Monday, June 2, 2008

ants, elephants and madaraka day...

good morning friends and family! today is a glorious day--it is a holiday in kenya and i got to sleep in. so nice. i am now leisurely writing this blog, sorting through the many gifts i bought/got ripped off for at the market yesterday, and im hoping to get a football game together later on today. most people left the mission station this weekend--as it is a 3 day holiday. i am so thankful to just BE HERE.

this weekend was awesome. here is a re-cap.

sat--went on a hike from kijabe (where i live) to hopefully see a waterfall. i mentioned this previously. anywho, it was a pretty large group including my LEGS team, an MD and his wife, 2 college guys staying with them, and 2 armed guides. what was supposed to be a 2 hr hike---took 4.5 hrs b/c the guides misunderstood our desire to the see "the highest/biggest waterfall" to mean...we want to hike to the highest place. well....this led us up a path that was NOT a path...the soil was wet from rain last night....and there were HUGE ants all over the place. all you could hear were people screaming...and slapping their legs. i was slightly annoyed....b/c we finally get to the waterfall...and its small and not impressive. the terrain was impressive but its hard to be impressed...when you have HUGE ants (which i later learned--desire to rip off a piece of flesh) climbing up your pant legs and heading due north. we all hauled tail down the mtn to get to the stream...to strip and pick them off one another. a classic trip.

sat night a few of us went into nairobi for dinner with the Gokens (the MDs family) and the 2 college guys. it was an outdoor sitting venue but a food court style arrangement with food from all over the world. i opted for thai...not to be disappointed. for an appetizer--an ostrich sandwich. had to try it while i am here. tastes a bit like beef but more gamey in flavor. interesting none the less. also to be noted--had a MARVELOUS latte.

sunday was a blast--we piled into a van and went to nairobi. first stop, AN ELEPHANT ORPHANAGE!!!!! im telling you...i kindly "guided" people out of my way as i wanted to see the little guys. i ended up getting a great place to stand and for an hour--we watched, touched, and took pics of 7 baby elephants. such a fun experience. only a thigh-level rope divided them from us--plus they all had "handlers"--so at one point, a medium-sized elephant walks towards us and backs into my friend, trevor...and stepped on his foot. the crowd was laughing. so yes, i saw an elephant. im not quite satisfied...as i want to see one in the wild. one day.

from there--we had ethiopian food again. so fun. they bring out 2 HUGE platter of veggies and unidentifiable meat (which i steer clear of)--and you eat with your hands and these rolls of sponge-like bread. it is surprisingly tasty. next--MASAI MARKET--the masia are a tribe known for their warriors, artwork, ect. i picked up some additional gifts and things i dont need :)

regarding last week's seminar--i think it went well. i can not read the crowd--b/c they are so culturally different. typically, in a physical therapy setting--people are asking questions and talking--but here, they sit very still and listen. all in all, i hope the information transferred and if not--i gave them books :)

this is my last week here--which blows my mind. when i think about all the places i have been since arriving and all the people i have met--i am amazed. my life is so rich.

megs

1 comment:

Lindsey Elizabeth Burke said...

I cannot wait to see pictures from your adventure. Sounds surreal to me. One day I hope, well we (John and I) hope to go to Africa. Anyways. I am so thankful you had such a rich time. You are loved :)