Our two safari runs were a little quiet. We were searching for giraffes (about the only animal we had't seen on safari yet) and of course teasing Greg a bit about it. We did see some wonderful things and had another great elephant and baby encounter- but the true highlight today was our visit to the village. Thanks to Sarah we all got to have a great experience.
Everyone was very excited about Sarah bringing school supplies. It ends up the Djuma lodge (where we are staying) has a project in the village to help with the schools. It is winter break for the students, but because we were coming they got the school superindenent (my name for the guy who oversees all the schools), some principals, teachers and school cooks, along with about 40 nursery school students to greet us. Greg drove us in the jeep, with Sarah's donation, into the village of Utah. We went to the nursery school that Djuma helped renovate. We were greeted by the head of the schools and introduced to all the staff who had gathered on their day off. Then they brought in all the kids. Oh my gosh! As precious as can be. They have us a greeting in unison. Then, Chris showed the staff the supplies we brought. They were most excited about the glue! Amy, Eric, Sarah and eventually Chris and some of the other adults there (there were two visiting teachers from America) blew bubbles for the kids. They LOVED it. they popped them and trying blowing themselves. They were so cute.
Greg had told me that they would like seeing their picture on my camera after I took their's. He was right about that. I spent the rest of the time taking pictures of the kids and then showing them their picture on the screen. They went crazy for that. It was so wonderful to watch their faces as they saw themselves in the pictures. Amy Eric and Sarah shared the magazines and showed them pictures. They all gathered in groups around each of the (Dittmore) kids and lloved everything they told them in English- repeating their words and sounds of the animals etc... I've never seen such genuine happiness on the faces of my own three kids. It's hard not to tear up just reliving the moment! It was fun watching Chris interact with them also.
The kids were all very affectionalte and interested in everything we did. We were all struck my the fact that with all the chaos and pushing and grapping that comes with that many young children we didn't witness a single sad moment from any of them. Not one tear!
When we had to leave (we could have spent days with them but they needed to go home and eat) they all waved and blew kisses. So so so cute!
It was really fun to see what a welcome the community gave to Sarah and how appreciative they were.
Afterwards Greag gave us a quick tour of all the schools as we drove through the villages of Utah and Dixie. We got to see out tracker, Patrick's home as well.
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