Alright, I am done boycotting blogs, mainly because I've realized nothing will get done unless I change my attitude. Let me explain...
I have come to resent my job- long hours in the field for a project that I have no confidence in. It tests my patience and above all my endurance under the hot Kenyan sun, believe it or not. In the morning I find myself really unwilling to comply but I do, and I get through the day but it really does drain me of energy.
In the beginning I used to go out into the field Monday through Friday myself, a ranger and the driver. From 8:30am till about 5:00pm I would be out doing data collection in the African bush, that is, until my "incident" with nature. This particular day started out like every other day except that we were in this part of Lewa Conservancy near swamp-land where the brush is so dense and tall that it reaches your chest. Visibility three meters ahead of you: nill. I was warned to look out for water buffalo- very territorial and extremely dangerous. Little did I know buffalo were the least of my worries.
At 11:30 we were heading back to Lewa Headquarters for lunch and you must know that by this point my brain is fried. I am trudging back towards the car, the ranger is to my right only a few feet ahead of me. My head is down, I'm dragging my feet, I am so thirsty. I am carrying equipment in my hand I am not looking ahead, my guard is so low. Mistake.
What do you know I take a step and I feel something quite thick like a log move beneath me. A fraction of a second passes and I am in full realization of what is happening now. I am fully awake now, fully aware that I am stepping on a Black Puff Adder Snake. PANIC. Equipment falls to the ground obstructing my view, I am stepping back and away from it, screaming frantically panicked and still stepping on the body on this reptile which seemed interminable. I fall on my derriere and I am caught between dragging myself away from it and kicking it away. "Kate, where's the head!?" I am screaming in my head. Luckily, the snake doesn't recoil and come back at me with a vengeance. Instead, he just moved out of my way and snaked back into the bushes.
Shaking, I start laughing nervously. Phew, that was a close one. After all the commotion I realize the ranger had initially thought I had seen a buffalo until he saw me looking down and even he couldn't do anything to help me at the time.
So back at the office my boss says this calls for slight changes. Three days a week for field work accompanied by an armed ranger...and I, I should probably stop wearing my converse.
Back to the resentment bit. I would probably hate my job regardless of what it was and it is mostly because it takes me away from doing all the selfish things I want to do while in Kenya, because when will be the next time that I am here? But this is not the attitude to adopt...I am sure that just by adopting this mentality I am missing out on a lot of things. And to be honest, I say to my self...tough luck, this is what you are here to do. Others would kill for this chance...so hence the reason I have decided to stop sulking and do my damn job.
I have come to resent my job- long hours in the field for a project that I have no confidence in. It tests my patience and above all my endurance under the hot Kenyan sun, believe it or not. In the morning I find myself really unwilling to comply but I do, and I get through the day but it really does drain me of energy.
In the beginning I used to go out into the field Monday through Friday myself, a ranger and the driver. From 8:30am till about 5:00pm I would be out doing data collection in the African bush, that is, until my "incident" with nature. This particular day started out like every other day except that we were in this part of Lewa Conservancy near swamp-land where the brush is so dense and tall that it reaches your chest. Visibility three meters ahead of you: nill. I was warned to look out for water buffalo- very territorial and extremely dangerous. Little did I know buffalo were the least of my worries.
At 11:30 we were heading back to Lewa Headquarters for lunch and you must know that by this point my brain is fried. I am trudging back towards the car, the ranger is to my right only a few feet ahead of me. My head is down, I'm dragging my feet, I am so thirsty. I am carrying equipment in my hand I am not looking ahead, my guard is so low. Mistake.
What do you know I take a step and I feel something quite thick like a log move beneath me. A fraction of a second passes and I am in full realization of what is happening now. I am fully awake now, fully aware that I am stepping on a Black Puff Adder Snake. PANIC. Equipment falls to the ground obstructing my view, I am stepping back and away from it, screaming frantically panicked and still stepping on the body on this reptile which seemed interminable. I fall on my derriere and I am caught between dragging myself away from it and kicking it away. "Kate, where's the head!?" I am screaming in my head. Luckily, the snake doesn't recoil and come back at me with a vengeance. Instead, he just moved out of my way and snaked back into the bushes.
Shaking, I start laughing nervously. Phew, that was a close one. After all the commotion I realize the ranger had initially thought I had seen a buffalo until he saw me looking down and even he couldn't do anything to help me at the time.
So back at the office my boss says this calls for slight changes. Three days a week for field work accompanied by an armed ranger...and I, I should probably stop wearing my converse.
Back to the resentment bit. I would probably hate my job regardless of what it was and it is mostly because it takes me away from doing all the selfish things I want to do while in Kenya, because when will be the next time that I am here? But this is not the attitude to adopt...I am sure that just by adopting this mentality I am missing out on a lot of things. And to be honest, I say to my self...tough luck, this is what you are here to do. Others would kill for this chance...so hence the reason I have decided to stop sulking and do my damn job.
I am glad you didn't get hurt. Your internship is VERY OUT THERE. But, that's what makes it so amazing.
ReplyDeleteSo you are wandering a conservancy in Kenya and I am battling bureaucracies in North York. Two more different jobs I can't imagine though both with their snakes in the grass (wink). Neither of us want to go to work. Both of us just want to have fun. I have no wisdom to share.
ReplyDelete