On my own

The time has arrived. My last connection to my other self has been severed. It has been a very sad day, but I know that in the next months another part of me will get the chance to grow.
I have never been on my complete own and so far from anyone I know. If anyone of a comparable age has been then please let me know so we can exchange tips.

I am now sitting at my dinner table at REST. I have an internet dongle thing plugged into my laptop and I have surprisingly good reception here. I also have a mobile sim, which was intended for the camera traps but wont be needed. If you want to contact me then my namibian number is: 0856229302 (please find the area codes yourself)

I want to thank those who have sent me messages on the phone. So far: Bart, Mattijs, Tim, Suzanne, Sander. For some reason I cant reply via text, but your messages are great!

Im in a house that can sleep 6 people, but its only me. 3 bedrooms with 2 beds each around a dining area with kitchen. Theres also a shower and toilet - with hot water. There is light powered by solar panel, and a car-cigarette-charging station but no mains electricity, so im limiting laptop time. The kitchen is good and I have a weeks supply of food. On monday Ill go into town to stock up a little.
Ive chosen a room. The other two had insect infestations outside the windows which my dad helped clean up, but still....
For the first time Ive been able to unpack stuff and place them around. It is nice to be stationary in a single place for that reason, although a little of the adventure and constant excitement is gone. Ive got some nice comfort food - toffee popcorn! and portable speakers for my ipod to cheer me up: currently listening to Stravinsky's Symphony of Psalms.

This is REST. There is a man living next door on the property called Martin, with his wife Brenda. He is basically the guy here, or officially - the foreman. Its a big farm with a mountain (hill?)  in the middle of it. Against one of the cliffs, a huge aviary is constructed with a few unfit vultures in it. In one of the labs there is also a Lappet-faced vulture with only one wing. They are such impressively big animals and their eyes are huge. I never realised.
Tomorrow morning I will have to go up early to check on them. Throughout the day if people come I get to show them around. I've already had one visitor; the englishman John from Mundulea showed up - which was fun.

On wednesday I go to Okonjima to pick up dead animals. On thursday morning I place them at a certain spot and wait inside a hide, recording every bird that comes to feed and identifying their tags. Usually they number up to a thousand so it might be difficult.

REST exists because in 2000 there were only 12 Cape griffon vultures in the whole country. They've released a few more that were transported from South Africa and satellite tagged them. The population is now 30. They also work with farmers to ensure no harmful practises are used. The number one cause of death is poisoning.

Martin went to Otjiwarongo 6 1/2 hours ago to pick up his kids. He was supposed to be back 3 hours ago, but he isnt