Breakfast bell was rung at 6:23 am and kicked off quite a day. After we had all eaten the tables were removed from the chumba, the floor swept, and every chair on the premises squeezed back in. A space was left open at the front for each group to present but all other available space was taken. This all took until about 9 am and afterwards we had nothing to do but get ready and hang around. I found a book in the library and settled in to read until it was show time. As more and more people arrived the chumba looked smaller and smaller. Before the first group went in, everyone got together under the trees outside and took a group picture. The Wildlife Ecology DR was up first and they presented on water quality in the area. It was a good presentation even though they went over their time limit by 15 minutes. What was really interesting were the questions and comments following the presentation. In attendance were several members of the district government, ministry of agriculture, water management association, and Kenya wildlife service. The questions and comments mostly aimed at the government, asking why they have not been doing anything about the problems WE had just spent the past ¾ of an hour talking about. The frustration of these locals as they spoke to the government officials was clear. There were also a few questions to the research team but most of the questions were aimed at the government. Environmental Policy was next up and their presentation went just over an hour, double the allotted amount of time. They spoke about water quantity in the area and again generated lots of questions. More of these questions were directed at the research team (for example: how did you decide the amount of water at each farm, measurement or perception) but the vast majorities were again directed at the government officials present. A short soda break was taken before the WM DR could get started. By this time it was nearly 1 pm. Once everyone was back in their seats, we walked to the front of the chumba and prepared to give our presentation. I had the job of welcoming everyone, introducing our study, and stating our objectives. I was happy with the job I did and happily handed things off the Greg to continue with our methods. Our entire presentation with translation was only 26 minutes. We also had questions but, as they are on a less touchy topic than water, they were easily answered and KWS (Kenya wildlife service) did not get too many jabs from the audience. After we were done, the government and other people of note were encouraged to speak and give their reactions to all that had been said. My group and I had left by this point on to the porch where we whispered congratulations. One group member tried to convince me that since we were now completely finished we were seniors. I strongly disagreed stating that until the current Swarthmore seniors graduate I remain a junior. In the midst of this debate I got drafted to help serve lunch to our guests and got pulled into the kitchen. The best part of getting drafted as kitchen crew was that we got to eat lunch first. After eating we set up the tables with plates, cutlery, and huge bowls of food which each of us got to serve out of. I got the salad bowl (not actually a salad….just cut up tomatoes, peppers, and onions) with Mikayla next to me serving beans and Greg serving green beans. Of course just because we had everything set up did not mean everyone was done talking in the chumba. They were still going full speed and we were left to relax in the shade by the food. Greg had to inspiration to go get his Maasai clothes and spear to dress up as a Maasai warrior which we all enjoyed laughing at. Christina and I got to talking about the GRE and vet school until the final round of applause came from the chumba and people began trickling out. I was not very busy (the Maasai are really into meat and not tempted by veggies very much) but enjoyed talking to the staff that came through the line. The Maasai mamas that came to watch all ate as a big group under a tree a good distance from the rest of the guests, making a cluster of bright colors on the green grass under the tree we had taken a group picture under just this morning. Lots of the local guides came to hear our presentations so it was a fun gathering chatting with them. Eventually our guests got back into the cruisers and they were driven home while we, the student, swarmed over the chumba. Chairs were taken out and returned to their usual spots, the floor reswept, and the tables replaced. Molly had pinned clothes up on the walls and these were taken down and folded. At loose ends Kira, Allie, and I decided to take a walk around the camp. After one loop we sat under the gazebo by the far fire pit and talked about preparing to go home and the foods we missed the most. Kira soon departed but Allie and I stayed talking until after dark. The food here is repetitive and recently has lost all charm. Neither of us really wanted to eat dinner but the mosquitoes were coming out and we should get closed toed shoes on before we got bitten by a snake. RAP was a fun slide show of pictures taken by a fellow student and arranged alphabetically based on the subject. Tomorrow is my last non-program day in Kenya. I need to start packing and do laundry but we shall see what fun things there are to do tomorrow also. It is true that as of today we are completely done at SFS. However I refuse to have my adventure end just yet so I have organized another one. I will leave Kenya on the 10th of May and fly to Johannesburg, South Africa (SA). In SA I will be working with a conservation project in the Limpopo area as a wildlife vet assistant. It is only for two weeks but I am so excited. I will be staying on the private game reserve owned by the vet’s in-laws and working with the vet all day. I am really hoping for some work in the field on wildlife since at this moment that is the career path I am aiming for. Not only will I get u close and personal experience, I will also have a vet to answer my questions about vet school and specifically vet schools that will get me to be working outside with fascinating wildlife every day. It took a lot of finagling but I got SFS approval and my flights arranged so two days from now I will be in the air!!! On that exciting note I am going to go enjoy the campfire burning brightly in the fire pit close to the chumba.
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