Last night

So for the last month and a half or so we've been working on presents for the staff. That might not mean much to anyone but us, but the entire student group donated money and LOTS of time to make/buy presents for all 26 staff members. We embroidered names and nicknames on hats, shirts, aprons, and lab coats. We bought new cleats for Sipaya (the ones he has don't fit so he can't wear socks or lace them--picture playing soccer with that). We made Sarah a video and got her a gift certificate to the closest thing to a Starbucks Kenya has to offer. We decorated mugs and filled Okello's with candy and beef jerky (two of the food vices he picked up while he was in grad school at the U of I). My friend Haley drew AMAZING birds all over Kiringe's lab coat (he loves birds). The list goes on. We did all of this work on top of finishing DR and wrapping up the semester. I can't tell you how much I was looking forward to tonight. Megan and I ran all over campus last night posting formal invitations all over office, garage, generator, kitchen, and bathroom doors. I even posted one on the door of the TV room where they were having a staff meeting without them noticing. We rearranged the chumba and practically held them in their chairs (most of them, especially the ones who don't speak English don't usually stay for RAP after dinner) until we started the presentations. It was two hours of cheering and gift-giving (and lots of girls crying). Apparently no other group of students has ever done this for the staff--gotten individual presents for every one of them. I can't imagine why because these guys bend over BACKWARDS for us all semester and could not have taken better care of us. Not only that, but I have had irreplaceable conversations with many of them about the U.S. and Kenya and conservation and life. Megan and I spearheaded a lot of this and at the beginning we were afraid other students weren't going to pitch in enough money or want to contribute their artistic talents but literally everyone did something. I was so proud of this group and so happy watching the smiles on the staff's faces as everyone got something. It was the perfect, perfect, perfect end to the semester.

We're leaving tomorrow morning and I already have plans to see SAM Sarah and Manuel in the Netherlands. Nicole's boyfriend goes to school at the U of I, so I will see her during winter break and Haley is COMING TO THE FLEETWOOD MAC CONCERT with me in March at Madison Square Garden.