adventures 210: "team elephants forever"

Day 10 [Monday, September 12]

We woke and dressed in our Team Elephants shirts. We had breakfast together and loaded our truck. It was our last day, and it was downright sad. We'd been together for nine long days that felt like 9 long weeks, experiencing so much together that we would never be able to fully explain to anyone that wasn't there.

Paul, me, and Trevor working our way into Zambia

We loaded up and left Zimbabwe, crossing into Zambia. We all chattered incessently, and as we neared the Zambian airport, Trevor borrowed my iPod to play Shosholoza and Waka Waka and, best of all, The Circle of Life. Just as Elton hit his dramatic crescendo, Paul hit the brakes and we all popped our heads out the windows. A huge herd of elephants was blocking our path. Elephants. Even after all the ones we'd already seen, this final herd was like the goodbye to Team Elephants. The sun was hot, the elephants were slow, and Elton just kept on singing loudly in our ears as our hearts filled up. It was one of those perfect moments.

 

Love from Kylee

Ashlee, Siri, me

Trevor, me, Elroy, Paul

SA Customs dog smells Senta's oranges

When we finally made it to the airport, we hugged Paul and Elroy as long as we could and then filed inside to check in. We waited for our flight, playing cards in the middle of the floor, until boarding began. It was a tiny airport, so we walked outside into the heat to board planeside, where Siri and I pretended to be celebrities and waved graciously to our adoring fans and paparazzi. We had a layover in Johannesburg, where we reentered South Africa, ate, and waited for our next flight as it got darker and darker out. When we arrived in Cape Town, the sun was long down and the air was cold. A soft Cape Town drizzle was blowing in off the coast, and we knew we were home. We hugged Franzie, Vanessa, and Allie goodbye, as they go to Stellenbosch University, and the rest of our group loaded up and into Cape Town. We were all dropped off by house, sleepily hugging goodbye and watching each other disappear into the dark.

But that wasn't the end of Team Elephants, not by a long shot. Since our trip, we've had lunches and dinners. We've gone out together and had huge potluck parties and sleepovers. Elroy, Trevor, and Paul have paused grown-up lives to come see us, and the Stellenbosch girls take the train in to spend time. We watched The Lion King in 3D and attempted to attend a beer festival. We've supported poetry slams, celebrated my birthday, and practiced our yoga. We meet on campus and run into each other in classes or in town. We make an effort, because, while we only have a couple months left on this continent, we know we'll be Team Elephants forever.