.
3 comments:
Another interesting post> It sounds like you are having quite an adventure. I really want to know how the food is and want to see a picture of the "compund" you are staying in.
Hope the "Survivor" training continues to go well.
We miss you here and we will have lots of things for you to take care of when you return. :)
Honestly, enjoy yourself and keep up the good work.
Michael
Terry,
the little guy with one flip-flop is is sooooo adorable. How can I contribute or donate to this group and make sure that it gets to these kids....especially that little guy. I want to send him some additional flip flops....
Michelle
The cubs will still be there when you come back!,, But really the internet? your in Africa! enjoy every min...
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