Pictures!

Here are some pictures! ENJOY!

Kisumu Pictures Part 2
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Safari Pictures!
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African Safari!

If you are looking for something to add to your list of things to do before you die add an Africa Safari in the Masai Mara (Kenya)/Serengeti (Tanzania). I went to the Masai Mara a few days ago and it was ABSOLUTELY AMAZING! It seemed to go on forever and was BEAUTIFUL. The Masai Mara is about 6 hours south of Kisumu, right by the border of Tanzania. The Mara and the Serengeti are basically the same place and share the same ecosystem, the name just changes when you cross the border. The first day we arrived we did a game drive and saw some ostriches, zebras, gazelles and other really cool birds. We visited a Masai village then got settled into camp. Nelson, who took care of us in Nairobi, is a part of an organization started by the Masai to help educate women and the tribe about female genital mutilation and has started a camp for Masai girls to educate them and give them a chance to go to school rather than go through the circumcision process and be married off. The camp we stayed in is part of that project and the profits go to support the project. Pretty interesting stuff. While staying at the camp, the Masai work as security guard to keep the lions and other animals away. No Joke. It also gave us a chance to talk with them about their lives. It is amazing how different our lives are, yet how alike we can be. Here were a group of American and Masai 20 somethings sitting around a camp fire just talking and joking having a good time .

Ok so a little about the Masai. They are one of the most respected tribes in Africa. Chances are if you have a picture, statue or some kind of souvenir from east Africa it is Masai. They live in small villages and raise cattle. They stretch out their earlobes and were tons and tons of beaded jewelry. The major event in their lives is when it is time for a boy to become a man and get married. He and a group of his age mates must go out and kill a lion. Their stories about it are pretty amazing... and in some cases really funny. They then get circumcised and go through a series of rituals. The practice polygamy and can have as many wives as they can support. The women build adobe houses out of cow dung and mud. We got to visit our friends mothers house. It is dark, no more than two "rooms" and a place for beds made out of cow skins with a fire place for a kitchen. Not quite what we are used to but hey, its home.

Now the Safari.. SO COOL! We saw giraffes, zebras, warthogs, wilder beast, gazelles, antelopes, monkeys and 3 out 5 of the Big 5 : elephants, buffalo, and LIONS! I was not more than 10 feet away from a pack of lioness hunting a heard of zebras and wilder beast. This was certainly NOT the zoo. This is definitely where you get the lion king version of Africa image from. The animals, the endless golden grasslands and those flat trees.

Funny story: So we are sitting there eating lunch and behold a group of monkeys come. They were distant and first and then started getting a little more bold. I moved because one was trying to get my sandwich. I stand up and turn to get my juice box and this monkey takes it, OPENS IT, then drinks it. I couldn't believe it. About 10 minutes later Joe is eating a banana and a monkey comes and steals it out of his hands! It's crazy that squirrels and pigeons to us in the states is the equivalent to these little monkeys. TIA!

It was such an amazing time and highly recommended. It was also great to see other parts of Kenya and get out of Kisumu for a couple days. Oh... I didn't even tell you about the sunsets...GORGEOUS

Meanwhile back in Kisumu...

I can't believe this trip is almost over. It seems as if right when you finally get into the groove of things and become adjusted and comfortable, it is time go. Today a woman got on a Matatu with 20 chickens and it didn't even seem out f the ordinary. People all around town know who I am and know that were are that group from Abila. It will be so sad to say good-bye :(

This last week will be spent finish up the projects including the kids club, work at St. Annes and a few other smaller projects around the center such as the HIV/AIDS wall and getting the donated printer/fax/copier/scanner working (Good Job Porsha!). The exhibition a couple weeks ago went ok. It had rained so much and everything was so muddy that it was hard to get around. The exhibit looked very nice though and we will hang the pictures on the wall of the center.

That is all for now and I will let you know it all ends in a week! The saga continues...


-Stacey