Close Encounters

I had a restless week, so I thought I’d share what had kept me awake. During my first “beefy” call with Nilsa, clatter in the background disrupts our conversation. She politely informs me that she needs to place the phone down because she wants to see the hyena that’s been spotted in the campground. “Yes, Mom. There is a hyena in our campground.” Hmm, I think this is odd. I don’t dwell on it, though, thinking maybe it has something to do with the conservation program or maybe my warning bells were disconnected because I so much wanted to hear my daughter’s voice. We continue our talk and a bigger commotion ensues. “Oh my god, there are four more hyenas in our campground,” she interrupts. My adrenaline kicks in, but without sending her any alarms, I tell Nilsa that now is a good time to end the phone call so that she can pay closer attention to her surroundings. I don’t know much about hyenas, except how evil they are in “Lion King.” I hang up trying to convince myself that there’s no danger since TTS would not place them in a risky position. However, I couldn’t really stop thinking about it because my maternal instincts were on overdrive. A week passes before I speak with Nilsa again. (In the meantime, I had written an e-mail to Jim and in a nonchalant manner had asked him “whatever became of the trespassing heinas in the campground?”) During the span of a week, Nilsa seems to have forgotten the hyena episode, so I bring up the subject. “Oh, they weren’t really in our campground. They were on the other side of the fence, which we couldn’t see because it was dark. Mom, did you know that they can crush your bones in a single bite?” No, I didn’t. Thank goodness. After the call, I received Jim’s response confirming Nilsa’s story.

p.s. Thank you, Gennifre, for posting your magnificent pictures and writing a lengthy update. Keep them coming.

When your daughter is sick on the other side of the world.

Melissa called last week and started right off with stories of her amazing experiences… but she couldn’t hide what her father heard in her voice:

“How are you feeling?”

“How’d you know?

I waited anxiously to get a hold of the phone. She had been to the clinic for a chest infection. After lots of news on both ends, including her amazement at the free health care she was able to receive in South Africa, I told her to get well and sleep inside the tent until she felt better. We said good-bye. My mind was a whir—my little blonde child from rural upstate New York in a health clinic in South Africa-- what a lesson in what it is like to be different. Amazing… but wait a minute… my little girl… sick… in a health clinic in South Africa?

Of course, I started to worry. I asked Jennifer to check on her. Still, I knew most certainly that she was in good hands—more than well equipped to handle a bout of illness. I remembered a call home early in the South America Semester when Melissa told me about her friend who needed to have a surgical procedure. How the Traveling School had worked through things; how her mother was flying down to Quito for the surgery and staying with her a few days until she could rejoin the group. I remembered how anxious Melissa sounded then, her voice weak, so far from home. And then I saw it again: how strong she’d grown, how remarkably the group had pulled together.

When Melissa returned home from South America, I reflected on how many times I had been told that she would come back a different person. The next day, I wrote the teachers to let them know that she hadn’t: she was the same person, only so much more. I couldn’t find the right words; I still can’t. And so, while I wait to hear that Melissa has indeed recuperated, I remember the lessons of strength and courage, of compassion and friendship. And I am once again amazed and inspired. I’m sure most of you have had days like me-- maybe your daughter is sick or sad or maybe you just miss her. On those days, I recommend that you sit back and think about what this experience means for all of our daughters, and I am sure that you too will feel grateful for the more-ness of it all.

"Never doubt that a small group of people can change the world. Indeed it is the only thing that ever has." ~Margaret Mead

Text Message update from Grace's Best Friend

Just got an update that Grace called her friend Monica today.

I'm at the Board of Directors Retreat and meeting for TTS in Bozeman this weekend (ironically).

Monica says, "Hey! I talked to Grace last night!!! She slept in a cave Friday night. It was Saturday morning when we talked, she wanted to tell you that she loves you."

More Questions About Mail

(a) is it too late to send mail for it to get to the address provided before the time the girls leave that town? Or, rather, when DO the girls leave that town so that we can figure when the latest we can send mail and it will still be received?

(b) "CD mixes"? Do they have access to a computer to copy these mixes to their iPods?

Hello from the first week!

Dear parents and friends,

I'm writing to send a quick note as your daughters are spending the afternoon in class. This morning they went rock climbing, mountain biking, or did a team-building activity involving a large cabbage and a kayak. They are sweaty, dirty and enjoying life! It is HOT here!

We've enjoyed this first week as a wonderful, busy and exciting time to get to know each other and start building our community. The girls have been rock climbing several times - and every single one of them has made it to the top of at least one climb (yes, YOUR daughter has been climbing hard!). They went backpacking this weekend for 9 dusty miles through a stunning river gorge and spent the night either under the stars or inside a tent. We cooked over an open fire and hiked back the next morning.

Tomorrow we go to a township high school and the girls are busy preparing songs and dance routines to perform before the school. They'll be teaching classes about how they stay postive in their worlds and they'll try to form connections between some very different cultures. Afterwards, we'll enjoy a lunch of spicy peri-peri chicken before rappeling next to a 150 foot waterfall - a great last day in Boven!

The safari truck arrives tomorrow night and we'll all head to Kruger Park Friday morning to see elephant, giraffes and zebras for the weekend. We're going to stargaze with a prominant astronomer and we'll do an evening game drive. At the beginning of next week, I'll fly home and the girls will continue south - I'll bring back photos, videos and all sorts of fun!

Expect to get a phone call from your daughter this weekend - and from this point forward! She has lots of things she'll want to share!

And if you are sending a package to Cape Town - please rememeber to put the city - Cape Town - in the address!

Thanks for all of your support and we'll be in touch soon!

All the best,

Gennifre

mailing address for letters

Where would I send mail to reach Cheyenne? I have several friends and family that would like to send her a card and are requesting an address. Thanks for your help!

Susan Hensey (Cheyenne's mom)