Walk for Water

I am visiting Kenya, Africa. I did not come to Kenya to have a "luxury" vacation, but to experience the women's every day chores. I am visiting Kirabo, Dayo, Farai and Ife. Kirabo is the mom, Dayo is a friend of the Kirabo, Farai is a 13 year old girl and the daughter of Kirabo and Ife is the little sister. Right now I am going to explain my favorite and most labor intense job. 


I woke up at 5:55, got dress and went into the kitchen, to find Kirabo already making breakfast, which happened to be rice with toppings. I ate it quickly and got ready for our walk. We started walking at 6:15. I was not wearing shoes, because I did not think it was fair if I did and they did not, because they could not afford them. Kirabo had invited her friend Dayo because she was strong and could carry more water. Farai and Ife were already sitting outside, when we stepped out of the house, so off we were to the water hole seven miles away on endless terrain. My feet were throbbing but eventually they got numb and I could not feel them. We talked quickly until we reached the water hole. We were there before the other villagers arrived, we were lucky! It took us a long time to fill up the jugs and other bottles that we could scavenge. I had also brought a 2 gallon container as a present for them. They were very thankful because  it was harder for them in AFrica to get containers then I am in the United States of America. We got the water from a hole that had been dug up with water seeping up. Other villagers were starting to arrive but luckily we were finished filling up our bottles. We started walking back  so Farai and Ife could hopefully get back in time to get to school before it was over. By now it was 9:30. We walked and walked and walked, while talking and teaching each other songs. We passed many other women on the way all with different ways of carrying their water, that their family depended on. My back was aching in pain and I'm sure Kirabo, Dayo, Farai and Ife's were in pain too, but they new better then to complain, because it would just slow us down. By 12:00 we were back, and Farai and Ife could still go to school for half the day. They were happy  about this, but I was sad that they do not get to go for school for the full day. When we got back I was tired and went to sleep. I thought about how this is all the water we had and if we wanted more then we would have to go back again, probably tomorrow or the day after.