4 weeks and counting

Here it is, August already! Dave and I leave for Canada on August 31, which is seeming a lot closer on August 4 than it did on May 3 when we left.

We have had a good couple of weeks, with lots of guests and volunteers coming and going. Because of this we’ve been shuffled around rooms-wise a little bit, which makes me glad we have so little stuff here! It’s a lot easier to move two backpacks and a suitcase than it is to pack up an apartment!

I’ve been finding it weird how tired I can get of saying hello and goodbye! I’ve always kind of thought of myself as someone who likes getting to know new people, but lately I find I’ve been craving the company of old friends who know a bit more about my life. That’s not to say that we haven’t met a lot of great people! There is currently a group here from a Church in England who are eager to help out with A Rocha Kenya stuff. They arrived yesterday, and I’m sure we’ll all enjoy working together.

The rehabilitating birds have been keeping Dave busy, as he’s mainly in charge of feeding them. As they need food three times a day and sometimes exercise too, this can eat up a big chunk of the day! The bigger one has been released 4 times now, but just keeps coming back. Hopefully soon he will be gone for real! Here is an action shot of feeding time:

I’ve been at Gede a fair bit inventorying the trees, and am up to almost 500 now. It’s definitely a whole different ball game than when I was working for the city and all the trees were on nicely defined boulevards! The area around the ruins has some really amazing old trees. I am especially amazed by the huge baobabs; here is a picture of Dave looking tiny next to one of them!

Dave and I also went snorkeling last weekend, which was quite lovely. It’s going to be hard going home and not having the ocean a five minute walk away anymore! As far as places to volunteer go, we are quite spoiled here!

There’s a lot more I could say, but it’s getting close to tea time so I should probably get going!