Elizabeth
Dear Family and Friends,
It’s hard to believe that I was at home only six days ago and last night I watched the sun set half way around the world in Africa. There so much to tell you all about but for now you will have to settle for only one story. The main reason is you would probably be reading for a few hours.
The other night I had the opportunity to tag along with Dr. Bodamer to look for chimps making nests. Even with our binoculars in tow we didn’t see any nest making but what I experienced was better. Driving back to camp we noticed that Brian, a male chimp in enclosure three, was sitting close to the fence. Dr. Bodamer and I got out the B.V.G (Bronze Van of Glory- story to follow) and sat five feet way from Brian. I started playing in the dirt with a stick hoping Brian would be interested in what I was doing. I looked up from my dirt drawing and Brian was looking directly at me. It might have been the way he was lounging on the ground with his hands folded across his knees or the way he stared directly in my eyes without blinking or perhaps Brian’s causal sigh that sounded exactly like on I would make that made me remember that moment. Every day I spend watching the chimps I see more similarities in their actions with humans. I saw a mother chimp pat her baby’s head in reassurance after she couldn’t break a stick of sugarcane just the way a mother would do to a child.
I hope everyone is well and just know that we are having a great time and every day is new and exciting! I have many more stories already to tell you when I get home so get ready.
Keep checking the blog because you never know what will happen..TIA- This Is Africa!!!