Fabulous Week!

December 13^th 2011 Today I am beginning a 4 day vacation; I will say I am feeling a lot better about things. It was so good to be able to connect with my family. I was able to talk to Jamii, and Jared online tonight; it made a world of difference in how I am feeling. In talking with some other individuals about my current placement, I was able to find out there are many red flags which are a cause for concern. I thought maybe I was just crazy, I guess not. I will be talking to a woman about changing my placement when I return. Our day began early we were on the road by 8:00 am It's a very long  7 hr, drive to the rest camp at Murchison Falls.

Today was such an amazing day full of interesting sights to see along the way. We saw at least 50 baboons on the road once we got into the park of Murchison Falls. It gives you a strange feeling to see that kind of animal right on the road, out in the wild Once we arrived at the falls we had a somewhat short, but quite challenging hike to where the outlook was; it was so worth every difficult step. I do not believe I have ever seen falls so magnificent. I took lots of pictures, and some video so I don't ever forget this moment. When I see all of this I think back on my childhood dreams of coming to Africa, and somehow it doesn't seem real. Standing there overlooking the falls was a very emotional moment for me, one I didn't have any idea would effect me the way it did. I was so full of both emotion, and gratitude for this beautiful place; it was so very surreal. We will be spending the next two nights in a safari rest camp. When we arrived there were three warthogs on property. I almost wanted to break out in song “hakuna Matata” from the Lion King, but I refrained. It made me smile nonetheless.

I am told Hippopotamus come up to the rest camp in the evenings to feed on the grass; and I am staying in a tent. I figured though, since this was a legitimate tour camp they would not put their guests in danger.

 After a very nice supper, and visiting with my new friends we were told a Hippopotamus had entered the camp. Now I really was nervous, but was assured everything was fine. When it became time to go to my tent I became very nervous about the hippopotamus. As I made my way with the company of some friends to our tents we saw the shadow of a very large hippopotamus. Oh My Heck! It was right in from of my tent! We all became terrified, but the staff of the property said they could get him to go away. The staff member began throwing rocks at the hippopotamus, and all that did was make him mad. We were all crouched down behind this skinny scrawny man who supposedly knew what he was doing. He was finally able to redirect the hippopotamus, and I ran into my tent, feeling somewhat safe. My tent-mate and I spent quite a while just listening to the hippopotamus grazing on the grass outside our tent. I heard the next morning the staff member ended up making the hippopotamus mad, and getting the men into their tents ended up being quite a challenge.

What an amazing story I now have to tell.

December 14^th 2011

Today was a beautiful day! I saw so many things I didn't think for a moment I would ever see in my lifetime. We began our day very early again 6:30 am for our safari drive. Just before we arrived to the area we would be traveling we saw some giraffe; this gave me chills to see these large animals so close by, and in the wild. The feeling was indescribable; and can't even begin to tell you what it was like, as we watched 4 very large giraffe eating from the trees. AMAZING! Along the way the views were breathtaking, and the animals were beautiful. Watching them in their natural habitat gave you a better understanding of these animals. I saw Jackson Hauntabeast, several kinds of Antelope, wild Bull, Wildebeest, Hippopotamus, Elephants, Gila Monster, and several species of birds. The Elephants were huge; so much bigger, and so much healthier than what you see in a zoo. Seeing these animals was so very amazing; and like I said an experience I never thought in a million years I would have in my lifetime.

Later that evening we took a boat trip down the Nile to see the falls from a different place. Along the way we once again saw so many beautiful animals; the Elephants had to be my favorite. There was one very large Elephant drinking from the Nile, and also bathing himself in the river. We were even able to see some crocodile, the river is quite full of them; keeping your arms and legs inside the boat at all times is quite essential. Once we arrived to the place you could see Murchison Falls I was brought to tears once again. I am so thankful for being here and all I am able to see and experience. My life is so full of amazing experiences. I have only God to thank for this.

Tomorrow we will be going to an area where we will be able to track Rhinoceros, then back to the lodge in Kampala for the night.

When I returned to Kampala I was able to connect with Fiona from Project Princess. She was so very kind to come out and talk to me about the possibility of changing placements.

After speaking with her she confirmed my concerns about my placement at Kin Initiative. Fiona will be picking me up tomorrow, and taking me to her home for the rest of my time here. Saying goodbye to the children at Kin was very difficult. It was not the children that had done anything wrong, and I was trying to assure them I cared about each and everyone of them. I felt bad for the children; it was a very tearful goodbye.