A New Experience

Hello Everyone! Greetings from Africa. Hope you are all doing well. I am doing very well. Even though I mis everyone it really is great to be back here. It was wonderful reuniting with such great people. They make me feel like I never left. Along with getting to see old friends, I have already gotten the chance to make new friends. V from the UK I have spent the most time with so far as she is showing me around and bringing me up to speed with all what has changed while I was gone. She is great. Other volunteers that will be here for only temporary include Z from the UK also, S who was also born in the UK but has lived in the US for many years and attends UConn along with K. They volunteered to stay longer after their training at the training school like Alana did last year. Also there is a ranger L who has been covering for Riaan. He and Yolande were out of town for a while because Yolande was doing school work as she is working to receive her masters. I saw Riaan for the first time briefly today fir the first time, he was wearing the beanie that my MeMe had made last year. I also saw Pete for the first time, and he hasn't changed a bit. He was wearing a neon pink shirt with shoes to match. He is so funny, glad I got to see him, even though it was for a short time. I know I will see him around more for sure.

I am staying in a place similar to last year, I only lacked water the first day. They fixed it quickly. I came to find that the Cheetahs past away this year from a virus. The rest of the animals are doing well.

As for the Boy and the other rhinos. I cannot not say much for their safety but what I will say is wow, the Boy has grown! I cant believe it. Karen and V say they think he remembers me. No other volunteer has been able to go in alone with him, as  he would run them off and hassle them. When I go in their alone he is comfortable. I cant lie and say them saying that really made me feel good. I am so glad to see him. I have missed him so so much and besides being ginormous, he is still the same Boy. Same boy who is playful, well we cant play the same way as we used to...he would pummel me (which he tries) and the same boy who is sweet and still need a lot of love.

I will share more as I know I can and have access. Thank you all! Happy Father's Day!

headed home

Flight is today!! Ill be home tomorrow and I can hardly believe it. Yesterday was really hard, saying good bye to everyone and most of all me sweet sweet baby rhino. I already miss him sooo much. I cant believe im leaving him. He is the sweetest most precious little creature who will always hold a special place in my heart, as well as everyone who I have grown so close to there. It was horrible saying good bye, how I am going to miss each and everyone of them.

The launch went great! Many people seemed to really like my speech, some were even brought to tears. I couldnt believe it. My baby was truly a star. He was great for all the press and put on a nice show, playing and showing how amazing he truly is. It was an overall great day, and please look on my facebook and go onto the Rhino Orphanage website and like their page please! They will also post more videos and articles of the day as they come out as well as I. My sweet boy is a star!!

I will see you all so soon and will post more later about the launch soon. Thank you all soooo much!

HIS BUM IS STILL IN!! So far so good. But he still hasn't taken a nice solid poo, so we will have to wait til then. That will be the moment of truth!

He's been a little stinker lately. Getting into everything! He keeps tearing down this covering to one of the snakes rooms. Ripping it straight  from the ceiling. He has been having a lot of fun with this big branch that is now in his enclosure. He loves picking it up with this horn and resting it on his head. Yesterday he had a field day with the hose. He used to have a salt lick in this enclosure but he was eating it a little too much so we took it out and just placed it right on the ground outside. That night was so funny. The giraffes found it. They loved it, but rhino was a little upset that he couldn't have it. So he would chase them all. He thinks he is so big and tough...behind his cage. The giraffes would run off but would come back. Rhino would walk off and wait until they came back, then he would stalk them. rhinos, they don't stalk, but I guess this little guy is confused. He put is head down, slowly would walk up, stop and hide behind this rock, then run at them. Oh man he had me in stitches. Such a cutie!

Rita and Sune came on saturday! It was so amazing to see them! They are just so great...hey Rita! haha But anyway, we had a really nice time with them. Riaan took us on a short game drive around to see the lions as well as Mike and NaNa the white rhino. It was a lot of fun! I miss them already and can't what to see them soon!!

My parents arrive in a few days and I can not wait! I am so excited to show them everything and everyone. It is going to be really nice having them here! I was told a few days ago that 2 of my baby duckies died. So sad! I didn't get to meet them, but at least there is still one! I can't wait to see it, and my sweet puppies!! and to see all my friends and family! Miss you all!!

Hope you all are enjoying the olympics!!

Cheers!

The Day!

Last night was a good night! He only had a little bit of diarrhea and thats it. I had a visitor come in as well. They have an African Wild Cat as kind of a pet. It lives outside, but is seriously the friendliest cat I have ever met. She climbed through the rafters and joined me in my bed with the rhino. She slept there all night with me. Silly kitty! I think she came in there because she loves me...or the fact that there is heater lights in there, human contact, and nice warm blankets. haha Why wouldn't she join? She stays clear of Rhino though. Every time he gets up to smell her, she runs. So funny. 

Today was the big day! Sutures are out and his bum is still in...touch wood! The issue will be when he passes faeces...yep that is how they spell it here. haha but so far so good. This adventure brought in the would crowd. The vet from the hospital came...Yohan...This man is seriously a mess and I love him to bits! Such a joker and I love it! The other vet for the orphanage, Pierre and his assistant, Gabby a vet who lives here know who is from Mexico and works with the orphanage who has been out of town until today, and her boyfriend, Karen, Arrie, Yolande, Lee, who actually runs the training school here and is a brilliant man. I have never met anyone who knows so much about the bush...even Arrie says so. Lee also has a couple books out and is traveling soon to the U.S. to have a meeting with The Smithsonian, National Geographic, and this guy who has the title "The Geographer." Pretty big deal! Basically everyone was there. It was a main event, and a successful one at that. Now all it needs todo is stay IN!!! 

Lee took Alan, Yolande, and I around showing us where to get the proper leaves for Rhino to eat. It was an great Botany lesson and enjoyed learning so much about him. Overall, today has been a good day. I am running on like 5 cups of coffee now and it is starting to wear off. I am now back in my room and I think now I will just relax. 

I miss and love you all! 

Cheers!!

Hello All!

On Saturday Edwin left to go back to school and Karen returned from many rhino workshops. The rhino and I had a great day. He became really playful at one point and chased and chased me. Luckily this time poo wasn't being flung everywhere. We both got some good exercise. It is really great sitting there when all of a sudden Nyalla, Giraffe, and Warthog come up. During other seasons, they don't come up as much, but since its cold and dry the plants are not growing as much so they come up looking for more. The giraffe really crack me up. They are so curious. They  stand so still and just stare...and stare...and stare. Every once in a while rhino boy will run up, ears alert, staring right back. Too cute. It was also adorable as one huge giraffe is standing there staring at me, this very small baby nyalla is looking up at the giraffe like what in the world is wrong with this nyallas neck. Its just so precious.

A big group came by to see the rhino. Normally people are not allowed to come see him, but when I saw Arrie with them I knew it was ok. They were really great and sweet people. Really interested in the rhino. One woman cried as she walked away. Really nice people.

Sunday was another good day. He had a more firmer poo. We were so excited. Yolande and I laughed about how excited we got over poo. We played a lot and he got into a lot of things. I feel like maybe he's feeling a bit better because he is going constantly during the day and trying to get into everything. From chewing on the shade cloth to trying to find sand...which he always does...stinker. He has abscesses around his neck and are starting to spread to his back. They are a little nerve racking.

Monday Pierre, one of the vets, came by to take a look at the abscesses on mr. rhino. He believes that it started as a allergic reaction to one of his medications and then later became a bacteria and spread. Yesterday Alana and I were sitting with him talking and we hear the monkeys. They were coming into the rhino enclosure. We come out of his little room and see they have us surrounded. They were planning an attack, but we caught them. haha These monkeys are so naughty and curious. Alana and I were quite entertained chasing them off.

Tonight I have the night shift and tomorrow is the BIG DAY! Wednesday is the day that the sutures come out. We are so nervous, if his rectum comes out we are back to the beginning. So please keep the vet, and his posse that will be here, us and especially him in your thoughts and prayers.

I am also soooo excited for this weekend because Rita and Sune will be coming for one night! They are friends that we made at the animal hospital. I miss them so much and can't wait to see them and spend some time with them! Like I have said many times, the people here are truly amazing. So thoughtful and caring and a lot of fun. It is going to be hard leaving them. I am also excited for my parents to be here. It has been really funny because I have been asking everyone if there is anything that they want from the States. Some have said shampoo, others sweets that Alana and I have been talking about, but the one that took me off guard and still makes me laugh came from Pete. As soon as I asked he said COWBOY BOOTS! haha He has been searching for some and they are so expensive here. So stinking funny, so he is searching for the perfect ones. Man I am going to miss these people.

I do miss home. My ducks had babies everyone!!!! I am a grandma! haha 3 beautiful baby duckies! I am real sad that I have not gotten to meet them yet but they hatched! Also, my mom sends me pictures and videos of my baby girl Emma. One she sent when she had to go to the vet and I was sitting in the room with rhino, Alana and edwin, and I started tearing up. haha They thought I was so silly, but jeez it my Emma! and daisy was so cute and then hearing my moms voice, which I have not heard in so long just hit me. I also miss my friends and all of my family. I feel like I have been gone for soooo long. I am having a great time here but really can't wait to see everyone.


Love you all!

Cheers!

New Post

Just had a good night with my sweet boy! Diarrhea free until this morning. I got a work out this morning and Yolandi got a great laugh as MR. Rhino got a burst of ....moment of distraction, dad, Stevie Ray Vaughan just started playing on my iTunes...ok sorry back to the post, the little guy got a burst of energy and decided he was going to chase me around his enclosure. While doing so he is having diarrhea and slinging it everywhere with his tail. I'm seriously laughing while typing this, it was so funny. He had a great time playing. I can move a little better than him by cutting corners quickly, if it wasn't for that...haha... my legs might have been more black and blue. A few times we would switch and I would chase him. When I would hit him on the back he would turn quickly and come right after me. It was just like a modified game of tag. It was a great time, "[He's] my sweet little thing, [He's] my pride and joy." -Stevie Ray Vaughan. It was truly comical. We both thought that maybe he had settled down, so Yolandi decided to go ahead and try to clean his bum...but he ran. haha He is such a stinker. He does this often, so when we try to clean his bum or apply local anesthetic he runs from us and its a game of chase. So are seen cent over chasing him around his enclosure either with a dripping sponge or a glove on and medicine following every where he goes. He would stop, and we would quickly lift his tail, then there he goes again. Many people may think that these creatures are not the smartest animals in the world, but I can't stress enough this boy is smart and becoming to smart for his own good. He is constantly trying to chew on the shade cloth on the ground in this one spot. We put his water jug over it and he has now figured out how to move this water jug just enough so he can get that piece of cloth. He has such the personality.

The plan today was to remove the stitches, but like many times, plans have changed. Hopefully they will be removed next week. Things need to be just right. Please keep the little guy in your thoughts and prayers. We really don't want to be forced to have to do surgery. Pray his bum heals and once those sutures come out it STAYS IN!!!!!

Random funny story: Viewer's Discretion is Advised! They other day Rian came and picked me up. As I see him pulling up with the objects in the back of the vehicle which are coming into view. It was piles of dead, headless, and some skinned animals. Yes, it was rank. He had a wide smile on his face as he pulled in, because I'm sure my facial expression was priceless. I had to hold my hair because the wind as we were driving would have caused in to take a visit to the dead animal behind me. Rian had to lean up while driving due to one near his seat. I asked, "so whats all back there," his response still makes me laugh, "well the guy staring at me know..." well it wasn't really staring...since it had no head. HAHAHAHAHA it was so funny because its cut open neck was like right next to him. You really just had to be there. I told the story to Marietjie and others...I guess you had to be and really see it. Meghan, there was no precious Zebra!

I went in early yesterday and spent a lot of time with Marietjie. Let me just tell you these people here are truly fantastic. I wish I could bring them all home with me.

Well more news...I am staying a week longer. I now fly out August 9th. Please pass this message to Emily that she better not have that child until I get home. No if or buts about it. The reason I am staying longer is due to the fact...well there are many reasons...I don't want to leave these wonderful God sent people, I don't want to leave my precious rhino, and lastly the launch for the orphanage is coming up and I must be there, Pete said. I typed that in my best English accent so please read it as so. In all seriousness, my baby will be a star. There will be tons of media there and rich people. It will be quite the event with the whole world watching...like they have been this entire time, but this time they will actually be there, recording. Pete had asked me to speak. A 10 minute presentation along with Arrie, the orphanage owner, and Karen Trindler (Google her) the rhino expert that I have been working with. Oh geez was my response. I will be representing my little rhino and sharing my experience as an American coming here knowing very minimal about rhinos and poaching in general and how I have grown and my life changing experience. What's also really great news is that my parents are coming! YAY! They get to meet everyone, including the love of my life...that happens to be a rhino. I can't wait for them to get here!

Thank you all! I have discovered that posting the pictures are sucking me dry of internet so I am going to save it for after the launch when I can post pictures of the precious rhino!

Cheers!

PICS FROM PREVIOUS POST-GAME DRIVE