Mwisho means "The End" in Swahili...
I can't believe I fly home tomorrow. I'm so excited to see everyone but I'm really sad to be leaving. Coming to Kenya has really changed my life. I'm not the same person now as I was nine weeks ago. It's incredible to think about how much a person can change in such a short period of time.
I was talking with Julie and her family the other night about how amazed I am at the lives we've been given. Being in Kenya has really made me look at my life and the world around me more. There are so many bad things that can happen throughout life. When a baby is born there are endless lists of complications that could happen. When people grow up it's insane to think about all of the bad things that can happen to them. Knowing all of that, I think about my own life. I was born with all five fingers and all five toes. I have had pretty good health most of my life. I was born into an incredible family and I found a group of supportive friends. Being in Kenya I've really thought about all of the different environments that I could have been born into. That fact that I was born in America alone is a huge blessing. I have the opportunity to make something of myself. That is an opportunity that most don't get. The people in Kenya rely on tourists to bring in the little money they recieve. Half of the people I have met here have college degrees and there are no jobs available for them. What is so incredible to me is the spirit I see. These people who are educated and so qualified for jobs that they can't get don't just sit around and pout. Instead these people are out volunteering in their country. They are teaching about HIV/AIDS, poverty, and disease. They truly bring hope to people who are hopeless. I'm just in awe when I am able to sit down and talk with these people.
I would love to say that I am going to come home and just live life like I should; but I'm human and I know I'll come home and probably get really impatient at times, make a million and one mistakes, and not be as grateful as I should be. Every morning I am going to try and wake up and thank God for the day and all of the good thinsg he has give me. I am going to especially try to remember what's really important in life. It really is the small things that matter the most.
I will never forget the beauty, joy, and immense peace I have experienced here. Kenya has a big place in my heart. I hope more than anything I can make it back someday.
If you have read this blog for the past nine weeks I'm impressed.
Thank you, for all of your love and support...
I'm the happiest girl in the whole USA :)
"There is a place where the earth meets the sky and that is the end" ~Maasai Saying
Thursday, December 18, 2008
Monday, December 15, 2008
Hakuna Matata
Safari was INCREDIBLE!
We started in the Masai Mara and stayed in these big green army tents that had the nicest shower I have seen since I've been here. We went out the first night we arrived, the next day, and then for a few hours on that third morning.
I saw every kind of animal imaginable. I was so close to a lion that I could have reached out and touched it. It was insane! I also saw elephants, giraffes, hyenas, zebra, impalas, african cape buffalo, topi, crowned cranes, wart hogs (the Lion King nailed Pumba's character), hippo, rhinos, and so much more. Nothing I have seen compares to the beauty of the Masai Mara. The cool thing is that you have to look for the animals. It's not like you just drive down the road and there they all are. We had to listen over the radio to other safari vans and figure out where different animals were. Julie's dad had a nice pair of binoculars so he spotted a few animals for us. I was hoping we would see all of the big five, but we never saw a leopard. We did see a cheetah though! It was the coolest thing ever. We were just busting through the Masai Mara; dirt was flying everywhere and we were all bumping in our seats. The chase was on! Then all of a sudden we see two cheetahs on the prowl. They're really fast so I only got a few pictures of them. It was a really exciting morning.
A guy named Mark joined us on the safari. He was traveling alone so it was cheaper for him to join a group. I was so glad that he came with us. He was really funny and very interesting to talk to. He was such a gentleman and always opened the van door for us. If we walked around and he was in front he would look back to make sure I was okay. When we went to the Maasai village he stayed outside and just played with the kids. He could of been my perfect guy if he weren't 36 and from England. Maybe on my next adventure :).
The Maasai are a tribal group that live in the Masai Mara and surrounding areas. They live very animalistically and they are very interesting. We were able to go inside a village to meet them and do some dances with them.
The Maasai Culture:
*All of the Maasai wear some form of red on their bodies. The color scares the animals and makes it easier for them to spot one another in the bush.
*At the age of 10 boys get their ears pierced. If they are going to go to school they get the upper ear pierced. If they are not going to school they get gaged ears, which are huge.
*At the age of 15 the boys are circumcised in a public ceremony. They are also sent to live in the bush for 5 years to become warriors. Most of them will kill a lion before they return to the village.
*At the age of 25 a man is suppose to get married. Men can marry from 25 to 30 or when they have enough money for a dowry. A Maasai man must give 10 cows to marry a Maasai women. Their first marriage is arranged for them and then after that they can pick wives. A man can have up to 6 wives. (If you haven't noticed by now EVERYTHING is about the men!)
* The Maasai live in one village for 9 years and then move because of the termite damage.
*The higher a man can jump the less cows he has to give as a dowry.
*The Maasai believe all cows are theirs and they go as far as Tanzania to "re-claim" their cows.
*The houses they live in are made from cow manure.
*Women must build the house they will live in with their husbands by themselves. It takes them 5 months to build one house.
*The women must share a full sized bed with three children. The children are newborns to five years old.
*When a child turns six he/she must live in their own homes.
*Men get a king sized bed all to themselves.
*Their diet consists of blood, meat, and milk.
One of the Maasai men asked me to marry him. YEAH RIGHT!
After safari was over we came to Naivasha, which is where I currently am. We biked through Hell's Gate yesterday. Let's just say that I feel like I was beaten badly with a stick and then put to bed. Our guide decided we should bike from the hostel we're staying in which added another 6 miles to our trip. The way there and to the gorge wasn't too bad. It was 3 miles from our hostel and then another 5 miles from the park entrance to the gorge. It was downhill the whole way so I was loving it. You don't bike on paved road though. The road is thick sand and gravel. So the ride is fun until you have to bike 8 miles uphill in sand and gravel, after you have gone on a two hour hike. I thought I was never going to make it. I definitely got my workout in for the week. It was really beautiful there. We biked through these huge canyons and there were zebra and giraffe's crossing the road in front of us. I couldn't believe we got that close to them. Julie's cousin Mary tried rock climbing for the first time while we were there at the age of forty. I hope I'm that adventerous and in shape at forty.
Today is a day of rest. Thank goodness! Tomorrow I am going on a boat ride and a hike through a crater. Then it's back to Nairobi until I fly out.
I should be able to write one final blog before I go and then I'll be home before you know it.
"The best remedy for those who are afraid, lonely or unhappy is to go outside, somewhere where they can be quiet, alone with the heavens, nature and God. Because only then does one feel that all is as it should be and that God wishes to see people happy, amidst the simple beauty of nature." ~ Anne Frank
Monday, December 8, 2008
I kissed a Giraffe and I liked it...(sung to the tune of "I kissed a girl")
My time in Mombasa was wonderful and very relaxing. I completed all of my papers so I am officially a college graduate now :). It feels so good!
The last day we were in Mombasa we saw camels on the beach. They wanted ten dollars to ride for thirty minutes. Hilary and TaVonna took them up on it and cruised down the beach. Julie and I are on an extreme budget and we didn't want to pay that much. When Hil and T'Von got back I talked the guy into letting us ride ten minutes for two dollars. It was so cool to ride a camel down the beach next to the Indian Ocean.
On Sunday night we arrived in Nairobi and checked into the youth hostel. They wanted us to pay 800 shillings a night, but we told them we have been living here for seven weeks now and we wanted resident price. After a little back and forth the man agreed to 500 shillings per night. It's so funny to me that you can negotiate a hotel price. That would never happen in the states.
Today we went to the Sheldrick Center to see orphaned baby elephants. They were adorable! They don't know how to use their trunks yet so their supervisors have to help them. They played with eachother and rolled around in the mud. It was so exciting to see an elephant that close and I was able to pet them :).
After we saw the elephants we went to the Giraffe Center. I almost cried when I saw that first giraffe. I just couldn't believe I was seeing one that close up. We fed them and kissed them! I put a pellet of food in my mouth and Laura the giraffe just came in for it. I have a great picture of her kissing me. They had artwork done by children for sale at the Center. These kids from all over Kenya have created different pictures to help save the endangered animals and the environment. You could buy any picture on the wall for ten dollars. I saw a picture of a rhino that I just had to have. On the back it tells you who created it and where they live. My picture was done by a six year old little girl in Mombasa. She is extremely talented. I'm going to frame it when I get home and put it in my future classroom.
I leave for Safari on Wednesday and I am SO excited. We met with out guide today. His name is Simon. They have hot airballon rides on the Masai Mara for $450 but Simon says he can get us a booking for $150. I really hope we can do it because it would be beyond indredible.
Hopefully I can update my blog one or two more times before I fly home. I'll be on Safari for four days and then I'll be biking in Hell's Gate. It may be a solid week before I get to the internet again.
"Don't ask yourself what the world needs, ask yourself what makes you come alive. And then go do that, because what the world needs is people who have come alive." ~Howard Thurman
The last day we were in Mombasa we saw camels on the beach. They wanted ten dollars to ride for thirty minutes. Hilary and TaVonna took them up on it and cruised down the beach. Julie and I are on an extreme budget and we didn't want to pay that much. When Hil and T'Von got back I talked the guy into letting us ride ten minutes for two dollars. It was so cool to ride a camel down the beach next to the Indian Ocean.
On Sunday night we arrived in Nairobi and checked into the youth hostel. They wanted us to pay 800 shillings a night, but we told them we have been living here for seven weeks now and we wanted resident price. After a little back and forth the man agreed to 500 shillings per night. It's so funny to me that you can negotiate a hotel price. That would never happen in the states.
Today we went to the Sheldrick Center to see orphaned baby elephants. They were adorable! They don't know how to use their trunks yet so their supervisors have to help them. They played with eachother and rolled around in the mud. It was so exciting to see an elephant that close and I was able to pet them :).
After we saw the elephants we went to the Giraffe Center. I almost cried when I saw that first giraffe. I just couldn't believe I was seeing one that close up. We fed them and kissed them! I put a pellet of food in my mouth and Laura the giraffe just came in for it. I have a great picture of her kissing me. They had artwork done by children for sale at the Center. These kids from all over Kenya have created different pictures to help save the endangered animals and the environment. You could buy any picture on the wall for ten dollars. I saw a picture of a rhino that I just had to have. On the back it tells you who created it and where they live. My picture was done by a six year old little girl in Mombasa. She is extremely talented. I'm going to frame it when I get home and put it in my future classroom.
I leave for Safari on Wednesday and I am SO excited. We met with out guide today. His name is Simon. They have hot airballon rides on the Masai Mara for $450 but Simon says he can get us a booking for $150. I really hope we can do it because it would be beyond indredible.
Hopefully I can update my blog one or two more times before I fly home. I'll be on Safari for four days and then I'll be biking in Hell's Gate. It may be a solid week before I get to the internet again.
"Don't ask yourself what the world needs, ask yourself what makes you come alive. And then go do that, because what the world needs is people who have come alive." ~Howard Thurman
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Trail of Tears to Mombasa (pictures have been added)
On Saturday night all of the volunteers went to the Sharif's home for dinner. They are an Indian family who owns restaurants and grocery stores in Bungoma and Mumias. Their house was insane to say the least. They had not one, but two showers. They let all of us shower at their house and they cooked for us. I had the spiciest meat I've ever eaten. I think it tasted extra spicy because all of the other food here is so bland. It was nice to have a great last meal and shower before I left for Mombasa.
During dinner I was talking about Fred (my favorite Kenyan) a lot because I had gone to his house for lunch that afternoon. He has three boys named Griffin, Fayne, and Anon. His wife is named Elizabeth. They are the most darling family and I am in love with little Anon. He was a round ball of joy and it was easy to see how much he loved his dad. Fred is just wonderful as I've said before and I would do anything I can to help him. He had told Josh and I that he wanted to start a little business and sell some clothes. He isn't being paid by ICODEI so he is really struggling. Well once I started talking about him at dinner everyone decided they wanted to help his as well. Before I knew it we had come up with 15,000 ksh to give him, which is $200 American Dollars. I was only able to donate a little amount considering my financial situation but some other volunteers gave up to $75. I am just over the moon about being able to help him. I wish all of you could meet him in person. Hopefully he can save enough money to come and visit America one day. Josh is going to give him the money in a few weeks. I wont be there when he gets it but I know he is really going to appreciate it.
Sunday morning I had to say good-bye to everyone on the farm and I just cried and cried. I never thought it was going to be so hard to leave. I felt okay when I woke up in the morning but when it came time to hug everyone the tears came. I'm going to miss everyone so much. It didn't help that Fred drove us to the bus stop. He gave me a hug when I left, which is a big deal because people just shake hands here. When he drove away I just cried harder. I'm really going to miss him and I wish all of the best for him.
Twenty-two hours, two buses, and one car ride later I arrived in Mombasa. It is beautiful here! I am staying in a cottage with three other girls right on the beach and it is only costing us $60 each for the entire week. Not bad! There are monkeys everywhere. Yesterday one of them reached in our cottage and stole TaVonna's oreos. It was hilarious. This morning I woke up to monkeys jumping on our roof. I love the little guys but the locals hate them because they are so mischievious.
Today we woke up early and went snorkeling. We took the cheap route and got what we paid for. Bungee (our guide) picked us up in his hand made wooden cruiser. Then he gave us some faulty equipment that leaked. I did see some pretty fish and gorgeous star fish. The experience was funny, so I had a good time. I'm excited to see what else Mombasa has in store for me. Oh wow that rhymed. I'm so funny :)!
Just one more week until my safari. I'm stoked!
Pictures Explained:
I don't know what order these pictures will be in when they are posted so I will just generally describe them. One is of Fred and I. The other is of me with a little boy named Nathan that I adore. The two little boys and the other little boy in the green unifroms were some students at Epico that I loved. The pictures on the water are of me on the Indian Ocean. One is of Hilary and I with some sweet hats that we bought. The other is of Julie, Hilary, and I after we were done snorkeling. The little bot and little girl I have my arms around are James and Marcy. They are brother and sister and I spent a lot of time playing with them. The three girls in one of the pictures with me are the girls I am currently traveling with. The picture of the large crowd of kids was taken when I planted some crops in Isongo. If you look closely you can tell that the little girl on the bottom right is wailing. She had never seen a white person before and she was horrified. I was trying to show her that we don't bite :). Then the baboon! Too bad you can't see his large pink rear :)
"Don't show them your cover, turn to your most exciting chapter and read from it!" - Beauty and the Geek
During dinner I was talking about Fred (my favorite Kenyan) a lot because I had gone to his house for lunch that afternoon. He has three boys named Griffin, Fayne, and Anon. His wife is named Elizabeth. They are the most darling family and I am in love with little Anon. He was a round ball of joy and it was easy to see how much he loved his dad. Fred is just wonderful as I've said before and I would do anything I can to help him. He had told Josh and I that he wanted to start a little business and sell some clothes. He isn't being paid by ICODEI so he is really struggling. Well once I started talking about him at dinner everyone decided they wanted to help his as well. Before I knew it we had come up with 15,000 ksh to give him, which is $200 American Dollars. I was only able to donate a little amount considering my financial situation but some other volunteers gave up to $75. I am just over the moon about being able to help him. I wish all of you could meet him in person. Hopefully he can save enough money to come and visit America one day. Josh is going to give him the money in a few weeks. I wont be there when he gets it but I know he is really going to appreciate it.
Sunday morning I had to say good-bye to everyone on the farm and I just cried and cried. I never thought it was going to be so hard to leave. I felt okay when I woke up in the morning but when it came time to hug everyone the tears came. I'm going to miss everyone so much. It didn't help that Fred drove us to the bus stop. He gave me a hug when I left, which is a big deal because people just shake hands here. When he drove away I just cried harder. I'm really going to miss him and I wish all of the best for him.
Twenty-two hours, two buses, and one car ride later I arrived in Mombasa. It is beautiful here! I am staying in a cottage with three other girls right on the beach and it is only costing us $60 each for the entire week. Not bad! There are monkeys everywhere. Yesterday one of them reached in our cottage and stole TaVonna's oreos. It was hilarious. This morning I woke up to monkeys jumping on our roof. I love the little guys but the locals hate them because they are so mischievious.
Today we woke up early and went snorkeling. We took the cheap route and got what we paid for. Bungee (our guide) picked us up in his hand made wooden cruiser. Then he gave us some faulty equipment that leaked. I did see some pretty fish and gorgeous star fish. The experience was funny, so I had a good time. I'm excited to see what else Mombasa has in store for me. Oh wow that rhymed. I'm so funny :)!
Just one more week until my safari. I'm stoked!
Pictures Explained:
I don't know what order these pictures will be in when they are posted so I will just generally describe them. One is of Fred and I. The other is of me with a little boy named Nathan that I adore. The two little boys and the other little boy in the green unifroms were some students at Epico that I loved. The pictures on the water are of me on the Indian Ocean. One is of Hilary and I with some sweet hats that we bought. The other is of Julie, Hilary, and I after we were done snorkeling. The little bot and little girl I have my arms around are James and Marcy. They are brother and sister and I spent a lot of time playing with them. The three girls in one of the pictures with me are the girls I am currently traveling with. The picture of the large crowd of kids was taken when I planted some crops in Isongo. If you look closely you can tell that the little girl on the bottom right is wailing. She had never seen a white person before and she was horrified. I was trying to show her that we don't bite :). Then the baboon! Too bad you can't see his large pink rear :)
"Don't show them your cover, turn to your most exciting chapter and read from it!" - Beauty and the Geek
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