Photos...
hi there,
I just wanted to ad a title and a little story about one of my submitted pictures. It is the picture of the little boy, at the end of the 3rd row. I will title this picture ''International Relations''.
We came upon this young man while hunting deep inside a large concession in the Limpopo last year. He was always dressed quite scantily, and would be playing in the dirt with sticks and stones. As we would drive past his very humble 'dwelling', he would stand up and watch us, and as we passed he would go back to his playing and dreaming. I felt very touched for this young fellow, who even though was deep in the wilderness, and so young, seemed to always be home alone.
After about 4-5 times of passing this fellow, I decided to have my PH stop near him on my next time we passed by. I usually take some treats and some trinkets for the children when I go to Africa, and felt this young man was very deserving. I gave him a sucker, and a Canadian flag necklace, and he just stood there speechless, and stared at me. My heart was warmed.
We carried on hunting and I found out that the boys mom headed into town daily, walking about 5 miles daily to work, and the dad actually worked on the concession, thinning the land and such, and watching for poachers etc, so the boy was left home alone from morning until night.
We did not hunt that area of the concession for several days after this. Upon returning, we were passing the little shanty hut, and out ran my little friend, along with his father. The little fella was all dressed up in his best clothing, which were far better than his living conditions would dictate. He was wearing the flag necklace, and still holding onto his lollipop.
His father informed us in broken English of how the little boy had been sitting and waiting for our return for days, so that he could thank me for his gifts, and needed his dad to be there as the boy could not speak English. He had worn his best clothes the entire time, and refused to play in them, just so that he would look very sharp in his new necklace for me. He refused to even taste his lollipop either until I returned, a huge feat of willpower I am sure. He had made me a little gift from a couple sticks and a piece of tattered string in return, which I proudly hang with my African trophies.
After about 7-8 months had passed, I received an email from my PH for that hunt, and he had driven passed the little boys home, and there he stood in his dirty little undies, but still proudly wearing his little Canadian flag necklace, which according to his father he has never removed, but for the one time that it had broken and his father repaired it for him. This boy, who had never said a single word to me that I could understand, has impacted me as my most special, and memorable moment in all my hunting. This is what hunting is about, not what you can get for your wall, but for what you can get in your memories, and in your heart.
I now attempt to make at least one persons life better when I go hunting, to make a difference or a memory, in some small way. I will remember this young man forever, and truly hope I can see him again someday.
Sorry for being long winded...but I hope we can all make a small difference for others on our hunts.
Thank you...
