The girls met us for breakfast. I was tired. The Muslim prayer call went off again at 5am until 7am, followed by the wild dogs, birds, monkeys, and other unidentifeiable animals.
Breakfast was over at 9, and the girls showed up at 9:30am, (Fiona was figuring out her outfit) so we were sent by the lovely receptionist to 'Chicken Tonight' at 10 am. The only restaurant around. Kelly had tea I had my usual NesCafe instant coffee. The others had plates of chips and over fried chicken and hot dogs.
We proceeded to Fionas school more or less an hour away. Fiona is what I would definately call a 'character'. We pulled up to the school only to find that in the middle of the surrounding fields of mudhuts and women bent on their knees of their make shift stores with naked babies on their backs, and soot on their faces, there is this ginormous, glorious hamptons beach house - esque University. Giant iron gate, the flowers were manicured perfectly, a fountain, and, actually, I must stop here or I might be sick and or harm an elderly person. This is coming right from Stellas secondary school, so you could have imagined the feeling of displacement for her. How can this be? One sister can attend Rodeo Drive University, while the other attended a war-zone bunker ditch.
We left, boarded or very 'airomatic taxi' and headed off to find our next secondary school.
Here is the issue though.... You never REALLY, really, REALLY know anything, for sure. They droppped us off tuck-n-roll style out of the van, and we continued on foot. We walked, and walked, and walked.... oh and we walked a little more. Village children tagging along behind half naked with crooked shy smiles and and eyelashes every girl would want. Eventally, We had had it. I declared we are turning around, teary-eyed from frustration and complete and utter exhaustion. covered in dust, I haven't eaten or drank much water in the blazing sun, I began to stomp back in the direction that we came. "How can they go to school if they can't even get there?!"
Hopping back into a taxi with fish tied to the top, Kelly pulled out a peanut butter sandwhich for us that she made earlier, and we rode back in silence.
Breakfast was over at 9, and the girls showed up at 9:30am, (Fiona was figuring out her outfit) so we were sent by the lovely receptionist to 'Chicken Tonight' at 10 am. The only restaurant around. Kelly had tea I had my usual NesCafe instant coffee. The others had plates of chips and over fried chicken and hot dogs.
We proceeded to Fionas school more or less an hour away. Fiona is what I would definately call a 'character'. We pulled up to the school only to find that in the middle of the surrounding fields of mudhuts and women bent on their knees of their make shift stores with naked babies on their backs, and soot on their faces, there is this ginormous, glorious hamptons beach house - esque University. Giant iron gate, the flowers were manicured perfectly, a fountain, and, actually, I must stop here or I might be sick and or harm an elderly person. This is coming right from Stellas secondary school, so you could have imagined the feeling of displacement for her. How can this be? One sister can attend Rodeo Drive University, while the other attended a war-zone bunker ditch.
We left, boarded or very 'airomatic taxi' and headed off to find our next secondary school.
Here is the issue though.... You never REALLY, really, REALLY know anything, for sure. They droppped us off tuck-n-roll style out of the van, and we continued on foot. We walked, and walked, and walked.... oh and we walked a little more. Village children tagging along behind half naked with crooked shy smiles and and eyelashes every girl would want. Eventally, We had had it. I declared we are turning around, teary-eyed from frustration and complete and utter exhaustion. covered in dust, I haven't eaten or drank much water in the blazing sun, I began to stomp back in the direction that we came. "How can they go to school if they can't even get there?!"
Hopping back into a taxi with fish tied to the top, Kelly pulled out a peanut butter sandwhich for us that she made earlier, and we rode back in silence.
Katie and Kelly,
ReplyDeleteThe world will never be fair but you are making it possible. I love your spirit, your ambition and your heart!
Agree wholeheartedly with Mom above. And love your writing.
ReplyDelete