Goodness gracious, we have not had much time and the Internet has been down. We are all getting ready... packing our bags and memories. Both excited and sad to be going home. Our group has become family. We have experienced magic and life changing moments together.
Yesterday we went to the genocide museum. After walking through, we all sat outside in silence. We know that although we have trials and tribulations in life, our seemingly piddly issues do not compare to what many others face in this world. We are all humbled and grateful for what we have. If you're bored, google the word 'interahamwe.' I think that's how you spell it. Things are not finished here.
We will return home different... but in a good way. We will also return dirty and bug bitten but the dirt and bites will go away, the changed attitudes will not. Thank you all for allowing, and working so hard, to let your kids come on this trip. The people, the animals, our group and all the experiences have made us stronger, smarter, more empathetic, grateful, and humbled. The intensity of this trip on so many levels has enlightened us even more and we all thank you for this opportunity.
I again will say that knowing your kids and traveling with them has been wonderful for me too. For those of you who do not know, I had breast cancer last year - went through chemo and radiation and then broke my leg in three places. Last year taught me to always live life to the fullest and that life is short. Although I was a champ all last year, I have struggled with the aftermath. It was not until this trip with your kids that I feel I broke through and can move on. They are all so amazing in such different ways. I spend a lot of my time in an office, doing all the administrative hoo-haw... I do not get as many opportunities to be around youth as much as I did back in the day. Now I have spent more than 14 days with your gentle, caring, funny, honest, strong, vulnerable kids and they have taught me so much. Again, thank you for raising such amazing beings. Young adults that I feel good about holding our future in their hands. Young adults that have become part of my family now too. Wish you all could see this and I hope you're doing well.
We will see you soon!
Love from us all!
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Monday, July 21, 2008
Sorry for the brevity... more to come later...
Wow... Rwanda is more amazing and welcoming than I remember. Yesterday we hiked to see the gorillas... all had a magical experience. All were also so very tired, full of dirt, grime and mud and full of stinging nettles. Thins gang is really a great group of troopers!
Today most of us hiked to see Dian Fossys grave along with the gorilla graveyard. It was so moving. A few stayed behind to rest as trekking to see the gorilla groups they saw was quite a feat! They are the two hardest groups to get to.
Tomorrow we are heading to the Genocide Memorial.
I will say more manana. I am oh so tired and need to catch some much needed zzzzzzzzz's. i just wanted to let you all know we are still safe and still living out a dream that has changed all of us.
Love,
Randi
Today most of us hiked to see Dian Fossys grave along with the gorilla graveyard. It was so moving. A few stayed behind to rest as trekking to see the gorilla groups they saw was quite a feat! They are the two hardest groups to get to.
Tomorrow we are heading to the Genocide Memorial.
I will say more manana. I am oh so tired and need to catch some much needed zzzzzzzzz's. i just wanted to let you all know we are still safe and still living out a dream that has changed all of us.
Love,
Randi
Friday, July 18, 2008
So long Uganda... It's been real! Real fun!!!
Here is a quickie update as I have little time....
We went out with the lion expert again yesterday and it was AWESOME! The Vet/Professor found three male lions that he does not see often. We all watched them for a while and then the vet darted the male so he could put a radio collar on him. After the lion was down (and the other two boys were scared off), we all got out and watched the vet do his magic... taking samples and putting the collar on the lion. We were just feet away! Then we went away to a safe distance to watch the lion come out of the anesthesia and walk off into the sunset. The researcher said our group gets to name the lion too! We are pumped! On the night game drive, we went out with him again and they played hyena distress calls which attracted several hyenas to us. Since we are with a researcher, we have been allowed to go "off track" and drive through places that tourists are not allowed. The opportunities we have had are just amazing and mind boggling!
We went on another game drive this morning and we ended our last full day in Uganda with me splurging again... We went back to the pool and we had a fancy-schmancy (you know, the kind with so many utensils you are not sure what to use what with) lunch at the same place. We even got ice cream which was a huge treat for all of us. Not only is the pool great fun, it helps get the days of dirt and grime off our bodies. I know, very classy, but you gotta do what you gotta do!
I brought my phone/iPod along with some portable speakers on this journey. Today we played music for some kids that were gawking at us crazies... before you knew it, we had a mob of all the kids around and we danced and had fun for a good 1/2 an hour.
It is funny to camp or eat at a place and the common scenery is warthogs cruising around, perhaps an elephant passing through, several marabou storks hanging out, mongooses scurrying about under your chairs and gobs of other Dr Seuss like reptiles and birds and insects galore.
Oh, I forgot to mention that we have seen a bunch of giraffes too.
Tomorrow we head off for a looooong drive down to Rwanda!
Again, thanks for the great comments! We have soooo many great pictures and stories to share.
Love to you all!
post script - I adore each and every one of your kids. They are all so great in different ways. Thank you for raising such smart, polite and really cool Homo sapiens!
We went out with the lion expert again yesterday and it was AWESOME! The Vet/Professor found three male lions that he does not see often. We all watched them for a while and then the vet darted the male so he could put a radio collar on him. After the lion was down (and the other two boys were scared off), we all got out and watched the vet do his magic... taking samples and putting the collar on the lion. We were just feet away! Then we went away to a safe distance to watch the lion come out of the anesthesia and walk off into the sunset. The researcher said our group gets to name the lion too! We are pumped! On the night game drive, we went out with him again and they played hyena distress calls which attracted several hyenas to us. Since we are with a researcher, we have been allowed to go "off track" and drive through places that tourists are not allowed. The opportunities we have had are just amazing and mind boggling!
We went on another game drive this morning and we ended our last full day in Uganda with me splurging again... We went back to the pool and we had a fancy-schmancy (you know, the kind with so many utensils you are not sure what to use what with) lunch at the same place. We even got ice cream which was a huge treat for all of us. Not only is the pool great fun, it helps get the days of dirt and grime off our bodies. I know, very classy, but you gotta do what you gotta do!
I brought my phone/iPod along with some portable speakers on this journey. Today we played music for some kids that were gawking at us crazies... before you knew it, we had a mob of all the kids around and we danced and had fun for a good 1/2 an hour.
It is funny to camp or eat at a place and the common scenery is warthogs cruising around, perhaps an elephant passing through, several marabou storks hanging out, mongooses scurrying about under your chairs and gobs of other Dr Seuss like reptiles and birds and insects galore.
Oh, I forgot to mention that we have seen a bunch of giraffes too.
Tomorrow we head off for a looooong drive down to Rwanda!
Again, thanks for the great comments! We have soooo many great pictures and stories to share.
Love to you all!
post script - I adore each and every one of your kids. They are all so great in different ways. Thank you for raising such smart, polite and really cool Homo sapiens!
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Still here having a great time!!!!
Hi all!
This is only the second time I could get to a pc. I sent pictures via my phone and had another OZ staff member download. I do not have much time so I will make this snappy!
First I would like to say that we love to see your comments so keep ‘em coming!
We have seen – Lions with a fresh kill, a ton of hippos (including ones walking right by our tents at night!) 20 or so crocks, a plethora of warthogs, water buck, cape buffalo, kob, jackals, hornbills, bee eaters, hawks, bush pigs, chimps (including a cute baby), king fishers, bustards, heartabeasts, baboons, patos, blue & red tailed and vervet monkeys… Gosh, I know I am forgetting some biggies here.
When we went to Budongo (the place the Zoo supports), we were given the royal treatment. We got to trek where only researchers are allowed and that is where we saw our first group of wild chimps. They also had a special high-school group come who study conservation and agriculture. The group sang to us and we all hung out and exchanged stories and email addresses. The snare removal folks took us out to remove snares and we found 9! One snare even had a fresh duiker kill in it!
Now we are at Queen Elizabeth park and I splurged to let the kids go swimming in a pool that hoity-toity folks use. It cost $10 per person but it is well worth it. We are all so sweaty and dirty. Tonight we are going on a special night game drive where a lion specialist will be taking us out. Yet another golden opportunity that other tourists do not get a chance to do.
The kids, and Felicia and I too, are having the time of our lives! We are all still getting along great and really enjoying Uganda and each other. This has been a trip of a lifetime and I say that for myself too!
Love and thanks to you all!
Randi and the rest of the Gang!
This is only the second time I could get to a pc. I sent pictures via my phone and had another OZ staff member download. I do not have much time so I will make this snappy!
First I would like to say that we love to see your comments so keep ‘em coming!
We have seen – Lions with a fresh kill, a ton of hippos (including ones walking right by our tents at night!) 20 or so crocks, a plethora of warthogs, water buck, cape buffalo, kob, jackals, hornbills, bee eaters, hawks, bush pigs, chimps (including a cute baby), king fishers, bustards, heartabeasts, baboons, patos, blue & red tailed and vervet monkeys… Gosh, I know I am forgetting some biggies here.
When we went to Budongo (the place the Zoo supports), we were given the royal treatment. We got to trek where only researchers are allowed and that is where we saw our first group of wild chimps. They also had a special high-school group come who study conservation and agriculture. The group sang to us and we all hung out and exchanged stories and email addresses. The snare removal folks took us out to remove snares and we found 9! One snare even had a fresh duiker kill in it!
Now we are at Queen Elizabeth park and I splurged to let the kids go swimming in a pool that hoity-toity folks use. It cost $10 per person but it is well worth it. We are all so sweaty and dirty. Tonight we are going on a special night game drive where a lion specialist will be taking us out. Yet another golden opportunity that other tourists do not get a chance to do.
The kids, and Felicia and I too, are having the time of our lives! We are all still getting along great and really enjoying Uganda and each other. This has been a trip of a lifetime and I say that for myself too!
Love and thanks to you all!
Randi and the rest of the Gang!
Sunday, July 13, 2008
Saturday, July 12, 2008
Jambo from Budongo!
Hi all. I do not have much time... Just a quick update to let you all know we are having a blast! Today and yesterday we spent time in Budongo.. We have seen baboons, chimps, hornbills, millipedes, rollers, vervets, blue, red-tailed and patos monkeys, a ton of butterflies, hawks, kingfishers.... the list goes on and on.
All the people have been very welcoming and so very nice. The teens are having the time of their lives and learning so much. Tomorrow we are heading to Murchison Falls where we will see bigger game. We are all healthy and happy and getting along great.
I did want to mention that you all have done a great job raising these kids as they are all very polite and respectful and so very smart to boot. More later.
All the people have been very welcoming and so very nice. The teens are having the time of their lives and learning so much. Tomorrow we are heading to Murchison Falls where we will see bigger game. We are all healthy and happy and getting along great.
I did want to mention that you all have done a great job raising these kids as they are all very polite and respectful and so very smart to boot. More later.
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
cheers from London, heathrow airport!
our time here is a 7 hour layover. blimey! i am writing from my phone and it is not cooperating. we are all great! more later. cheerio!
Monday, June 30, 2008
Just 8 days to an adventure of a lifetime!
At 7:20 pm on July 8, 2008 teens Arianne Olarig, Michael Horgan, Olivia Brown, Maddy Zamora, Sabrina Lovato, Karin Petrites, Marissa Betts, Donovan Allen, Karin Nguyen, Cameron Jones and two staff from the Oakland Zoo - Felicia Walker and Randi Meyer will be flying the friendly skies on their way to Uganda and Rwanda. Why on Earth are you going there, you ask? Because on this experience of a lifetime we will see hippos, chimpanzees, gorillas, hornbills, warthogs, elephants, giraffes and much, much more. We will not just be armchair travelers either because that is not how we roll! We will be visiting, and even helping, some of the projects that the Zoo supports such as the Budongo Snare Removal Project http://www.budongo.org/. We are certain this journey will change the way the teens see the world and their place in it!Our seventeen day adventure takes us to a plethora of spots in Uganda that is teaming with wildlife and we end our trip visiting the mountain gorillas in Rwanda.
Stay tuned as we hope to get some updates on this site throughout our journey, though as it is Africa and we will be busy little bees, we only promise to do our best!
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