In A Long Walk to Water, Salva had to adapt to a new culture to become an American. When Salva discovered that he was one of the “lost boys”getting re-homed in America, he didn’t think it was him. Salva explains, “He might be wrong. It might be another boy named Salva. I won’t look too soon… from far away, I might see a name that looks like mine,and I need …show more content…
One of these times was when Salva and his travel group were in Lion Country. While traveling, Salva managed to make a friend within the group. His name was Marail. While sleeping one night, Salva said, “Marial was gone, vanished in the night”(40). Salva discussed that he had a near death experience while crossing the Gilo River, which was infested with crocodiles“...Salva was forced under water without the time to take breaths. Salva struggled, kicking and clawing until there was no air left… suddenly the little boy lets go. For a moment he could only gasp and choke, but when his vision cleared, he saw why the boy let go… he was shot in the neck”(78). While beginning the groups traveling Salva and a buddy named Buska from the group found a bee’s nest full of honey in a tree. The group decided to cut the nest open and get honey. “Honey! This night they would feast!”(25) said Salva. Salva explained how “Buska’s forearms were lumpy and raw, he had a fat lip and Salva’s had a been swollen shut by the bees… the bees were swarming and stinging a …show more content…
Salva lost his all of his family besides his father. His family was still in Loun-Ariik, while Salva was at school when his town was attacked “...Into the bush... Don’t run home. They are going to be going into the villages. Stay away from the villages- run into the bush”(6) said Salva’s teacher. Uncle told Salva “The town of Loun Ariik was attacked and probably burned.. Your family...Few people survived the attack on the village”(59-60). Uncle was the only other family member that Salva had while traveling. While traveling through the Akobo Desert there were people who wanted the group’s belongings. The people put the group in a circle, they say Uncle’s gun and asked if he was with the rebels. Even though Uncle said no they still put Uncle on a tree, and “Salva watched them as they aim the gun at Uncle.. Then three shots rang out and the men ran away”(63) Salva remembered. Salva had lived in a refugee camp for six years. The camp was all of a sudden being closed, the people of the government chased all of the people of the camp to the Gilo river. The Gilo was infested with crocodiles. Salva told a story where he watched a young boy jump into the water, “The young boy was making progress through the river… until he was jerked oddly once or twice… a moment later he was pulled under, and a cloud of red stained the water”(77-78). Due to these losses Salva became a