The Homestays

Staying in the village was something everyone was nervous, yet excited about. We honestly had no idea what to expect. Chris, Justin, Jake and I had a room with a family about a quarter of a mile from the main house. Our house was made of cinderblock. Our room had two beds, one was on the floor.

There was no plumbing, no running water. The women and children would push a wheelbarrow about half a mile away each day and fill big plastic containers with water from a spout. The water is used to drink, bath and cook. Every night our host family would bring us hot water. At first we didn’t even know the tubs were for bathing so we were filthy for the first two days. We then figured out that an Africa bath consists of standing in a plastic tub and bathing. The tubs were about a foot and a half wide and would be filled with two inches of scorching hot water, just boiled on the fire outside. It was so hot that we only could stand in it for about five seconds at a time. You stand in the tub and bath. The lady of the house was very happy when the 4 of us figured out how the bathing system worked.

We went to bed when the sun went down and woke up at five in the morning to the roosters crowing on the metal roof above our head. After waking up and brushing our teeth, we would go outside and look at the cows walking down the streets with the cow bells.

I admit that this experience was hard because it was so different from what we were used to at home. However, the people who hosted us were amazing and were so happy. I think it is unique to Africa, the people were always smiling, even though it appeared they had so much less than what we had at home. Families would just sit outside enjoying each other’s company. EVERYONE is so nice it almost makes you a better person just being with them. Our host family gave up their beds for us and were happy to do so. They were so polite that they made sure we ate before they did. It’s impossible to understand from a picture or story what it is like to have kids coming up to you and thanking you for a soccer field, or having kindergartners dancing and yelling just because they were happy you were there or they saw a picture of themselves.

Our trip was life altering in so many ways. I can’t wait to go back next summer. I hope a group of you want to join us and help too, you will not regret it.

Our wonderful host family sang to us our last night, wishing us a safe trip home.