My Visit with Maruge in Eldoret, Kenya- Day Six

Today we slept in and then went in a walk in the woods. It was more like a long trek. We talked about what are lives were like and some of our most memorable experiences. We had a very emotional coversation. In a way it was kind of like the conversation I had with Teacher Jane, but the only difference was that it was from Maruge's point of iew. This made it not all about him and about other people who had helped him and inpired him greatly. I asked him what made him so determined to go to school and get an education. He said that it was because he wanted to be able to read the letter that was sent to him from the president. Then I asked him why it was so important that he read it himself. His answer was that it would be more special and important and he also just wanted to learn how to read. This conversation was very interesting and another bonus was that we got to see lots of different wildlife, animal and plants.
We even saw a gorilla!

This was our destination! It was a swamp with elephants in it.

My visit with Maruge in Eldoret, Kenya- Day Five

This is teacher Jane, the main teacher:

Today Maruge took me to school again, but today he gave me a chance to meet his teachers and visit with them. They were truly amazing people. I got to talk with Teacher Jane, Teacher Alfred, and Teacher Elizabeth. My favorite was Teacher Jane, who shared inspirational stories, memories, and advice, that I will always remember. She shared kind words and stories about her life as well as how Maruge influenced and encouraged and fascinated her. This made me so happy to hear and just her stories inspired me greatly. I did not want to leave at the end of our session. 

My Visit to see Maruge in Eldoret, Kenya- Day Four

Today Marge gave me a lesson of of his language Swahili.
Here are some of the words he taught me:


tafadhali----please
asante---thank you
Marekani---united states of america
safari      ---trip
marafiki    --- friends
familia---family
watu---children
wanawake---women
watu---men
mimea---plants
wanyama---animals
nguo---clothes
chakula---food
maji---water
fedha---money
bafuni---bathroom
amani   ---peace
upendo---love
vita---war
maelekezo---directions
magari---cars
usafiri---transporttation
baiskeli---bike
shule---school
mwalimu---teacher
mwanafunzi---student
Here is also a video:

My Visit to see Maruge in Eldoret, Kenya- Day Three

Today being my third day Maruge was going to show and let me go with school with him to Kapkenduiywo Primary School. We went to class and we practiced our writing, reading, and math. The feel in me and the the physical touch was very different than the school I attend Santa Barbara Middle School. The classrooms were different and crowded and everyone was crammed together. At break it was also fun to run around with the other kids that attend the school. It was also much dirtier. But I am not saying these are bad things and it was a super fun experience.

My Visit to See Maruge in Eldoret, Kenya- Day Two

The next morning I woke up early but was surprised to see a few women already cooking our breakfast. They were also singing a joyful song and dancing when they were cooking. I asked them what food they were making and they said: ugali, cassava which they told me was from their garden, roasted groundnuts, mendazi and a black tea with milk. The taste of this wonderful meal was a simple but delicious meal!It also smelled good! It was interesting to see the women dance and sing! I still have that songs and sounds that they were singing and making stuck in my head!

My Visit to See Maruge in Eldoret, Kenya- Day One

When I arrived in Eldoret, Kenya to see Maruge I was amazed by all the wonderful things and sights to look at. I enjoyed all the new faces of all the women and men that greeted me and all the children running around having fun and playing games and dancing. I also liked the chickens running freely around, the locals huts with clay stoves clay stoves. All these wonderful sights made me sure that there were a lot of things to do and explore around this village that I was curious about. I was also excited that I would finally get to meet Kimani Ng'ang'a Maruge, who was the oldest person to go to Primary School at age 84 and have him show me the primary school and all around the village.

My Amazing Stop at Eldoret, Kenya

After I had left South Sudan from my visit with Panther Bior, I stopped to spend some time in Nairobi, Kenya. Then I went to the town of where Kapkenduiywo Primary School was located, which is Eldoret. In Eldoret I spent some time with Marque and joined him and the first graders at the school. Here is a map of Eldoret!

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