We enjoyed an eventful day Monday after the Elephant Orphanage going on our first safari in Nairobi National Park. To ride through the park, with u-shaped barriers and open frontier to allow animals free access to roam in and out, was very intriguing. While driving through the park, we went on a safari "hunt" in our vehicle and located animals such as ostrich, hartebeast, Masai giraffes, a white rhino and her baby, and more. We also encountered numerous species of birds and thought fondly of our bird lover daycare providers Patti and Barry. :-) To see animals in an open setting, juxtaposed against the Nairobi skyline, was amazing. (Above picture is me presenting the Eden Prairie AM Rotary club flag to our Rotary meeting in Muthaga Monday night.)
We then ventured to a "safari park" within the National Park, which was somewhat of a "zoo" to see animals closer up and more gated. You won't believe me until I email you the pictures later (in a camera without email access) that we WALKED INTO the cheetah's habitat, and she (Wendy) purred against Chris while he stroked her, and later on licked our Rotarian friend Jody's hands! It was so unbelievable and something surreal we would never experience in the US between OSHA and legalities. Such a special time and surreal.
After this memorable experience, we went back to the hotel, and I kid you not that it took us 2 1/2 hrs to travel 4 miles to our Rotary dinner, due to 5 African Presidents convening in Nairobi, therefore all roads were closed!!!! It was truly almost unbearable, but were delighted to meet our first Kenyan Rotarians, so hospitable and welcoming. We were honored to be joined after the post-meeting dinner with Theo, a 32 year old Doctor. His story still gives me goosebumps (yes Chere!!!!). He comes from an African tribe 500 miles West of Kenya near Lake Victoria. He is tribal in the sense that although he went to school from 8 am to 1 pm daily, in the afternoons he helped herd cattle in the afternoons to support his family. His favorite childhood memories are meeting the other tribal children while helping their cattle graze to play "football". He said it is not football in our traditional sense, to which I thought he meant "soccer". He explained that they tied with twine many plastic bags to make a ball, since they didn't have access to anything else, and played football for hours and years on end. This was his favorite childhood memory. Then, in 9th grade, he wore shoes for his very first time (!!!!) to attend secondary school. Though very uncomfortable, he applied himself well, and at the end of his schooling, he placed near the top of his class. His teacher encouraged the top 5 students to go on to study medicine, as they saw this as the noblest of professions in his schooling. He did so, and currently owns his own private practice in Nairobi!!! When asked why he joined Rotary, he shared that he wasn't allowed until age 30 to join, and he wanted to give back to those less fortunate. He knows first hand his humble background (he is 1 of 10 children from his family, 2nd oldest, with the 1st born currently a lawyer in the UK after a full scholarship at Oxford University!) He has helped coordinate a medical clinic with other US and various country doctors to offer a medical clinic within a Nairobi slum to treat thousands of people in 1 week's time. He was so grateful for his life, interested in others, and exemplified Rotary's "service above self" in every way. What a gift to meet this Rotarian in Kenya.
I will share our Tuesday's adventures tomorrow. Until then, asante....xoxo Jane
No comments:
Post a Comment