Hello all! This past weekend (Thursday afternoon-sunday morning) we had our town homestay. Hannah and I stayed with a family who actually lived in a village just outside of town. Now don't let that fool you. I'm pretty sure our house was the biggest and nicest in the village. House quality varied throughout. We had to ride with our Mama Christina from town in to the village on a dala-dala (like their busing system in large van type vehicles). Once in the village we got off and walked up to a big gate. My thought was 'oh there must be some houses behind here in a gated community.' Nope. The gate was for their house. All around their house there were gardens that Baba planted. Absolutely beautiful. The house had 3 bedrooms, a living room, dining room, two storage rooms and a garage (Which contained their mitsubishi). The ceilings were all ten foot. The living room had 4 couches and 4 chairs lining the walls. We had a whole entertainment center. Hannah and I shared a bed in a room shared with their "servant girl" Zuwena.
Zuwena did pretty much everything-cleaning, laundry, dishes, cooking. I would say she is around 16. Mama is a receptionist at the Diocese of Ruaha. Baba is a mechanic I believe. There were two sons- Givin (10) and Filipo (8). They both attend school. They have a daughter, Prisca, who is 13 but she was not there as she is away at boarding school. The whole family, except Zuwena, spoke English which was super nice.
One night Baba came in to the living room and told us he was going to check on his small farm (we were unaware of this at the time) and asked if we wanted to come with. We said definitely! So we hopped in his very old but super cool mint green car. The boys also came with us while Mama and Zuwena stayed back making dinner. We drove a little bit to another part of the village. On the way there he stopped the car at a shop and rolled down his window and bought us some bottles of pop. We then got to his farm. He has 3 acres of land with mango, potatoes, maize and beans growing. He also owns 20 goats there! One was just born a few days ago. So cute! It was a lovely farm and he was so proud of it. On the way home we stopped at Mkwawa Magic Site. It was a small zoo in the middle of the village! Totally unexpected. We saw baboons, monkeys, crocodiles, flamingos, pythons, a variety of birds and two ostriches! Behind the zoo they had a playground area, grass area for events and even a huge lounge area. There were little places to hang out, dining area, drink places, music and a river running through. It was so nice and random! I think that was my favorite outing. Baba is so funny :)
We ate SO MUCH. Mama was determined we always needed more. I was never hungry. The food was amazing though! Dinner was always interesting. We ate in the living room because Baba loves the tv. We watched this really strange and poorly made soap opera. At times it was disturbing. At other times it was downright funny. Baba said it was a Kenyan channel.
Well I can go on and on about my host family but that's all I'll say til I get home. We had a great time. This coming Tuesday we are going to spend a few days with the Maasai! I am super excited. Hope all is well wherever life finds you. Love and miss you all!
Bethany
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Monday, February 13, 2012
Lions, Giraffes, Hippos oh my!
Hello all!
I'm not gonna do a long post because I have things to do in town, but I will lot you know about our trip to Ruaha National Park! We were there for two nights. We saw giraffes, hippos, elephants, kudu, mongooses, and even LIONS! In one day we saw a total of 19 lions! Our first sighting was of a pride of 10 lions out with some elephants who went to lay down under a tree. Later on our evening game drive (around sunset) we found a group of nine- 4 females and 5 cubs. Boy were the little cubs cute! Eli took our car off rode and drove right up. One of the mamas was about 10 feet from my window. Insane! We're all safe. No worries :)
The first morning there I woke up in my banda to the sound of hippos outside. It was right on the river where a lot are. In the morning they were returning to the river after a night of feasting. What a cool alarm clock that was! I sat on our front porch and watched a beautiful sunrise. I looked across the Great Ruaha River and saw a mother and baby hippo on the grass.
The next morning we had a game drive at 6:30 mainly devoted to birds. It was darker than normal. Hippos are out of the water when the sun is not out. Hippos walk around our bandas at night (Maasai men escort us back after dinner). Therefore this morning was slightly dangerous to be venturing out up to the main dining area. As me and Hannah are walking we see Lisa and Angie (Chaplain and nurse) drive in a car near us and tell us to hop in. They were driving trying to pick up walkers knowing it's more dangerous. We continue driving looking for people. Suddenly we see 5 of the girls booking it for our car. They all cram in to the middle seat breathing quickly. We learn that they were running from a hippo. It came in front of them (about 10 feet from Torie in front) across the path. Let me remind you that hippos are VERY dangerous animals. So they just ran. Luckily it scared the hippo a bit and they made it safely. Glad we were there at the right time! After the adrenaline wore off they could laugh about it.
Well I think that's all I'll share for now. This weekend we have our town homestay so look forward to hearing about that! Love and miss you all!
I'm not gonna do a long post because I have things to do in town, but I will lot you know about our trip to Ruaha National Park! We were there for two nights. We saw giraffes, hippos, elephants, kudu, mongooses, and even LIONS! In one day we saw a total of 19 lions! Our first sighting was of a pride of 10 lions out with some elephants who went to lay down under a tree. Later on our evening game drive (around sunset) we found a group of nine- 4 females and 5 cubs. Boy were the little cubs cute! Eli took our car off rode and drove right up. One of the mamas was about 10 feet from my window. Insane! We're all safe. No worries :)
The first morning there I woke up in my banda to the sound of hippos outside. It was right on the river where a lot are. In the morning they were returning to the river after a night of feasting. What a cool alarm clock that was! I sat on our front porch and watched a beautiful sunrise. I looked across the Great Ruaha River and saw a mother and baby hippo on the grass.
The next morning we had a game drive at 6:30 mainly devoted to birds. It was darker than normal. Hippos are out of the water when the sun is not out. Hippos walk around our bandas at night (Maasai men escort us back after dinner). Therefore this morning was slightly dangerous to be venturing out up to the main dining area. As me and Hannah are walking we see Lisa and Angie (Chaplain and nurse) drive in a car near us and tell us to hop in. They were driving trying to pick up walkers knowing it's more dangerous. We continue driving looking for people. Suddenly we see 5 of the girls booking it for our car. They all cram in to the middle seat breathing quickly. We learn that they were running from a hippo. It came in front of them (about 10 feet from Torie in front) across the path. Let me remind you that hippos are VERY dangerous animals. So they just ran. Luckily it scared the hippo a bit and they made it safely. Glad we were there at the right time! After the adrenaline wore off they could laugh about it.
Well I think that's all I'll share for now. This weekend we have our town homestay so look forward to hearing about that! Love and miss you all!
Monday, February 6, 2012
"If You Wanna Learn About Culture, Don't Ask a Fish"
Well the title is just one of the very funny quotes that get uttered every morning in class. This one is from Dr.A.
Well Sorry I didn't get a post out last week. I'll try to do a run down of some things that have happened here. Since my last post we have been at campus. Classes are going well. We have reading every night and next week we will start running in to our first quizzes and tests! We also have a project for Bio for the semester and a bird journal so all you Houghton students, don't think we're slacking here :) Swahili is still intense but our teacher is awesome and I think we're all learning quickly.
I wanna tell you about my new friend Horatio. He is the parchment spider who has taken up residence in mine and Hannah's banda. He only comes at night and leaves in the morning. He stays on the ceiling and does not bother me (our terms are clear in order to keep the friendship). He just eats bugs all night while I sleep peacefully. He's about 3-4 inches wide and super duper flat. Google one because I can't get my pictures on to the computer right now. I have gotten used to him and sleep just fine. I know. Crazy for me to say! What is Africa doing to me?!
The other day some of us walked to the local village and talked to some people. It was very difficult to communicate but I know this is the best way for us to learn. We also played with kids. They're super fun. We didn't have much to play with but we were creative and figured out how to get them smiling. On our walk back home, a group of boys (ages 5-10?) Walked us about halfway. They were fun to run around with during the long walk. I'll be sure to go back lots more. It's fun to walk around and hear kids yell "Wazungu Wazungu!" ("White people").
Yesterday we went to our first African church. It's a pentecostal church that one of our cooks pastors. It was fun and we were able to sing for them, along with introducing ourselves. The service was two hours long. Afterwards we were outside with some very shy kids. They were a tough crowd to play with! Some of the boys decided to chase some. They made a girl cry. Way to go. Giving white people a good stigma! At least the parents were laughing! They also gave us all bottles of pop which was very sweet.
Once a week we've been having story time with Bwana. We go up to the Knapp's and sing and then hear Dr. A tell some of his life stories. They are so awesome to hear! What an amazing testimony his life is!
I have been having a blast getting to spend lots of time with the Knapp children, Indigo and Ezra. Such a joy! Indie isn't talking but she's starting to get my name. She's 14 months and has finally started walking on her own!
I think that's all I have for now. Wednesday we leave for Ruaha National Park so hopsfully I'll have lots of stories then! Love and miss you all!
Bethany
Well Sorry I didn't get a post out last week. I'll try to do a run down of some things that have happened here. Since my last post we have been at campus. Classes are going well. We have reading every night and next week we will start running in to our first quizzes and tests! We also have a project for Bio for the semester and a bird journal so all you Houghton students, don't think we're slacking here :) Swahili is still intense but our teacher is awesome and I think we're all learning quickly.
I wanna tell you about my new friend Horatio. He is the parchment spider who has taken up residence in mine and Hannah's banda. He only comes at night and leaves in the morning. He stays on the ceiling and does not bother me (our terms are clear in order to keep the friendship). He just eats bugs all night while I sleep peacefully. He's about 3-4 inches wide and super duper flat. Google one because I can't get my pictures on to the computer right now. I have gotten used to him and sleep just fine. I know. Crazy for me to say! What is Africa doing to me?!
The other day some of us walked to the local village and talked to some people. It was very difficult to communicate but I know this is the best way for us to learn. We also played with kids. They're super fun. We didn't have much to play with but we were creative and figured out how to get them smiling. On our walk back home, a group of boys (ages 5-10?) Walked us about halfway. They were fun to run around with during the long walk. I'll be sure to go back lots more. It's fun to walk around and hear kids yell "Wazungu Wazungu!" ("White people").
Yesterday we went to our first African church. It's a pentecostal church that one of our cooks pastors. It was fun and we were able to sing for them, along with introducing ourselves. The service was two hours long. Afterwards we were outside with some very shy kids. They were a tough crowd to play with! Some of the boys decided to chase some. They made a girl cry. Way to go. Giving white people a good stigma! At least the parents were laughing! They also gave us all bottles of pop which was very sweet.
Once a week we've been having story time with Bwana. We go up to the Knapp's and sing and then hear Dr. A tell some of his life stories. They are so awesome to hear! What an amazing testimony his life is!
I have been having a blast getting to spend lots of time with the Knapp children, Indigo and Ezra. Such a joy! Indie isn't talking but she's starting to get my name. She's 14 months and has finally started walking on her own!
I think that's all I have for now. Wednesday we leave for Ruaha National Park so hopsfully I'll have lots of stories then! Love and miss you all!
Bethany
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