Day 16: Janelle! Get away from the curtain!!

I woke early this morning to have breakfast with the kids before they left for school. We took pictures and packed up our things. I left items I didn't need with Purity and packed up a few things to give to Amos.

Above: The chicken coop... Middle: Where you shower yourself.... Bottom: The backyard and neighbors buildings

When we got to the school the classroom we had painted was decorated with streamers and balloons of some sort (their balloons are actually beach balls). The head teacher asked me for my email address so I gave it to her secretly hoping she was going to offer me future opportunities. We all stood in front of the classroom holding a UMN flag for pictures. The kids were all gathered around as they cut the ribbon and unveiled a plaque for our class's work in getting the classroom built.

We stood again for more pictures and then went inside the classroom with the 6th grade class, whom the classroom was for. They all sat in their desks and sang a song for us in gratitude for our help. I really choked back tears. They were so incredibly happy and thankful. After a lot of "asantes" and "karibus" we climbed into the van and began our journey down to Maasai.

As planned we stopped at the gas station in town where Amos was waiting for me. I gave him the few items I had packed for him and said goodbye. He said he was going to miss me and I told him likewise. It was hard leaving the town that felt like home for the better part of the last two weeks.

On the way to Maasai we stopped at a waterfall and also at a scenic overlook of the Great Rift Valley as pictured below.

After a few hours of driving and lunch we went straight into a game drive where we saw thousands and thousands of flamingos on Lake Nakuru. We also saw several other wildlife as pictured below.

Afterwards we got our lodge rooms that were within the park and everyone enjoyed dinner together sharing stories about our homestays and squirming from the sight of all the bugs and spiders. After much food, fun and laughter we retired to our rooms where we discovered beetles that were bigger then my thumb, much bigger. I pulled out my bed from against the wall in an effort to avoid any contact with bugs. I began to close the curtains when Meghan, who handles all things wildlife with ease said,

"Janelle! Get away from the curtain!!"

Needless to say I spun away from the curtain as quickly as possible with a scream and a mini freak out. Sure enough there was a giant beetle on the curtain! Meghan knocked it off and smashed it with her shoe in complete disgust as yellow stuff oozed out of the squashed beetle. Yuck.

I made sure to tuck my mosquito net in securely which I had become quite good at throughout the days. I wrote in my journal for a while but fell asleep well before the other six girls in my room even turned out the light. Apparently I was tired.