Puppies grow fast

The puppies are sure growing fast. Their poor mother is so skinny from producing all that milk, but she has learned the way to my house to get extra food. I wonder what is going to happen to them in their lifetimes because lives of dogs aren't exactly cushy around here.

A close call makes for a good story!

Today was a rather incredible day. I finally learned what if feels like to get data and have an experiment work. I spent the day at the waterhole and was finally able to calculate the elephant’s arrival correctly… or rather too correctly. The elephants actually caught me in the act of getting everything ready. I was caught rather off guard and when I jumped, they jumped too. As soon as I booked it out of there, they went about their normal business and I was SOOOO HAPPY! It has been rather difficult for me to spot them before suddenly they wander out from behind some trees, but today, SUCCESS- and boy, does it feel good.

Company... like it or not.

I have had some neighbors this week. It has been nice having people to talk to but at the same time, I could do without the generator and the bright lights! The campsite is for students that stay in Tanzania for the summer. These students are British. We had quite a time the other night at our “Silent Rave.” I was as confused as you are, so let me explain. First of all, they painted each other’s faces (quite well, I might add) and put on some really funky clothes and did their hair all funky- kind of like what you might look like on a mismatched day during spirit week in high school. The kicker and the reason for the name was when we all turned our iPods on and danced like crazy in the middle of a tick-laiden field under the Tanzanian stars! It was actually quite fun and a great way to ‘get-away’ a bit. Of course, their philosophy was if you can’t go to the party, bring the party to you! I admit, I only lasted about 10 minutes because at 9:30, it was already an hour past my bedtime! I am getting quite accustomed to rising and setting with the sun.

A Lutheran Church in Tanzania... Mom & Dad would be so PROUD!

I went to church with Rose this last Sunday. She goes to a Lutheran church. This was my second time going and I was again surprised at how many offerings they take! The service lasted about 2 hours and probably 40 minutes of it was involving either the offering plate or someone asking everyone to give and explaining what it was for. I asked one of the employees from the ranch about this and I was told that its just because I am not used to it. In fact, after the service there was quite an auction of the produce that was given in place of money. How interesting… I suppose it is true that it is just because I am not used to it at all. The choir at Rose’s church is really neat. They sing really well and they do a little repetitive dance to each song. I love it! Hopefully I will remember my recorder next time so I can post it on my blog. I am not absolutely certain that I will go every week- I really didn’t understand very much, so I may get more out of reading the Bible at home. Also, I was awfully preoccupied with thinking about the waterhole and if there were elephants and I was missing them. Probably better to work on Sundays after a longer devotion in the morning.

NO MORE PUPPIES!

Mwe mwe has been chained to a post for the last week waiting for me to find a vet that can do something about his wandering behavior... if you know what I mean. Finally, a solution. A friend managed to find a guy that will come for 10 bucks, stick a syringe and extract all of the potential Mwemwe offspring... if you know what I mean. Apparently, this is a temporary solution and will need to be done every three months. Still, it beats the alternative of travelling with Mwemwe to town for surgery. Daladalas are stressful enough with one small backpack- I can't imagine the strange looks and looks of disgust that would result in having a full grown dirty tick-ridden dog on my lap.

On with the project!

I have had a rather busy week considering I am studying ELEPHANTS and haven't seen any! I guess it goes along with my project though... just quantifying evidence of elephants! I have secured seven participants for my study this week. It has been a blast. To make friends and therefore voluntary participants, I have been giving little gifts to the kids in the village. Mostly little party favor- type gifts but they just love it. However, the smaller kids only scream when I try to hand them something shiny. The adults think it is terribly funny, but it still makes me feel awful. I think with time it will be easy to win them over though. Even younger babies love to touch my hair and their mamas always seem to plunk them right in my lap as soon as a chair is offered to me! Yesterday I interviewed an older couple whose son works on the ranch. Rose was talking to the mama and I was doing my work. When I returned to them, Rose was helping breaking up the ground. I took the tool from her and started pounding away. They thought it was so funny and I enjoyed making them laugh... until I realized my hands were not prepared for that kind of work and I left with bloody blisters! Again, the mazungu was very funny. Two days ago, I was walking around a field and Rose said to me, "Bekah Angelia! (LOOK!)" I nonchalantly replied, "Hamna shida (no problem)" before walking straight into the branch of an acacia. I am very thankful for the involuntary reflex of my left eyelid because I managed to get a thorn stuck in the eyelid, but imagine if my eye wouldn't have closed! I was so embarrassed that I pretended nothing had happened until Rose saw me later and noticed the blood. By that time, it was a funny story even to me and Rose and I enjoyed telling it over and over in broken Swahili. A super perk of my particular study is I have reaped the benefits of spending time with the people of Tanzania. I don't think Rose will have to go to the market at all this week because I have a kitchen full of cheap produce including Papaya, Sweet Potatoes, and Maize. I don't even mind the Masai's custom of spitting in their hand before they shake mine. I have never experienced quite like it before, but it seems like that would be an insult in America! I am loving it and trying to take it all in.

I love field work!

Yesterday I spent the day at the waterhole watching for animals on the hour and for elephants every 15 minutes. It was super peaceful. However, the walk home was equally as exciting as I saw my first Tanzanian giraffes! Also, I saw these super colorful grasshoppers mating and got a picture. Today was also rather enjoyable as I saw eland, some kind of snake, a dikdik and a jackal. I walked very far searching for individual trees on the GPS. We are monitoring elephant damage in this way. It was a long day but when I get to see different animals, it makes me want to have a long day each day I am here. Finish it off with a wonderful African sunset and a Stoney and the only thing missing is my husband...