Safe arrival at Chimfunshi!
I believe that all parents have been notified that the group arrived safely at Chimfunshi. I got the following message from one of the TAs this morning (at about 11:21am their time — from the internet cafe in Chingola) so thought I would share:
“It’s Emily…I just wanted to let you know that we arrived safe last night at Chimfunshi and the whole trip went really well. We got to camp last night around 6:30 or so, so it wasn’t too late. The students did really well traveling and seem to be adjusting pretty well. Overall, trip went well and we are all here and safe! Be in touch again soon!”
Based on my experience last year here is what I imagine the experience for the students would have been thus far: After two overnight plane trips and a long bus ride (with a couple of stops in towns along the route), they arrived tired but excited and most appreciative of the hot meal waiting for them at camp. Some may have stayed up around the camp fire — most were probably ready to crash (I remember being so ready to sleep horizontally! – and boy, did I sleep well that first night). They awoke this morning, eager for their first hike up to the chimpanzee enclosures. Once up at the enclosures, they were most likely quite captivated by all the chimps they have read or heard about. Perhaps Brian met them first and walked with them (Brian is a very docile chimp who seems to like to walk with the group, from inside his enclosure). Next, they were probably greeting by a lot of racket and display by the alpha male chimps at the first enclosure. I am sure they met Pal, who was the first chimp Sheila fostered. They probably stayed at the enclosure until lunch time – the chimps are fed around noon and it is quite a sight to see (a great lesson is learning the behaviors of dominance and submission among the chimps).
Next, the students would have returned to camp for their own lunch and then probably out to the danbo (flood plain) to meet the children who live at the compound nearest the education center (where our students are staying). I remember that we stayed out to play with the children for most of the afternoon.
Since they are 9 hours ahead, I expect that by now they have had dinner and are sitting around the campfire, reading, or making it an early night. Emily and Jessica, the TAs, have made their first shopping trip into Chingola. They will go again on Tuesday, and probably escort a couple of students, so I expect to get another update at that time.
