Well this is it I am back in the homeland as of 7 am this morning that the last week has been a bit of a emotional roller coaster. Driving through the Masai lands surrounding Arusha town with one of my many African mothers/sisters as the sunsets softly over the landscape with clouds looming over Mount Meru and the rolling hill that surround it as the sky turns a soft pink and purple hue, and I find myself falling in love with Africa all over again as I watch one of my last African sunset.
I honestly don't know where the past three months have gone but they have by far been the most productive, rewarding and entertaining months of my life. I have gained an amazing group of friends from all around the world and have had the pleasure of working with some the most talented people I have ever met. I have had the joy of meeting and working with the best kids in the world who will forever have a special place in my heart.
Coming to Africa and working at Plaster House has led me to question a lot of things including what is the real world? What is living? Are we really better off? I use to be a firm believer in Karma but after coming to Africa I am not so sure anymore especially after meeting Natazomowaki. Natazomowaki is nine years and is one of the best children in the world she would help me organize activities, take the little ones to the bathroom, and read stories to the little ones, overall and extremely helpful child. Natazomowaki has heart disease as well as a foot problem making it difficult for her to walk. She has been at Plaster House two years and is still waiting to go to Kenya to get open heart surgery and once she gets her heart surgery then she is able get an operation on her foot. Needless to say why my belief in Karma has been questioned as what can a little girl do that is so horrible that she is in the situation that she is now.
I also didn't use to believe in Magic until I came here but Plaster House made me think that their is some sort of Magic out there. Stefano is a little boy who is around four years old. He fell in a cooking fire, something which is far to common in Masai communities leaving third degree burns all over his face, arms, legs and stomach as well large head wound and psychological trauma. He was abandoned after the incident and the outreach co-ordinator found him and brought him to Plaster House where he is waiting for a skin graph. When he first came to Plaster House about a month ago he use to sit in a corner on his own and not interact with any of the other children or he would rip his clothes of start screaming and running around. Now he participates in story time, shares books, helps the other kids out if they need it and communicates with the other children. Despite being their only a month he has come amazingly far and it makes me unbelievably happy.
It's unfortunate that Africa has such a negative connotation courtesy of the media and that many people believe its a continent full of AIDS, War and Crime. Unfortunately some places in Africa have large amount of these, giving the continent a negative image. It's amazing how such a few number of countries have an affect on the others, like Uganda. Uganda borders two not exactly desirable neighbours, South Sudan and Democratic Republic of the Congo, therefore creating the impression that it is an unsafe country. The truth is, its only the borders of these regions which are a bit dodgy and Uganda's tourism industry is booming with Gorilla and Chimpanzee tracking, some of the best national parks in Africa, the discovery of White Water Rafting on the Nile( some of the best in the world) and the development of Adventure Tourism. In 2012 Uganda was named by Lonely Planet as "Best Travel Destination of 2012." I'm pretty certain that many of you reading were unaware of this and thought of Uganda as a country of Child Soldiers, Violence and Joseph Kony.
Being back in England now i feel the cleanest I have ever felt in the past three months and have had the biggest culture shock coming back. The taxi ride from heathrow was the weirdest, wearing a seatbelt, not being in a taxi with 9 other people, people signalling and seeing lots of white people was a very odd experience. Showing up at Jess house was even stranger having a glass of tap water, walking into the kitchen I thought I saw an African baby sitting on the floor.....turns out it was just the dog, which I could now stroke knowing that I wont contract rabies.
Well the East African Adventure has come to a close. 14 weeks, 13 forms for entering and exiting the Republic of Kenya, 12 times sitting in a field to steal a posh hotels wifi, 11 new British friends, 10 new favourite foods, 9 new African bands on my Ipod, 8 trips to the Masai market, 7 chickens placed under my feet, 6 long bus rides, 5 walks through no mans land, 4 new countries, 3 children I want to bring home, 2 African mothers and 1 incredible experience I will never forget.
oh by the way the dala record is 29 people 5 chickens and 3 babies.... one of which was placed on my lap.
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