I had a closing shift on Wednesday so I got to sleep in a bit (yay!) and then I headed off to Harambe one last time. There were about 10 of us CPers all having our last shift on that day, and all knowing that this was the last time we would hang out with each other in the break room and lead safaris around the Reserve.
It was a perfect last day - all my safaris went great, and the guests were great too. The guests on my second to last safari even clapped for me at the end. I saw every type of animal over the course of the day, which I was very happy about, since I really wanted to see them all one last time. The very last animal on my list was the bongo, the "ghosts of the forest," and I thought for sure I wouldn't get to see them since I hadn't all day. ... But on one of my last safaris, they finally came out just enough to where I could see them through the trees! Thanks, bongos. I'll miss you. :)
I went through the last of the lasts - getting an assignment at the computer for the last time, putting on my microphone for the last time, saying "Karibuni! Welcome aboard!" for the last time... Thinking about the day ahead of time, I was afraid I might tear up when I said, "Simba 1, over and out!" at the end of my last safari for the last time. But actually that wasn't when it hit me. It was on my last safari, but it was in the middle of it...
We were coming around Monkey Point, and I had just gotten the radio to tune in to a song that's been a number one hit in Harambe for the last 10 years or so, and then on our right we saw a male elephant very close up. He was swaying to the music (or so I like to think), as I've seen him do many times before. And for some reason, *that* was the moment where the tears came. It finally sank in that I wouldn't get to drive around with these amazing animals everyday anymore. Luckily, I had a few more seconds to compose myself before the radio cut out and I had to announce that we were coming up to the Red Clay Pits.
We safari-ed through the rest of the savannah, chased some poachers, and made our way to a nearby warden's post. But we didn't say goodbye when our safari was over - that's way too sad and way too final. Instead, we said a Swahili phrase: kwa herini, which means "go well."
And that was the end of my time as a safari driver on the Harambe Wildlife Reserve.
I closed down my truck for the last time with all the other drivers and then spent some time saying goodbye to the other CPers. It was sad, but it was a nice ending to everything. Kilimanjaro Safaris was an amazing place to spend my CP and I will never forget my time as a safari driver. This was where I really wanted to work ever since I first started this adventure, and it was everything I thought it would be and more.
The next day, I packed up everything in my apartment, checked out of Patterson Court, and headed home for the short break in between the end of my CP and the start of my PI. I'm home with my family now, and it's so great to be here, but it feels so surreal. Just a few days ago, I was driving a truck around Africa with elephants and giraffes walking around me. Now I'm sitting on a couch with a TV droning in the background. I can't believe 5 months went so fast... Participating in the CP was something I was determined to do. It's been a dream of mine for quite a while. And now it's over... But a line from "Tangled" (which is, to me, one of the most beautiful movies Disney has ever made) seems appropriate right now:
"What if it's not everything I dreamed it would be?"
"It will be."
"And what if it is? What do I do then?"
"Well, that's the good part I guess. You get to go find a new dream."
(c) Disney
So here's to the College Program of Fall 2010. It was a dream come true and everything I dreamed it would be. And here's to my PI for Spring 2011, which I hope will be just the start of many more new dreams to come. This blog will be following along every step of the way. And I would love it if you would too. :)
Kwa herini. Simba 1, over and out.
Fantastic post. I'm so glad you had an amazing experience. And I won't lie- I got choked up at the Tangled lines- I use those to describe my wishing and hoping about the CP so they hit home for me.
ReplyDeleteCongrats and Best of Luck on your PI!
:) I have loved following you on your CP journey. I have lived vicariously through you and I can't wait to read about your PI. As Kat said Fantastic post!!
ReplyDeleteKatarina - Thank you so much! oh Tangled is such a beautiful, wonderful movie. It is very applicable to Disney dreams. :) Good luck to you too on your CP journey!
ReplyDeleteFrizzbird - Thank you very much! I hope my PI will be fun to read along with! :)