My email won't work today so let's just have some fun here...
The Hippo strikes again...
I don't know if I have mentioned this previously- but we have a resident hippo (kiboko in Kiswahili)- that lives in the river that cuts through our Masumbo campus. It has only been spotted about 3 times in the 12 years that this program has been running- these legends are the only traces that he has left in the more recent years- the phantom kiboko we say. But not this year- we heard a loud snort one night about 3 or 4 weeks ago, but since then we have only experienced silent peaceful kiboko-less nights.
Then... one serene evening in Tanzania several nights ago- my 3 tentmates and I were just settling in our sleeping bags and getting comfortable for the night when alas! a snort distinct to that plump river-dwelling mammal we call the kiboko echoed through our camp (mind you- if you haven't been doing your kiboko research lately- these "cute" "hungry-hungry hippos" view of hippos we have is in fact distorted. Hippos are responsible for more deaths in Africa than any of African animal...). Anyway upon hearing the grunt of the animal the 4 us ventured out into the dark night (no not the batman movie ha)- armed only with our wimpy flashlights. Straining to get a view of the river from the high bank covered in thick brush the lies between us and the river (called the Little Ruaha)- my friend jumped up onto a boulder to see more clearly. Within the next moment another - more viscious snort resounded, but this time it sounded much closer- which caused pandamonium as we all crazily scampered onto the safe haven of the rock. We made it up, but I scraped all the skin off of my right calf in the process. Once we had all climbed the rock we attemped to search the river below but with no avail. The phantom hippo had once again escaped into the thick darkness of the African night....
(Interesting note: the next morning we heard that our little hippo friend had attacked somebody down the road at the police check a couple kilometers away just days prior to this incident...glad we didn't know that at the time.)
Saturday, March 14, 2009
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Hey there all!
I finally have enough time to write more! This is a re-cap of the whole trip so far from the beg until now!
When we landed in Dar Es Salaam the heat was intense and standing there with 30 other people- 1 of who I knew was intimidating - but so exhilarating as we discussed the traveling and adventures that we would soon have. We drove out of Dar the next day to Bagamoyo -a beautiful town on the coast with about every type of tropical vegetation you could imagine- and swam in the Indian ocean which felt like bath water! It was a great place to start the trip and begin building relationships. Then we drove to a spot by the road where we waded out into a boat carrying our backpacks over out heads and boarded. It took us to Lazy Lagoon Island which is a private island that was uninhabited except the resort we stayed at and viscious bush pigs. We stayed in huts where we could just walk from our front porch to the beautiful blue ocean. We went snorkeling the next day and saw starfish every color of the rainbow as well as a 2 1/2 foot long sea worm that adhered to your skin when you touched it- neat-o! At night a guard armed with a spear would courageously escort us through the thick forest to protect us from the bush pigs to our hut where we would cuddle up in our mosquitoe nets for the night.
From there we headed to the Mikumi Game Park for our first round of safaris. We drove in to find towering giraffes and elephant herds all around us right away. Not to mention we also drove past a lovely lady lioness and a couple of her cubs and friends that were just chilling right by the road- they were just hanging out -not stalking anything .. but they blended in so well we wouldnt have been able to tell if they were about to pounce on us, so who knows-we might have almost been eaten- hah. That night we hung out and watched rattels and bush babies from the deck of where we stayed. Those rattels (honey badgers) are aggressive - pure muscle - a cool animal that can own a leopard or cobra- I had never heard of them before. And I captured a bush baby with its big eyes and long bushy tail for my sis Rachel... well maybe not but I thought about it.
The group that we are traveling with is amazing and it is such a huge blessing to be experiencing all of this with them. Just amazing people from a bunch of different backgrounds and rich character- so good!
We have spent a lot of time at our campsite which is called Masumbo near Iringa mjini- (town)- where we stay in tents that they built beneath hollow, permanent huts. We have stimulating lectures everyday with our professor who has lived in Africa for almost all of his life. His stories of growing up in the bush as an MK with leopards pacing outside of his paper-thin tent, almost getting crushed by a rhino, translated the Bible with the Murle people of Sudan, etc etc are amazing and he incorporates them into his lectures to make them so interesting and applicable that it is unbelievable.
We also went to Ruaha Game Park and saw some amazing things there - a hippo and croc pool where we saw at least 60 crocs (mambas) and fighting hippos (viboko)- and everything else in between. Plus a bug the size of goliath- a rhinocerous grasshopper I believe. The whole time we rode on the top of the Land Rovers and tried to pick out where the animals were from the beautiful panoramic view. What a compact re-cap of Ruaha but can't contain it all in here.
The traveling and sights have been amazing, but the culture is even better. We walk into the village right by our campsite and people ask us in just to sit and talk, or to play with the kids, or eat ugali (their main food staple)- it's great! The past 24 hours have been an up close and personal experience of African culture, too- one of the hilights so far! My friend Megan has sponsored a child through Compassion International in Iringa which is only 30 min from Masumbo (our campsite) for about a year and so she arranged to visit him and took me along. His name is Absalumu and is 6 yr old and is an amazing little man - so we visited him 2 days ago and found out that this sunday at church he was having a special service at 7:00 Sunday to celebrate the recovery from his surgery (he had surgery on his legs bc they were bent when he was born)- and Megan and I decided that we wanted to go. So since there is no daladala -(bus) - that runs that early on Sundays our prof suggested the we just go on Sat aftternoon and ask Absalumu and his family if we could stay with them and then go to church with them. In the African culture showing up at someone's door who you just met without any warning and asking to stay is surprisingly acceptable - not imposing at all- for real. They were so excited to have us and we went to the market with them to get peanuts, ate ugali with our hands, played with the kids outside, talked to their neighbors, and just experienced what actual everyday life is like here. It was difficult with the language barrier and everything and resorting to playing the English =Swahili game with 6 and 7 year olds -I say car you say gari, I say banana you say ndizi, etc really makes me feel smart-hah-jk but it's a process and Im learning. It's all about the effort- so there was a lot of laughing and motions to communicate -it was hilar. We had a blast and learned a lot.
So this doesn't even begin to explain everything I've experience but it's my best shot- so hope that you are all well and I would love to hear back from you about how you are doing!
Miss you all and are keeping you in my prayers!
-Laura Schmucker
my contacts:
http://schmuckerintanzania.blogspot.com/
My address until April is:
Houghton in Tanzania
PO Box 934
Iringa,Tanzania
Then after the 2nd wk of April it will be:
Attn: Laura Schmucker
C/O CMF International
PO Box 2582
Arusha, Tanzania
East Africa
I finally have enough time to write more! This is a re-cap of the whole trip so far from the beg until now!
When we landed in Dar Es Salaam the heat was intense and standing there with 30 other people- 1 of who I knew was intimidating - but so exhilarating as we discussed the traveling and adventures that we would soon have. We drove out of Dar the next day to Bagamoyo -a beautiful town on the coast with about every type of tropical vegetation you could imagine- and swam in the Indian ocean which felt like bath water! It was a great place to start the trip and begin building relationships. Then we drove to a spot by the road where we waded out into a boat carrying our backpacks over out heads and boarded. It took us to Lazy Lagoon Island which is a private island that was uninhabited except the resort we stayed at and viscious bush pigs. We stayed in huts where we could just walk from our front porch to the beautiful blue ocean. We went snorkeling the next day and saw starfish every color of the rainbow as well as a 2 1/2 foot long sea worm that adhered to your skin when you touched it- neat-o! At night a guard armed with a spear would courageously escort us through the thick forest to protect us from the bush pigs to our hut where we would cuddle up in our mosquitoe nets for the night.
From there we headed to the Mikumi Game Park for our first round of safaris. We drove in to find towering giraffes and elephant herds all around us right away. Not to mention we also drove past a lovely lady lioness and a couple of her cubs and friends that were just chilling right by the road- they were just hanging out -not stalking anything .. but they blended in so well we wouldnt have been able to tell if they were about to pounce on us, so who knows-we might have almost been eaten- hah. That night we hung out and watched rattels and bush babies from the deck of where we stayed. Those rattels (honey badgers) are aggressive - pure muscle - a cool animal that can own a leopard or cobra- I had never heard of them before. And I captured a bush baby with its big eyes and long bushy tail for my sis Rachel... well maybe not but I thought about it.
The group that we are traveling with is amazing and it is such a huge blessing to be experiencing all of this with them. Just amazing people from a bunch of different backgrounds and rich character- so good!
We have spent a lot of time at our campsite which is called Masumbo near Iringa mjini- (town)- where we stay in tents that they built beneath hollow, permanent huts. We have stimulating lectures everyday with our professor who has lived in Africa for almost all of his life. His stories of growing up in the bush as an MK with leopards pacing outside of his paper-thin tent, almost getting crushed by a rhino, translated the Bible with the Murle people of Sudan, etc etc are amazing and he incorporates them into his lectures to make them so interesting and applicable that it is unbelievable.
We also went to Ruaha Game Park and saw some amazing things there - a hippo and croc pool where we saw at least 60 crocs (mambas) and fighting hippos (viboko)- and everything else in between. Plus a bug the size of goliath- a rhinocerous grasshopper I believe. The whole time we rode on the top of the Land Rovers and tried to pick out where the animals were from the beautiful panoramic view. What a compact re-cap of Ruaha but can't contain it all in here.
The traveling and sights have been amazing, but the culture is even better. We walk into the village right by our campsite and people ask us in just to sit and talk, or to play with the kids, or eat ugali (their main food staple)- it's great! The past 24 hours have been an up close and personal experience of African culture, too- one of the hilights so far! My friend Megan has sponsored a child through Compassion International in Iringa which is only 30 min from Masumbo (our campsite) for about a year and so she arranged to visit him and took me along. His name is Absalumu and is 6 yr old and is an amazing little man - so we visited him 2 days ago and found out that this sunday at church he was having a special service at 7:00 Sunday to celebrate the recovery from his surgery (he had surgery on his legs bc they were bent when he was born)- and Megan and I decided that we wanted to go. So since there is no daladala -(bus) - that runs that early on Sundays our prof suggested the we just go on Sat aftternoon and ask Absalumu and his family if we could stay with them and then go to church with them. In the African culture showing up at someone's door who you just met without any warning and asking to stay is surprisingly acceptable - not imposing at all- for real. They were so excited to have us and we went to the market with them to get peanuts, ate ugali with our hands, played with the kids outside, talked to their neighbors, and just experienced what actual everyday life is like here. It was difficult with the language barrier and everything and resorting to playing the English =Swahili game with 6 and 7 year olds -I say car you say gari, I say banana you say ndizi, etc really makes me feel smart-hah-jk but it's a process and Im learning. It's all about the effort- so there was a lot of laughing and motions to communicate -it was hilar. We had a blast and learned a lot.
So this doesn't even begin to explain everything I've experience but it's my best shot- so hope that you are all well and I would love to hear back from you about how you are doing!
Miss you all and are keeping you in my prayers!
-Laura Schmucker
my contacts:
http://schmuckerintanzania.blogspot.com/
My address until April is:
Houghton in Tanzania
PO Box 934
Iringa,Tanzania
Then after the 2nd wk of April it will be:
Attn: Laura Schmucker
C/O CMF International
PO Box 2582
Arusha, Tanzania
East Africa
Thursday, February 12, 2009
I know already that it is going to be really difficult to explain how amazing this experience has been and we are only a few weeks in! Today was the 1 month anniversary of my departure from the states! Seems like longer, but it has also flown by- depending on how you look at it.
We just returned from a hardcore safari in Ruaha National Game Park yesterday! We were half-way there when they stopped the huge monster land rover -type vehicle we drive around (it fits at least 20 of us in there)- and our Tanzanian driver- Edgidy told us that we could ride on top- yep- it was as cool as it sounds - just hanging out on top of this safari machine driving through this park with the wind whipping in our hair across the dirt. The dirt is a rich red color and the vegetation was refreshingly green and thick as we enter the rainy season. The huge beobab (prob spelled wrong) trees were probably 20 ft in diameter at times and the pure blue sky with the gorgeous mountains fading into the backround was just breathtaking.
We stopped at a kiboko (hippo) and mamba (crocodile) pool as we entered the park. The water level was low so all the fish were there so there were more crocodiles- more than 60! just hanging out sitting on the bank with their huge mouths open! And so many hippos- they were fighting and opening their huge jaws! Then we drove further and found 2 big papa lions just taking a nap right next to the road- we named them Scar and Charlie- they were huge - easy to see why they call them the kings of the jungle. We saw a mama elephant and her tiny baby- so small it fit under her belly -amazing!
and much more-
out of time!
more soon!
much love
We just returned from a hardcore safari in Ruaha National Game Park yesterday! We were half-way there when they stopped the huge monster land rover -type vehicle we drive around (it fits at least 20 of us in there)- and our Tanzanian driver- Edgidy told us that we could ride on top- yep- it was as cool as it sounds - just hanging out on top of this safari machine driving through this park with the wind whipping in our hair across the dirt. The dirt is a rich red color and the vegetation was refreshingly green and thick as we enter the rainy season. The huge beobab (prob spelled wrong) trees were probably 20 ft in diameter at times and the pure blue sky with the gorgeous mountains fading into the backround was just breathtaking.
We stopped at a kiboko (hippo) and mamba (crocodile) pool as we entered the park. The water level was low so all the fish were there so there were more crocodiles- more than 60! just hanging out sitting on the bank with their huge mouths open! And so many hippos- they were fighting and opening their huge jaws! Then we drove further and found 2 big papa lions just taking a nap right next to the road- we named them Scar and Charlie- they were huge - easy to see why they call them the kings of the jungle. We saw a mama elephant and her tiny baby- so small it fit under her belly -amazing!
and much more-
out of time!
more soon!
much love
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Hey there all!
My first update from in Tanzania!
We made it safe and I am loving it here!
First we stayed a night in Dar Es Salaam- it was the hottest night of my life -and then we left to go to Bagamoyo - a town on the coast! We swam in the Indian Ocean which was as hot as bath water and bonded with the group - i am really blessed with the awesome group that we are with. Then we headed to a private island resort- yup- just the resort and the workers (and wild bush pigs) on the island- it was insanely grogeous and the snorkeling was great!
Then it was off to our first safari - we saw about every animal you think of when think safari! Just a troop of baboons here and there and a pride of lions just feet from the road!! Then we made it to Irringa where we are staying- to get there we drove on a road that is just inches away from a straight cliff face basically- a rocky ravine would be there to break our fall if we would be so unfortunate as to make a wrong turn. It is high up in the mountains and is beautiful! The people are beautiful and the language barrier is frustrating but we are working through it!
I absolutely love it here but have only limited internet so have to go! hope everyoene is well!
My first update from in Tanzania!
We made it safe and I am loving it here!
First we stayed a night in Dar Es Salaam- it was the hottest night of my life -and then we left to go to Bagamoyo - a town on the coast! We swam in the Indian Ocean which was as hot as bath water and bonded with the group - i am really blessed with the awesome group that we are with. Then we headed to a private island resort- yup- just the resort and the workers (and wild bush pigs) on the island- it was insanely grogeous and the snorkeling was great!
Then it was off to our first safari - we saw about every animal you think of when think safari! Just a troop of baboons here and there and a pride of lions just feet from the road!! Then we made it to Irringa where we are staying- to get there we drove on a road that is just inches away from a straight cliff face basically- a rocky ravine would be there to break our fall if we would be so unfortunate as to make a wrong turn. It is high up in the mountains and is beautiful! The people are beautiful and the language barrier is frustrating but we are working through it!
I absolutely love it here but have only limited internet so have to go! hope everyoene is well!
Thursday, January 22, 2009
So I have ten minutes on the internet here at the youth hostel that I am staying at. We are in Amsterdam for tonight bc our flight goes out tom mornin-it has been a really interesting experience- we are actually staying at a Christian youth hostel that is actually basically in- or on the very edge of the Red Light District- don't worry we are safe and everything - we just actually had a Bible discussion and it was the coolest thing- there were a group of us -7 or 8 different nationalities- Bulgaria, Spain, France, Iraq, Alaska, Holland- and everyone was at a different place in their faith - it was really amazing to be part of it - there were Bibles in several different languages and everything- in a place that is pretty corrupted it is cool to see the Lord working and meet some really amazing people!
To update, as well on the last part of our time in England... We had a great day on the cliffs at the coast! It was crazy windy and freezing- I tried to take a picture of my foot in the English Channel and a wave soaked the bottom of my jeans. haha- then we went inside for some tea - so it was all better. Then the next day we went to Oxford and it was kind of a mini Taylor reunion. I saw Alyssa Bolt who is studying there for the semester, some girls who are there just for j-term and also we ran into the Lit London group - it was crazy. We ate at the pub where CS Lewis and Tolkein wrote too- The Eagle and Child- I loved it. Plus all the buildings looked like castles- so you really can't go wrong there!
Well got to go ! bey
To update, as well on the last part of our time in England... We had a great day on the cliffs at the coast! It was crazy windy and freezing- I tried to take a picture of my foot in the English Channel and a wave soaked the bottom of my jeans. haha- then we went inside for some tea - so it was all better. Then the next day we went to Oxford and it was kind of a mini Taylor reunion. I saw Alyssa Bolt who is studying there for the semester, some girls who are there just for j-term and also we ran into the Lit London group - it was crazy. We ate at the pub where CS Lewis and Tolkein wrote too- The Eagle and Child- I loved it. Plus all the buildings looked like castles- so you really can't go wrong there!
Well got to go ! bey
Monday, January 19, 2009
Ah - I am a bit tired right now- but I guess that is what happens when you are touring London for 3 days in a row. :) We toured the Tate Modern art museum today complete with the most bizzare intriguing artwork you could imagine, as well as the Global Theatre- that's right Shakespeare and I are buds. Hillsong United London Church this morning was amazing- we met people from all over- London, Zambia, France, Bosnia- it was in a broadway theater and felt almost like a concert- it was so neat to see everyone all worshipping together and really excited and passionate about the Lord!
We actually hung out with the Lit London Taylor peeps a bit, as well - and went to a crazy little ('little'is pronounced with the t's silent with the British accent mind you) sushi bar- where there are mini platters that are rotated throught the restaurant on conveyer belts! The food has been spectacular- besides the sushi we had Thai at Tuck Tuck, the most to-die-for tiramassu at a cafe in Picadilly's Square, more tea than we could hope for, and interestingly enough- blood pudding. But they didn't bother to tell us the ingrediants until after we ate it. Although thinking about the things we are going to try in Tanzania it kind of pales in comparison.
So last night we walked around Picadilly's Circus which is kind of like the Time Square of London and browsed through some great shops in Oxford Circus. We saw a crazy protest occurring in Trafalgar's Square - it wasn't too crazy I mean- just 1000's of people ya know. We stopped at Harrod's themost high-scale store in London - even the lous were fancy -haha. And we walked around Portobello's market for a long time where they had a bunch of reasonable -ish goods sold by 100's of vendors. It was so much fun!
Oh and did I mention that our great hosts-Jan and Paul- took us to watch Wicked the other night? It was just astounding. So we are having a great time- we can navigate around teh tube (the underground) like it's our job- I'm not going to lie.
Then tom is the cliffs on the coast and seeing Jan's girl scout troop -British children are the cutest thing I have ever seen- I'm going to bring one home... and then going out in the evening. Then to Oxford for Tuesday and then the city Wednesday again! So it's been crazy and a blast- cheers love!
PS- check out Angela's blog- it's really funny!
http://angelavangorpsadventures.blogspot.com/
We actually hung out with the Lit London Taylor peeps a bit, as well - and went to a crazy little ('little'is pronounced with the t's silent with the British accent mind you) sushi bar- where there are mini platters that are rotated throught the restaurant on conveyer belts! The food has been spectacular- besides the sushi we had Thai at Tuck Tuck, the most to-die-for tiramassu at a cafe in Picadilly's Square, more tea than we could hope for, and interestingly enough- blood pudding. But they didn't bother to tell us the ingrediants until after we ate it. Although thinking about the things we are going to try in Tanzania it kind of pales in comparison.
So last night we walked around Picadilly's Circus which is kind of like the Time Square of London and browsed through some great shops in Oxford Circus. We saw a crazy protest occurring in Trafalgar's Square - it wasn't too crazy I mean- just 1000's of people ya know. We stopped at Harrod's themost high-scale store in London - even the lous were fancy -haha. And we walked around Portobello's market for a long time where they had a bunch of reasonable -ish goods sold by 100's of vendors. It was so much fun!
Oh and did I mention that our great hosts-Jan and Paul- took us to watch Wicked the other night? It was just astounding. So we are having a great time- we can navigate around teh tube (the underground) like it's our job- I'm not going to lie.
Then tom is the cliffs on the coast and seeing Jan's girl scout troop -British children are the cutest thing I have ever seen- I'm going to bring one home... and then going out in the evening. Then to Oxford for Tuesday and then the city Wednesday again! So it's been crazy and a blast- cheers love!
PS- check out Angela's blog- it's really funny!
http://angelavangorpsadventures.blogspot.com/
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