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The day I left home for the city The day I left home for the city El día que dejé mi casa para irme a la ciudad

Written by Lesley Koyi, Ursula Nafula

Illustrated by Brian Wambi

Read by Darshan Soni

Language English

Level Level 3

Narrate full story

Reading speed

Autoplay story


The small bus stop in my village was busy with people and overloaded buses. On the ground were even more things to load. Touts were shouting the names where their buses were going.

The small bus stop in my village was busy with people and overloaded buses. On the ground were even more things to load. Touts were shouting the names where their buses were going.

La pequeña parada de autobuses de mi aldea estaba llena de gente y de autobuses sobrecargados. En el suelo había aun más cosas por cargar. Los pregoneros anunciaban los lugares a los que iban sus autobuses.


“City! City! Going west!” I heard a tout shouting. That was the bus I needed to catch.

“City! City! Going west!” I heard a tout shouting. That was the bus I needed to catch.

“¡A la ciudad! ¡A la ciudad! ¡Autobús hacia el oeste!” escuché que gritaba un pregonero. Ése era el autobús que yo necesitaba tomar.


The city bus was almost full, but more people were still pushing to get on. Some packed their luggage under the bus. Others put theirs on the racks inside.

The city bus was almost full, but more people were still pushing to get on. Some packed their luggage under the bus. Others put theirs on the racks inside.

Aunque el autobús con destino a la ciudad estaba casi lleno, había más gente empujando para subirse. Algunos ponían su equipaje en la parte de abajo. Otros lo ponían en las repisas de adentro.


New passengers clutched their tickets as they looked for somewhere to sit in the crowded bus. Women with young children made them comfortable for the long journey.

New passengers clutched their tickets as they looked for somewhere to sit in the crowded bus. Women with young children made them comfortable for the long journey.

Los pasajeros recién llegados se subían al autobús con sus boletos en mano buscando un asiento. Las mujeres con hijos pequeños los confortaban para el largo viaje.


I squeezed in next to a window. The person sitting next to me was holding tightly to a green plastic bag. He wore old sandals, a worn out coat, and he looked nervous.

I squeezed in next to a window. The person sitting next to me was holding tightly to a green plastic bag. He wore old sandals, a worn out coat, and he looked nervous.

Me apretujé al lado de una ventana. La persona a mi lado sujetaba con fuerza una bolsa de plástico verde. Llevaba sandalias viejas, un abrigo harapiento, y se veía nervioso.


I looked outside the bus and realised that I was leaving my village, the place where I had grown up. I was going to the big city.

I looked outside the bus and realised that I was leaving my village, the place where I had grown up. I was going to the big city.

Miré por la ventana del autobús y me di cuenta de que estaba dejando atrás mi aldea, el lugar donde había crecido. Ahora me iba a la gran ciudad.


The loading was completed and all passengers were seated. Hawkers still pushed their way into the bus to sell their goods to the passengers. Everyone was shouting the names of what was available for sale. The words sounded funny to me.

The loading was completed and all passengers were seated. Hawkers still pushed their way into the bus to sell their goods to the passengers. Everyone was shouting the names of what was available for sale. The words sounded funny to me.

Terminaron de cargar el autobús y todos los pasajeros se sentaron. Los vendedores ambulantes se apretujaron para entrar a venderle sus productos a los pasajeros. Gritaban los nombres de lo que tenían para vender. Las palabras me parecían graciosas.


A few passengers bought drinks, others bought small snacks and began to chew. Those who did not have any money, like me, just watched.

A few passengers bought drinks, others bought small snacks and began to chew. Those who did not have any money, like me, just watched.

Algunos pasajeros compraron bebidas, otros compraron pequeños refrigerios y empezaron a comer. Los que no tenían dinero, como yo, solamente nos quedamos mirando.


These activities were interrupted by the hooting of the bus, a sign that we were ready to leave. The tout yelled at the hawkers to get out.

These activities were interrupted by the hooting of the bus, a sign that we were ready to leave. The tout yelled at the hawkers to get out.

Todo este ajetreo fue interrumpido por el claxon del autobús, señal de que estábamos listos para partir. El pregonero gritó a los vendedores ambulantes para que se bajaran.


Hawkers pushed each other to make their way out of the bus. Some gave back change to the travellers. Others made last minute attempts to sell more items.

Hawkers pushed each other to make their way out of the bus. Some gave back change to the travellers. Others made last minute attempts to sell more items.

Los vendedores ambulantes se empujaban para salir del autobús. Algunos le entregaron su cambio a los pasajeros. Otros intentaron vender productos por última vez.


As the bus left the bus stop, I stared out of the window. I wondered if I would ever go back to my village again.

As the bus left the bus stop, I stared out of the window. I wondered if I would ever go back to my village again.

Mientras el autobús partía desde la estación, miré por la ventana. Me preguntaba si alguna vez volvería a mi aldea.


As the journey progressed, the inside of the bus got very hot. I closed my eyes hoping to sleep.

As the journey progressed, the inside of the bus got very hot. I closed my eyes hoping to sleep.

A medida que pasaba el tiempo, el autobús se puso muy caluroso. Cerré los ojos con la esperanza de quedarme dormido.


But my mind drifted back home. Will my mother be safe? Will my rabbits fetch any money? Will my brother remember to water my tree seedlings?

But my mind drifted back home. Will my mother be safe? Will my rabbits fetch any money? Will my brother remember to water my tree seedlings?

Pero volví a pensar en mi casa. ¿Estará a salvo mi madre? ¿Traerán dinero mis conejos? ¿Se acordará mi hermano de regar los árboles que planté?


On the way, I memorised the name of the place where my uncle lived in the big city. I was still mumbling it when I fell asleep.

On the way, I memorised the name of the place where my uncle lived in the big city. I was still mumbling it when I fell asleep.

Mientras viajaba, recitaba el nombre del lugar donde vivía mi tío en la gran ciudad. Seguí murmurando ese nombre mientras dormía.


Nine hours later, I woke up with loud banging and calling for passengers going back to my village. I grabbed my small bag and jumped out of the bus.

Nine hours later, I woke up with loud banging and calling for passengers going back to my village. I grabbed my small bag and jumped out of the bus.

Nueve horas más tarde, desperté escuchando fuertes golpeteos y gritos llamando a los pasajeros que viajaban de vuelta a mi aldea. Tomé mi pequeño morral y me bajé del autobús.


The return bus was filling up quickly. Soon it would make its way back east. The most important thing for me now, was to start looking for my uncle’s house.

The return bus was filling up quickly. Soon it would make its way back east. The most important thing for me now, was to start looking for my uncle’s house.

El autobús de vuelta a mi aldea se llenó rápidamente. Pronto empezaría su viaje de vuelta al este. Por ahora, lo más importante para mí era empezar a buscar la casa de mi tío.


Written by: Lesley Koyi, Ursula Nafula
Illustrated by: Brian Wambi
Read by: Darshan Soni
Language: English
Level: Level 3
Source: The day I left home for the city from African Storybook
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
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