Gape Aloyi Celebration

At 6:20 a.m. my parents woke my brother and I up to get ready to go to a village 2-3 hours away. In a way I didn't want to go because of a tough week, an I would've liked to sleep in.

At 7:00 my family and I went down to the dock to get into a Nissan for a long ride. Josh (my brother) and I each had a book, he had his Nintendo DS, and I had my iPod, I also had a bag with my sketch pad, coloured pencils, snacks, and a water bottle (which I had frozen the night before). Before we left, I had already turned on my iPod, and started to read Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows. The back of the Nissan was really crowded because we had a box of Vitamin C drink mix for the clinic up there, and my mom's and the Tretheway's bag. After Sharon got her son Nathaniel settled in his car seat and my parents and the captain got settled, we where off.

After about 10-15 minuets driving we met up with some of the people we where going with, and drove for another 10 minutes and picked up another person. Then we where off yet again.

As always my mom had her camera out and ready to take pictures of the scenery flying by outside. She got some interesting pictures.

At a rest stop (not like the ones in the states) we got out and stretched out legs some people went to use the bush... anyway my mom took a picture of a structure that looked like it was a school, but I wasn't sure if it was still in use. Soon we where on our way again for anoth

er 1 to half an hour. After a bit we came to this little village that escorted us to Gape Aloyi and I knew that we where almost there. When we arrived there was a huge welcoming committee. After we made our way to where the chief was standing there was a little ceremony thanking us for giving money to build them a school. I won't go into details about the ceremony because I really didn't get it. After they where done the ceremony we went to a shelter made out of palm branches and logs. After we sat down some of the women and girls in the village started to dance in our honour. After one group finished the chief came out with the captain all "dresses up" in African wear (he still had his normal clothing underneath). After a short speech another group started to dance. Soon, some people started to bring the guests up dance. First up was the chief and the captain, then my dad and the chief, and then everyone else. I also had the privilege of doing the African version of the chicken dance..... it is harder then it looks...

After then dancing part was done, the chief showed us the clinic/pharmacy. One of the people told us that an organization came and build this clinic for them. Next they took us to see the current school. That was the main reason that we went, so that they could thank us for giving money to improve the school. When we all got to the school, the teachers had some of the younger kids sing to us. I couldn't understand any of the songs because they where all in French. By now it was about 1 o'clock and I was getting hungry. Since we didn't know how long until we ate lunch, my mom, brother and I went back to the Nissan to get some food. Then my dad called us over, and we went to go and eat. Our lunch had goat that they killed for us, lets just say, I had no idea what part of the goat I ate...

After we where done eating, we went out to give out presents to the chief and later supplies to the village. I forget what we gave the chief, but we gave vitamin C drink mix packages, and scrubs to the village, and a bag of candy and other goodies to the teachers to give to the children when they are good. After we had left, we drove a little ways away before coming to a little area that made this gin, made out of palm wine (if they made that in the states it would be illegal). When we got ready to leave, one of the men there presented the adults with a bottle of Voltirc water, or so we thought, it was that gin.

After driving for about a hour or more, we pulled over and gave it to the French people who invited us.

It was a really interesting day, and I was glad that I went, but I did learn to bring my water bottle out no matter what.