Thursday, May 21, 2009

Safari

Hey Everyone,

So after my last two posts about work in Zambia, my Mom and Aunt Pan came to visit. So... We took 14 days of vacation, including lots of days of Safari and a visit to Victoria Falls. The Safaris were incredible - seeing lots of wildlife VERY close. We got to see Leopards feeding, Lions and cubs drinking, Elephants grazing, and many other scenes unique to African Gameparks including Wild Dogs. For pictures, talk to either Sherry or Pan - they have all the pictures I took as well as some of their own, and the internet speed to upload them. Maybe one of the technologically savy people reading this can even give phone instructions to my Mom about how to load the pictures onto Facebook or some other photo website for easy viewing.

The Safari days were very relaxing. Most involved waking before 6 am, a mid-day nap, and 4 meals a day. We were mostly in tented camps (not rustic as they sound, but quite luxurious). I never thought that "camping" would be an upgrade in lifestyle, but considering how I live in the village it was quite an improvement. Camps with flush toilets, spring-coiled beds, plusch pillows, and 3-course meals were the norm. We even got some free upgrades to Lodges in a few cases. While I really enjoyed the company of Mom and Pan, I struggled, especially at first, adjusting to the luxurious (and I hesitate to say, wasteful) lifestyle to which I am no longer accustomed. The pretentiousness of our fellow guests at some of the lodges was also difficult to handle at times, but after a few nights I was able to cope a bit and (hopefully) not let any exasperation show.

It was a wonderful experience, and one I'll never forget. Nor would I have been able to afford such luxuries without help, so thanks to Mom and Pan for being wonderful company and dragging me along. However, the trip also encouraged me to continue my future vacations in a more low-key, culturally integrated way. I encourage anyone who travels abroad, and can manage to live a lifestyle which is a bit uncomfortable and uncertain at times, to: Stay at motels run by locals, eat local food, learn local customs, and learn a bit of local language (you'd be shocked how your reception changes when you know how to say 'hello'). Anyways, I would never change the wonderful trip I've just experienced, however I will be traveling without an itinerary for the rest of my time here in Africa.

Okay, enough rambling... Some quick trip highlights:
- Eating dinner when a 2000 Pound Bull Elephant strolled 10 meters away through camp
- Following a Lioness to her den, where we viewed her weeks old cubs playing and exploring the area outside the den
- Watching a Leopard climb a tree and munch on some Impala, teasing the Hyenas below
- Teaching our guide Jakes to play Spades (unfortunately the Women edged out in a closely-contested grudge match)
- The collusion of my Zambian and American Families

The last part of the journey involved 3 days in my village with Mom and Pan. My favorite part -the families really got along well. I think it enable the two of them to see Africa in a much different light than most who just safari and don't really experience the culture. Also, it will enable them to understand the work I'm doing and the perspective I'm gaining in a 1st-hand way thats just not possible without seeing this beautiful, troubled country. After some wonderful cultural exchange, including a puff-adder encounter, cooking chicken and pig, and making Nshima (see pictures) everyone involved was left with a better understanding of World cultures.

All in all, the trip was wonderful, and I'm excited to get back to the village and continue working. The fish pond has almost been repaired, and pictures will be coming when that is complete (the work has gone rapidly by Zambian standards). All my best to those at home, and for more about the trip talk with Pan or Mom.

- Justin