Dennis and I

Feelings about the last day

I feel kinda sad knowing that this is my last day at St.Mary's. I'm sad because I know I'm going to go home and wonder what if.... But who knows when I will be able to come back and check up on Dennis. I don't want this to be the only time I see him.He is the type of kid that will never forget me, but I want him to be able to say the same about me (that I will never forget him). I thought the trip was supposed to be a once in a lifetime experience; I didn't expect to make friends I'd want to see again.
I'm not that worried because I know that when I follow my dream of becoming a professional baseball player I will see him again. By that time when I come back and see Dennis, he will be a grown man and he will have went on with his life. When he goes on with his life, I want him to really experience life without being controlled. Hopefully by that time he will have a passport and I will bring him with me to Brooklyn. Well, today is my last whole day at the orphanage. So, I guess I will only have pictures and memories left until I come back again.

The thing that I am most proud of is me actually making friends. I thought that when I came here my momentum would shift toward stubborn but it actually made me more humble. I've realized that in life you never get anything by being stubborn; especially friends. To get something you want you have to work your hardest for it.

Our tents

The boys we taught

The Soccer Game

Today boys from St. Mary's played a soccer (futball)game against another team. They played some yellow team. I barely watched because while they were playing, I was practicing my futball skills. Last time i saw it, the score was 2-1. When the game was over the score was 6-2. We smoked them. Then after that, we went to Ms. Kehn's friend's house where we ate dinner. We had had fried chicken, collared greens, potatoes, broccoli, and chapati. dinner was great and you know me Kahlil- I finished the last piece of chicken. It was great.

Safari part 3

Today we went to the Masai Village and saw it. Outside they had a map made out of sticks and stones. Basically what it said was that the sticks were the gate and the middle section was the cow's house. it was real artistic because the gate was actually sticks. then we went inside. The chief said there were 31 brothers and 200 people in the village. We walked around the village then the people sand us a welcome song. It would have touched me but I barely heard it because of the flies. There were a bunch of flies because the cows had moo-moo on the floor. The houses were made out of cow moo-moo and the inside was tiny. To make a fire they used a stick, sand paper, and hard wood. Their beds were made out of cow skin. to start the fire you had to rub your hands back and forth on the fire stick. Then the steam comes out and the ashes will be on the sand paper. Then you get twigs and lay it on the ashes. Then you blow and there is your fire.

Safari Part 2

When we were at the safari AGAIN we had the experience of a lifetime. We saw a lion, but not just a lion eating a bird or something....it was a real shock to see lions eating another animal. We also saw crocs trying to eat wildebeests as they crossed the river. It was crazy. i saw like 20 hippos, all together. They weighed like four thousand pounds. then last night Ms. Kehn, Angela, Darren and i were talking. Then Angela opened her arms and down went Fraiser. Ms. Kehn's wine fell all on her- it was hysterical.

Safari

Today we went to the Masai Mara. Before that let's talk about the plane ride. The plane ride to the Masai Mara was scary and hectic. The first ride was kind of smooth, Then the second ride wasn't. We got at a good height, then all I heard was BA-BOOM. Guess what that was. Yep the plane. But it didn't crash it was just bumpy. I tried to go to sleep and guess how that turned out. So now we are at the Masai Mara. We took a tour. The tour had all sorts of animals. Like hippos, wildebeest, gazelle, Thomson gazelle, hyena, hogs, and elephants. It was real exciting to see everything. We also saw zebras. We gad a blast.

MTV Cribs

Today we went to the brothers house in Nairobi. It was more like a mansion to me than anything. Darren and I were so excited to see the mansion and everyone in it. It was like watching an episode of MTV Cribs all over again. Before that, today we found out that Ms.Kehn's friend Mr.Matharu died. He died because he was hit by a car. It is ironic because the night before that we read in our book that this kid's grandma got hit by a car and died too. It was crazy. I still would like to bring Dennis home.

School Time

Today we went to Dennis's school. The school was real embarrassing to call a school. Instead they should have called it a junkyard or something. The good thing about the school was that the kids were getting an education. I was so excited to see my boy Dennis getting his work done. Going to that school made me think of how much I take for granted. If I had the chance I would bring Dennis to Brooklyn and show him a real school. I was mad to see that , that is where my friend Dennis went to school. He really deserves better than that. Before I leave I want to let Dennis to keep up the good work because he is real inspiring to me. I really wish I can take Dennis with me to Brooklyn. If it was my decision and not my parents I would bring him.

Another day in Kenya

St,Mary's is green because it rains a lot and they have so many beautiful plants.

I have surprised myself because I never thought I would be this helpful and teach kids in Kenya. I have also surprised myself by making good friends with a very bright or as they say "sharp" kid named Dennis Maina.

The boy that I feel most connected to is Dennis because he reminds me a lot of myself sometimes.His smile is killer just like mine. We both just have a connection that him or me will ever forget. We both like to to joke around and dance occasionally. It's like I can read his mind. We can just look at each other and start laughing because we are thinking the same thing.

Five differences between Kenya and America is that they have a different toilet handle, sink, egg color, soil color, their gutter is their trash can.

The most difficult part for me so far has been taking showers. It was the most difficult part because i had to use a bucket to get hot water our first day. I had to pour the water then put the soap on it was so confusing and uncomfortable. But we have a shower at St.Mary's.

Yesterday we went to a house in what they call here "the slums". It was a real disturbing sight to see. Basically "the slums" are worse than the projects. It was one room for everything . The kitchen was right next to the bed, the bed was against wall and there were holes in the metal roof. When it rains the water leaks inside of the room. We went to "the slums" because we had one hundred dollars to do the best we could to make one family's life easier. Even with the house looking how it did she didn't want the money she wanted the money to go straight to hers son's education.Ms.Kehn started crying.

Day three in Kenya

Today Darren and I went to the classroom and taught kids (the juniors). We taught the kids how to add and subtract. Sammy is a really smart kid. He didn't need any one's help.It's weird because he is the smallest, the youngest (five years old) but the most consistent. Sammy made me feel proud because he is an all around person. He is smart, and enthusiastic.Sammy really excited me. The classrooms weren't the best, they weren't even close . I realized that the kids needed everything, like pens, pencils, and notebooks. The school was only one room, it was super tiny and discreet. It was like a whole in the wall. I think the kids deserve better than that- they are real smart and real determined. I want them to put effort in to what they deserve. We took six kids out of the classrooms and had a two on one tutoring session each. We are going to continue doing this until we leave. It has been raining pretty often now, our shoes are covered in mud. I guess it's time to get new sneakers (hint hint Mom and Dad).But on the plus side... the food is great.

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Our first day at the orphanage

Our first day at the orphanage was pretty rough. We met all the boys but they were too excited to meet us. The boys took us on a tour of the whole orphanage. From the bathrooms to the basketball courts. We went to see their dorms and talked to their teachers and next thing you know when Darren and I turned around there was like thirty kids wanting to talk to us and shake our hands. It was like we were Biggie and Tupac. We found out that all of the boys were so friendly and harmless.As we got to know them more we started to exchange names and play with each other. Benson, Godfrey, Simon, and Dennis are so welcoming and warm-hearted.They showed us how to do everything and they were the ones that gave us the tour around the orphanage. They are very social and now they are not shy anymore. Now we are all friends.

First day in Africa

Our first day in Africa was so long and hectic. We waited like thirty minutes just to get our luggage , another ten minutes for the taxi man to get the taxi. So after the man came back with the taxi we packed our bags in the car and we were on our way. I realized that the steering wheel was on the right instead of the left. We were on our way to Ms.Kehn's friend (Anna) house. We got there around 11:00. We thought we were going to have fun until we heard that there no television or computer, I thought I was going to die when I heard that. We got there and saw that the house looked out of the ordinary. The walls were made out of cement and you could hear your echo. The house was packed. There was four people in one room and three people in another room. Then it was Darren, another kid, and me.It was kind of boring but we made a good time out of it. So me and Darren went to sleep and woke up around 9:00 the next morning. Then the next day began.