Most memorable foods: wedding porridge (full of nutrients, apparently. I thought it tasted like Kraft Dinner from camp), family style meal with sponge bread, the different varieties of honey (sooo sour!), coffee we collected and brewed,
Most memorable animal sightings: army of monkeys, centipedes, lion and lioness on side of the road, giraffes, elephants, hippos, porcupine, Bush Babies, Honey Badgers
Favourite things: staying up late and having refreshing long
conversations with my teammates as a group, going on safari, the positive and friendly locals, the breathtaking sights, the fact that I'm average height in Tanzania.
Honestly, I am so happy to have been part of this group and to have had the chance to experience such an amazing place.
Our first day on safari was filled with giraffes and impala. We loved our time spent at Mikumi National Park, although my camera was not able to take decent pictures of animals in the distance. This forced me to get a bit creative with my binoculars.
Retreating for the day, we were greeted back with a wonderful meal and a song and dance (that involved a lot of high jumping) by the staff.
After dinner, we had to be escorted by some local Maasai men, as lions had been appearing nightly outside the guest rooms. Part way through the walk to my room (which seemed to take forever), I asked the Maasai man leading the way what would happen if we encountered a lion.
He stopped for a moment and turned back to me. Raising his staff, he simply said "Stick." and smiled. That satisfied my curiosity.
The next day we went out on safari once again, many of us seeing elephants and hippos for the first time!
We spent the night at the Vuma Hills Lodge, which was absolutely amazing. The view alone during the sunset was astounding.
When were told we'd be sleeping in tents, you'd imagine what I pictured; I was pleasantly shocked to find that what were referred to as tents were actually large permanent frames with full roofs and bathroom and shower facilities, complete with king sized beds and a tent-like front door with mosquito netting. I slept very well.
After dinner there, I was delighted to get the chance to feed some Bush Babies that come by every night to by be fawned over by guests. They were very cute.
The Lodge was a wonderful way to end our time in Tanzania (if you are ever in the area, I'd seriously recommend staying a night).
In the morning, our documentation team set out on the road back to Dar Es Salaam in time to catch our 8 hour flight to Zurich (no complaints from me though, as I had time to read, and finally start WestWorld). From there to Toronto was another 8 hours or so, with no huge difficulties. However, I was stopped at security for a very brief moment when they noticed an odd object when scanning my bag.
Now to back track weeks earlier when we were walking around and shopping in Toronto; a store employee gave us all gift cards worth $10 off a purchase their, so we walked in. Not interested in the clothing they had, yet wanting somehow to take advantage of the card, I found the only things I could get without spending more than $10: 2 strange fat stone pigeons.
I felt a little silly in the line up; up until an old woman in front of me turned around and revealed that she had done the exact same thing, saying nonchalantly "You hear for the birds too?" A strange moment that still makes me laugh.
I decided I'd paint them as a bit of an art project and placed them at the bottom of my bag for later. I completely forgot about them and was so totally caught off guard when the guy at security reached in my bag and pulled something out I couldn't quite see. His expression was hilarious, as was his fellow employee's. When I got my bag back and found the stone pigeon, I laughed pretty hard.
After the longer flights, the one to Halifax was a pice of cake. It was raining when we arrived; the same as when I left. A nice little reminder of where my journey started, and a greeting back home I didn't mind.
I have been back for two days now, and am still trying to process all I have done, seen, and felt these past weeks.
I will never forget this experience and, although I am glad to be back in Canada, I hope to return to Tanzania again.
Thank you to those who read up 'til this point. After this post, I will put a link up to my entry on the NSCC International site, and will also post links to our final products.
The next step for us is editing, something I absolutely love, despite and because of the work.
Carter Thurber
NSCC Screen Arts
May 17th, 2017
Oral History Interpretation & Documentation
Honestly, I am so happy to have been part of this group and to have had the chance to experience such an amazing place.
Our first day on safari was filled with giraffes and impala. We loved our time spent at Mikumi National Park, although my camera was not able to take decent pictures of animals in the distance. This forced me to get a bit creative with my binoculars.
Retreating for the day, we were greeted back with a wonderful meal and a song and dance (that involved a lot of high jumping) by the staff.
After dinner, we had to be escorted by some local Maasai men, as lions had been appearing nightly outside the guest rooms. Part way through the walk to my room (which seemed to take forever), I asked the Maasai man leading the way what would happen if we encountered a lion.
He stopped for a moment and turned back to me. Raising his staff, he simply said "Stick." and smiled. That satisfied my curiosity.
The next day we went out on safari once again, many of us seeing elephants and hippos for the first time!
 |
| Elephant Skull |
 |
| Naturally we wanted to climb the biggest tree we saw |
 |
| Warthogs |
We spent the night at the Vuma Hills Lodge, which was absolutely amazing. The view alone during the sunset was astounding.
When were told we'd be sleeping in tents, you'd imagine what I pictured; I was pleasantly shocked to find that what were referred to as tents were actually large permanent frames with full roofs and bathroom and shower facilities, complete with king sized beds and a tent-like front door with mosquito netting. I slept very well.
After dinner there, I was delighted to get the chance to feed some Bush Babies that come by every night to by be fawned over by guests. They were very cute.
 |
| I loved the Vuma Hills logo |
 |
| Bush Baby! |
 |
| Honey Badgers |
 |
| Huge porcupine |
The Lodge was a wonderful way to end our time in Tanzania (if you are ever in the area, I'd seriously recommend staying a night).
In the morning, our documentation team set out on the road back to Dar Es Salaam in time to catch our 8 hour flight to Zurich (no complaints from me though, as I had time to read, and finally start WestWorld). From there to Toronto was another 8 hours or so, with no huge difficulties. However, I was stopped at security for a very brief moment when they noticed an odd object when scanning my bag.
Now to back track weeks earlier when we were walking around and shopping in Toronto; a store employee gave us all gift cards worth $10 off a purchase their, so we walked in. Not interested in the clothing they had, yet wanting somehow to take advantage of the card, I found the only things I could get without spending more than $10: 2 strange fat stone pigeons.
I felt a little silly in the line up; up until an old woman in front of me turned around and revealed that she had done the exact same thing, saying nonchalantly "You hear for the birds too?" A strange moment that still makes me laugh.
I decided I'd paint them as a bit of an art project and placed them at the bottom of my bag for later. I completely forgot about them and was so totally caught off guard when the guy at security reached in my bag and pulled something out I couldn't quite see. His expression was hilarious, as was his fellow employee's. When I got my bag back and found the stone pigeon, I laughed pretty hard.
After the longer flights, the one to Halifax was a pice of cake. It was raining when we arrived; the same as when I left. A nice little reminder of where my journey started, and a greeting back home I didn't mind.
I have been back for two days now, and am still trying to process all I have done, seen, and felt these past weeks.
I will never forget this experience and, although I am glad to be back in Canada, I hope to return to Tanzania again.
Thank you to those who read up 'til this point. After this post, I will put a link up to my entry on the NSCC International site, and will also post links to our final products.
The next step for us is editing, something I absolutely love, despite and because of the work.
Carter Thurber
NSCC Screen Arts
May 17th, 2017
Oral History Interpretation & Documentation
