Dwelling On Africa

David is pretty much known as the “worrier” around work, well that, and Mr. Obvious.  So when I brought up the idea that I would love him to go to Africa he kinda looked at me with the “huh” reaction.  You all know that Africa has opened my eyes and heart to so much. It really is a place you must experience, a story could not do it justice.

He agreed to go mainly cuz he knew how bad I wanted him to go.  Gosh, I love him.  Every night he’d say, “Honey, I just love you and the boys so much that I don’t want to go”.  He was quite nervous.  All he knew of Africa is was what he’s seen on TV about terrorists and travel warnings from the govt.  Yes, he reads those things.  And when I say “it’s not like that at all” he doesn’t listen.

It’s kinda like if you were in a foreign country and watched the news about the US you might think our school are dangerous everywhere. (I hate to use that as an example but I feel it’s the easiest one to relate too). So David only sees stories of terrorism and thinks all of Africa is that way.  I’m like, the news dwells on bad stuff.  You hear it over and over and now you are judging an entire country because of 3 or 4 news stories?

Well, David made me so happy and was actually a bit excited to leave on Friday.  And I must add, I’m so proud. I know he went for the sole reason of making me happy. Okay, I really think he went to conquer his fears and curiousity too!

So here’s the latest update text from him.  (Ignore the typos and such, he has a good excuse, I do notNotice what he’s still dwelling on.  Oh that boy!! Oh, and notice all the explanation points…

DAY 1: 8 hour flight from Detroit to Amsterdam. Watched Argo on flight. Freaked me out. It was about The true story of US hostages in Iran. not a good movie to watch when you’re on your way to a foreign land you’ve never been to before. Thought I was going to throw up multiple times. Eventually fell asleep and got over it. 4 hour lay over in Amsterdam. Bought the boys a cool souvenir. Boarded plane for Nairobi, another 8 hours. Very smooth flight. Played Tetris and pacman, no movies after Argo experience last time. Landed in Nairobi, crazy airport. Small narrow hallways, smelly. Lots of advertising just like a big airport. Got luggage, got stopped by customs for my hockey bag full of soccer and footballs. Almost had to pay taxes, but Mark talked our way out of it. Boarded cars for Nairobi Tented Camp. Had no idea where we were going. Drove to what we thought was the entrance, and a lady with a machine gun comes out!! Told us we needed to go to main entrance of Nairobi National Park. Got there. Park rangers greeted us and were very nice (even though they had machine guns too). Drove a LONG way into park after opening gate (gated so lions and tigers and other animals don’t escape). Very very rough terrain. Saw silhouettes of giraffes in the darkness. Very cool.

Arrived to the site at midnight and it was very nice!!! Torches lit the way to our tents and the main tent. Very strange that we were just out in the open in the park with free range killing animals around. We had to be escorted to our tents to make sure we weren’t attacked by lions or tigers. Very hospitable hosts. Had a midnight dinner then went to bed. Very good food. Roomed with Steve Vorderman. Laid their for a few minutes thinking to myself “I am sleeping in a tent in Africa with killing animals all around me!!”. Fell right asleep after that.

DAY 2: Showered in morning. The hosts of the camp filled buckets up with hot water and then hoisted them up into a tree. Turn shower on and u have an instant (although limited) supply of hot water. It was super cool! Ate breakfast and headed out to the elephant orphanage. Took videos of elephants and some surprising wildebeests. Went back to camp and ate lunch (saw a chamelleon too!) And then headed through the national park (the long way… Hoping to see lions) on the way to the airport. Saw zebras, gazelles, ostriches (huge!), and water buffalo. Then, just as we were about to leave park, saw two lions lying under a tree with a zebra’s dead body pretty much hollowed out. Lions were resting after a big lunch! Shot video of it.

Headed to Nairobi airport, boarded flight to el doret (only 30 minute flight), landed and were greeted right away by Helen and Richard and their staff. Drove two hours to kitale… Passed lots of crazy stuff and people….just walking up and down the side of the street. Very weird. Kinda Scary. Didnt really understand what they were all doing. just hanging out i guess…but for miles and miles down the street. Got stopped by police/military with weapons. very scarey. made the guy in front of us get out. after 10 minutes i finally relaxed as one of the police officers with the huge semi-automatic weapon walked over to our vehicle, put on a huge smile an waved! whew!! Made it to karabuni, had dinner, and getting ready to head to bed. Tom and Doug in my room. Tomorrow we head to the school. Doug, Nate and I are doing songs. Had a brief meeting tonight to discuss and plan what exactly we are going to be doing. Keeping fingers crossed we do ok and that the kids like us.

DAY 3:…….

And I did not forget….Congrats to Joy Williams who was the first to know that my boys were known as The Bear and the Beast. You have to scroll down to August 16.  Joy, email Carrie at [email protected] with you name, address and sizes.