Hi!!
Where do I even begin?! I could start by telling you all about the amazing animals we saw during our stay…but someone (*cough* liv) forgot to bring the list to the internet cafe. That is okay though, you will all just have to wait a week to see our nerdy list. Just imagine birds of every color and size, ones that passed too fast and we couldn’t help but feel disheartened when we only got a slight glimpse. Soo many birds with weird funny names and chirps that we recognized from Lion King songs. Lions, elephants, giraffes, zebras, hippos, crocs, and water buffalo right in front of our faces. Most of the time these giant creatures seemed almost an arms reach away. So I couldn’t help feel a little bit more at ease over the fact that I was in the middle seat, and not dangling bait like Jack. Just kidding. Hamna shida! We are all safe and sound in Rwanda. Luckily the cheetah had a baboon to snack on, and barely noticed us at all. Katie and Amanda did have an unfortunate run in with an elephant during a early morning run to the bathroom. I was not there to witness this, unfortunately. Apparently Katie spotted a big eye and some tusks and slowly moved backward. Amanda on the other hand, bolted…fast…leaving poor Katie to sprint behind. Shoes were lost, buckets were peed in, and one main lesson was learned: survival of the fittest.
Good thing it was only an elephant!! Hah!
Car rides through the national park were incredible. All of us were constantly talking too loud and were overly excited about the California palm trees that reminded us of home, or the fat baobob’s that were silhouetted by Africa’s famous sunrise. We were all filled with an ethereal silence that seemed to consume us for hours at a time. It is amazing what nature sounds can do for you. A lion’s purr took us all to a place of extreme gratitude. Gratitude towards all our devoted parents who literally gave us the world when they supported us on this journey, and whose thoughts must always trail back to us. Gratitude towards are friends, family, and boyfriends who wait patiently for our return and live vicariously through our facebook photos. Most of all gratitude toward this beautiful continent and everything it has to offer our open minds.
So thank you all.
Especially to my family. You must know how much you are all on my mind.
Love you,
Kellie