SWAHILI WORD OF THE DAY

Sorry, no interesting intro (heehee) today. I'm tired.

mate: saliva
mpururo: single file

I think I missed the days they were teaching the colors and pieces of clothing. =P
anyhoo
Hakuna Matata =D

SWAHILI WORD OF THE DAY

*heralding trumpets*
that's right, you guessed it. It's time for the SWAHILI WORD OF THE DAY! Our two contestants for the lovely day of the 28th of April, 2010 year of our Lord are...

jaa: dunghill
vinginyika: writhe

what lovely words! We'll be back tomorrow with SWAHILI WORD OF THE DAY!
Hakuna Matata=D

SWAHILI WORD OF THE DAY

ujusi: ritual impurity (what????)
sazo: leftovers

Hakuna Matata=D

SWAHILI WORD OF THE DAY

lemaa: defect
nguruma: growl

Hakuna Matata=D

SWAHILI WORD OF THE DAY

Today's words of the day are drumroll please...
wazimu: madness
zuilika: stoppable

Hankuna Matata=D

SWAHILI WORD OF THE DAY

Shekhe: Moslem elder
Ufito: stick

Hakuna Matata (no worries) =D

A Flood Wipes Out Oria's Camp and Iain's Research Facility Completely

I guess this really isn't a post about the benefits of traveling abroad, but if you stretch your imagination really really really far I guess you could say that traveling abroad has broadened my respect for other countries and their plights that are not publicized in the media. On March 4th, 12 days after my family arrived back in Indiana, Oria's camp, where we had been staying, and Iain's research facility were completely washed away by a flash flood. Fortunately, no one was hurt, but some of Iain's research could not be saved before the flood hit the facility. The camp was hit first by a 10ft high tsunami-like wave that crushed everything in reach and destroyed the entire camp. The guests got away by escaping in landrovers to high ground, but some of the Samburu warriors who are employed as cooks, guides, and guards had to climb to the tops of trees to avoid be swept away. Then the facility was radioed from the land rovers to warn them of the flooding, and while many of the computers and research was saved, there was not enough time to save it all. The British Royal army and airforce sent money, tents, and aide to rebuild the camp and research facility. Thankfully, Iain and Oria have decided to continue their amazing work despite the terrible blow the flood dealth and despite their age. These people never cease to amaze me in their determination to their cause and their love of elephants. By traveling abroad, I have learned to love the land and the people and the flood affected me and my family almost as much as the people who experienced it. Even though the affect it had was astronomically samller than the earthquake in Haiti, it is still a disaster and traveling to Kenya has made me realize what disasters do to the people it affects. Also a sadly ironic part of the story is that last year a drought hit Kenya killing over 100 elephants and orphaning many more. It is sad because so little water can do so much damage to the elephants, but also too much water can do a lot of damage too. Thankfully, the camp and facility are under construction and are soon to be completed=D. Thank goodness no one was hurt.
Hakuna Matata

Megan's Guide to International Travel

I have compiled all that I know about international travel into a simple guide for all you naive, though adventurous, people out there.
KENYA

1. First it is important to plan your flight in the morning; however, you should stay away from the 3:00 a.m. airport arrivals because the shops are closed, you are tired, and the airport workers are horribly cranky and will yell at you even if you are only 17.
2. In Detroit there is a train in the airport. It is okay if you ride the train but it is crucial that you do not take pictures in the airport because a burly security guard will run up and demand that you erase the pictures from your camera in his presence and then will leave with a nasty look. I'm a 17 year old, 5'4" tall girl. What do they think I'm going to do, blow up the place?
3. On international flights it is very important to be pushy when selecting your seats. The plane might not be full, thus leaving a whole open row for one to stretch out on instead of the cramped seats. If you do not claim your row early, someone else will be there to snatch up the row and you will be left to a ride filled with twisting and turning with no hope for comfort or sleep.
4. This is going to sound ridiculous, but I swear that European segways are faster than American segways. Also, the Europeans drive fast and do not care if they run you over so watch where you are going in an airport and watch for those drunk segway drivers.
5. If you end up in the wonderful city of Amsterdam home of wooden shoes, windmills, and tulips, you will agree that the airport could fit three of Indianapolis' airports inside of it. It is very big. It is also necessary to understand that you must be specific with what you are looking for to the Dutch people because their directions are kind of like *cue Dutch accent* "See that sign all the way on the other end of the terminal? Turn at that sign and follow the bend of the stores, then go up the stairs, and you will find the drug store." However it is important to understand that after three people and two hours of walking, we were fifty feet away from the drug store the first time but the words were in Dutch. Be specific and make sure that they understand what you are looking for.
6. The drug store mention reminds me that it is important to bring motion sickness medicine with you on your journey, even if you normally do not get motion sickness. Otherwise, your sister breakfast, snack, lunch, snack, and drinks may land on your lap and all over her lap too. Now because I know how much you all like icing, the icing on the cake is that our gate was not ready for us and we had to wait on the plane for another hours with a load of nastiness on your clothes.
7. Finally you are able to get ready to board your plane to Kenya from Amsterdam. However, the Dutch are a little wacky so each gate has their own two lanes of security lanes: one with a x-ray belt and an ultrasound circly thing that you step into and one with a x-ray belt and a metal detecter thing you walk through. I would highly suggest that you progress through the lane with the metal detector because the ultrasound machine has a frisk-happy TSA officer.
8. If your destination happens to be exotic Kenya, you will realize that airport security is very tight because terrorists in Africa are a very real threat so just be patient, speak only when spoken to, and sit only when told to sit. Just trust me.
9. The people of Kenya are actually very nice and cordial. They really are proud of their country and really want you to have a good time. When riding in a taxi though, you might be terrified by the way the speedometer say 105, they mean kilometers, or by zooming past cars on what seems to you is the wrong side of the street, or even by going 20 km over the speed limit. Don't be. They are professional taxi drivers and drive like this everyday and you will come out unharmed, at least I did.
10. Finally, at least for now, I caution you to avoid traveling with multi-millionaires whenever possible. Lets just say it wasn't much of a family vaccation or a visit to good friends anymore when ithers demanded your dad's attention.

Now remember that these 10 points are only the things that you should watch out for when traveling internationally or more specifically to Kenya and that you will have hundred of more good points from your trip.
Hakuna Matata=D

Like Nowhere Else

Now I'm supposed to be writing on how traveling abroad broadens your horizons in general; however, I have really "only" been to Jamaica and Kenya so I'm mostly going to be writing about Kenya and some of Jamaica... so off we go.
Kenya was like no other place I have been, except for maybe Alaska in its wild beauty and extreme temperatures. Imagine no road noises or cities or air pollution or anything that makes America the way it is. At night it was completely silent except for the baboons screaming during a fight and the birds chirping occasionally, and those noises even became somewhat of a lullaby. The hundreds of stars shined so brightly that candles were not needed all the time and you could see the Southern cross a constellation seen only in Africa. Kenya is quite literally in the middle of nowhere with Nairobi being its capital and largest city and Samburu the region where we were having an airport that was a collection of four adobe huts and a airstrip made of just dirt and sand. Somehow, even without all the comforts of urbanization, Kenya felt like home. The people are also like none other. They are the nicest and most caring people you will ever meet even if their own problems far outweigh a friends. I became very sick one day with an 104 temperature and so sick that I could not stand without vomiting. The Samburu people who worked at Oria's camp spent the whole day cleaning out buckets, getting me drinks, wetting wash cloths, and keeping me comfortable on top of all their daily duties for the camp. They were not just taking care of me because they had to (Oria told them that she would care for me), but because they were truly concerned with my condition. Even the ones who had taken my parents out on an elephant collaring expedition visited me when they got back. There is just something about Kenya, well Africa in general, that is beautiful and wonderful and I am sure that I will return to Kenya especially anytime that I get the chance to.

Indianapolis Prize Overview

The Indiapolis Prize is the world's largest animal conservation prize. Iain is a finalist and is the reason my family went to Kenya.

Iain and Oria Douglas-Hamilton: Heroes of the Elephants

So... the purpose for my trip to Kenya with my family was not just for a vacation(we would have taken it in the summer if it was), but to visit Dr. Iain Douglas- Hamilton and his wife Oria Douglas-Hamilton in Samburu National Park. Iain is an elephant conservationist and Oria runs the only "green" camp in Samburu. Iain was nominated for the Indianapolis Prize, the world's largest conservation prize worth $100,000. We went to visit them and observe the amazing work that they have been brave enough to do. Iain is an amazing person and is credited with the termination of the ivory trade in Africa. Oria created the beautiful camp that we stayed in and it was completely "green". All electricity was powered by solar panels, we took bucket showers with water heated in the sun, and all water was purified and recycled. So that is only a short description on what they do and their histories are much more exciting!