We're playing blogging catchup now this vacation. We were warned that the second term would be the most hectic part of the school year and that was an understatement. The H1N1 virus hit our campus and our infirmary was filled to overflowing. Even younger staff members became ill, and the rest of the faculty stepped up to fill the gaps. Jim and I dodged all the illness, but our term was filled with covering important material and helping barely recovering students make up work.
Even in hectic moments, we had to stop at rejoice at the natural wonders about us.
This wonder was exceptional--even for Africa: A once-in-a-life-time solar eclipse.
Our students gathered on the upper rugby field with telescopes and protective eye gear to view this event.
Usually leaves will act as prisms which leave little round images
of the sun.
Today we saw, not crescent moons, but crescent suns displayed on our neighbor's wall.
The annual trip to Hell's Gate Park is a major highlight for eighth grade students. The whole Rift valley is filled with volcanoes and hot springs. Hell's Gate is a real hot spot for geothermal activity. Fifteen percent of Kenya's electricity is fueled by geothermal power.
This volcanic "plug" was created as liquid magma solidified. The outer soil eroded leaving this rugged stone column.
Don't let the remains of extinct volcanoes delude you; this is still a very active area with hot water steaming from the rocks throughout the park.
Jim and the kids also enjoyed wildlife--some rather large, from this locust...
...to this rather sizable pumba. From the looks of things, warthogs like mud just like all other piggies. The Thompson's Gazelle looks disapproving.
JAMES--intrepid wrangler of reptiles and amphibians
This beautiful green and black snake with the big innocent-looking eyes is a boomslang, a poisonous, reclusive tree snake that mostly feeds on bird-eggs and insects. We figure he must have fallen out of a tree near our elementary school. Jim helped contain and then release him.
He looks like he's puckering up, but I wouldn't give him any "sugar" if I were you.
This teensy little skink scampered out of a sandal in our closet. A local business card gives an idea of his size. Again, nature guy released him in our flower box.
Even in hectic moments, we had to stop at rejoice at the natural wonders about us.
This wonder was exceptional--even for Africa: A once-in-a-life-time solar eclipse.
Our students gathered on the upper rugby field with telescopes and protective eye gear to view this event.
Usually leaves will act as prisms which leave little round images
of the sun.
Today we saw, not crescent moons, but crescent suns displayed on our neighbor's wall.
The annual trip to Hell's Gate Park is a major highlight for eighth grade students. The whole Rift valley is filled with volcanoes and hot springs. Hell's Gate is a real hot spot for geothermal activity. Fifteen percent of Kenya's electricity is fueled by geothermal power.
This volcanic "plug" was created as liquid magma solidified. The outer soil eroded leaving this rugged stone column.
Don't let the remains of extinct volcanoes delude you; this is still a very active area with hot water steaming from the rocks throughout the park.
Jim and the kids also enjoyed wildlife--some rather large, from this locust...
...to this rather sizable pumba. From the looks of things, warthogs like mud just like all other piggies. The Thompson's Gazelle looks disapproving.JAMES--intrepid wrangler of reptiles and amphibians
This beautiful green and black snake with the big innocent-looking eyes is a boomslang, a poisonous, reclusive tree snake that mostly feeds on bird-eggs and insects. We figure he must have fallen out of a tree near our elementary school. Jim helped contain and then release him.
He looks like he's puckering up, but I wouldn't give him any "sugar" if I were you.
This teensy little skink scampered out of a sandal in our closet. A local business card gives an idea of his size. Again, nature guy released him in our flower box.
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