Elephant Orphanage and Giraffe Center

On our last full day in Nairobi we did some touristy things.  First, we went to the Elephant Orphanage where they rescue young elephants who are orphaned due to poaching, parent death or any other reason.  If left alone in the wild at such a young age the baby elephants would not survive.  So, they are cared for at the orphanage until they are about 2 or 3 years old and then reintroduced to the wild.

In order to create an authentic environment for the elephants the orphanage is only open for one hour each week.  This is when people can come watch during a feeding time. It was so fun to watch the baby elephants come down from the hill in anticipation of their feeding! They were like little children- they knew exactly where they were going and what was about to happen. They each ran to their "spot" where a caretaker was waiting with 2 bottles.  In many cases if the bottle was not at their mouth fast enough they started to grunt and groan! After they had their bottles we watched them munch on leaves, play with each other and drink water using their trunks.

Here is a short video clip if you want to see more. It is so interesting to hear how because elephants are so intelligent the caretakers must help them heal from the trauma they experienced.

Coming for their food!!!

Baby Elephant!! This little one was the youngest in the group. He or she is only about 2 months old.

The workers are so gentle and sweet with the baby elephants! They feed, wash and even sleep with the babies, just as their mothers would do.

Baby Bottles- they each get two at feeding time!

Play time!

The other place we visited was a Giraffe Center where they care for giraffes. It is not an orphanage like with the elephants, but was instead established to protect endangered giraffes. The giraffes have a huge open space to roam and are not shy about coming over to be fed by visitors.

Their tongues feel very rough!

Ron feeding the giraffe.

Amboselli National Park

After six hours on bumpy, dirt roads we arrived at beautiful Amboseli Lodge for the night. Many of us felt very spoiled staying at such a luxurious resort, and at the same time a hot shower and dinner other than lentils and rice, were very welcomed! There were amazing views of the Savanah throughout the Lodge, but the best part were the game rides.  At 5:30 that evening and then again at 7:00 the next morning we set out in our Safari vans to look for some wildlife. In South Dakota we have deer that just wander about (and cows), but it was so amazing to see elephants, zebras and giraffes just meandering across the plains.  We were lucky enough to spot two lions, which according to my Kenyan friends is quite lucky. And while they were far enough away that I didn't get a good picture, I was able to watch them play, well mostly LAY together through the binoculars (we think they were brothers). 

Driving into the lodge we saw a giraffe but didn't stop to take pictures since we were sure we would see another - well we didn't, but I am glad we at least saw one.  However, the animal I am most fascinated by is the elephant.... I could sit and watch them all day, I think. Some random fun facts courtesy of our driver and friends are:

-Female elephants gestation period is 22 months- almost 2 years of being pregnant!

-Elephants are born without tusks, then they lose one set before getting their adult tusks (much like our teeth!)

-Elephants only sleep a few hours a day because they need to spend so much time eating. It takes a lot of greens to support their large size!

-They use their large ears as fans to stay cool and are surrounded by birds who eat the flies off of them.   

And one other thing that I love about elephants is that they symbolize strength and wisdom!

Going on Safari!!

What will we see?

Monkeys!

Zebras!

Elephants!

So Beautiful and Majestic!

Water Buffalo!

Rhino!

There is a lion in this one - but you could only see him with the binoculars!!

New Friends!

I didn't have any doubts that the people I would meet on this journey would be AMAZING!! I just didn't have any clue HOW amazing.  Here's the thing, I went with a team I had never met and joined with over 50 Kenyan Yoga Teachers, and yet, within minutes they felt like family. Not only that, but most of the Kenyans I met were so open, friendly, and loving that it was quite humbling.  They literally embraced me without any second thoughts as to who I was or where I came from (and they have the BEST hugs!).  My heart was opened a thousand times over AND I realized that this is how I want to live.  Their relationships with others are the most important thing. They have community and connection that are so much more valuable than any material thing we could imagine in the Western world.  This is one of the greatest gifts I received on this trip - the feeling of being loved with authenticity.  And, something I am much more intentional about now that I have returned to the United States. Keeping  what I value most- community, compassion, love and connection- at the center of my daily interactions. 

Teacher Training Break!

My sweet friend Fredrick who brought me a coat to keep for the week because I was so cold one day! (it was winter there- so low 70's and I did not pack enough warm clothes!)

Some of our team members dining at the Yaya Center

(my fabulous roommate Sandy is on my left!)

All the NGY Teacher Training Graduates!

Kids, are you ready for yoga?!

Jackson and Julius, my Masaii friends!

With Kate and Katy at our Celebration Dinner!

James, Patrick, Sophia, and Irene- the absolute best Rafikis!!

Reggae Dance Party on the Bus- because you have to do something in Nairobi traffic!

Dance Party during break- just lots of dance parties in general!

Jenn, Maureen, Nicole, Jodi, Katy and Lani- our fabulous leaders for the NGY Teacher Training!

Many Kenyan Yogis are also Acrobats, performing all over the country!

They make this look like it's nothing!

Partner Yoga!

Our  amazing photographers, Michaela and Todd -unfortunately we were in the hospital waiting area as one of our friends was checked out :(

Food

What did you eat there? A very common question :)  Along with lots of fresh fruit here are some examples:

The first picture below is what we ate nine times out of ten. Lentils, rice, vegetables and chapati (which is a flatbread similar to naan).  Since it is vegetarian, I was happy even if we ate it every day! 

 I do not consider myself an extremely adventurous eater but I did try some new things. One of them was Ethiopian food (2nd picture). You eat with  your hands, tearing off pieces of the thin bread to pick up deliciousness like kale, lentils, and other vegetables. 

The last picture shows a traditional African food called ugali.  It is by far the FAVORITE food of any Kenyan I talked with, so of course I had to try it. And, well.... that's  about all there is to say. It is basically cornmeal mush that takes on the flavor of anything it is eaten with... not the tastiest thing I've had (and I even like bland food!) but I can understand how it is a "comfort food" like mashed potatoes here in the United States.

Lentils, rice, vegetables and chipolte

Ethiopian Food- Yum!!


Ugali and Kale

Team Next Generation Yoga for Africa Yoga Project

Most of the time when I told people that I was embarking on this journey without knowing a single person I was going with, I received a few perplexed looks. What?? I was going half-way around the world with people from all over the United States, who I had never met?? Well, yes. The neat part is that even though I hadn't met any of them in person (except for a chance meeting of Bonnie at an event in Chicago)  I felt like I knew them all. Yes, we did monthly conference calls and there were lots of e-mails, but it was a deeper knowing. Really, the true meaning of Namaste! I loved the mix of people we have in our group, different backgrounds and experiences but all in Kenya for the same purpose. Together we are one.... for the rest of our lives!

Our amazing team!

Mercy Care School

The first place we visited, Mercy Care Center, is in one of the oldest slums in Nairobi. The children here opened their hearts immediately and the all-group yoga session unforgettable (first picture below). When we arrived the children were all inside their school buildings and we were invited in to meet them. As we walked from classroom to classroom, which were pretty dark and crowded, the students could not have been more polite or welcoming. I was struck with how attentive the students were as the teacher stood up at the blackboard writing things for them to copy. Education seems to be valued in a different way than in the United States, maybe because it is a privilege to be in school. However, I also learned that teachers are still allowed to cain students for misbehaving, so that as likely a factor also. As a teacher myself, it was really difficult to see their school conditions and teaching methods, but I need to remember that they are doing the best they can with what they have.  Yes, I was comparing here, when really I need to remember that maybe they wouldn't want it to be different. If there is one thing I have learned on this journey it is not to make assumptions, rather having conversations is much more important. Instead of me "deciding" what they need to improve their schools it is much more respectful to ask them if they need anything or how I could help.

 I was glad to discover we would be returning the next day for some service work. They requested help with building, sanding, and varnishing new desks for the classrooms. We had quite the assembly line going and a BIG audience of small children who were wandering around. They were delighted when we let them use some of our tools to "help." However, the local people thought we were crazy to do this and told us we should be shooing the them away! The children had fun with it until they found the real bucket of varnish and then the extra "help" had to end.

Yoga at Mercy Care

Yoga Art on the School

Beautiful children I met in one of the classrooms!

Next to the School

Samson, the awesome coordinator for all of our building and painting!

We had quite an audience so we let them "pretend" to paint some varnish and do some sanding.

Finished Desks for the Classrooms!

Comparing or Connecting

Before traveling to Kenya I set the intention to experience life as they live it.... not compared to how I live here in the United States  I've posted the comic below on FB a couple of times because I think it speaks to this point- we can find positive or negative in ALL situations.. As a team we had many conversations about comparing and how it actually separates us rather than build connections and friendship. I realized how often I do this in my everyday life here in the US. Comparing has been a struggle for me for many years, it has never felt good and at times it seems like is a never-ending battle. However, considering it from this new perspective of what I am potentially losing by comparing myself to others -meaningful relationships, shared laughter, support and inspiration-  it makes comparing any aspect of life a little less habitual.  When I notice myself falling into the comparison trap instead of becoming frustrated and even more annoyed with myself I am able to pause (even if it is very briefly) and remind myself what I DO want in my life.  Comparison separates, connection unites. Together we are one.

School at the Masai Village

Masai children used to attend school under a tree near their village. However, Africa Yoga Project supports communities where they provide outreach in ways beyond teaching yoga. They are in the process of building toilet facilities for an orphanage and have built four schools so far. One of these schools is at the Masai village we visited.  It was midday when we arrived so the children were in school (elementary school aged in the US) yet as we walked towards the school they were all standing outside waiting to greet us. After meeting one of their teachers they welcomed us by signing songs they learned in school.  My favorite was "head, shoulders, knees and toes." It will be fun to show students that I teach a connection they have with Kenyan children across the globe.

Children welcoming us with songs

After they finished singing we all practiced yoga together and we gave them some of the books and supplies that we brought.

Children waiting for us outside their school. 

Beautiful Children

More Beautiful Children

Our fabulous leader, Jodi Komitor leading yoga!

Yoga

Namaste