Some of my favorite moments during my trip to Tanzania were when we had to get together for group photos. First of all, group photos in general can never be anything less than a shot full of goofy, forced smiles and awkward poses, especially when you're with a group of kids you've never hung out with before in a foreign country! The best part was, while we sat there, trying to keep steady smiles on our faces and our eyes from watering as we stared into the sun, was Curt, Kikoti and Julian fumbling with a dozen different cameras for 5 minutes. Curt, who isn't exactly camera-savvy (no offense, Curt) took the shots, while Kikoti "prepared" them by turning them on, Julian just held the ones that were already used. Between Curt's near-sighted shutterbug skills, Kikoti's tech knowledge and Julian's English it was like watching the 3 Stooges. It was at least a 15 minute ordeal to collect everyone's camera and squeeze into a small enough huddle to fit into the shot, yet at every scenic vista and observation area we had to get out and do it again. Watching Curt, Kikoti & Julian juggle and babble back and forth between English and Swahili never got old for me, it was just as ridiculous and hilarious as the time before. I felt like I was on family vacation all over again!

Here's the same shot from the other side....

Fulbright Conference coming up!

So in 2 weeks there is a mandatory (all expenses paid!) Fulbright Conference for all Sub-Saharan grantees. I get flown down to Washington D.C., put up in the Marriott Renaissance Hotel for 2 nights while I attend a 3 day orientation at the Convention Center! Hopefully allll of my questions will be answered...such as;

What is the best way to ship a crate FULL of my stuff to Tanzania?

Where will I stay while I am meeting with the Tanzanian Ambassador in Dar Es Salaam?

Should I get a gun license? Will I even have to know how to shoot a gun?

How much should I spend on a canvas tent that won't melt in the sun?

Can I get research permits that will let me off-road in the parks?

Can I get permits that let me go out at night?

(With most Safari tours, you are not allowed to go off the main roads, you are DEFINITELY not allowed to get out of the vehicle and you must be back before dark. I want to be able to do all of those things...)

Do I need permits to go in a Helicopter?

Can I write "FILM CREW" in big letters across my vehicle?

Will I have to kill my own animals for dinner?

and so on and so on....

My Professor (Curt) and my host/primary elephant researcher for the AWF (Kikoti) are busy with Kikoti's Dissertation, so I have not been able to meet with them or harass them via email.

For now, all I can do is research all the equipment I need and figure out how I can get a credit card with a big enough limit to cover it!