Kids

Hitchhiking is the most common form of transportation within Africa. It is pretty safe and traveling within such a large group gives us confidence that we are safe in picking people up. Yesterday (5-24-10) on our way home from Beetsha a group of children flagged down our car. I was driving and TaTa translated for me. We thought that they wanted a ride to Seronga (about 35 km from where we were), so they got in the back of the pickup and we took off. About 2 km later they pounded on the top of the truck and asked me to stop. They all jumped out, there were about 6 in all, and proceeded to run back towards where we picked them up. Turns out they had not ridden in a car for several weeks and just wanted to do it. They had no need for a ride but for the fun of it. It was pretty hilarous. TaTa said that we were through picking people up, but yet we picked on 2 the next morning.

These were pretty young kids too. The age range was 6-10 I would guess. Tells you a bit on how safe it is here that people let their kids hitchhike for the fun. Can you imagine something like that in the states? Before coming here people asked me if I was concerned for my safetly, and I was a bit hesitant to answer. Turns out people are perfectly lovely, and the wildlife is what to be concerned with. Case in point, we got to listen to the lion roar like crazy last night. At least it was fairly distant.