Namibia, 2013

    Harnas Wildlife Foundation was amazing. Everyone keeps asking me what it was like, and it is hard to explain fully to everyone, so I thought I'd write a blog post. 

    My brothers, Deron and Doug, and I had quite the journey getting to Namibia. After our seat being given away in SLC and an emergency landing in NYC, we almost didn't get there. Finally, we flew straight to South Africa, and then took a small plane to Namibia. By then, we were extremely jet-lagged after 40 hours of traveling, and had a lot of difficulty getting through customs. But everything was better once we left the airport. We nearly got into a car with a fake cab driver, but were saved at the last second by a real one. Then we had a relaxing half an hour ride from the Windhoek airport, to the actual city of Windhoek. On the way, we saw wild giraffes and kudus, and the landscape was beautiful. 

    We stayed in the Hilton in Windhoek for two days before a driver from Harnas picked us up.  We drove two hours to Gobabis, which is a scary city. I've never seen poverty like that. Everyone hangs out at the gas station, so there are like 100 people at each gas station, just standing around doing nothing. Namibia has a lot of unemployed people. We saw trucks pull up that had twenty people inside because they all carpool together. I've never seen anything like it. 

    After another hour's drive, we made it to Harnas. On Day 1, it was mostly unpacking and learning the rules. Deron and Doug shared a cabin, I was in a cabin with three other girls from around the world. At first I had wanted to stay with my brothers, but I'm glad we were separated. We got to know other people more than we would have. 

    On Day 2, we had breakfast (everyone eats in a big open hut where you have to fight off animals) an orientation, and a tour of the massive Harnas farm. We were not allowed to go in with the animals yet, but we were able to sit outside of their enclosures.  During free time after lunch, I had my first experience with baboons. They immediately loved Deron and Doug, and groomed them through the fence. They weren't so nice to me. Chloe pinched me and tried to stare me down, the babies wouldn't groom me, and Loydie and Yawnie made that terrible screech and tore my shirt off through the fence. It was terrifying. 

    I was feeling sorry for myself that none of the baboons liked me. Then I looked over and noticed one of the really big ones was watching me. Deron and I wandered over to his enclosure. His name is Roger, and he is the alpha of the older group of baboons. As soon as I approached him, he bared his teeth and made a chattering noise. It means he wants to be groomed. I rubbed him through the fence, and he groomed my legs, being very careful with me, and taking his time inspecting beneath my socks and shoes. He was so sweet. He kept the other baboons away, and he held my hand. 

    The next day, we started the real work. The lions roar and wake everyone up at six, and then you have to make the 10 minute hike to the lodge. Breakfast is at 7:00, and then we met together at 8:00 for a morning meeting to discuss what needed to be done. Activities could include: food preparation, animal walks, enclosure cleaning, farm work (fence repair, water hole repair, etc.), animal grooming, etc. Those activities are divided up, and then everyone meets together again at 1:00 for lunch. After lunch there is free time, and then at 3:00, another meeting to discuss what still needs to be done for the day. Activities are divided, you meet together at 6:00 for dinner, and then everyone has free time for the rest of the nights. Most nights, everyone gathered for bonfires to socialize before bed. Most people went to bed around 9:00, because you were so exhausted from all the hard work of the day. 

     When we were finally allowed to go in with animals on Day 3, I didn't have any problems. Befriending the alpha, Roger, seemed to help a lot with the baboons, even the ones he was not alpha over. The baboons were a freaking blast. They love to play and groom. There were a lot of misconceptions about the baboons where I first arrived. Everyone warned me that they don't like women, and I was shown an array of massive bruises people had from bites. If one baboon attacks, they all do, so you can easily end up fighting an entire group. They are extremely intimidating and strong. But I didn't have any problems. Chloe and Abu were the first ones I went in with. Chloe is the big female, and she loved to go through my hair. Abu is a young male who just wants to have fun. 

    I fell into an easy rhythm. I was not afraid of the baboons, so I always ended up doing activities with them. I'd take them out for walks in the wild bush, no enclosures, and no one around to help. That was my favorite. The babies LOVED the walks. 

    I would bottle feed the babies, play with Chloe and Abu, and eventually, I went in with the bigger ones, Loydie and Yawnie. Yawnie had a terrible reputation because he used to bite everyone. He was abused, forced to live in a bar for the entertainment of drunk patrons. He was easily scared and didn't like most people. Then he met my brother, Deron. Deron was not afraid of him, and was comforting. Yawnie climbed in his arms and hugged him constantly, and would always run to Deron when he was scared. And Deron taught him to kiss. 

    Yawnie was changed after he met Deron. He liked human affection, and he wasn't mean to girls like everyone said. 

     Every Wednesday, we took the large baboons for a walk into the bush. Many people are very afraid of the big ones because they are aggressive and so powerful. I'd been sitting outside of their enclosure every day spending time with the alpha, Roger. I was so afraid he wouldn't remember me once he was outside the cage. But as soon as we let him out, he jumped on my shoulders, and he stayed with me for a good portion of the walk. He kept all of the other baboons away from me, so I was able to enjoy a peaceful walk with my new man. 

    We spent every waking moment with the animals. I played with cheetahs and leopards, and admired lions. The lions roared so loud, it sounded like I was surrounded every time they started. The merekats had an instant hatred for me, so I didn't go in with them again after giving them a second chance that ended up with me bleeding. Again. I brushed bat-eared foxes, fed African painted dogs, played tug-of-war with caracals, hosed down warthogs, and got kissed by a baby kudu. The experience was amazing. Every activity was amazing. I fell in love with all of the animals, but the baboons were indescribable. They weren't just friends, they were best friends. 

    I made it through all of Harnas without getting bitten by a baboon once. That is quite the feat if you understand baboons. Everyone called me "Baboon Woman", and I taught the new people not to be afraid of them. I already miss them. I met wonderful people there, and will never forget the experience. But even more than the people, I will never forget the baboons. 

Namibia Trip

                                

        Wow, I leave in 5 days. I decided I better do one last blog, since I have a feeling I'm going to be a different person when I come back. I'm less than a week away from the culmination of a lot of hard work, a lot of dreams, and a lot of support from my husband. Thank you so much, Matt, for helping me to make this happen. And thanks to everyone else who has supported me. There are a few of you (you know who you are) that will probably be making this trip with me again in 2015.

       Since I was in high school, I have wanted to travel abroad, and not just on vacation. In high school, some of my classmates took a trip to England with the AP Literature class to study Shakespeare at the London theater. I wanted to go so badly, but it was impossible at 17 years old, especially since I was headed to college in a few months with only part of it paid for. In college, I requested information on several different programs for studying abroad. All of them looked amazing, but none of them absolutely captured me. I vaguely considered joining the Peace Core with a friend, and after deciding it wasn't for me, looked at doing humanitarian work abroad with various volunteer groups.

       All of those opportunities would have been great, but none of them were right for me. And then I learned about Harnas Wildlife Foundation. It wasn't something I had to think about for a long time. It hit me with an immediate, all-consuming, can't-ignore, resounding blast of inspiration. I knew I needed to go.

      Although I have not been able to do as much volunteer work as I would like, those of you who know me well know that I am always trying to help people (or more frequently, animals). I've done everything from Adopt-A-Highway, to Trick-or-Treating for UNICEF. I have volunteered for many different organizations, but by far the most touching for me has always been animal shelters. I have volunteered many times. And I have cried every time. There is no more touching experience for me than working with animals, and that is the biggest reason why Harnas appeals to me. It is a unique experience, and was started by a woman who made so much sacrifice in the name of conservation. I am going to spend three weeks of my life making a difference to an animal. Working with lions, cheetahs, leopards, wildebeests, crocodiles, birds, bats, and an assortment of other animals will be the greatest honor. I know I'm going to learn a lot. And I am beyond grateful that a lot of prayers, a LOT of planning, and a lot of support paid off. Again, thank you to everyone who helped. Thanks to my brothers, Deron and Doug, for joining me on an adventure on the other side of the world. To my husband, for encouraging me, and for knowing this is the right thing for me to do. To Kelsay, for being one of the few friends who didn't think I was crazy when I told her what I wanted to do. To my parents, for helping with everything. To my in-laws, for supporting me. To Charlie and Lynee, for encouraging my adventures, and helping to plan new ones. And to everyone (Megan!) who has just listened to me ramble about my dream.    

 

 

2012, The Year of Goodbyes

    Well, I've decided to start a blog. I probably should have done this a while ago, but 2013 seems like a good time to start since it is going to be a crazy year. I thought I'd start by filling everyone in on what happened in 2012.

    Most of 2012 for Matt and I was dominated by the military. We knew he was going to be deployed since December of 2011, but it came up quickly. On Monday, May 21st, and 5 days before our third anniversary, I said goodbye to Matt.

     He flew to Texas to do some training before heading to Kuwait. He was there for about two months before he was given a few days of leave, during which I drove out to visit him. We were able to explore a lot of Texas, and had a blast in San Antonio at the river-walk and the Alamo. The three days flew by, and then I was once again saying goodbye as I drove back home. Matt flew to Camp Arifjan, Kuwait, to begin his deployment. 

    From there, our stories split. I have been busy working on my Master's in Management, with an emphasis on Human Resource Management. I've been taking two classes every two months from the American Public University, so my schedule has been chaotic and busy. The craziness of school has helped preoccupy me while Matt is gone. I've also spent a lot of time with my family, and with my dog, Tonks, who has had my tears soaked into her fur more than once during this deployment.

    Most of all, I've been focusing on an upcoming service project I'm doing in Namibia. I first read about Harnas Wildlife Foundation three years ago, when I found a dusty book in Barnes and Noble that obviously hadn't moved in a while. There was a picture of a giant lion on the front, and since they are my favorite animal, it caught my eye. I read the story of a volunteer who spent several months at Harnas, a wildlife refuge in Namibia where animals are given a safe haven from poachers, hunters, and farmers who are increasingly pushing into their natural environment. Harnas is one of the only wildlife sanctuaries in Southern Africa, and is unique in the fact that it will accept any animal, no matter the species or the condition in which it arrives. It is non-profit, and run by the same family that started it decades ago. The organization only survives because volunteers who love animals come from all over the world to run it. They build enclosures, drive out to rescue injured or threatened animals, prepare food for them, take them for walks, sleep with the babies who can't be alone, complete research projects, help with the breeding program of the severely endangered African Wild Dog, and interact with the local tribe who own the surrounding lands. It is an extremely hands-on experience, with direct contact between volunteers and animals of all kinds, including carnivores.

    Since marrying Matt, I have never wanted to do something so much in my life. For the last three years, I've been in contact with Harnas, and the timing is finally right for me to go. Matt has made it possible. Because of his deployment, I'm able to take a month off of work to go to Harnas. I'll be leaving February 18th, and my brothers, Deron and Doug, will be joining me. We will be flying from Salt Lake City, to Chicago, to London, to Johannesburg, and finally, to Windhoek. There, we'll drive to the remote location in the middle of wild Namibia, where we will be able to protect and care for the animals that we feel so passionate about.

     I will return to Salt Lake about five weeks before Matt returns. He has been extremely busy in Kuwait. He has only been able to take one tour while he's been there, when he got to go to a Kuwaiti restaurant, the Persian Gulf, and a famous museum. Hopefully he'll get to do at least one more before he comes home, but with the military, you never know. When he gets back I will have him do a blog post about his experience out there, since we are restricted on what we can write until he is home safely.

    The theme of 2012 was "goodbye", but 2012 will be very different. Matt comes home in a few months, and we have a lot of traveling to do. The army is sending us to Denver, Nashville, and Chicago. We'll hopefully be going to Cape Cod to visit Matt's grandparents. And in August, we are headed to Ireland, Scotland, and England, to spend some time with our best friends, Charlie and Lynee, and to revitalize. Matt and I don't plan on being apart in 2013, and for the first time since our first, we'll spend an anniversary together. I look forward to sharing our adventures with you, so stay tuned.