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Sunday 24th February
I didn't have the best nights sleep. It was much warmer again last night and I had a big bite on my leg which was proving slightly painful. Also the lad above me, when he moved it sounded like the top bunk would fall down (he wasn't even a big lad). I also had a couple of bad dreams which made me feel a little uncomfortable. I awoke just before 8am and decided to get up. My chest was slightly painful, but this was becoming normal for mornings. I got my breakfast, bread with peanut butter, I finished off my bread and ended up cutting off the mouldy crusts. I then sat down and wrote in my diary whilst watching the news. The Brazilian lad came and spoke to me for a while. I wanted to get a lot done today, so after writing in my dairy for about 90mins, I went to download yesterday's photos and created an album for Facebook (I was going to put a select few photos on). The photos took me a long time to sort, and I eventually tried to put them on Facebook. I had heard the Internet here was slow, but it took a good 45min to upload them all. Whilst uploading them man was sat on the other computer and I heard him mention Kilimanjaro and camps. Once he finished his conversation I asked him if he climbed it. He had, in fact he was part of 100 people who tried to paraglide down (a week after we climbed). The vastness of his group sounded immense, however most of them failed due to the weather and only 1 man took off. It was interesting talking to him. I was messing around with my photos until 12noon. I had also in that time booked and paid my transfer for tomorrow's airport run and asked about FedEx (it would be open from 8am tomorrow). I also put my name down to play football with the orphanage children at 3pm. Once my photos were done, it felt weird using a computer, I went and tried to start to sort my bags out for tomorrow, although I had planned to finish it tomorrow morning as I wasn't leaving until 11am. After a quick sort I headed to town, I wanted to look round the market and buy a bit for dinner and lunch. I brought another sandwich from Spar (chicken mayo sub) and some tennis biscuits. I then went to ShopRite to get some fruit, but it was far too expensive so instead o brought a small packet (I mean packet) of milk. I then picked up a cheese and olive scone from the bakery (to have with my eggs for dinner). I then made my way to the market. There was nothing I wanted in particular but I wanted to look and part of me wanted a wooden bowl. I walked up once just looking at what was about, with people trying to get me to go into their shop. As I walked back I started looking. I was trying to get a small wooden bowl for 15ZK but was failing. Most started at 45ZK. I tried many shops but I was told it was too low, maybe I was actually asking too little. I saw a small carved wooden chess set put the prices was 330ZK, and I told the man I didn't have that much money. All the owners wanted to trade, but I actually had nothing to trade on me. One man asked what was in my bag and when I said dinner he said we could share...no deal! I tried and failed to get my bowl so tried for 15ZK, still no luck. I settled on a different type of bowl for 15, though as I walked past the other stores I think I could have got my bowl for 15, which I was tempted at, but I didn't need two bowls (even if the second would be much nicer). I walked back to the hostel. The walk through town seemed so much quicker than my walk with my bags and with Hayden. Once I arrived back to JollyBoys I ate my sandwich and had some yoghurt. I had a good hour to eat before football, so I ate lunch, watched the news and wrote my diary. As I say down the two Swedish girls joined me and we chatted. Around 2.30pm I went to get ready for football. I had overheard earlier in the day 3 English lads talking about the football, one of them, the lad so was in the bunk above me was in the room so I asked if he was playing football. The 3 lads were all medical students from UCL and had been in Botswana for their final placement before going back for their last exam. Just after 3pm the bus left and we all pulled on. It was a hot afternoon and there was only 5 of us playing. None of the boys were footballers and we were warned the kid were good. It was about a 10min drive to the orphanage. We arrive at a gate and as we drove there were a collection of building around a patch if grass and more buildings further out. When we arrived we were given the brief history of the orphanage and a quick tour. The orphanage was set up by a Sir Laken to help reduce the number of children from the street, they also took children from the local community who were deemed to be at risk. All the children there had to go through the authorities. The 'mother' said they had 4 children who were HIV positive, but they were not allowed to test children on arrival, due to the stigma, but they could be tested if they needed to go to hospital for treatment. We were shown he dorms, there were 2 stages for the both the boys and girls (they had separate sides), there were the young girl rooms and the older girls rooms. The young girls were in forms of 5 bunk beds (although each bed only had 1 child in), at the end of their bed they had a wardrobe where they had to pack their things into each evening. At the end of their room there was a bathroom, which a shower, toilet and sink. The girls were in these style rooms from 10 to 15 yrs old. In these rooms they would be helped with their packing and cleaning. Once they were around 15 and could pack and clean themselves they were moved to the older girls dorms which was more like an independent house. There were 4 rooms with 3 beds in although most rooms had 2 girls staying there. There were a couple of showers, a sitting room with an ironing board and TV and they had a small kitchen (although still ate in the main house). The orphanage also did schemes to raise money, as they did not get any money from the government or had a regular donor. The kids made crafts which visitors could buy (although we were never shown these), growing vegetables (they would eat some and then also sell some to the local community) and the had a chicken project where they took chicks from 1 day old and sell or eat them. They said they gave the children to opportunities to find their own skills. After our tour we were taken to the playing field. There were a few kids just kicking a ball around. We tried to join in but the kids at first were a little reluctant, although they were very welcoming and came and shook our hands with some asking our names. A a few older boys came down and they divided us into teams, it was nice as we were mixed into their teams. We then started playing match. The ground was a combination of sand and grass, both long and short. The boys were very good, and some had great skill. They were also good at including the younger boys too. We managed to burst one ball so we needed a replacement. The boys took a while to get confidence to pass to our lads, but they wouldn't pass to the girls. It was difficult for us to realise who was on who's team. Sophie and I tried our best to get involved my mainly getting in the way. I can safely say I was not the most energetic player but enjoyed just watching the children play. We played for around a good hour in the heat before we managed to burst the second ball. This seemed to signify the end of the game with some of the boys disappearing. Our lads chat and chatted to the boys that remained and even attempted some gymnastics. Sophie and I chatted to this girl who came with her exercise book, she showed us her art, writing and maths. Another young girl also came and joined in with her book. They were both 12 years old and the first had been at the home for 6 months where the second had been there just 4 days. It was hard to ask them about their life in the home as we didn't want to upset them or seem insensitive. So we mainly read words they wrote, wrote our names and counties, I was even asked to draw, and my attempt of a cat was dismal to say the least. The first goal started doing some maths and then have me some sums to do and I returned the favour. I think my last sum was a bit much for her. The children in the home do go to school once they have settled in, but both these girls didn't go yet however someone came to the home to teach those who didn't go to school. The lads came up to us and mentioned about leaving, so we headed off to the main office to say bank you and goodbye. They asked us to sign their visitor book. We then headed out of the orphanage and headed to the market (not part of the town) to find a taxi. We got one for all 5 of us, so a squeeze again, an headed off to the hostel. Once we got back I grabbed my phone and headed to Olgas, as I want to send emails to all those I had contacted in Australia's (from the east coat) to let them know I was still coming and my rough plan although I will didn't have any dates. I didn't leave the hostel until 6pm, so I knew I wouldn't have long before it got dark. I decided as today was sunday, I would have 2 scoops of ice-cream instead of my cup of tea. it was yummy as ever. I sat in the hostel until about 7.30pm before I headed home. I managed to email the 4 people and message a few friends. Nikki W also sent over the link for the bridesmaids dresses for me to look at, they seemed lovely. When I got back to the hostel I decided dinner was on the card first. The plan was to use my 3 last eggs and have them scrambled with my cheese and olive scone. However after a log hunt for my milk (I really couldn't find my packet of milk at first and I was really looking forward to my drink of milk). After finding my milk and yogurt I spent 5 mins trying to find my eggs with no success, so I admitted defeat and had my instant noddles. I had planned to take my noodles and pasta to Johannesburg with me in the hope I could them for dinner. I cooked the noodles in the microwave as I couldn't be bothered to wait. I meet the Swedish girls the kitchen, but hub were washing up after finishing heir dinner. I also spiel to an Australian lady who I had briefly spoken to at lunch. I poured my milk out (2 and a half cups of whole milk) and sat down with my scone, noddles and milk. It was an ok dinner for such a random selection of food. There was croaked on the TV, West Indies vs Zimbabwe. I ate my dinner whilst watching the cricket and writing my diary. When I finished my dinner I headed to the kitchen to get my yoghurt and biscuits. I sat down at a table and an the Australian lady, Charlotte, came and spoke to me. She had been in the G-adventure trip from Cape Town to Livingstone but she left it early due to it being a loud group (it was one of the trucks also at the campsite with us. We discussed out travels and about being a single traveller and we mentioned our wobbles. I liked to talking to others about travelling alone, just like I talked to Jodie on my first night in Moshi. We chatted about nerves and how we felt about changes and travelling. It was a really nice friendly and reassuring 20mins. Then the man I had spoken to previously, the paraglider, came and joined us, his name was Dan. We sat as a three for around 40mind talk through trips and general bit and pieces. Just before 10pm, Charlotte went to bed. Dan and I chatted for another 20mins before I decided to go to bed. I had the plan to get up earlier tomorrow morning and get a few things done before I had to leave for my flight.
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