Hamjambo blog readers! Sorry for the long delay. The past
week has been spent mostly in class and doing assignments.
So, I have been here now for over two weeks. They have been
the weirdest, dirtiest, sweatiest, most difficult and terrifying two weeks of
my life! Yet at the same time, they have been the most fun, exciting, and
happy. I have learned SO much about Africa, the Maasai, wildlife, and myself.
Anyways, like I said, much of this last week has been spent
in class. Even so…we weren’t always indoors. For instance, we had three
different lectures last week which involved hiking up hills. That was the scary
part! Scary for me, anyway. The first one was pretty easy. It wasn’t too steep
or anything but the ground around here is so rocky that going down was pretty
hard. The second one was a bit steeper. I was completely wiped by the time we
reached the top. Once I saw the view from the top, though, I realized it was
worth the effort! Unfortunately, my camera didn’t come with me to that field
lecture. The way down that hill was very slow for me. My classmates were good
sports for waiting for me out in the hot sun! My good friends Anna and Becca
helped me down and even Dr. Kiringe made the descent with me. As for the third
lecture, Dr. Shem actually approached me and said he didn’t think it would be a
good idea for me to go…as in it was too steep, tall, wouldn’t have been safe
for me, etc. I really love my professors here!
On Monday we had a non-program day, so we got to do whatever
we wanted. One of my classmates here got pretty sick last week and had to go to
the local clinic (she’s actually in Nairobi as I’m writing this and will most
likely be going back home to the States L)
and she suggested that we donate blood there as a way to give back to a
community which has been so kind and welcoming to us. So…that’s what we did. I
was nervous at first about how clean and safe everything would be, but
everything checked out. Before we donated, the manager of the clinic (Mbirikani
Group Ranch Clinic…which is funded by some rich lady from Chicago) gave us a
tour of the whole facility. One of the things he showed us was the special refrigerator
where they keep the blood that’s donated there. Inside this fridge there was
one half-pint bag of blood. There were easily a hundred people waiting outside
the clinic and many in the clinic as well who could use blood transfusions.
Especially since sickle cell anemia is so common in Africa, their demand for
blood is high. My heart sank when I saw that one tiny bag of blood. Even though
I always feel a little crappy afterwards, I love to donate blood. Especially
since I’m O+ and anyone can use my blood. The doctor who took care of me
thanked god when she saw what my blood type was and told me they would be using
it that night. Let me tell you, never in my life have I been treated so well by
doctors and nurses. I despise hospitals in the US. Somehow this place was
different. I could tell everyone working there really loved it because they are
making a real difference in their community. Even though I felt awful for the
rest of the day and slept for 12+ hours to recover, I’m so glad I gave blood
there. I saved someone’s life!
Tuesday was a community service day. We went to a local
primary school to play with and teach the kids. I got to hang out with class 5,
with students ranging from 10 to 15 years old. We taught them about animals in
North America and brought them some pictures of wolves, bears, deer, etc. to
color. They loved it! After that we played some games and they recited a poem
called “What a Sight to Behold” all about wildlife and how it should be “guarded
more than gold.” It was a beautiful poem…I really wish I had written it down.
Unfortunately, my camera missed this trip as well. After that all the classes
came together outside and played a game of soccer against us students (I
watched). I’m pretty sure the kids won. I’m still not really sure how I felt
about going there. Don’t get me wrong…it was fun. And I’m pretty sure we made
their week…but it just seemed like they were a bunch of kids getting to be kids
for the first time in a really long time.
Yesterday, for our Environmental Policy class, we did a
transect walk of the landscape of the Amboseli Ecosystem (which includes
Amboseli NP and the surrounding area). Basically, we were split up into groups
with a local guide who took us along a 4km path through farms and forests and
grasslands, etc. We had to take notes about the landscape, how the land was
being used by the locals, and interview any locals we ran into along the way.
As is the way around here, everyone was incredibly welcoming and willing to
help us out (I learned yesterday that the Maasai believe that turning away any
visitor, whether friend or stranger, will bring a curse upon them. So that
explains a lot). I got to talk to some really cool people. At one of the farms
we passed through, we met an elderly couple who we talked to for a long time.
After they answered all of our questions, they told us about their youngest son
who had recently been bitten by a snake. The Kenya Wildlife Service (which is
in charge of all wildlife in Kenya on behalf of the government) wouldn’t help
them. The flesh on this boys leg was rotting away and they couldn’t afford to take
him to Nairobi for proper care (they offered to show us pictures but we
politely declined). I had 1000 shillings in my pocket (about $12) so I gave it
to them. I figured it would be of more use to them whether they were telling
the truth or not. The boy’s mother said a prayer for me and blessed me with
good health and good fortune. Even though it was a terribly long walk, the gods
blessed us with cloud cover so it wasn’t too hot, and we stopped pretty often
to talk to people so I didn’t get too tired.
Later today we are going to another Maasai Boma (this one
staged for tourists, they want us to compare it to the real one we went to
before). Tomorrow we have our Maasai Homestay. I’m super nervous about this…we’ll
be staying with a Maasai family for the day to help them with their daily
chores and tasks. Tomorrow night the staff is having a goat roast for us! A
goat roast is the traditional Maasai celebration/welcome/special occasion
ceremony. They’re gonna throw some animal physiology in there by showing us the
organs and teaching us about ruminants. Saturday (my birthday!!!!!) we are
going back to Amboseli NP to work with the Kenya Wildlife Service to do a
census! We get to drive off-road wherever we want in our designated sections of
the park in order to count, age, and gender every animal we see. I am beyond
excited for this!!!!!! Not even Kenyan students ever get to work with the KWS…this
is truly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity! The data we collect is going to KWS’
database to help them monitor their populations within the park. BEST BIRTHDAY
EVER!
I am going to try to write these blog things more often! I’m
already starting to forget details of the things we’ve done or how they made me
feel and it’s frustrating trying to write a weeks-worth of events into one
entry. So I’m gonna try.
Swahili phrase: ninakupenda – I love you
