Hell's Gate

Ok first of all, no more bodily fluid stories so everyone can read on without anxiety!! Last weekend we decided to go camping at Hell's Gate a national park in Kenya. Mathiesen, myself and two German boys. Although, I would like to say right up front that Mathiesen and I basically did everything, we took these men to help us but they were useless, I don't think they camp much in Germany. We got to the campsite late on Friday night, it was already dark and as we are setting up our tent, one of the guys yells out look. And up walks a warthog. We later found out this warthog is the campsites, and his name is Paul. Shout out to Paul Cascio, I was offended that a warthog had the same name as you!!! Anyway, so the warthog was slightly freaky. Then in the middle of the night we woke up to hippos making noise. Fortunately, the campsite has an electric fence to keep the hippos out but that is also scary when u think about it!! Next morning, I was in the tent everyone else was at the washing station and Paul walks into the tent with me. It took about 5-10min for me to get him out. He tried to eat everything clothing, glasses, wallets. It was not ok. He also head butted me. I was traumatized but not hurt. Anyway, after this I really did not like Paul. Then we spent the day bicycling thru the park, it was about 2000 degrees but awesome. We biked past zebras, water buffalo, giraffes etc. Fortunately, we did not see lions or cheetahs, which is what the German guys wanted to see. Then we took a 3hr hike thru a gorge. It was so amazing and gorgeous. Loved it. Then Sunday morning we were woken up by monkeys going thru our campsite!! Awesome!! Camping in Kenya with warthogs, hippos and monkeys! I never thought this would be my life, but I love it!! This week the kids have exams, so we are hoping our tutoring, especially Mathiesen's special teaching skills will improve the kids scores!!!

Masai Mara Safari

Last weekend we went to Masai Mara on our big safari!! It was beyond gorgeous and amazing!! We saw lions and cheetahs, and tons of elephants, giraffes etc!! Honestly, words will not describe what we saw, but we took a lot of pictures so hopefully that will help show how beautiful it was! And I am not going to lie one of my favorite parts was the hot showers! Oh my gosh I have missed those! And my least favorite part was when I had diarrhea in the park. Which meant I had to get out of my safe vehicle, and risk being eaten alive. Added bonus our guide would not let me go in the bushes because a lion had been spotted there so I had to go behind our car! While I was going another safari van pulled up so I had a car full of people with cameras with zoom lenses watching me instead of the animals. After I saw them I ran into the car and made our guide go. The other van pulled up to the spot I had just had diarrhea and everyone got out, and walked around. So I had a group of tourists walking around my pile of diarrhea. Honestly, this could be one of the most embarrassing moments of my life!! I have had diarrhea all week, fortunately I work at a hospital and was able to be tested and I have worms. Unfortunately, I can now see them in my stool so this has not been a good week for me and bodily functions. But I started treatment today!! Yippee! Sorry, that may have been an overshare! But I am a nurse come on!!
Yesterday, I gave every kid at Zebra a tetanus vaccine, which was really hard for me because I love the kids and didn't want to hurt them! But they do not have any of their vaccines and they need them. They all still love me, so it is ok!! Nothing else going on! I am just having a happy week!!

A lot has happened

First of all on Sat. Emily, Jakob the german, and myself went to an IDP camp for displaced people after the post election violence. People are sleeping on the ground with tarps covering them, when it rains they sleep on the wet ground. They rely on donations for food. The children cannot afford school. Young girls are prostituting themselves just to have some money. It was ridiculous. No human should be living in those conditions. We held a medical clinic and handed out food. Which honestly, just made me feel like an ass because I am here handing out food one day. Its not a solution, but everyone was so thankful. And I did not want to be thanked, I did nothing and I get to go home and eat whatever I want and buy all the clothes I want. This world is seriously messed up.
On Sunday, we had a new girl come to live with us at the center. Her name is Effie, 12yo and she comes from the slums in Nairobi. She is really sweet, and we all love her already!!!
Speaking of me being selfish. On Monday, we rented motorcycles again and did the bike tour to Lake Magadi. It is a 2hour drive thru the Rift Valley, it is amazing. We saw baboons. There were no crashes, except me who fell while walking which was embarrassing. It was a good day! It may have been the stupidest decision I have made, I don't know what made me get on a bike again! But we lived and it was really amazing.
Then yesterday, John the guard at the center got married. So we all went to his wedding which was fun. The ceremony was actually very similar to ceremonies in America. But there was no reception, but they are saving money to have one on another day!
Friday, we leave for the big safari. So this has been an eventful week. Keep us in your prayers that we don't get eaten by a lion on safari!! I am slightly nervous!! Have you seen Ghost in the Darkness?