Back on the Home Front

Since I have been home things have both sped up and slowed down. I feel so restless to get back working with wildlife and there isn't much more I can do to make it happen. I'm writing letters every day and meeting as many contacts as I can and even looking for professional society to join. I have met some wonderful people who are happy to give me advice and help in any way they can. It is so exciting to think that my dreams of wildlife research are obtainable. I am looking into graduate programs but I don't think that will happen for a while. I was looking at my bucket list (Yes, I wrote it down) and it is so nice looking at the things I have been able to check off this year, (like sleeping with cheetahs, going to Africa, meet Marieta, and find my passion). There is still so much that I want to accomplish and so many places I want to see but all that will come with time. They next adventure I really want to tackle...skydiving!

I thought I would add a few pictures from Namibia! More to come. It is taking a while to upload them! They are the 4 cheetahs I slept out with, so sweet. I miss them so much! Then it is Gabana, a leopard. Then Me and Abu! Right after Chloe pulled my hair but Abu was a sweetheart. Last it is me and Atheno, the next cheetah to be released into the lifeline!

I'm Back!

Well, I made it back home yesterday. The flight wasn't too long and I was actually able to get some sleep. It was really hard leaving. It makes me more determined than ever to find a job that can make me as happy as being at Harnas made me. I missed my flight to Charlotte because it took a while going through customs. They were concerned about me being on a "farm" and seemed completely unconvinced when I told them I only interacted with 1 pig and a couple sheep and that I spent more time with cheetahs and baboons than any livestock. Luckily, my boots were clean because they seemed to be debating conviscating them right off my feet. I was able to get on a flight to Greenville and only got delayed by about 3 hours. Unfortunately my checked bag didn't make the flight. It is taking the seanic route home. It was so good to see my family! I really missed them a lot when I was gone. cali went crazy when she saw me, Buffy and Molly did too. The cats are acting mad to show me that leaving was not acceptable. I stayed up until 10 and expected to be completely exhausted because it was 3 o'clock in Namibia. It was nice to be in my bed with the zoo and slept like a rock. I had to laugh when I woke up and saw it was light out, I thought it would be late in the morning but it was 8:02. Exactly the same time I always wake up. It is so relaxing being home and going through my pictures. I am really hoping my bag gets here today. Thank you all for reading and keeping up with me. It is so much easier typing on a computer than on my kindle. I will add pictures of the animals in a little while!

It Ended Too Soon!

This is the last morning at Harnas. It was a beautiful sunrise but I'm not ready to go. I will have so many more stories when I get.home.but for now this is the last of my Internet time. Ive loved.every minute here and as I told marieta last night, I'm already anxious to come back. Africa has.touched my heart and the impact its left will stay with me forever.

I Have Found My Bliss!

Last night I went on research. Ive always felt that research isn't for me. That is until I got here. I have been searching for the right career path for about a year now. Nothing really felt right. I read Anderson Cooper's book and he says his mom always told him to "find his bliss ". I really do feel that.I have found my bliss. We drove around tracking the gps collars of Max and Morris first. They are two male cheetahs raised at harnas. They can track all his movements and activities. They are researching to see if cheetahs are more clear area hunters or more Bush felt. This could help show that cheetahs are more adaptable than previously thought. I got the chance to talk to the woman doing the research and asked how she got into it. She told me she graduated with a degree in animal science and came here as a volunteer. Then she came back to do a 3 month research project and after that she came back to stay. She intends to get a masters in a few years and aa PhD. I nearly fell over! I didn't think id be in a position to get there. I am more motivated than ever! We then fed the wild dogs. They are adorable ans crazy. They are the most endangered species in Africa and I feel priveldged to get to be so close. Then we went to track pride and her babies. This is a true miracle for harnas. Pride was hand raised and still very tame. They released her into the lifelike 2.years ago. She has been hunting and being a wild cheetah. 10 weeks ago she surprised everyone by having 2 cubs. She got.pregnant by a wild cheetah which is huge! It means that harnas has produced a new generation of wild cheetahs. We walked through the bush and finally found them. Pride came out and drank water from a water bottle then she walked up to me and licked my face a couple times. It was rough but so special. Then she walked away to be with the cubs. They were adorable and playful. I got a few cute pictures but the memory will be better than any picture I got. The cubs hiss.aand growl because they get no human interaction so they will be truly wild. We stated as long as we could but it was getting dark and we had to get atheno. We drove out to where a trap was set. There is a young cheetah who was found eating with pride and her cubs. Everyone was excited because being solitary animals it.is unheard of for one cheetah to allow an unrelated male cheetah to share her kill. Especially when she has cubs but pride was letting him. However he was dangerously thin. He acts scared of meat from humans and they wanted to capture him so he wouldn't die. He wouldn't go into a cage so they were using atheno as a guide of what to do. We went to bring atheno back and got him out of his cage. The cage wouldn't fit in the land rover so it was the 4 volunteers and atheno in the back. He was.walking around looking out the window. When we stopped to open a gate he wanted a better view. So he jumped up in the front seat. He acted like it was where he was meant to be. It was so much fun. Tomorrow I want to see what else they do during the day. I have a feeling research is the field for me. Today I went to church again. I wanted to once more before I left. The pastor is so passionate and the children are adorable. The people here are so beautiful. It hit me that I am leaving in 4 days. I cant think about it without getting emotional. Its only been 3 weeks but so many of my questions have been answered and I don't think ive ever felt so comfortable so quick. Its so far from home and I don't want to be so far from my family but the more I think I might apply for research positions over here. I don't think ill be satisfied working with animals.behind bars. Its.overwhelming to think of where my life might lead from here but as my new motto says "if your dreams don't scare you, they aren't big enough"

Fun Night, Stressful Morning

Yesterday we had a party at the lapa. It was so much fun. Marieta came and parties too. She was cheering on Johan telling him she wanted to know whet the joke about the striptease was all about so he jumped on the fire pit and danced to sexy and I know it. Lol we sang our songs and she even wanted us to play Roxanne (a drinking game) so she could see it. This morning Everett gave me my book which she was kind enough to sign for me. Today was supposed to be a lazy day. Lots of people with hangovers. Luckily not me. But instead of doing farm work Bonita asked me and Taylor to walk with Chloe and Abu. It was a lot like last time. Chloe played in trees and Abu stayed close. Soon Abu fell asleep on my lap. He slept even as I walked with him. This time I was able.to get pictures. Then Chloe jumps on my shoulder and poops on me. Then if that wasn't.enough she pees on me too. She then pulls my head down by my hair taking out a good sized clump (aren't baboons fun) now its lunch time. I had a nice shower and hopefully this afternoon will be more relaxed

What an Amazing Night!!

Last night was.one of the mort amazing night I have ever had. I hurried through food prep until I got to Abu and Chloe. Abu LOVES to cuddle and did not want me to leave. Nothing would distract him. After about 15 minutes I snuck out but Chloe slipped out. Abu sat next to the gate crying as we chased her. I finally was able to grab her and toss her back in. Then me and 4 other volunteers met at the volunteer room to sleep with the cheetahs. We took foam mattresses and as many sleepingbags as we could find and went to the enclosure. Everyone says we had to get there before dark and they probably wouldn't come to meet us. Everett told us they normally sleep under a tree. Their enclosure is BIG and has a lot of trees. Before dark we walked around to find them. We found one cheetah then a few minutes later we found a tree with 3 of them sleeping beneath ...we found our spot. We walked back and dragged all our sleepingbags and things. (Think Beverly hillbillies in the African bush) we all settled in as the sunset. They set dinner aside for us so we watched the sunset as we waited for dinner. It was so surreal laying next to 4 cheetahs. We gave them space because we wanted them to stay the night. Then the lions began their nightly serenade. It sounded even louder than from the village because they are so much closer. When we went out for dinner the lapa manager was teasing us for A) sleeping out in the freezing cold B) sleeping outside next to a wild powerful predator that most people have a healthy fear of. She sent us off saying good night and good luck. Then we walked to our spot and crawled into our sleepingbags. Laying under the African stars is so peaceful with the occasional shooting star. The lions roaring and the constant low purr of the cheetahs. I thought I would be a little scared in the pitch dark but with 4 cheetahs laying 5 feet away I felt safe. I fell asleep so early but it was so relaxing. I slept really well. Id wake up from time to time and glance over to make sure they were still there and fall back asleep. I wasn't even cold considering I had 4 layers and 2 sleepingbags. Around 3 am the tipsters started. Apparently they didn't get the memo about waiting for the sun but I was able to.fall back asleep. Then at 5 the sun began to rise and I woke up to a baboon screaming. Their enclosure is so close it sounded like they were right behind me. I looked up to see 2 of the cheetahs with their heads low looking in the direction of the noise. My heart nearly stopped but nothing was there. I lay there watching the sunrise and slowly the cheetahs began to purr. My camera battery decided to die but my friend took pictures for me. We all got cute pictures. They have distinct personalities. Two were morning cats when the other 2 nipped when the others moved to get comfy. They were so lazy in the morning. It was so surreal to wake up with them. We had to pack up to get breakfast. I gave my favorite a quick kiss and headed for the village. To complete the African morning a group of springbok bounced across path. Today will be a good day. Nothing can get to me after a morning like that.