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.
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
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.
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1 comment:
I love that you skydived out of the plane! It sounds like so much fun. Good Job, Tor
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