Odongo and Apiyo lived in the city with their father.
They looked forward to the holidays. Not just because school was closed, but because they went to visit their grandmother. She lived in a fishing village near a large lake.
Odongo and Apiyo were excited because it was time to visit their grandmother again.
The night before, they packed their bags and got ready for the long journey to her village. They could not sleep and talked the whole night about the holiday.
Early the next morning, they left for the village in their father’s car.
They drove past mountains, wild animals and tea plantations. They counted cars and sang songs.
过了一会儿，孩子们累了，就在车里睡着了。
After a while, the children were tired and fell asleep.
Father woke up Odongo and Apiyo as they arrived in the village.
They found Nyar-Kanyada, their grandmother, resting on a mat under a tree.
Nyar-Kanyada in Luo, means ‘daughter of the people of Kanyada’. She was a strong and beautiful woman.
Nyar-Kanyada welcomed them into the house and danced around the room singing with joy.
Her grandchildren were excited to give her the presents they brought from the city.
“First open my gift,” said Odongo.
“No, my gift first!” said Apiyo.
尼亚·坎亚达打开了礼物后，用传统的习俗祝福了她的孙儿们。
After she opened the presents, Nyar-Kanyada blessed her grandchildren in a traditional way.
欧东格和阿皮尤跑出去玩儿了，他们追着蝴蝶和鸟儿，在它们后面跑。
Then Odongo and Apiyo went outside. They chased butterflies and birds.
他们还爬树，跳进湖里，溅起了很多水花。
They climbed trees and splashed in the water of the lake.
天黑了，他们回到奶奶的家里吃晚饭，但他们太累了，还没吃完，就睡着了。
When it was dark they returned to the house for dinner. Before they could finish eating, they were falling asleep!
第二天，爸爸开车回城了，把孩子们留给奶奶。
The next day, the children’s father drove back to the city leaving them with Nyar-Kanyada.
欧东格和阿皮尤帮助奶奶做家务。他们帮奶奶拎水，运柴。他们还帮奶奶从鸡窝里拿鸡蛋，在花园里摘蔬菜。
Odongo and Apiyo helped their grandmother with household chores. They fetched water and firewood. They collected eggs from the chickens and picked greens from the garden.
尼亚·坎亚达教他们煮乌咖喱，还教他们怎么做和烤鱼一起吃的椰子饭。
Nyar-Kanyada taught her grandchildren to make soft ugali to eat with stew. She showed them how to make coconut rice to eat with roast fish.
One morning, Odongo took his grandmother’s cows to graze. They ran onto a neighbour’s farm.
The farmer was angry with Odongo. He threatened to keep the cows for eating his crops. After that day, the boy made sure that the cows did not get into trouble again.
On another day, the children went to the marketplace with Nyar-Kanyada. She had a stall selling vegetables, sugar and soap.
Apiyo liked to tell customers the price of items. Odongo would pack the items that customers bought.
这天的工作结束后，他们坐在一起喝茶，帮奶奶数了数这天赚到的钱。
At the end of the day they drank chai tea together. They helped grandmother to count the money she earned.
But too soon the holidays were over and the children had to go back to the city.
Nyar-Kanyada gave Odongo a cap and Apiyo a sweater. She packed food for their journey.
When their father came to fetch them, they did not want to leave. The children begged Nyar-Kanyada to go with them to the city.
She smiled and said, “I am too old for the city. I will be waiting for you to come to my village again.”
欧东格和阿皮尤紧紧地抱着她，跟她告别。
Odongo and Apiyo both hugged her tightly and said goodbye.
When Odongo and Apiyo went back to school they told their friends about life in the village. Some children felt that life in the city was good. Others felt that the village was better.
But most of all, everyone agreed that Odongo and Apiyo had a wonderful grandmother!
Violet Otieno
Catherine Groenewald
Vicky Liu
Zhuo Sun
Chinese (Mandarin)
Level 4
