Kids in a Candy Store

Africa really isn’t a place that invokes images of a delightful candy store like the ones we liked to visit in our youth.  However, to some, it is a candy store in so many other ways – in ways that are much more profound and life changing than having some high-fructose corn syrup stuck in your teeth.  To my parents, Africa is just that.

Over the month of May, I had the privilege of having my folks come out and visit.  They were my first visitors since I have been here and it was an honor to show them around the only other place I have been able to truly call home.  For me, it was wonderful to finally be able to explore this country unrestrained while at the same time getting to share it with my folks.  Without a doubt, getting to share the experience with them has left me with a greater appreciation and love for this country as well as for the entire continent.

The photos below highlight only some of this extraordinary trip.  We covered a lot of country and saw some of the best that this continent has to offer.

With our fully equipped Toyota Hilux we set out on the dusty roads of Namibia from Windhoek.  In the end, we visited 3 countries and covered nearly 5,000 km.

First stop, the Namib Desert.  The iconic red dunes around Sossusvlei are like nothing we had ever seen before.  The lines, curves, and shadows of the dunes were an awe-inspiring way to start the trip and left us giddy as to what lay ahead.

No 5-star game lodges for us.  Our pick-up was equipped with roof-top tents which meant we were able to enjoy absolute isolation in very empty landscapes.

Prior to this trip, I had underestimated the wildness of this country.  Even outside of the national parks, Africa’s most majestic wildlife would unexpectedly appear.

Elephants became a daily sight for us later in the trip.  However, spotting desert elephants in the arid Kaokoland of Namibia rivaled the big herds we would later come across in Botswana.

Bare-assed and utterly delighted to see themselves on the camera screen – welcome to Africa.

Some of my fondest memories of Namibia are from my times spent around the Himba.  Even though our time with the Himba was brief (and in some respects not entirely genuine) it was thrilling to spend time with my folks amongst them.

Yep, you guessed it…those are zebra.  Rest assured, we didn't have to pull out the field guide for that one.

A fly-fisherman’s dream – fishing for Tigers on the Zambezi.  The catching wasn’t too good but then again, does it really need to be when you are on the Zambezi?

In this family, no trip is complete without lacing up the boots, throwing on the pack and disappearing into the wild.

When worlds collide – my white family meets my black family.

My folks were warmly welcomed at Enguwantale.  The culture groups put on special performances and were of course thrilled to get their photos taken with a white woman.

My folks were able to do something after 2 days which took me over a year to do – walk into a room of 3^rd graders and entertain them.  I don’t think those 3^rd graders will ever forget Tate Clay and Meme Karla and I don’t think my folks will forget them any time soon.

Our big project at the school was refurbishing and labeling a world map on the wall.  It turned out extremely well and my parents were able to leave with something to be proud of.  Just last week, for the first time, I saw a class outside using the map as a study aid.

I am extremely grateful to my parents for taking the time and money to come out and visit me.  For us to come together after a long separation and be able to share the experiences that we had was very special.  They have put me on a new high that is going to carry me through the rest of my service.  However, with a new love for this country, it is now going to be harder to say goodbye in a few months time.