A week and a half in

If someone were to come up to me and tell me that I have only been in Kenya for a week and a half, I would not only not believe them, I would…well I guess that’s it…I wouldn’t believe them. I think there are three factors leading to the amazing lengthening of days, and Einstein has nothing to do with any of them: packed full of substance (note the lack of ‘s’), no electricity (for the most part), and a lack of screens into which we all love to stare so blankly (minus the time used for this purpose of course).

The heat is quite ridiculously bearable. I think my view was skewed and memory misguided because of the Solomons, because unlike there, I can get around here quite easily wearing pants and a long sleeve cotton shirt (to save my skin from burning off), while still keeping some semblance of hydration without having a tube into my arm constantly replacing the sweat. The wind cools things off quite nicely too. And the lack of rains is actually a blessing in disguise, in a very selfish way of course. The bugs and many insects have become dormant - waiting for the rains. Consequently, being outside at dawn and dusk and during the night carries with it few pesky little irritators of skin and mind.

In other news, we have just had midterm (note the lack of ‘s’) and come through a nicely (or not so much depending on how one look’s at it) busy period of work. But, since we are in Kenya and all, we were aptly rewarded by a party on top of a kopje (Afrikaans - large, elevated rock outcrop) and a day off with a trip to Mt. Kenya. Man, I love this place. We were unfortunately not able to summit as that would require much rope and equipment, not to mention at least a hand full of technical climbing ability. So we hovered around the 11.000 foot mark instead. Still quite nice. Views astounding even the most blind amoung us. There was a distinct lack of the three inch thorns on everything that we are now so used to. We were above the tree-line and as a result the land was blanketed in very hearty, tough shrubs and bushes, not to mention the best part – wildflowers abound. I am somewhat ashamed to say that I did not really notice the lack of conspicuous flowers down here until when at 11,000 feet they surrounded our leisurely trodding feet and soaked our eyes in blues and yellows and reds; many varieites of which did resemble quite remarkably the wildflowers of Eastern North America.

We made a stop in Nanyuki (the closest town) briefly to look for a drum to paddle around on and to accompany Greg’s guitar in the evenings. We did not, however, find one of suitable price and quality in one package. But one of the girls bought a small wooden flute. Earlier this evening as I was sitting watching the sun set over the not-so-distant hills, making some rope out of a cool little plant I found by the riverside, beautiful full woody notes drifted my direction on the breeze. I rose to search for the source of such wondrous vibrations of eardrum and found Melissa sitting on a large volcanic rock rising out of the river (free of crocodiles, although hippos and their excretory splatter are sighted on occasion) with the little flute to her lips playing away contentedly. The little thing makes a surprisingly crisp sound. It was a nice little addition to the chirping of birds and occasional baboon's raucous yelps coming from the acacias lining the riverbanks. Oh yeah, funny story. Turns out we can no longer call them acacias in this part of the world because the Australians have laid claim to that genus name for their own evolutionarily distinct group of trees, which are more numerous in species number than Africa’s variety. Silly if you ask me, but I can’t foresee it changing very quickly around here, if at all.

In more boring news, we are now moving into the second part of this first course, which deals with implementing the ecology and conservation theory we learned this past week and a half. I hope to get a better idea of my thesis during these next few days so that I can apply within the next week or two for the funding needed come summer when I will hopefully end up coming back here instead of being holed up in Firestone looking blankly into one of those screens I so fondly described before, breathing in book dust from some obscure book written sixty-three years ago that has not been checked out by anyone with breath still in their lungs. I am beginning to form an idea of a conservation plan (I hesitate to call it a scheme, although depending who I am talking to it may be regarded as such) in this area that is sustainable and practical while still being feasible. Those characteristics are usually not compatible, and I will probably find it such once I delve deeper. But, we’ll see. I remain optimistic that we can figure out a way for at least some of the life in the world to remain for future generations to enjoy.

We were down at the hippo pools yesterday watching those massive giants lope around, when two males got up in each other’s grills over a territory issue. Huge heads and bodies rising up out of the water smashing into each other. Jaws outlined against the grey-blue water betraying glimpses of the massive teeth within. Awesome, in the old sense of the word. Once dominance was established that was the end of it. No need to kill the intruder. Humans seem to be the only species viewing such action as logical. And on the way home we ran into a couple of herds of elephants. One across the river, the other feeding right next to the road. Crunching and felling of trees punctuated the still air. It is amazing seeing the destruction and power these things can muster. One large juvenile thought we were too close to its family at one point and turning towards us shook his head around and flapped his ears a couple of times. As he moved towards us Nathan rev-ed the engine, calling his bluff, and he immediately turned away. Back to ripping branches off thorny acacias with his useful little nose as if he wanted to us to forget he ever challenged us. And on that note, I will be off. There is much to do away from this screen. Much upside-down walking, and climbing of trees, and watching the grass grow. Who knows, I may even do some reading.

Peace.