2015 Trip – 13 July

Aaron Jardine

Sorry about not writing a diary yesterday, I was busy as it was my duty groups day and we had to prepare the food, help serve it and then clean all of the plates and cutlery meaning there was not much spare time for a diary to be wrote. However, I am fine; today we visited the first school of the trip which is around 15 minutes away from camp. We did a barn dance with the school kids and then got photos and allowed them to show us there friends and get to know a little information about them. It was great, seeing them all excited to see us and shaking their hands it put a huge smile on face. We are now back at the campsite waiting for lunch and then will be moving onto crater lake for tonight’s camp, once again I have a few memories from crater lake so it will be good to be reminded of the place and hopefully make some more. Hope all are fine and well, bye.

 

Jordan Mace

Today was the first real day we saw why we are actually on the Africa trip as we went to a primary school called Longonot DEB and met some wonderful children. When we arrived at the school the children immediately had smiles on their faces, also they started waving and screaming with excitement. Then we met the older students of the school and they sang their national anthem in Kenya and English and I could not stop smiling. After that they sang another song and they got us all to dance with them which was amazing to see how passionate they were they sang and danced. When we finished dancing I was paired up with a 13 year old girl called Grace and she was so cute. She could speak better English than I could. We then all went into a circle with our partners and did a barn dance and the children loved it. We even had all the rest of the school been our audience and clapping along to the song which made me show off my moves. When we finished dancing Grace took me around to see all of her friends which were truly inspiring as they all just wanted to take pictures, high five me or knuckle touch me. Grace told me all of her favorite subjects and what she loves to do with her friends. She really did touch my heart because she wanted to show me everything like where she eats, goes to lessons and spends time with her friends in the playground. Also anywhere she took me she always wanted to hold my hand. I can’t wait to go to all the other schools and meet more inspirational children. We are now going to Crater Lake Sanctuary for our next camp. Anyways I hope everyone at home and my girlfriend is well and missing me loads as I miss and love you all. I’m sorry I can’t send any emails

and I hope my mam is enjoying not washing and cleaning my clothes/pots. Good Bye

 

Lorna Davison

Sorry that I didn’t write a diary yesterday but it was my groups duty so we had to help prepare and serve all three meals of the day and then wash up after each on too so there wasn’t any time to write one. Anyway, today had been the best day so far as we went to our first school of the trip, Longonot DEB and we met lots of the children there and we learnt a barn dance yesterday so we taught them how to do it and performed it with the children from the school in front of all of their friends! When we first arrived there was a group of children that sang their national anthem in Kenyan and then again in English and when their headmaster asked us to sing our, we had to admit that we didn’t know it which was so embarrassing so I think I should probably learn it. For the barn dance I was paired with a boy called Seth. He was twelve years old and loved science so we had something to talk about! He was so excited and he showed me his classroom which shocked me a little as it was some rickety desk next to each other with a worn out ld chalk board on the wall with a few handmade posters around the room and it made me realize how lucky I actually am to have a college and school like I do/did. He also introduced me to his friends who were all asking me to take photos and kept asking for high fives and fist bumps! However, I am never fist bumping them again because they started really punching my hand and it was quite sore! Tonight we are off to crater lake which sounds like there will be a good chance of seeing some amazing animals. Also, the food is so nice here and so healthy too! For breakfast we have had all sorts already; sausages sandwiches, weetabix, porridge, toast, eggs and loads more! Its good as well because there are no snacks so I’ve been really filling up at meal times which is probably for the best! Hope you are all ok see you soon.

 

Josef Ramsay

Today we went to one of the richer primary schools. The kids in these schools either had to pay to go or were getting paid for by the flower companies as their parents work for them. When we arrived longonogot DEB primary school we could see a load of kids come running towards the truck screaming and shouting with excitement. I was honestly so nervous to meet the kids but it was an amazing experience, when we walked through the school yards one class came out to greet us with handshakes. We stood opposite each other and they sang there national anthem both in there’s and our language. Then they sang another sang and had us dancing with them which was a funny tension breaking moment. After this we all got in a big circle holding hands getting ready to do a barn dance which was so funny but hard to do. We had a good few practices and then the whole school came out to watch us do this dance (which I am not very good at). Then we went round with the child we were partnered up with up to meet the other children in the school who spoke pretty much perfect English. They were all so excited to see us and so were we to see them, they especially liked the time when we were taking photos and they loved getting high 5’s and fist bumps. It was honestly such an amazing experience and I have never experienced anything that has made me as speechless as that. The kids I got took round with were called Zainab and George and they were insisting on us coming back again. Honestly this was one of the best things that I have done in my life.

 

Kieran Potter

6:30 start today, breakfast was at 8:30 so we packed all of our gear till then. Breakfast was porridge with a choice of things to add to it such as chocolate sauce or sugar. We visited our first school today, longonot DEB Primary School. As soon as we arrived all of the children started cheering and waving, it was amazing the greeting they gave us. And their song that they sang to us was excellent. We introduced ourselves to them, danced with them and got to know them. This was an absolutely amazing day. Crater lake tonight, a beautiful place to camp out. Can’t wait.

 

Jenny Readshaw
We had a sleep in this morning because breakfast was at 8:30 which gave everyone time to catch up on some sleep. We headed straight out after breakfast to a primary school which was run by the flower company. I didn’t know what to expect when we arrived but all the children cheered and waved and were all extremely friendly. We did a barn dance (which we weren’t very good at) and I was partnered with a boy called William who introduced me to his family who attended the school including his sister and uncle. I got loads of pictures so I’ll show you them all. We’re going to head out to Crater Lake Sanctuary for our bush camp.

 

Joe Garrens

What a day it has been!! Today was our groups turn for washing duty so we were up at 6 this morning as we had to pack as well. Again I saw the sun rise and it still took my breath away. Once we had all got packed up and had our breakfast it was time to visit our first school it was the Longonot DEB Primary School. The moment that we entered the school the kids came rushing over pushing and shoving to be at the front to see us. It was incredible. Once we got out most of the students had went back into class but a couple stayed out and did us the honor of singing their national anthem and dancing. It was brilliant to see their faces when they were dancing. The day before we practiced a barn dance to do with those children so today was the big day of the performance. We paired up and away we went. Obviously I smashed it :D. By the time that we had finished the whole school had came out to watch us and they were all cheering and laughing. Once we had finished our partners introduced us to their friends and then the full school. Children were running round screaming and laughing enjoying themselves and couldn’t believe that we had came to see them and dance with them. Taking photos and talking to them was incredible they loved photos and you wouldn’t believe how much they loved a good high five. When we said bye they ran all the way back to the truck with us it was amazing. We are moving camps today so there is a new adventure. Missing you all so much! Love you all!

 

Lewis Jefferson

Yet another good sleep after another fairly relaxed day, we woke to a warmish shower and a brilliant breakfast of porridge! We then set off on our first adventure of the day to the Longonot DEB which was our first school and we were greeted with cheers and hundreds of kids run nig towards our truck. I’ve never seen anyone so excited it was like were celebrities. Their commitment was inspiring and a select few came out of the classrooms after things settled down to sing their national anthem (in both Swahili and English!) and dance for us all, joining in towards the end. After that it was our turn to show them how to barn dance! It was difficult at first but the kids got the hang of it and within no time they were jigging and galloping with us mazingu’s (White or European people).When we’d finished humiliating our selves we got to meet all of the children and asked them about what they like and most of them support Manchester United (sorry Jonathan) and liked maths! It was amazing, no other words to describe it. We then set off back to camp to pack up and after dinner which is in about 15 minutes, we journey on to our third camp Crater Lake Sanctuary! I’m missing my mam loads to wash my clothes and, my brothers… not so much and also missing my girlfriend millions. Sorry I can’t send any emails but this will do surely. Missing you all, I love you all lots.

 

Daniel Appleton

Today was another good day. Today was the day that we would visit our first school. We had been practicing a barn dance which we would perform with the children at the school. This was so much fun. No one could get the steps right and it was very tiring. We got to the school and one of the classes there performed there national anthem and other songs. Their singing sounded really good and they even added some dance moves of their own. When this was done we had to line up and find a partner. My partner was a 13 year old girl called Malia. She was really shy and didn’t talk much so I just had to smile at her a lot and try and make her feel more comfortable. When we did the dance Malia didn’t quite get all the steps right which made it even harder. Especially when she tripped on a rock and I had to hold her up to stop her from falling. We had the entire school watching us dance with two left feet and when we finished we got the chance to meet them all. They all charged up to us as if we were celebrities and loved getting pictures and high fives. My hands have been bruised from the amount of high fives I gave out. It was upsetting when we had to leave and the children acted as though they wanted to come with us. It was a really heartwarming experience and I hope it’s the same when we visit other schools later on. I hope you’re all enjoying yourself back home and I’ll be in touch soon.

 

Jacob Jardine

So today we got to visit a school for the first time Longonogot DEB primary school. Last night we practiced a barn dance and put out practice into dancing with the school children. The whole school came out to watch and also we were paired up with some of the children. Then after we went round talking to the children and getting to know them. One young boy stood out to me called Collins Oching who drew me a couple of pictures, one being gazelles and mountains and another being my name. This definitely touched me. As well he gave me some sort of object and didn’t want anything in return. I was surprised by this. I did manage to get a picture with him though.

 

Abi Pentney

Today we went to Longonot Primary DEB, we taught a group of the children our barn dance and performed it to the whole school. We quickly discovered that the majority of our group do not know the national anthem so we plan to rehearse before our next visit to a school. All of the children shook our hands and wanted to take pictures with us, they were ecstatic to see all of us. It was amazing and we are ready to pack up our tents and go to Crater Lake for our bush camp after lunch. I am really looking forward to visiting other schools and meeting the children there. I hope you are all well and not missing me too much! Love you lots x

 

Rebecca Crandon

I have had an amazing few days, not missing home yet though sorry not sorry dad. The plane ride was really long but I actually ate the plane food, also had some red wine ( it’s good being over 18!). The first day we got here was really relaxed because everyone was so tired. Yesterday we went to Hell’s Gate National Park and did the gorge walk which was surprisingly really fun. We visited our first primary Longonot Primary DEB which was unbelievable. I’ve taken lots of pictures so far which I can’t wait to show you. Everyone is really lovely as well. Tell aunty Mandy I’m okay. It’s great to see Grace and everyone again, the food is really nice. Love you lots and lots xxxxxxxxxxx