Kilimanjaro Bush Camp – Day 28 – 4/23/11

Today was very relaxed.  With no field work to do Wacheagi had breakfast and then gathered to discuss our objectives and how we are going to analyze our data.  There was the usual debate about various statistical tests and a few questions were will need to sort out with the help of Chui Kubwa.  However all our work for today was finished by quarter to ten am.  At loose ends two girls and myself began cleaning the chumba and library areas.  I know that I am a neat freak but the way people just leave their stuff everywhere is pretty embarrassing.  We went through piles of papers, sorted through the covered side table and threw lots of stuff out.  One DR in particular had stuff everywhere so I grouped all their stuff together and stuck it in the mailbox of one of group members.  Everything else either was put in a pile in the center of the chumba or was thrown out.  The place looked so good but I am saddened because I know that by tomorrow morning it will look just as bad as it did this morning.  Our little cleaning project finished by about 11:30 so I watched a movie while eating lunch.  The internet began working so I was able to get online for a bit before all the other groups got back from their data collection.  At around 4pm a group of students went to Oloitokitok to pick things up from the tailor and to walk around but I remained behind to take further advantage of available internet.  Dinner was very good since Christina had made brownies and the kitchen staff made their version of guacamole and teriyaki beef strips.  The student presentation after dinner was on honey bees which was really interesting and I learned a few new facts.  For example did you know that a queen bee is “made” by the workers feeding their chosen queen a special jelly that causes the queen to grow to twice the normal size of a honey bee.  Honey bees also communicate food sources and locations by performing a dance where the type and number of wiggles give details or direction of what they are describing.  After dinner was complete, Wachezagi gathered in Molly’s office and called Shem to ask him about the questions we had come across this morning.  Jess got on the phone and got his answer and filled him in on our progress.  Shem then asked to speak to another member of the group and Nicky got on.  After a short chat where Nicky said we were all doing well, making good progress, and looking forward to his return.  Nicky also told him all our plans for non-program day tomorrow which includes a trip to the local tourist bar where Nicky said we planned to get a little “soaked” (Shem’s way of saying drunk).  Shem said this was ok and then asked to talk to another member which made us all laugh.  Greg took the phone next and had a similar chat with him before wishing him a good night and a speedy return to KBC before hanging up.  So now I have just finished my second movie and begun working out the final kinks of my post-SFS program plans.  Tomorrow is non-program day and Easter so hopefully the Easter bunny can find me all the way in Kenya!
ps- the picture above is from our last non-program day when we went to the Mada lodge