PAGE 5
The Eagle’s Nest Foundation Newsletter
Finding Cabin Library in North Central Tanzania By Cecilia Kucera, Camper, Hante Participant, and Outdoor Academy Alumni I spent the last semester studying wildlife conservation and political ecology in Tanzania. This incredible journey sent me all over the northern part of the country, from the city of Arusha, pop. 1 million, to pristine mountain forests, to the remote savanna. While my friends back at Wake Cecilia making new friends in Tanzania. Forest were astounded by my stories of camping in the bush for over a month, I knew that camping would not be the challenging factor of this excursion. Years of Camp, Hante, and OA made the idea of living in the bush seem like a dream. Instead, when I was stepping on to the plane, the thought that almost made me make an immediate exit was the two different home stays halfway through the semester. The first, a three week endeavor, was to be with a family in the “suburbs” of Arusha. The second was a three night stay with the Maasai ethnic group. This home stay used to be a full week, but so many students would panic by the fourth day that it was shortened to only three nights. In our first home stay, we were at least comforted by the fact that the parents would speak Kiswahili (which we studied) and the children who attended secondary school likely knew some English. However, the Maasai only speak Kimaasai, with a handful of the children able to speak Kiswahili. This meant communication would be close to a big fat zero. The first month breezed by, and before we knew it, we were dropped off with our first family. My parents had a nice concrete house, and though we did not have running water, we had a television that worked when my Baba threw a wire hook over the power line running down the dirt road. The 3 weeks were over in a blur, and I found myself a part of an incredibly caring family. So, home stay one: success. On to number two...When I arrived with my new Mama to our mud and stick boma, the thirty plus children came running like moths to the light of my strange, blonde hair. As I sat, having my hair braided by a million little fingers, listening to the chatter of indistinguishable languages, I suddenly felt myself relax. I realized this was just a slight variation of my
comfort zone: Cabin Library. I spent nine summers in the youngest girl’s cabin at camp, and in this moment, surrounded by children, I felt my confidence come back. Thanks to Eagle’s Nest, I knew how to connect with this age, no matter the language or location. Over the next 4 days, I sang songs to them (they particularly loved Rocky Top), and they taught me to count in Kimaasai. We spent the hot afternoons beading under the acacia trees and playing in the river. I had found my Cabin Library, and I could not have been happier. Although relieved to get back to base camp and speak some English, I was incredibly grateful for those children and for Eagle’s Nest, helping me find that balance between comfort zones and challenges half-way around the world.
*Check out the Online Eagle at: www.enf.org/Eagle to see a video of other students who have been a part of ALL 3 ENF Programs! www.enf.org