Thursday, December 9

SIT is officially over now.  It was strange to say goodbye to everyone as we all parted ways.  Today, I traveled to the Ilula Orphan Program.  I left at 5:00 am (in the dark) to walk to the bus station.  We departed at 5:45, and slowly began to make our way toward Ilula.  There were dozens of police checkpoints to stop at along the way.  At one of the these, the officer boarded the bus and addressed the passengers to tell us that we were speeding, and that we should tell the driver to slow down if it happens again!  At another checkpoint, an officer walked straight to me, asked for my passport, and then left.  Do I stand out that much?  I knew I should be nearing my stop, and I saw the sign for it, so I started to get off the bus.  But then, people tried to help me, got confused, and told me it wasn't my stop.  I waited and got off at the next stop, which someone told me was mine.  I soon realized that it wasn't the right one.  So, I was alone, in the dark, and lost.  Luckily I was able to text the woman from the orphanage and ask them to pick me up there instead.  Some nice people brought me inside their restaurant to wait.  Tulia arrived in a pick up truck with all of the girls from the orphanage crammed into the back to greet me.  I finally arrived at the orphanage after 14.5 hours of traveling!  Everyone was very welcoming and the girls sang and danced for me!