The trip is nearly over and I am having a hard time fully digesting everything that we've seen and done. I know it will be right around mid-August before everything really sinks in. Sunday was a low-key day that began with church in the capital city of Mbabane. The pastor was out of town and the guest speaker was mercifully brief. Mosaic church has us spoiled with its hour long services. Afterwards we headed to the Mlwane Game Park for lunch in the form of a braai (pronounced like 'try' with a 'b') The camp keeps fires going so we threw on some steaks and had a delicious picnic lunch. Warthogs and deer-like Nyala wandered through the tables looking for scraps. We'd run through our chunk of luck the other day at Kruger so we didn't see too many animals on our afternoon drive. We did see our first zebras though and enjoyed the fresh air That park had no big cats so we were free to get out of the car a little. You can also rent bicycles or horses and ride next to the wildlife. That night was call-making time in the Blosser household so we talked to our cousin Rhonda who is their daughter and who is my age, and our Mom. She was very happy to hear our voices.
Monday we had a few things on the agenda before our departure to the overnight trip we had booked. AD and UM took us to meet the staff at Trans World Radio where they work. We took a tour of the facilities and had donuts with the staff. The Swazi's are incredibly friendly people who are polite and proud of their country. After the visit we headed over to the Rema Orphanage for a visit. I can't really articulate everything that ran through my mind as we walked through the facility. There are 70 kids at this branch, 160 total in three different places. They are bright smiling children who jumped up to sing us their favorite song. They were excruciatingly adorable. They sleep 2 to 4 to a bed even now that the ones sent in my by Uncle's sister have arrived. The bathroom facilities are ridiculously inadequate and the fridge isn't functional. Laundry is done by hand, usually by the kids doing their own clothes because there is no washer or dryer. They keep losing housing space because of inability to pay rent at so many different places but they have their own property if only they could find the money to build on it. If only I could write the check myself.
After a sobering visit we stopped at home to change gears completely and pack for our overnighter at Mkhaya Game Park. We booked huts in the middle of the park for the night. When we got there the first thing to be done was sign the "I won't sue if I die" indemnity paper since we'd be in open jeeps around unpredictable wild animals. Fun! Shannon and I dorked out as the landrovers were exactly like the cars in the Indiana Jones ride at Disneyland. We took one look at the canvas pockets in front of us and said, 'Please remove all hats and glasses and place them in the pouch in front of you.' We then got very sad for ourselves at being too nerdy for words. I do have to say that Disney's Imagineers are no joke, even the fake engine sounds are authentic. The main difference was that these had no seat belts and there was a very real danger of being thrown out, whacked in the head with tree branches, or being knocked over by a rogue elephant. The coolest thing happened on the evening drive when we ran into a herd of elephants who were all play fighting and trampling through the bush. We also spotted hippo and creepy buffalo who stare at you right back. The sunset was beyond description. We got to camp later than we should have so it was dark already. The only lights marking the paths to our huts were kerosene and looked so vintage lighting the way. The huts are open air and straight out of Tarzan's Treehouse with the beds draped in mosquito net and everything. It was practically time for dinner so we headed back to the fire for more jokes and a delicious dinner.
The next morning you are woken up with coffee brought to your room at 6am. We had to be on the jeeps by 6:30am for the morning game drive. We had some really cool sightings of rhino, giraffe, elephants, wildebeest, and more. The zebras were awesome and Shannon and I were in hysterics when one of them farted the loudest fart ever heard. We had been warned that when they jump out of fear they might do so because they feed all summer, fattening themselves up for the dry season. There is so much fatty oil in them they fart when running away. I wouldn't have believed it myself if I hadn't heard it. Back at camp breakfast was delicious and eaten in the middle of a million crested guinea fowl. They look like strangely colored chickens. After that they kick you out by 10am and it's homeward bound.
I am sad we're leaving tomorrow but I am anxious to switch out of Africa mode and into Paris mode. I bought so much stuff here I'm going to have an interesting time making room for all of it. I'm glad I will have a month with none of the distractions of home to really contemplate everything I've absorbed here. There have been alot of conversations, about alot of different topics that need to be sorted through and considered. I actually miss home alot. I must be getting old. Anyway, I will write again once I'm settled in Paris. The first few days might be busy with meeting roommates, unpacking, and language placement tests so we'll see.
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