to recap the last few weeks–
we got our site assignments and I GET TO LIVE IN A FREAKIN NATIONAL PARK IN FREAKIN AFRICA FOR THE NEXT TWO YEARS!!!! Not to mention that my counterpart is amazing. When we got our assignments I was overjoyed to the point of nearly being in tears, which I dont think has ever happened to me before. I felt like I had won some huge prize. I will be working in Murchison Falls National Park for the next 2 years. Mostly my projects will be focusing on ecotourism development and ways of involving the community. I get to see the park for the first time this week. I am actually in a town called Masindi now. It is outside the park a ways. Its a bigger town than Luweero (where we have been training), but isnt as crazy as Kampala. Initial impressions are good anway.
We visited another park recently and got to see a bunch of animals– impala, hippos, zebra, waterbucks, ugangan kob, warthog, and some others. Lots of birds as always. The head ranger was amazing. He was a walking encyclopedia of information about all the flora and fauna in the area. I was less impressed with the park director who seemed to feel that he had to have a PCV (peace corps volunteer) or concessioner to do ANYTHING in the park. It was kind of frustrating. I am hoping not to run into similar problems with my own counterpart. But I guess the lesson to take from it is to make sure that you set up sustainable project… and REALLY make sure its sustainable even when you are completely removed from the picture. The former PCVs had set up some really good projects but they unfortunately grown in the past 10 years. In any case it was very insightful.
If anyone has any contacts for anyone interested in setting up a whitewater company let me know. Apparently that is one of the areas for development outside the park. (One which I have a vested personal interest in.) Nile Rafting baby! Hell Yes!
……….
The wet has started. That means that there are random huge thunderstorms. That means that I am in heaven cause I love storms. It also means that its cooler and always muddy, which is also pretty amazing.
…….
Just to let everyone know I am still the same crackhead you knew before I left….
So once again I have earned my earned myself the nickname of “trouble.” Guess thats what happens when you are always loud and outspoken. We have been doing a lot of slacklining when we are done with training, which has been a lot of fun. For those unfamiliar with this hobby, you have two anchor points, typically trees, which you tightly stretch a one inch piece of webbing between and then basically tightrope walk. Its a lot of fun. One of the climbers brought it with him. The climbers in the group are really awesome. I cant wait until we have time to go climbing. The chill attitude and stupid fun reminds me of my friends that climb back at home.
I have hit a one month point of gettin hit in the head on a weekly basis. So far I have hit my head on a sharp stump, gotten clipped with an acacia branch (it was one of the species that grows thorns too), fallen backwards into a concrete wall while lifting a 70lbs child, and today my camera bag fell from the overhead and knocked the crap out of me on the ride to Masindi. I think i should get started on some serious PC work before I beat the rest of the brain cells out of my head!
….
So if anyone has any inclination to ever come to Africa, I will be living in a PARK! for the next two years, and my door is always open (for friends and family… if you dont know me and are reading this, dont ask).
I am gonna go wait for my counterpart so I can go see my new home!!!!!!!!!!!
