Fallen in love with Africa
Hanson’s and Malone’s here,
Heck of a day here in the Mother Land, started off with a 6am wake up call, delicious breakfast buffet and off we went on a day long safari! Within the first few minutes Bdette laid her eyes on a surprisingly cute hyena, or “Yena” as Christopher likes to call them, and it only continued to go up hill from there. Prior to today we had seen almost every animal aside from the Cheetah, so that was our main goal for the afternoon. Boy oh boy did we conquer that. Not only were we lucky enough to spot this four legged animal, we were also able to witness the art of a cheetah kill. This process took about an hour and a half but we happily sat and observed the entirety of the circle of life. After the feast we casually cruised by a mother lion and her numerous cubs, just another day in the park!
Backtracking a few days, before the last of our safaris, we took a detour and visited a home built for young mothers and their newborn babies. Funded by a church in good ol’ MN, this abode was home to eight women, seven infants, and one baby on the way. In exchange for their stay these girls are required to finish their education, carry out household chores and be the best that they can be! To say that we were astonished when we met these beautiful ladies was an understatement. I think it’s safe to say they were an inspiration to us all. Although they were all presented with various challenges, they have, and continue to, keep their heads up and succeed at all they do.
Though both of these experiences were very different, they accurately sum up our trip to Kenya. From the exotic animals and beautiful sunrises/sunsets, to the incredible people and their unique culture, the Hanson’s and Malone’s have fallen in love with Africa and everything it has to offer. To have been able to go on this trip was an experience of a lifetime. Never in a million years did we think we would learn this much, and love the country this widely. Sydney and I, with our whole lives ahead of us, have most definitely decided that our futures will involve Africa in some (hopefully many) ways. As cliché as it is, this trip changed us for the better. Never again will I take for granted my lengthy showers, or brushing my teeth. Everyone should be able to experience the beautiful and magnificent Africa. Hakuna Matata
