March 24, 2007

Well, we took our Fugees to the zoo yesterday. This is the whole gang:

We had our 3 Fugees, plus the pregnant couple who have been in America for 2 weeks PLUS 2 other boys that had been in America 1 NIGHT. Because, why the heck not? right folks? We aim high.

On the way there, we kept trying to convey that we were going to see animals. A-NI-MALS. Animals? Yes? They nod and nod saying yes, yes, good, okay. Then when we get there, they ask if we are there to swim.

First exhibit. Leopards.

Mike and I walk right up to the cage and turn around to find them all 25 feet back, absolutely terrified. We begin to wonder if this was a REALLY BAD IDEA. I’m not in to the whole Cesar Milan approach and don’t want them to have to sniff the poop of a beast that probably ate their friends in Africa.

“They can NOT get out. It’s OKAY. It’s okay. It’s okay. It’s okay. It’s okay. (I felt like we said this about 387 times that day)”

Sloooooowly. Ever so sloooowly, they approach the cage and watch the massive sleeping cats. Our Mama Fugee says “In Africa.. no good! Nooooooooo Good” and then she put her hands in claws and made motions across her chest just like wolverine in X-men. “No this in Africa” and pointed to the cage.

We stayed at the Leopard cage for probably 20 minutes. They were in absolute amazement. The leopard wakes up, they all take a step back. They say that the cat can tear down the cage, they know it with a certainty. We all laugh a bit and the nerves wear off.

So, this is how the zoo trip started off:

Very serious. By the way, they asked for this picture to be taken. They LOVE having their pictures taken but they haven’t really learned the whole smiling aspect of it yet. But the picture embodies their emotions at the Leopard exhibit. Sheer terror and then fascination.

Next up: Penguins. You can imagine Africans seeing penguins for the first time. A lot of giggles and questions that they didn’t know how to ask.

Next up: Tigers. Somewhere between the penguins and the tigers, the 6 year old first-day-in-America kid walked to the side of the walking path and started peeing. Uh!!! Umm!!!! No no no no no no no. Enter: first trip to public American bathroom. Mike had to show him where to aim, how to turn the sink on and off, how to get paper towels and where to put trash.

Fugees seeing a Tiger:
So, overall seeing the animals was pretty cool for them. Except for the occasional “I eat that” they were truly fascinated and had a really good time. Llamas - amazing! Porcupine - magnificent! Iguanas - you get the idea.

But the REAL fun began when we went through the kid’s section and they discovered the giant Giraffe slide. It was a sight to behold! Eight Africans running up and down the children’s slide at the zoo, the adults waiting in line, laughing and laughing, asking for their picture to be taken.

Papa Fugee:

Pregnant Fugee Friend: (yes, a pregnant woman was going down a slide at the zoo and had the time of her life)

Mama Fugee: 6 year old first-day-in-America boy contemplating why he can’t pee outside in this weird American food factory: His older brother about to be knocked down:

2 thumbs up! We have no idea what their generalizations were about a zoo in America, probably that they would be filthy rich once they figured out a way to gather all their common livestock and food supply back home and then charge us stupid Americans to walk by and gawk at it. Oh well.

Afterwards we took them to McDonalds, because, really, you can’t be a true American until you gorge yourself on fried axle grease. We were happy to Christen them.

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10 Responses to “Don’t worry, they can’t get out”

1. March 25th, 2007 at 8:49 am, Mom2One Says:

   Ohhhh! That is SO great!! What a wonderful post, and the pictures just make it!

2. March 25th, 2007 at 2:25 pm, dcrmom Says:

   This is so totally cool!!

3. March 25th, 2007 at 5:23 pm, Ungrateful Little Bastard Says:

   These pictures are awesome. I once worked with a guy who had grown up in a village in India. His tale of his first visit to an American zoo in his teens was similar. He kept telling the tour group: No I am telling you, these things can get OUT!

4. March 25th, 2007 at 8:09 pm, bubandpie Says:

   Ah, going down slides while pregnant. It becomes less and less fun, and then finally you stick halfway down, and that’s the end of it.

5. March 26th, 2007 at 8:26 am, Ami Says:

   Thank you for visiting and commenting on my blog. I will defintely be back to read more when I have more time to browse your entire blog. I’m sure I’ll have questions for you!

6. March 26th, 2007 at 8:37 am, Rick Says:

   My wife, Ami (Cupover blog), referred me to your blog. I had a great laugh this morning reading your zoo post. Hilarious!

7. March 26th, 2007 at 11:11 pm, erin Says:

   You guys had a blast. I wish I could have come.

   Hope your move is going/went well.

   e

8. March 29th, 2007 at 4:07 pm, Lindsay Says:

   I absolutely love it! Your blogs always entertain me! The zoo would have been great to experience first hand!

9. April 15th, 2007 at 3:34 am, 5KidMom Says:

   I found you via Erin’s (e’s) blog. I have not laughed so hard in a while. I will be back!!

10. July 10th, 2007 at 12:52 am, Fully Operational Battle Station » This house is clear Says:

    [...] beds and recorded their favorite insect shows on our Tivo, but also because we found out that our Fugee friends moved [...]