Water Blog

I woke up at 6:30 in the morning and looked over at my alarm clock and thought to myself "I'm going to go back to bed until eight." As I put my head down on the pillow I realized that I had to be at Rocky Nook park at 7:15 for Walking Water. Walking Water is like a painful exhausting field trip that you get graded on. So I jumped out of bed and woke my mom up. My mom made me some Trader Joe's Shui Mai that i very happily gulped down, I love Shui Mai. We went out to the car and drove off to Rocky Nook Park. By the time we were at the mission exit it was already 7:11 so I was a little nervous about the timing and when we were going to get there, but i just sat back and waited. We arrived about a minute or two late but that didn't matter because people were still arriving. I filled up my three jugs, two of which were attached by a rope so that i could hang them over my shoulders, little did I know the ropes just made it that much more painful. While we were waiting for the rest of the 6th and 7th graders to fill up there jugs or bottles we played around on the playground making our feet hurt before the walk had already even started. Finally after about an hour the teachers called us in to do a Puja. After they dismissed us from the Puja we started the long (seemed long) painful (was lacteally very very painful) walk. We hadn't even gotten out of the park and me feet were already hurting, did I mention that I was going barefoot swell as many other people for extra credit. And finally we were off! The moment we started to walk my shoulder started to sting and ache because I had attached two gallons together with some string and forgot to get some padding but didn't think that it would matter vey much. It did! We were just walking out of the driveway thing at rocky nook park and I look around and thought to myself: this is going to be a very long walk. When we left Rocky Nook park We stepped onto a little stone ledge/bridge next to the road as cars whizzed by I felt like I could sort of feel the weird looks on my back, so I looked up and at the cars and found that hardly anybody was giving us dirty or weird looks they were mostly on there cell phones (Shame, there going to get a ticket) or focussed on driving. That made me feel less self conscious and so I felt like I could pay more attention to where I was walking and also for amusing myself by talking to friends. We arrived at the three way merge/stop of Mission and APS and we had to wait a minute or two so we all took advantage and put down our water. While we were all talking and moaning and complaining a convertible saab drove by us with four kids who probably went to Marymount in it. They gave us the first and only weird/dirty looks that I saw the whole time that we walked. When John told us that we could keep walking I picked up my water and slung it over my holder and held the other jug in my left hand. Once we had crossed the smooth nice most comfortable feeling, I mean the street we got on to a loose gravel/dirt path/sidewalk that hurt sooooooo much and I crippled down every time I took a step. That sidewalk went on four about 20 minutes probably. By the time we were on "regular" sidewalk we were almost at the mini park. We had to cross the smooth nice most comfortable feeling, I mean the street we were on the left side of the street on rocks, spiky leaves, glass, and dirt. Previously when we stopped before the crossing I had taken Jared's backpack filled with water because I wanted to make it more realistic and also because I thought it might pad my shoulder from the evil painful string that attached my two gallons. It did in the beginning but eventually made it just hurt even more so I started yelling out for Jared but because I was carrying most of his stuff he had jogged marly ahead of me. So the rest of the walk was pailful and once I got to the driveway I ran down and drank some of my water and ate an Otter Pop that Jennifer had given a few of us kids and then went marly on to math class

After falling on the floor a few times during the night, I fell asleep. I had a few odd dreams over the night but regret to say that I can not recall them. Anyways I woke up to an enchanting smell of eggs, coffee, and arepa. Arepas are a sort of breakfast burrito bade which some kind of ground dough. When I stood up out of bed and looked over towards the kitchen I saw the clock on the wall, it was 9AM and I think it was Tuesday. I was wondering where Gorge's wife and child were when it hit me, it isn't even spring break she must be at work and there son most have been taken to school. I slowly walked over to the kitchen when I saw a hot plate of eggs, coffee, and arepas with a sticky note on it. The sticky note read
"Daniel, este alimento es para usted. He tomado hijo Gorges a la escuela, y me voy atrabajar.
Atentamente,
Garganta del terror"

in english that means "Daniel, this food is for you. I have taken Georges son to school, and I am off to work.

Sincerely,

Gorge's Wife

That clarified where his wife was but I still didn't know where Gorge was. So I timidly raised my voice to just above a yell and asked to the whole house "¿GORGE?". I heard the ruffling of covers in the room where I last saw Gorge enter, probably his bedroom. I peeked in and there he was sitting up in bed reading a book he looked over to me and said "¿Si?" with a very chipper upbeat sound in his voice I told him about his wife and son and asked him if he had breakfast, he had and he already knew his wife and son had left. He said that they left at about 6AM and he woke up with them. Well I felt kind of bad that I had slept so late on their schedule so I offered to make him breakfast in an American way, he politely declined he said that he had only one thing on his agenda today, a man in Bogota had a fused electrical surge protector. We walked over to the kitchen and he read the paper as I ate my breakfast.

We hoped in the car at about 11 and road out to Bogota.

over the course of the day we went to an amazing little cafe stand and as he drove me to the airport the next day I felt we were so well acquainted that it wasn't awkward sitting in the car in silence. He took me to the gate of the airplane and I gave him a hug good-bye. It was an amazing trip I will tell my kids when I grow old.

My visit With Gorge Armando Hernandez-Day 2_First Impression

So I woke up at 6:00AM local time because I really want to meet Gorge. I had to call for a taxi and it was waiting outside, probably even before I woke up. The cabby or "taxista" was not the nicest man but he was a  good driver and on our way to Gorge's house we saw a couple of really historic, cool looking churches. Finally after a six hour drive I arrived at Gorge's house, it seemed to have taken forever (Which it kind of did). Probably because I was nervous about meeting him and it took six hours. He lived in what looked to be an average sized house with a garden and lawn in his front yard. He was standing in his driveway with his wife and child. I exited the cab with a very large grin on my face and Gorge and his family sent 3 bright smiles right back at me. I walked up to them and gave them a very chipper and upbeat "Hola!", and again they each gave it right back. Gorge said "Por favor sue venga.", and I replied "¡Gracias!". Inside there house they had three rooms that include there son's room, his and his wife's, and a rather spacious living room. Because it was noon local time Gorge offered to take me out to lunch/dinner with his family which I gladly accepted because I hadn't eaten all day! We hopped into his pick up and went to a restaurant called Andres Carne de Res, and to express to you how good that was and how fun it was going there here is a review from http://worldtop7.com/best-restaurants/colombia/bogota.aspx


If you haven't been to Andres you haven't been to Bogotá; "ANDRES CARNE DE RES" is out of town in Chia, about 30 minutes drive; started in 1994 as a place to hang out with your family on a Sunday afternoon; it's a bar, a restaurant and a party place in one; the decor is amazing and authentique with Colombian ornaments, old photographs, mattresses, bells and candles; Andres specializes in Colombian food with a focus on grilled meat: great "t-bone steaks served with tortillas and filled tomatoes"; amazing vibe and open until late; make sure to have someone who's driving you home! In any case, drivers-to-rent wait outside.


and just incase if you ever find yourself in Bogota or Chia, Colombia here is the restaurant info:

Address: Calle 3 NO.11A - 56, Variante de la Luna, Chia, (Autopista Norte Bogogta), Chia, Colombia
Area: Chia
Web: http://www.andrescarnederes.com
Phone: +57 1 863 7880
Email: acr@andrescarnederes.comPrices: Mains: US$ 7.- to US$ 32.-                                                                                                             Because we had to drive back to Bogota and beyond we stopped at a Starbucks for a snack and then when we got to Andre Carne De Res it was about six and we had a huge dinner. We started to head home at 8/9 and his son was fast asleep. During the car ride I fell asleep and when we arrived back at his house Gorge gently woke me up and offered for me to stay at his house I felt very bad staying at his house, especially considering that he took me to dinner. I payed with some of the money my parents had given me to spend. He walked with back into there house and let me sleep on there couch after giving me a blanket. The moment my head touched that pillow I was out like a light.

My Visit With Gorge Armando Hernandez-Traveling

7:46AM
Well it is 7:46 in the morning and my taxi was on time but I didn't have a bowl of cereal or anything because I over slept, so I ran out the door to my taxi because I woke up at 7:28. He was a very slow driver so we got to the airport very slowly. Whatever, I'm still early for my flight so I'm just updating you. The airport is very empty, I wonder why, it's 7:45 in the morning on a monday it should be really crowded. I'm not complaining but its just weird.
8:50AM
Again I'm sitting in LAX waiting for my next flight which is to Mexico City. I actually quite bored because the airport is jam packed in fact i think this is the most busy I have every seen it.

10:38PM

I apologize for not blogging during the day but my phone ran out of battery. I am now in my hotel room in bogota so I have my phone plugged in and it only has 2% battery charged. I had a very normal nothing weird travel day, and I am join to go to bed now.

My Visit With Gorge Armando Hernandez-10 Phrases

In Colombia they speak spanish so I would like to know ten phrases to help me get along.

1)Where is the bathroom?=¿Dónde está el baño?

2)I am 12 years old.=Tengo doce años de edad.

3)What is his/her name?=lo que es suyo/su nombre

4)For how long?=¿Por cuánto tiempo?

5)How old are you?=¿Qué edad tienes?

6)That is so cool!=¡Eso es genial!

7)HELP!?=¡¿AYUDA!?

8)Where is a good place for dinner?=¿Que es un buen lugar para la cent?

9)What does your family usually have for breakfast?=¿Qué hace su familia por lo general para el desayuno?

10)Do you play any sports?=¿Usted juega algún deporte?

I will learn many more phrases but those are just a few phrases I though I would share.

My Visit With Gorge Armando Hernandez-$$$$$$$$

Because I am going to a new country I have to exchange my money for Colombian Pesos.
1 CP(Colombian Peso) is equal to 0.0006 of a US Dollar
8841.9988 CP is worth 5 US Dollars
and so on an so forth. So if you wanted to find out how much US Dollars to CP just multiply by 0.0006.
As you can tell by this the dollar is much stronger than a CP or Peso.

My visit With Gorge Armando Hernandez

I am very Excited because I get to visit a man who I have recently funded in a program called Kiva(for more in formation click on the link)
My Itinerary for my travel date is as follows:
Wak up at 7 in the morning grab a quick breakfast(cereal pop tart or bar)
Hopefully the taxi will be on time, if so I will hop in the cab by 7:30. I should then arrive at Santa Barbara Airport in five minutes. My flight leaves at 8:00 so I will have some time to kill. In that time I will probably turn on my phone a create a bother post. My flight goes to LA and I should drive there at around 8:45 with fifteen minutes to spare so I can get to my next flight at 9. My flight form LAX will take me to Mexico City Airport at noonish. When I arrive in Mexico City Airport I have 2 hours to kill again, so I will most likely make a bother post again. Then my Flight at 2:30 to Bogota Airport will depart and i should arrive in Colombia at about 6:30pm to my body, but about 8:30 local time. I will then check into my hotel for the night and drive out to Gorge's village the next morning

My visit With Maruge-Day Four

After our long hike yesterday, well long for me not for Maruge, we woke up very early because Maruge was incredibly eager to show me a morning sunrise. He told me about a place a mile or two away from his village where the sunrise was amazingly scenic as we were walking he told me about a dream he had last night. He said that he was walking through the village to go to the bathroom when he was grabbed by soldiers and taken away and that is when he woke up, and he saw that it was almost sunrise so he woke me. I thought that dream was real eye opener to what happened during the war. by the time we had finished our small conversation we were at the spot. Wow was it ever beautiful. We sat there in complete silence for a long time, I can't tell you how long because I lost track. While we were siting there I had a long time with my thoughts or at least it felt like a long time. I realized how hard it is to live like Maruge does and how much he must love it as well as what hardships he has been through and how nice he is about all of it. As we stood up to head back to the village I looked at Maruge and smiled viewing him in a whole new way, and he smiled right back. The walk back seemed to last no time at all and our day of climbing trees cloud watching and just talking about how we feel and what was on our mind flew by and sooner than you knew my head was rested on a hard dirt floor and I couldn't have been happier.

A Hero's Journey

One apron a time in the land of Uni's(a uni is a horse with wings) there lived a young adventurous uni named BOB. Bob was walking around when he stumbled upon a fencing studio. He thought that fencing sounded like a fun thing but it said sword required underneath the sign so that meant Bob had to find a sword. He was searching everywhere he could think of where a sword might be, no luck. after many hours of searching he had finally given up. On his way home he was gazing off in the distance as if some sword was just going to pop up but all he saw was a scary, dark, and ominous looking cave in a tall mountain rising out of some weird random mist way way off in the distance. He was very adventurous as I said before and so he set off. he was only a mile from his home mountain when he was starting to get hungry, very hungry. he looked franticly around for a cliff bar or a banana but he had no such luck. He was about to turn around and go pack a backpack but all of a sudden an eagle popped out of no where and was flying right next to him. he introduced himself and the eagle said his name was Paul. they were getting to know each other when Bob just couldn't take it he yelled "DO YOU HAVE AND FOOD!!!!!!?" To which Paul responded "Yes, i have a little red pill that will fill you up in an instant."Bob to took the pill and it was true he was no longer hungry but he was getting tired. They were almost to the mountain when the eagle was POOF, gone. Well Bob didn't really care he was at the mountain now. He started walking in when he suddenly collapsed from "exhaustion" Little did he know the pill the eagle had given him was a sleeping pill. When Bob woke up he had a horn on his head. He realized he must have been asleep for decades and a stalactite had dripped on his head creating a horn. he flew back to his mountain as fast as he could to show all of his friends. When he got back everyone was astonished and all when to sleep under a stalactite.

THE END

My Visit With Maruge-Goodbye

Dear Maruge,


                 I am sad to say that i have left your small and lively village. You and your friends were very welcoming and warm the moment i stepped foot in Eldoret. I will always remember when you showed me how to draw a five with the long neck, tummy fat, number five wears a hat. I was completely awestruck for the second time on my trip when we sat in the big tree outside your house and watched the sunset, i will always remember that. We had an amazing time together and i am very grateful to you for allowing me to visit you. I hope sometime soon you will come visit me in Santa Barbara so i may introduce you to my family and friends and share some of my mothers great home cooking, i would also love to take you to my school and introduce you to all of my teachers.

Sincerely,
Daniel



I wrote that letter when i woke up at 2AM to go catch my flight from a nearby airstrip to an airport in Sudan and then to New York, and from there to LAX and then to Good ole SB airport where my parents would pick me up.

My Visit With Maruge-Day Three

                                      Mud stuck to my face

Maruge grinning at me 

                                      We keep on walking

This haiku describes only a few seconds of a hike that Maruge took me on over the plateau around his village. The exact moments that are described in the haiku were when we were walking on a little path that was raised above the ground and I  accidentally stepped off of the path and fell into a large puddle.  I t was rather embarrassing but we moved on, literally and figuratively.

My Visit With Maruge-Day Two

Maruge is.......................

CalM

HAPPY

stubboRn

FUnny

Grinning

Energetic

My Visit With Maruge-The Travels

Last week I visited a man named Panther Bior(Picture to left). He was very warm and welcoming.  I had just gotten home last week, now it is 4AM and I am on my way to another plane to Africa.  I have to take a Bus to LAX and then from LAX to JFK, I then take a really small plane to Maruge's Village Eldoret, where I get to sky dive from the plane to Maruges village.  I should arrive tomorrow at two their time, three California time.  I roll my bags down the stairs and the loud thud sounds that the bag hitting the steps makes woke up my grandpa in the next room over. My parents were already awake with the taxi Bus to LAX outside we say our good byes I hug my parents and my grandpa and my dogs; Maxwell and Boomer, goodbye as well and I was off.  I was walking down the hallway in the bus and saw a man that looked like Zachary and he looked very lonely so I sat next to him his name was Dahab he was on his way to visit his his cousin Ahmad in Omdurman, Khartoum. We had long conversations about how he liked it in Sudan and what I was going to do with Maruge. The ride to LAX was a dark one but the roads were empty so we were there in a flash.  I wished I had more time to talk to Dahab. We went our separate ways after a handshake and I was on my way to JFK airport. The plain ride to JFK was quite boring the man next to me had a big gut and was very quiet, he was also a very loud snorer so I didn't get much sleep, oh well. After the long sleepless awkward flight we were finally in New York, I had five minutes to run from gate 59A to the international part of the airport, uh oh. RUN! So run I did, quite fast I might add. Well I made it on time only because one of the airport security men with a golf cart stopped and asked were I had to get so he gave me a ride.  It was SO fun! Anyways I got on the tiny little jet to Madagascar, that I would be jumping out of a little bit more than halfway through the flight (I 'm REALLY nervous about that)! The flight was delayed by HEAVY, HEAVY rain. The pilot was nuts and didn't listen to the magic voice on the radio that said to stay off of the runway, the moment after the radio tower guy announced that he started to pull out, we got on the runway and we started to pick up speed and I could feel the tires slipping off of the tarmac.  I was scared poopless; he was acting like it was no big deal but I knew deep down that he was scared too. But we eventually by some miracle we made it off the ground and into the air. We were in the storm clouds for a few seconds while gaining altitude and I saw a bolt of lightening explode next to the plane, now I was holding on the cruddy little seat I was in for dear life! After about an hour I finally let go of my seat and walked, staggering up to the cockpit to meet the pilot. He was about 5'8'' and well built,  I introduced myself and he did as well, his name was Conrad. He looked like he desperately needed a shave; he had quite a scruffy beard. He had a very disciplined and calm voice.  I figured that because we had a good 11 hours (because  I 'm going to jump off of the plane halfway) ahead of us I thought I would get to know him. So we started talking and he brought up the fact that I was going to jump out of the plane so I responded with a quiet, nervous and hesitant "Heh Heh yup."  He asked if I had ever been skydiving before to which I answered "nope." So he gave me a few tips such as keep my body flat and at what altitude to pull my parachute cord. After the conversation I was feeling much better. We kept talking about family, why I was going to Africa, and so on and so forth. At one point he asked me if I wanted to fly the plane just for a minute while he went to pee, I hesitantly said yes but only if he would give me some instruction, he did and he left me in the cockpit.  I was again scared poopless!  I thought to myself: this is the second time I have been incredibly scared, GREATEST PLANE RIDE EVER, so far.  While I was looking out the window the clouds cleared and I saw the most amazing view, my jaw dropped down to my knees. (Picture) At the same time Conrad walked back in and started gawking as well. After I think five or maybe ten minutes of gawking he took the wheel and started flying it himself. We started talking again but the first thing I said was: WOW, you take a looooonnnngggg time to go pee. He just laughed and we started talking.  Ithink we were flying above Chad when my lack of sleep caught up to me and I klonked out.  I woke up to Conrad shaking me saying Daniel, (a little bit louder) DANIEL, and I woke up. He said he was going to get some sleep and headed towards the back of the plane. He was heading for a seat in the back of the plane when I realized, WAIT, who's going o fly the plane!!!!!!!?  I shot up out of my seat and ran to the back of the plane yelling CONRAD, CONRAD I found him lying in bed awake, thank goodness.  I sputter out: Who's flying the plane? To which he answered "Theo", very calmly. OOOOHHHHH for a minute there I thought I was going to die, for reals. He laughed half-heartedly and said don't worry Theo's a great pilot.  I calmed right back down and went up to the cockpit again to go through the motions with "Theo". He was a very, very tall and skinny man with stubble and short black hair. He was very nice and soft spoken as well we talked about my limited knowledge of football I taught him about hockey. Sooner than we knew it we were 50 miles and counting from Eldoret.  I went in the back and got all of the gear on and found Conrad still awake so I said goodbye  and thank you to him and the same to "Theo" .Conrad opened the door and the noise was extremely loud! Sooner than you could say Saskatchewan I had jumped and I was falling straight towards the earth through cold piercing air watching my altitude gauge like a hawk but the view was great (Picture)!!! And sooner than I knew it I was at 2000 AGL( Above Ground Level) so I pulled my chute. My whole body jerked up and I started to slowly float to the ground.  I t took me 10 minutes to hit the ground which hurt quite a bit.  It felt very good to be on land, and thank goodness I had my GPS to get to Eldoret. That was a very hard and hilly walk.  I got there after a mere 5 minutes which means I had very good timing when I jumped out of the plane.  I was greeted very warmly by Maruge and was offered some lentils in broth and water.  It was very yummy, especially because I hadn't eaten anything all day. After the meal I asked him if I might take a nap because honestly I was wiped, still! He brought me to his adobe looking house and he gave me a very nice blanket and a pillow He was ever so gracious he gave me privacy and I  slept.