Rafting the Nile

Last Wednesday we went rafting. When we got to the starting point we had to pick boats, the boat I wanted to be in was already full and so I got in a boat with Thiersten, Andrew, Brian, Nate and Michael. The people in my boat wanted to flip every time we went over a rapid and I didn't. The first rapid was an one and we had to float down the river outside the boat, it was kind of scary. We got to the first rapid and it was a 3 I think and half of us fell out.  I got picked up by a kayaker and another raft. It kind of shook me up but I was alright until we hit the first 5 and half the Nile hit me in the ear and then I had pressure on my ear the whole day, which is why I didn't want to flip our raft any more. We had lunch on the river, fresh pineapple and biscuits. The pineapple was very good. We floated for a long time on the calm parts of the river and just paddled along. All in all we flipped three times. We got to go over this sweet waterfall that was like 8 or 10 feet tall. The whole day was intense. I didn't go on the last rapid because it was a 5 and a half and I knew it would flip and I was right. I went on the mild raft. After rafting we drove 40 minutes through villages and went to a campsite and ate this huge meal. It was awkward driving through the villages knowing that we would be having this huge meal soon. But the meal was really good and we took lots of pictures on this gorgeous balcony over the Nile. It was a great day even though I got scared sometimes. 

Experiencing it for Myself

Well I have been in Africa for 6 days already. Its pretty intense. Our hotel is very beautiful, well the gardens are not the building itself. I don't really know what else to say cause, it's a bit overwhelming. I know this really cool guy in our group named David Tari who is critiquing everything I type right now. And Tom this guy that is from Uganda is awsome too. Tomorrow we are going rafting. I am glad we don't have class!!YAYAYY!!!! People in our group have been having very deep conversations lately about the meaning of life and the trinity. I don't really participate because I feel like I am already dealing with so much from this culture that questioning where I come from and my faith would make it more difficult for me right now. But I feel like the people in my group are really struggling and I can see them wrestling with these issues. I am hesitant to say anything in their discussions because they just look at me and wonder why I am not dealing with the same ideas they are; or at least that is what I get from their expressions.
I didn't feel like I would have culture shock here because I didn't leave with any expectations but I feel like it is creeping up on me and I don't know what to do because no one else really has any show of it. We have been going to different places for our service learning in the afternoons- some people have gone to AIDS organizations and others to software programs, and others to disability services and have come back with really heavy thoughts about their day, but I have been at the source for 3 days now just experiencing the company and the people.
All of this is a growing process and I hope that I will come away with some new ideas, questions and experiences. It is hard for me to put my thoughts into words because this is such a different culture and the people here have such a different world view that I have no idea where to begin and there really is no way to describe it until you experience it for yourselves. This trip yes it is good, but it is very very hard and I am blown away by the fact that I have even more that I have to see and learn. Dear Lord please help me!