I have
sort of settled in to my new home. I have only been here for a couple of days
so I am still trying to figure everything out, not to mention learn 150
monkeys!
I
mentioned in an earlier email that I had to do some official business in
Nairobi on my first day. I got up in the morning and went to see a man at the
Ministry of Education, Science, and Technology to get clearance to do research
in Kenya. When I got to the offices I found out that he wasn't there and
someone sent me to his very intimidating boss who made it clear that he was the
one who made the final decision on whether I got research clearance or NOT
(emphasis on the not) and then he took all of my paperwork and told me to go
enjoy Nairobi and come back at noon. I left there feeling nauseous, (probably
partly from the anti-malarials) went back to my hotel, crawled back into bed
and tried not to think about what would happen if he decided not to give me
clearance. But when I went back the boss was gone and the man I was supposed to
meet with was back and he gave me what I needed no questions asked (after I
paid a fee, of course). After that I had to meet with a man who was going to
help expedite the process of getting my student visa. I paid him another larger
fee, handed off my passport, and now am waiting to get it back with my new
visa, which will make me a resident of Kenya for the year (and I just found out
that means I get resident rates on certain things).
Friday
morning we left for Kakamega. We had a really long journey and our bus got into
a minor accident along the way, so instead of being a 8 hour ride it was close
to 10. Our bus ran into a small car on the road and after the impact it felt
like we were going to tip right over! Very scary but no one was injured (except
the car) and we all got off the bus and stood around for a while waiting for
the cops. We finally got into town around 7:30 did some speed grocery shopping and
then headed off for the forest.
Our house
is pretty small - Alicia, the undergrad assistant, and I are sharing a room and
Marina sleeps in the kitchen/living area. There is a similar house next door
and there are three grad students living there right now. One of them is
leaving in 3 weeks and the other 2 are staying until August.
I went
out to meet G North group (one of four groups) for the first time on Saturday
and have been out three times so far. The first monkey I met was named Dude,
and I saw him about 20 times yesterday and I think I am already in love. There
are about 40 monkeys in this group and they all stay really spread out. There
are quite a few that I haven't even seen yet. I have started to learn a few of
the females, there are 13, and few of the juveniles, especially Dude who seems
to be everywhere I am. There are also black and white colobus monkeys in the
forest as well as redtailed monkeys. They are both beautiful, but I have heard
the colobus are not very intellegent. I am thinking they are comparable to
howlers and about as loud - they start calling before the sun comes up right
above our house.
Yesterday
the monkeys were great and got down on the ground for most of the morning. We
hung out by the station road and then went over to Wilberforce's house. He
started the environmental ed program called KEEP in the area and right now is
working with one of the grad students. Apparently the monkeys hang out at his
house a lot. And yesterday they started to eat his house, I think they were
just picking at the clay and eating bits to get the minerals. It was quite a
sight. Monkeys sticking their hands in holes, licking the walls, and climbing
all over the house.
I think I
am finally recovered from jet lag and am starting to get used to things. We are
in town right now. We got up early and took the Matatu in and had some
breakfast - there is a place with really good samosas - and after this we are
going to the market to do some shopping. I have to cook group dinner in a few
days!
