Reflexion as I'm walking in the bush: Any and everything here could potentially kill you, from the smallest scorpion to the biggest elephant. i'm comparing this to when i was in the airport observing people and using the senses that i have to stay safe... it is the same out here. Every single part of my body and mind is working and aware of my environment. i've always been aware but never like this, it is an awareness i believe will stay with me always. I'm thriving off of this new knowledge. It is important to know the ways of the bush to help me with my work. The call of a certain bird means that elephants are usually near the slight crack of a branch could be anything. The fuzzy green plant's roots have water. the poison from the Tamboti tree if put in water will make the fish come to the surface and able you to eat them safely. I want to know all of this so fast and i've been studying during my breaks and taking soo many notes but it's paying off. On the past few walks i've been able to track civet, cheetah and recognize almost of the important trees. The hardest are the birds. The calls sound the same, the spot i see flying are similar and then the names are complicated. But i'm trying really hard because the birds can tell me a lot. People here are mostly from Australia and South africa so everyone adds a ''hey'' at the end of their sentences. So much so that i no longer say 'eh' but 'hey' . The sky is amazing here, i've never seen so many stars out at night.
24th of may 9:13pm
i was out late by the fire and was the last one into bed. As i come in my room there is a scorpion awaiting me.. i dont want to seem like a wuss so I dont mind it so much and go to bed anyways. About 15 minutes later i realize i left my bag out near the fire so i get up and head back out. When i return the scorpion is closer to the door. i took a picture of it and it started walking away from the flash, so i tried to shine my headlamp on it and see if it moved away,, slowly it did. I went to sleep a bit more reassured.
25th may (in bed at twines) 8:58pm
really busy day. This week i'm assigned telemetry (the antenna like thing that you see on all the cool BBC documentaries) and general game. Two great jobs because there is a lot of work associated to general game. We drove very north in the hopes of finding a female rhino ( Zula). We din't find her but on the way back i picked up the signal on the telemetry of one of the main matriach of an elephant herd. the next hour was so exciting because we were tracking them all over the place. We finally came across the whole herd-17 elephants walking across the river and then up onto a clearing. We watched the behavior for the next 1 and a half then move on home for a well deserved lunch. it was amazing. The people here are also divided into teams and i've been put with the most experienced workers- I'm happy to be with them, and everyone thinks i'm much older- something i'm not denying of course. Hehe , I wonder when i'll ever stop lying about my age.. probably around 35 then i'll just start again but going in the other direction. :)
28th of may around the fire at Twines
I havent written in 2 days and it feels like I can't remember half of the things that i did. To sum it up - i've been bush clearing, fighting with excel and my data, cooking food, hiking, tracking, being told i'm tough, then later on crazy and then finally collasping into bed exhausted but content. On one of our walks we saw a leopard. it was amazing, we were walking (4 of us) and when we sptted it, the whole walk changed in dynamic- i've never been so quiet in my life as we followed it into the bushes. i've braided with the help of another girl my whole head, i love it!! I've also (after a week) received my bag. It's nice to have and my binoxulars were still in it, but I was managing great without it.
10:12pm (in bed at twines) (so tired)
this is the latest i've ever been to bed. But it's because tomorrow is my day off. Tonight we had a ''Braii'' South african term for BBQ and it was great fun! I'm starting to realize i'm actually here, doing this kind of work, it's sunk in and i love it- i work and hard and learn fast, my team say's its because i'm canadian. That's all i hear "She works hard.. nahh she's canadian!!!!! " it makes me laugh, ya i'm part canadien but it's me, my personallity. i love how i am out here, it's great for my esteem and wonderful to be surronded by like minded people.
Note: More entries to follow, it's been busy and sometimes things feel so far away that I can get lost within all the excitement. Know that i still think of everyone often and love you guys deeply. Thought for mom and dude here... If it wasn't for you two i wouldn't be here, and you have taught me both so much. Love you. :)
Tuesday, 31 May 2011
Thursday, 26 May 2011
Journal entries... (suite)
I'm realizing that as i'm getting less and less bored my entries are fewer and my handwritting has become sloppy with fatigue. This of course is a good thing, but now you will no longer be able to see into my deep thoughts, hey, if anyone wants to know what's going on in my head you'll have to bring out on a date hehe.
So.. 11:38 am (on translux bus)
On translux bus, going out of Pretoria. Most things so far here have made me think of Belize, there is of course some similarities but most likely i'm comparing to the closest thing that i know. My eyes are closing on me since i din't get much sleep last night and the 7 hour time change is hard to get used to, though i dont want to sleep, i dont want to miss a thing... i'm beggining to recognize myself now; exicited, curious and full of energy to explore. it feels most wonderful!
22nd may (still on bus) 4:33 pm
this has been the longest day yet, the bus ride is long and tedious. i'm almost in Hoedspruit though!! And this part of the drive is SO beautiful, high ridges and deep gorges everywhere, my ears are popping with the various rises in altitude and it is amazing.
22n may (finally off bus) 6;18 pm
This no bag thing is kinda bugging me, i'm at the the b+b now, it's so lovely. plus they are feeding me, i love when people feed me. :) i put on my new underwear, they come up and over my belly button. I lay down on the bed for a minute and almost choose it over the food. Almost.
22nd may (in BED, 1st bed of the trip!) 8:44 pm
i had a wonderful supper with the owners, and had my 1st home brewed south african beer. We ate outside; the place is in the middle of the bush and i can hear all of the sounds. Dozing off now...
23rd may (in bed at b+b, 9;18 am)
I slept like a rock, no dreams nothing. in a couple of minutes i am going to head into town (driving on the wrong side of the road) with them to meet up with the research group. Wow so exciting!!! :)
23rd may 11;11 am (hoedspruit market square)
so the couple bring me into town, and i was going to go shop and then meet up with the group... instead i'm dragged along with "the wife" shopping. i may look like a girl, but really shopping?! I'd really rather not. the wife also smokes. A lot. it has been irratated my nose and now i'm having a huge allergy attack... boo. i bought a long sleeved shirt, and some deoderant. I'll be able to manage fine on what i have for quite awhile.
23rd may hoedspruit (on bus with the research group from makalali) 3:10 pm
This is great!!! Really annoying pretty bad allergy attack today, but i'm feeling much better now. I met up with the group at lunch and they are pretty awesome really. i knew they would be but still it's awesome to be around a bunch of people like myself; bush happy people :) Only two are two girls from sweden who arrived today are much more girly, but hey they'll adapt. it's wonderful who i've immediatly connected with people.
7:26 pm (in bed at Siyafunda conservation research center) btw it gets dark at 6 pm here.
So the conservation program is split in two. The research center where data is filed, maps are kept and graphs and talks are presented. Then there is the bush camp where the hands on work is done. i'm volunteering 2 weeks at each. During the day groups go on drives and walks to track animals, note sexe, placement, behavior etc. It is great work, hard but made for me. i can't wait to start. For now though i'm completely exhausted, a bit dissapointed that i start off at the research center, i was looking forward to sleeping out in the bush right away. The sunsets here are beautiful, just like the lion king. Only thing is i'm missing my "nox" (thought for dude here). :)
5:25 am (in bed, research center -also called Twines)
About to get up for 1st day of work, yea!!!
may 24th in hammock at twines 12:27 pm
I'm tired. VERY happy though. the weather is beautiful, hot but with a nice breeze at night though it gets cold. really cold. 6 am drive is freezing too. On the drive everyone has a certain group to track, and note all the data down, afterwards it has to be filed in the computer. Hey, a monkey just ran by me!
may 24th 6:32 pm (sitting around the fire at Twines)
Wonderful first day of work, the ranger bringing us out (Declan) said i had great eyes..(not in a flirty way... though for me complimenting me on those kind of things is the way to my heart) hehe. We saw some great jackels, girrafes and many many impalas. This afternoon we went out on foot trekking and found two hippos. at the end of our walk a couple of us trekked to the top of a ridge to see the sunset. Amazing.
So.. 11:38 am (on translux bus)
On translux bus, going out of Pretoria. Most things so far here have made me think of Belize, there is of course some similarities but most likely i'm comparing to the closest thing that i know. My eyes are closing on me since i din't get much sleep last night and the 7 hour time change is hard to get used to, though i dont want to sleep, i dont want to miss a thing... i'm beggining to recognize myself now; exicited, curious and full of energy to explore. it feels most wonderful!
22nd may (still on bus) 4:33 pm
this has been the longest day yet, the bus ride is long and tedious. i'm almost in Hoedspruit though!! And this part of the drive is SO beautiful, high ridges and deep gorges everywhere, my ears are popping with the various rises in altitude and it is amazing.
22n may (finally off bus) 6;18 pm
This no bag thing is kinda bugging me, i'm at the the b+b now, it's so lovely. plus they are feeding me, i love when people feed me. :) i put on my new underwear, they come up and over my belly button. I lay down on the bed for a minute and almost choose it over the food. Almost.
22nd may (in BED, 1st bed of the trip!) 8:44 pm
i had a wonderful supper with the owners, and had my 1st home brewed south african beer. We ate outside; the place is in the middle of the bush and i can hear all of the sounds. Dozing off now...
23rd may (in bed at b+b, 9;18 am)
I slept like a rock, no dreams nothing. in a couple of minutes i am going to head into town (driving on the wrong side of the road) with them to meet up with the research group. Wow so exciting!!! :)
23rd may 11;11 am (hoedspruit market square)
so the couple bring me into town, and i was going to go shop and then meet up with the group... instead i'm dragged along with "the wife" shopping. i may look like a girl, but really shopping?! I'd really rather not. the wife also smokes. A lot. it has been irratated my nose and now i'm having a huge allergy attack... boo. i bought a long sleeved shirt, and some deoderant. I'll be able to manage fine on what i have for quite awhile.
23rd may hoedspruit (on bus with the research group from makalali) 3:10 pm
This is great!!! Really annoying pretty bad allergy attack today, but i'm feeling much better now. I met up with the group at lunch and they are pretty awesome really. i knew they would be but still it's awesome to be around a bunch of people like myself; bush happy people :) Only two are two girls from sweden who arrived today are much more girly, but hey they'll adapt. it's wonderful who i've immediatly connected with people.
7:26 pm (in bed at Siyafunda conservation research center) btw it gets dark at 6 pm here.
So the conservation program is split in two. The research center where data is filed, maps are kept and graphs and talks are presented. Then there is the bush camp where the hands on work is done. i'm volunteering 2 weeks at each. During the day groups go on drives and walks to track animals, note sexe, placement, behavior etc. It is great work, hard but made for me. i can't wait to start. For now though i'm completely exhausted, a bit dissapointed that i start off at the research center, i was looking forward to sleeping out in the bush right away. The sunsets here are beautiful, just like the lion king. Only thing is i'm missing my "nox" (thought for dude here). :)
5:25 am (in bed, research center -also called Twines)
About to get up for 1st day of work, yea!!!
may 24th in hammock at twines 12:27 pm
I'm tired. VERY happy though. the weather is beautiful, hot but with a nice breeze at night though it gets cold. really cold. 6 am drive is freezing too. On the drive everyone has a certain group to track, and note all the data down, afterwards it has to be filed in the computer. Hey, a monkey just ran by me!
may 24th 6:32 pm (sitting around the fire at Twines)
Wonderful first day of work, the ranger bringing us out (Declan) said i had great eyes..(not in a flirty way... though for me complimenting me on those kind of things is the way to my heart) hehe. We saw some great jackels, girrafes and many many impalas. This afternoon we went out on foot trekking and found two hippos. at the end of our walk a couple of us trekked to the top of a ridge to see the sunset. Amazing.
Tuesday, 24 May 2011
Everything that i can write before i'm too tired...
I'm just going to copy paste from my journal, it's not great writting but it will give you guys an idea, only editing small bits of it.
20th may- JFK airport, USA
Right now i'm sitting on the floor at gate B30 eating my supper. The woman near me with 3 kids smiled at me, I really hope that peoplea are nice to me. I can't believe i'm finally doing this trip, it really doesn't feel quite real yet. Already before even leaving the continent I had a small adventure finding the check in for Arik air, it was on the opposite side of the airport and I as opposed to the other people (which took the skytrain) went outside and ended up jumping over a couple fencing to get to the right terminal. There was slight confusion as to whether or not I needed a visa to layover in Nigeria, but it all worked out fine. Now i'm waiting for the flight to board and i;m very aware that I am the only white person here, it makes me very aware.
21st may- on plane to Lagos 1:45 pm nigeria time
so the ten hour flight wasn't so bad, i even managed to sleep for most of it. they just announced our decent and looking out the window i'm feeling jittery, i'm seeing huts and red dusty roads and fields. it is still hard for me to realize that this is Africa, i;m picturing myself hovering over my globe in my room, a whole continent away.
21st may- 2:45 lagos time (in airport)
So i get off the plane and into customs, i'm used to rugged airports with belize but here it is a whole different story, it make me nervous. I go through customs and they hold on to my passport while i make sure that my bag doesn't come through on the belt and that it;s checked all the way through to jo'burg. I have this horrible feeling of distrust, especially of men, espescially this man that is making me follow him through this maze of dark hallways. i do not want to be scared but i am. He is carrying my passport still, so i dont really have a choice. He brings me in this small room and tells me to sit down. There are 10 other male guards in here and they are passing my passport back and forth... i feel like i;m in the prey in the lions den and the beast are decided whether they should eat me now or later. Not fun. In the end after much pointing in my direction and loud conversation i was told to go wander off until my boarding time at this point i return here and retrieve my passport. So now i'm waiting on a bench in the airport, still fearful and nervous. Aneil told me to listen to my gut, but now i;m afraid my gut is being clouded by my overpowering imagination. I've closed my eyes and managed to sleep for a bit, i'm feeling safer, writting helps me.
5;30 pm nigeria time
Back in the lions den. i'm hungry and no longer scared. :)
9:38 pm nigeria time
Woke up for what now must be my 9th mini nap of the day. Now i'm waiting to board my flight to South Africa and i;m feeling sooo much better.it's amazing really how quickly i;ve been able to adapt, i'm now people watching. learning everything i can with my senses. i've just eaten some nuts and carrots, i'm starved. i hope they feed me on the plane.
3;54 am nigeria time(on plane)
One hour to go and I land, then i have to take a taxi then a bus to Hoedspruit where i'm staying over night until i make it out into the bush for work on the reserve. i'm begining to feel anxious about actually stepping outside of the secured airport zone. it feels like i'm about to hold my breath through it all... i'm not looking foward to it. mom sent me a text saying that there is wonderful people all over the world. i know this, this is why i want to travel so much, connect with people and they're cultures. i'll be okay. i'll be fine. By the way, they gave me food on the plane1
5:07 am ; LANDED!!! :)
7:22 am jo'burg time (in airport)
So it seems as though 10 hours hanging out in lagos wasnt enough for my backpack and well it decided to stay there a while longer.... -_- leaving me in a somewhat frustrating situation... although, i'm happy, excited and 'i cant wait to get outside and explore!!!
9:23 am jo'burg time (pretoria bus station)
So, i feel good! Feels good to feel good. the gut is fine and the imagination is working with my peace of mind. So right, my bag is now chilling in lagos and thanks to it i've purchased X large granny panties (it was the only size and budget i could afford) i'll save spending 150 rand on a lace thong for somewhere else than the intl airport. haha. Also got some food then jumped in a taxi towards Pretoria. the taxi driver was very nice although it cost me 480 rand (i'm only paying 160 rand for the bus which takes me 7 times the distance). On the way here i saw 2 zebras and a giraffe, it was awesome! Now i'm sitting on the bench outside the station, it's a beautiful day and i'm so very content right now.
9:42 am (still at bus station)
i just got off the phone with chris, probably one of the most expensive phone call i've ever made but so worth it! I'm slightly bored so i'll write just whatever comes to mind.. It has now been close to 3 days since my last shower, real meal, and a sleep with a bed. But hey, i;m not complaining, i love how i'm living off of so little actually finding sleep with all my belongings warped around my body in various ways to not have them stolen. I've noticed that people here say "hello" as opposed to excuse me, or move please, so all morning i've been turning around and saying hi to people who just want me out of their way...
11;38 am (on translux bus heading towards hoedspruit)
20th may- JFK airport, USA
Right now i'm sitting on the floor at gate B30 eating my supper. The woman near me with 3 kids smiled at me, I really hope that peoplea are nice to me. I can't believe i'm finally doing this trip, it really doesn't feel quite real yet. Already before even leaving the continent I had a small adventure finding the check in for Arik air, it was on the opposite side of the airport and I as opposed to the other people (which took the skytrain) went outside and ended up jumping over a couple fencing to get to the right terminal. There was slight confusion as to whether or not I needed a visa to layover in Nigeria, but it all worked out fine. Now i'm waiting for the flight to board and i;m very aware that I am the only white person here, it makes me very aware.
21st may- on plane to Lagos 1:45 pm nigeria time
so the ten hour flight wasn't so bad, i even managed to sleep for most of it. they just announced our decent and looking out the window i'm feeling jittery, i'm seeing huts and red dusty roads and fields. it is still hard for me to realize that this is Africa, i;m picturing myself hovering over my globe in my room, a whole continent away.
21st may- 2:45 lagos time (in airport)
So i get off the plane and into customs, i'm used to rugged airports with belize but here it is a whole different story, it make me nervous. I go through customs and they hold on to my passport while i make sure that my bag doesn't come through on the belt and that it;s checked all the way through to jo'burg. I have this horrible feeling of distrust, especially of men, espescially this man that is making me follow him through this maze of dark hallways. i do not want to be scared but i am. He is carrying my passport still, so i dont really have a choice. He brings me in this small room and tells me to sit down. There are 10 other male guards in here and they are passing my passport back and forth... i feel like i;m in the prey in the lions den and the beast are decided whether they should eat me now or later. Not fun. In the end after much pointing in my direction and loud conversation i was told to go wander off until my boarding time at this point i return here and retrieve my passport. So now i'm waiting on a bench in the airport, still fearful and nervous. Aneil told me to listen to my gut, but now i;m afraid my gut is being clouded by my overpowering imagination. I've closed my eyes and managed to sleep for a bit, i'm feeling safer, writting helps me.
5;30 pm nigeria time
Back in the lions den. i'm hungry and no longer scared. :)
9:38 pm nigeria time
Woke up for what now must be my 9th mini nap of the day. Now i'm waiting to board my flight to South Africa and i;m feeling sooo much better.it's amazing really how quickly i;ve been able to adapt, i'm now people watching. learning everything i can with my senses. i've just eaten some nuts and carrots, i'm starved. i hope they feed me on the plane.
3;54 am nigeria time(on plane)
One hour to go and I land, then i have to take a taxi then a bus to Hoedspruit where i'm staying over night until i make it out into the bush for work on the reserve. i'm begining to feel anxious about actually stepping outside of the secured airport zone. it feels like i'm about to hold my breath through it all... i'm not looking foward to it. mom sent me a text saying that there is wonderful people all over the world. i know this, this is why i want to travel so much, connect with people and they're cultures. i'll be okay. i'll be fine. By the way, they gave me food on the plane1
5:07 am ; LANDED!!! :)
7:22 am jo'burg time (in airport)
So it seems as though 10 hours hanging out in lagos wasnt enough for my backpack and well it decided to stay there a while longer.... -_- leaving me in a somewhat frustrating situation... although, i'm happy, excited and 'i cant wait to get outside and explore!!!
9:23 am jo'burg time (pretoria bus station)
So, i feel good! Feels good to feel good. the gut is fine and the imagination is working with my peace of mind. So right, my bag is now chilling in lagos and thanks to it i've purchased X large granny panties (it was the only size and budget i could afford) i'll save spending 150 rand on a lace thong for somewhere else than the intl airport. haha. Also got some food then jumped in a taxi towards Pretoria. the taxi driver was very nice although it cost me 480 rand (i'm only paying 160 rand for the bus which takes me 7 times the distance). On the way here i saw 2 zebras and a giraffe, it was awesome! Now i'm sitting on the bench outside the station, it's a beautiful day and i'm so very content right now.
9:42 am (still at bus station)
i just got off the phone with chris, probably one of the most expensive phone call i've ever made but so worth it! I'm slightly bored so i'll write just whatever comes to mind.. It has now been close to 3 days since my last shower, real meal, and a sleep with a bed. But hey, i;m not complaining, i love how i'm living off of so little actually finding sleep with all my belongings warped around my body in various ways to not have them stolen. I've noticed that people here say "hello" as opposed to excuse me, or move please, so all morning i've been turning around and saying hi to people who just want me out of their way...
11;38 am (on translux bus heading towards hoedspruit)
Friday, 20 May 2011
5 hours from my first flight.
I remember when my blackboard said: 72 days until Africa! I also remember when I first had the idea about 853 days ago... Now the black board has zero days to go, and i'm a mere 5 hours from getting on my first flight which is the beginning of a whole 49 hours of travelling. But all in all it really doesn't amount to 'How many days to go/hours left' all of it is part of this amazing trip!
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