Just when you think everything is ok

At the Pinyudo Refugee Camp in Ethiopia is going very well. Jacob, Oscar,Willy and Monyoor have been living at the camp for 3 years. The boys have been receiving schooling at the camp from a man named Matthew, the boys do not like school and seem more interested in being a soldier. "All that work for nothing Monyoor said angrily. "Three years of our lives we put into that camp!"(Page 153) Just when life was getting better for the boys they were chased out of the camp by soldiers and they had to return to southern Sudan once again. When they get to the raging river that caused so many deaths the first time across they tried the same technique. But in efforts to get across Oscar was taken by the river. The importance of what happen'd in this part of this book is a huge eye opener for Jacob. Jacob doesn't have very many close family or friends in this huge group so when Oscar goes missing this really makes Jacob sad and mad. So when Majok tries to bully Jacob once again Jacob finally fights back and beats up Majok. This was also an eye opener for Jacob, he was sickened by the blood of Majok on his fists and he thought of what a horrible thing he just did. Jacob at that moment realizes that war is not the answer. Jacob forgets how much he wants to be a soldier and he know sees the importance of the schooling when he gets an opportunity, and also how frightening and scary conflict can be. He also sees how important it is to be strong for the people around you and how to stop when the point is made. Jacob could have killed Majok but he chose not to and to leave the impression he was no longer to be messed with. Jacobs ideals i think changed after the fight, he stopped focussing on how he could change his situation with violence and how he could change his situation with words.-SK