Zimbabwe, Third Entries

Third Entries: 5-20-10

Good morning! Had a good sleep last night- again, in a bed. The mission house is so beautiful. I’m sitting under a thatch-roof hut that sits in the middle of the grounds. It’s cool and windy today and I’m still feeling a bit under the weather (Author’s note: I contracted a cold the day I left).

Mission House in Bulawayo

We go to Antelope Park today, for some good time with wildlife. Hopefully its a bit warmer there so we can spend time outside.

It smells different here- a faint scent of burning, or of that which was once burned. Is this the life for me? This is the though I contemplate. Have I become so Americanized? So used to Boston living this this doesn’t jive with me? Am I forcing it? This is my first experience really living abroad. I know I fear making mistakes, and that learning a new culture, a different way of life is filled with mistakes. I’m already noticing my shortcomings, failing to choose the less-good food, eating seconds, taking the good chair--are these emanations of selfishness? My need for comfort? I am displeased with myself, but I also think I’m being too critical...

...

We arrived at Antelope Park! Our drive was pleasant--”the girls’ car” with Sue-an English woman who moved here from South Africa. She’s really sweet and wonderful. I got to know Marlene a bit better.

At the park, we met our guide, Evans. He’s a tall Zimbabwean who is soft spoken, but hilarious. Can’t wait to go on some adventures with him. We hung out a bit on the veranda, which was breathtaking. The sky here is so blue due to lack of pollution and the clouds billow and pile and roll in like cotton mounds. Just lovely. After getting our rooms, Nathan, Ginger and I went to walk with the lions! We hopped in the back of a buggy-jeep and drove out into the bush to a caged area where two 16 moth old lions, Meggie and Thulani, were kept. They came out and we walked with them, pet them, took pictures, held them by the tail. It was unbelievable. They were only two months from being trained to hunt as they would in the wild. It was just nuts!

My new lion friend

Then, we came back and Ginger and i got tea, took some sunset pictures, then visited with Sam and Marlene before Sam and Greg left for what is termed the “night encounter,” where the lions hunt and kill. While they were away, we had dinner and played Five Crowns, a really fun card game (Post-trip note: this game would fill a lot of our down time during the trip). After that was over, Sam and Greg still weren’t back. Ginger and I went out to a lonely firepit and chatted with some park guards, talking about travel and climate and our countries. They fetched more wood for us and then left us to listen to all the sounds of the night under a star and moonlit sky. It was so quiet--you could hear the fire burning, the lions roaring, birds chirping, plops in the water...all under a glorious African sky. I can’t believe I’m here.

I struggle with wanting to go back home immediately, anxious about the next days here and how they’ll pass, or wanting to stay forever. What does this mean?