Day one- Arrival in Nairobi

On the plane ride to Nairobi I was thinking about the memories I would take away. The things you see in these places are not like anything you see on the internet. Kenya and Africa isn't all bad, the things you see and learn about just portray it that way.

When I arrived I hopped in a van and headed to Maruge's village. The ride was very bumpy, and in a hot, musty car. The men who were driving were blabber mouths, they wouldn't stop talking. When they weren't talking, they were singing. When I arrived at Maruge's house, he was feeding his animals. The second I stepped out of the car I knew this visit wasn't going to be a high activity planned out week and a couple days.

Maruge then walked toward me with a warm welcome and showed me to my sleeping spot. Not too big or comfy, but enough to get the feel of Kenya. As he brought me outside and finished the feeding, he said we were going to go to school today. As I stood there just taking in the modern and beautiful place I was yet to explore, I realized Maruge is a very soft spoken man. He doesn't have too much to say, but when he speaks, it is so thought over and meaningful. The emotions that rushed into my mind were crazy. Maruge is very strong willed and everything he says he completely believes in.

After feeding we headed to school. He handed me his old torn up school uniform. Holding the uniform was like holding what we would call a rag. Then, he walked back in with a pair of something that looked like house slippers. He told me that they were my school shoes. Many people know the company Toms, as I looked at the shoes I became very grateful for what Toms does. The shoes' soles were as thin as five pieces of paper, worn out with a couple of holes.

As I walked into the school yard I was examined as if I was a popular actress. Everyone seemed to watch every move I made with their very small, yet beautiful eyes. As I headed into the crammed classroom I was shown to my seat. I was put in the back of the classroom next to the sweetest girl, named Amani. She had many questions to ask of me almost as if we were playing twenty questions. She wanted to know where I came from, why I was there and why I was in her classroom.

As I looked around the classroom to the children with their eyes so concentrated on the lesson of the day, I realized most of them were sharing chairs half the size of the ones we are used to at home. These kids have one pencil and use it until there is no lead left, where we use it and then change, because the next day we might want a pink pencil. The things we take for granted are things these kids pray for in order to go to school.

After the bell rang the mad rush headed for the door. Amani said goodbye and ran along with the others. Maruge headed toward me, not quite as fast as the others, to say we were going home again. Once we got home I told Maruge I didn't want him to plan certain days especially for me.  I want it to be a normal experience. He told me he understood and would make it as real as possible with some exceptions.

As the day was nearing its close, we watched as the sun went down. Then said goodnight and I headed to my sleeping spot.

Look at these photos of the school and the people whom attend.