Walk For Water

My Walk in Uganda

up was dreadful. My stomach was in knots and my feet where swollen. I realized I was late for my walk to get the water for the day so I rushed out the door without breakfast, grabbing my 6-gallon jug on the way and a wrap for my head. My three-hour walk was the time for me to just think. Pain was rushing up and down my legs and then shooting up to my toes. You get used to it after a while, but walking today was difficult. I couldn’t get my mind off how hungry and thirsty I was. The beginning of my walk consisted of orange dusty paths covered with light green trees on each side. My only companions where stray dogs and goats passing. As the walk continued it felt as if it was getting hotter by the second and the only thing in sight was the horizon and big plains of dirt. I could almost smell food. I was quite delirious, but I had to get to the well in time! So I kept walking on into the emptiness. After hours of walking I was sweating and my feet where starting to bleed from all the rocks. I wondered when this would be over but I knew, this was only the beginning. I still had to walk back with my water! Crossing a brown rickety bridge I was relived because I saw the water pump in the middle of the path which was surrounded by several kids playing and jumping in the muddy water right next to me. I pumped the handle up and down till I finally saw clear water filling my jug and I was so ready to just go back to sleep. I took a sip of the warm water, not refreshing at all. I still had to walk home and I was just way to tired. I started to feel sleepy and my heart was pounding. My eyes slowly closed and the next thing I knew it was dark. Wherever I was, it was dark.

Walk for Water

My walk from my home village right outside of Gulu to a small lake where I get my water everyday.


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My Last Day in Sierra Leone

Waking up I felt hot and sweaty, my hands where sticky and my skin felt dry. Waking up was hard, I was so tired and I didn’t understand why. I then looked at the clock and realized it was 5 am. I walked into the kitchen and saw Foday standing there with two buckets about to walk outside and feed the cows. I asked if I could join him and he smiled and handed me a bucket. That’s what I loved about Foday, he never had to use many words but when you had a conversation with him he could make your imagination expand.

That morning Foday and I made mango with rice pudding and spices. We shared with some children outside and they had asked us to play football with them. We quickly answered with a happy “yes” and one of them ran to get the soccer ball. Most of the children had no shoes and I couldn’t really focus on anything other than their soar and scratched up feet. The children where so sweet and friendly, they had felt so safe with us which made me feel good.

After a long game of football we said goodbye to the children as Foday and I started to walk to the end of the village where we could go under a beautiful waterfall. Once we arrived I was astonished of the size! The waterfall was so tall and looked extremely cold and refreshing I just couldn’t wait to go in. Foday was the first to surprisingly jump off one of the rocks near the waterfalls edge and land in a pool of water surrounded by trees and mossy wood. I did the same and when my skin hit the water I felt so relaxed and cooled off! Foday and I swam around and took about an hour just staring up into the sky looking at clouds. The sun stayed out all day and it was just the perfect temperature that Foday and I didn’t even have to bring towels. We just got out and within a few minutes we where dry. Walking back we played “Guess the Animal” and Foday taught me about different animals that lived in Sierra Leone and what they where called in his language. The only one I remembered was ndege, which means large bird.

Exhausted and relived I was home from a tiring adventure I decided to write in my travel journal. I added pictures and little things like stickers and a coin that I had gotten at a little stand with Foday. About two hours later I had basically filled my journal with all the things that had happened in these three days. Conversations between Foday and I, the food I had eaten, the couture I had experienced, and the people I had met. It was a book full of amazing memories I would never forget!

My last meal with Foday was probably the best! We had rice with chicken curry and a sweet coconut soup that was just so creamy and delicious we finished all of it. We talked mostly about the culture of Sierra Leone and the language. I had learnt so many new phrases and words I felt like my brain would explode. All in all it was the perfect way to end my little journey from Santa Barbara, California to Kenema, Sierra Leone

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My Second Day in Sierra Leone

As the sun rose over the mountains I slowly woke up and put on my clothes. There was a loud banging coming from the kitchen and I quickly ran to see Foday crushing nuts and berries on the counter to make porridge. Laughing softly I smiled and joined him. I felt my stomach growl as I smelt the fresh oats and fruit that were going into the porridge. Foday then set the table with a light cloth and blue napkins. He placed a bowl in front of me and then softly grabbed my hand to say grace. “we are thankful for our food and our many blessings. We are thankful to have family in our hearts and friends by our sides. We are thankful for shelter and warmth, for god we are thankful. Amen” 

 

Once my bowl was empty and my stomach was full, Foday said “today I would love to take you to a big rice field next to a forest where we can ride our bikes. I clapped my hand with excitement and got my helmet, the next thing I knew I was running out the door being chased by children that were screaming “kuwa huru” which according to Foday means “be free”.

Once we arrived at the rice field I only saw green lush plants and tall beautiful trees reaching into the deep blue sky. I felt like I was looking at a painting. It was serene! The wind in my face and my hair blowing everywhere we speeded down the hill past several people working in the rice field and a little brown dog. We made our way into the forest and the tall trees covered every bit of sunlight that It felt like it had disappeared. The air had become cooler and I felt chills. Foday led me to a dirt path and we arrived at a small lake where he pulled up and set down his bike. We sat near the edge and watched the sun go down. Our long talks alone were always my favorite. Foday shared stories and times when he was a little boy and I talked about my parents and all my brothers and sisters back home.

The ground was dusty and cracked, my hands felt rough like they were becoming raw. Foday and I finally decided to ride home. It was still hot and you could hear the crickets chirping from miles away. It was like loud music you couldn't turn off, but once I got home the noise put me right to sleep.