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I woke up at 6.30 with the noises of everyone getting ready and also with another person in the room. Probably my only lie in has been wasted! It doesn't matter though as I'm really not tired, at the moment, and the different environment has probably put a kick in my energy. Abi had obviously arrived without me noticing in the night! She drove from Cape Town to Knysna National Park after a flight from England to Dubai, Dubai to Cape Town. Crazy lady. She apparently arrived last night at about 11pm. She's finished her degree last year and has spent the last 6 months in Addo National Park, South Africa getting her Guiding diploma along with many other things. She's already taught me a load about elephants and I'm sure the knowledge will continue to spurt out!
We were both taken on an induction, along with Charlotte, who had picked me up at the airport. She arrived last week on Thursday and hadn't gone through it all yet due to arriving so close to the weekend. She's also finished a degree last year but because she couldn't get a job she's doing work experience here first. Everyone seems to be studying or has studied subjects to do with conservation, ecology or zoology. I'm the youngest here and apart from Hilary and Joan who are pensioners (they call themselves that) everyone is in their 20's. There are 3 German girls, 2 who are doing their dissertation here on the vegetation of the park and the other one is here for her gap year, same age as me. David, who as I've said, is the only guy in the volunteer group.
Laurie, the volunteer supervisor, went through everything so quickly. We have to wear "uniform" here, which is basically a really hot thick t-shirt. All those rubbish t-shirts I brought from home are now useless! Laurie went through all the elephants and how you can tell the difference and what sort of personalities they all have. For me, it was flying over my head. I was looking at the elephants wondering how on earth I'm going to tell them apart and collect relevant data for them. I know one of them already though, called Keisha and has ripped ears. She looks so cute.
After a break to make lunch and we had a tourist view of visiting the centre. We then went on our first training session. Mine was "Nearest neighbour". You have to collect where the elephants are in relation to a subject elephant every 5 minutes. It was so hot out there, even doing nothing and the t-shirts weren't helping. When we got back, we had to sort out the Boma, which means bringing in Browse (basically tree branches) and bringing them into to the Boma so the guides can put them in the elephants' pens.
David cooked again, this time roast pork, a lot better than the last one. I'm starting to think I'm never going to get rid of all the food that I bought yesterday. I couldn't eat much as I started to feel a bit nauseous and I had a massive headache which resulting in me going to bed early, again. They're all going to start to think I'm so dull!
I woke up not feeling good at all. I felt sick, dizzy and my head was pounding. I tried to do my first shift which was sorting out the orchard where the 3 older elephants spend their days. It was already boiling and the heat was starting to make me feel really faint. I managed it only because the elephants were brought in early. We all think that it might be heatstroke as I don't think I drunk much water at all yesterday and it was a stifling day and I was out pretty much all day. Sadly for me, I spent the rest of the day in bed with a cold flannel on my face and drinking a lot of water.
I feel horrible and so useless but everyone is being so lovely and taking care of the little pathetic one in bed! Because I have taken it so easy today will mean that I'll be fit as a fiddle tomorrow and not have anymore problems. I have to buy a bottle or something out here. I'm not going out on the field without water again. I came here to be useful and help out the elephants. That starts properly tomorrow!
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