What is today? No wait, what month is it?

Today it is 11:47 pm on Saturday, October 15, 2011.

My perception of time has completely gone astray, and today is no exception. In Swahili class we learned how to tell time and they read the English clock different than the English system and so now I am even more confused. And it’s not just on what time it is. I usually have no clue what day of the week it is, which is usually one of the defining factors of life back at college, knowing the day of the month is rare and unusual. I even still think it’s September most days and wrote the wrong year a few times... This is the best way I know how to describe how time goes here. It is so slow that I feel like I have been here years with how many things I have experienced and done, but at the same time I think about my time here approaching six weeks and I literally cannot comprehend it because nothing in me will believe that is true.

I feel like I blogged a few days ago, and then I pulled out my computer and realized it was two weeks, and couldn’t believe it. But then when I listed all of the things I have done and accomplished in that time, I couldn’t believe it had only been two weeks.

Two weeks ago I had one of the most incredible experiences of my whole life up to this point. I traveled to the Ngorongoro Crater and saw things few people have ever seen with their own eyes. The crater itself is said to be one of the 8^th wonders of the world because of its beauty. The drive down into the crater is terrifying as the slender road zags along the rim and then dives down steep roads into Where the Wild Things Are. It is unlike anything else with the combination of fear and adventure surrounded by towering walls and shallow lakes with hidden forests behind them.  It began with spotting two black rhinos, which are one of the most endangered large mammals, which I was incredibly lucky to view. Then a pair of ostriches performed their mating dance with elegant wing formations. Hyenas prowled on a heard of wildebeest, while a jackal watched nearby. A pride of female lions basked on the banks of a river enjoying the cool shade of the trees. And then the highlight of the day: a female cheetah was within five feet of our rover, and was just finishing her kill. I was privileged enough to watch her stroll among the vehicles and plop down in the shade to gain a little rest after the over exerting hunt. I couldn’t believe how majestic she looked wandering within the grass, panting and licking the blood off of her chin.

Hopefully I can post more pictures soon of this incredible experience, because no matter how many words I write, I will never be able to come close to illustrating the beauty, mystery and adventure of this magical place.

After this experience, it felt like waking up from a long dream to have to go back to class the next day. Luckily, our professors had many interesting lectures in store for us that completely captured my attention. A few days after we were able to travel to Mto Wa Mbu and hear about a farm there that is using an irrigation system as well as crop rotation. Yeah, this may sound boring, but picture this: 32 of us sitting under these enormous banana plantations surrounded by green crops on any side with the canal of water feet away. We were privileged enough to walk along the stream and fields. There were many women, some with infants strapped onto their backs, working hard to harvest the fields. Many of them were so diligent in their work that they did not even raise their eyes to view these strange mzungos watching them.

A few days after we traveled to many different organizations throughout the area that are coming up with ideas of alternative fuel sources, as almost all of the people here must still use fire wood to cook, which is causing a huge deforestation problem that is affecting the people and the ecosystems. Many of the places we traveled also had tree nurseries in which they would distribute these trees for people to plant within their land. One business is in the process of creating more efficient bricks for the buildings here.

Our next non program day we had the opportunity of a life time. I didn’t think anything could rival the Ngorongoro safari, but this experience came in close second. We went to Lake Manyara again, however this time we were able to bike through area outside the park to the lake. This trail took us through more banana plantations, acacia forests (watch out for those thorns…) and finally into the grasslands, which had herds of zebra, wildebeest, impala and buffalo grazing nearby. We were able to bike very near these fascinating creatures, which I thought I would only ever seen in moves and magazines. Once we arrived near the lake, we hike to the edge of the water, (through the combination of mud and flamingo poo) and were able to catch glimpses of the flamingo flocks off in the distance. Truly incredible. On the way back he took us to a local shops where we were able to view the town artists at work, as well as the woodsmen who do the beautiful wooden carvings. We were also fortunate to visit a momma who brews local banana beer, which is a tradition within this city. We were able to try it and it was one of the strangest things I have ever tasted.

Just when I thought the day, or week, or last 2 months, couldn’t get any better, we traveled that afternoon to a place called “Gibb’s Farm”. Wow. It left me speechless and my mouth hurt from smiling so much throughout the day. This “farm” as it is so called, is extremely deceptive, as it is more a combination of a local organic farm and tourist lodging, as well as a coffee plantation. It is set on the hill side of the Ngorongoro park, near a path that I hike a few weeks previously in which female elephants take at night, and has a view that overlooks the mountains and farms of the rural Tanzanian people. Absolutely stunning. When we arrived, they even had a bathroom designed to overlook the view. He gave us a tour of the local livestock they keep for beef, pork, chicken and milk and saw the largest pig of my life.

Next he showed us the endless fresh, organic vegetable garden. It stretched for miles with literally any vegetable you can imagine. I have never missed a salad so much in my life. He showed us where they harvest to coffee and were the lookout posts for the elephants are, as well as the signal/ camp fire is. He then took us to a little garden tucked away in the coffee plantations that had gorgeous flowers and trees blooming with violet blossoms next to streams and creeks and I felt like I was in a fairy tale. We then got to try their coffee and I knew I had to be dreaming. It was the most amazing drink of my life, and star bucks will never taste good again. I fully intend to return to this fantasy farm someday…

My absolute favorite activity so far as been the second trip we took to volunteer at the orphanage. My student affairs manager put me and one other girl in charge of planning a mural in one of the bed rooms that we had painted last time. We sketched out all of the main large mammals of Africa that were known to tromp across any young American’s dreams. When we got there, we only had two hours to complete the sketch that I had spent hours and hours putting together, and I felt incredibly downcast as I knew for sure there was no way we would be able to put together what we had created on paper the night before. But I was determined to try. We got everyone to add in what they could offer  - which was anywhere from grass and tree painting, to unrealized talents of bringing zebras and elephants to life upon the walls. With brushes and paints flying across the room and students scrambling on tables, and often one another, I was finally able to catch a breath at the end and stare at what we had accomplished. My jaw completed dropped. The scene was real and majestic, with a leopard lying in the famous baobab tree with a giraffe nibbling nearby and a roaring lion underneath. The next wall over a rhino and a zebra graze, and a gorilla and elephant look on from the wall behind. It was gorgeous and perfect. By far the best team mural I have ever had the pleasure of being a part of. The children were so excited and curious, and couldn’t wait to look at. I truly felt at home combing my love of painting, animals and children into one project and I felt as though it was something I could spend the rest of my life loving every minute of. I am so excited to spend time with the orphans in Kenya, and hope that they might let me complete some art projects there as well.

I did something out of character for me and joined a formal soccer team in our group here that was scheduled to play the secondary school in the village. As this is one of the few sports they have here, the team is outstandingly good and I almost ran from the game as our team approached the field and no less than 300 children were ready to watch the match begin. I was appointed as goal keeper – even though I have never played this before (let alone soccer in the last 11 years) – and was terrified at being the sole reason our team would lose. I did let in several goals, but I saved at least double the amount let in. I was thoroughly surprised. One of my local friends, Valentine, got a kick out of my efforts and we made jokes about how I was a “good goalie” because I let in goals that allowed her team to win. I said next time I should be the goalie for her team and she should see how really good I am then. J

The next week was the most difficult I have had here yet, as we finished up our final lectures and had to prepare for our finals here – which I felt most unready for. Luckily after days of nothing monotonous studying and reading the finals were underway and went without a hitch. I was highly frustrated during this time as people dug back into their old study habits that they would have back in America and had complete panic attacks over these tests. I had so much trouble gaining any motivation to care for the tests and something as arbitrary as a grade in a study abroad program when I thought of the problems and cares of the people right outside our gates. I wondered why it is so easy to care about a grade on a test, yet so hard for us to gain more perspective to care about the people’s real problems that have ailed them endlessly.

I finished my last final today and rejoiced, even though it made me miss my friends back at home. But even more exciting than finishing finals is the next adventure I have to embark upon. In a few short hours, 6 to be precise, we travel to the near mythical land of Serengeti National Park and get to camp there for 4 days. I can hardly contain my excitement and it feels like I am a child getting ready to go to Disney land. We spent all day packing and preparing food and water and going over safetly protocols. We will literally be camping in an area that is known to have wildlife approach (such as lions and hyenas) and we will definitely be hearing them while we sleep. We have 4 solid days of game drives filled with lions lying under the Rovers and finally getting to spot a Leopard. One Day we rest at the lodge and swim and get to have desert! I can hardly wait and I am not sure I will be able to sleep tonight from excitement. While there I won’t have internet but be sure I will write about it when I return! Pray for safe travels and experience that will last a life time.