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Published: June 29th 2012
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Hujambo,
My thighs are burning today - yesterday I used squat toilets (hole in the floor) several times and then we hiked down several thousand feet to a river for viewing a waterfall. The hike down - slippery, and muddy was challenging but the hike up is what did in my out of shape thighs!
We went off in the direction of Kilimanjaro and visited a Chagga tribal museum saw a hut that would have been used by their Chagga ancestors. The circular hut is divided in half - one half for family and one half for livestock. 3 cows and 4 kids plus parents in a 12' x7' space. The house is built of sticks and grass. The center of the house is the firepit. There are 2 beds - the one closest to the fire is for Mama and the girl children. The one closest to the door is for the Papa and the boy children. We went into the cave and underground escape system they had for protection from invading Masai warriors. The cave was really more a system of tunnels. We crept forward bent at the waist and minding our heads. There were 2 spots
off to the side where Chugga warriors stood and clubbed or speared anyone coming through the tunnels without the correct password. In the museum there were a variety of drums, the warrior and farming implements they used and vats, grain and cups for brewing and drinking banana beer, their local spirit.
We also stopped at a nearby baobob tree, also called the tree of life. This one is the largest and oldest in the Kilimanjaro region and is over 2000 years old. All of the baobob trees we have seen (mostly on safari) have lost all their leaves (this being the dry season); but this one had all of it's leaves. In the wet months water is stored in its thick, corky, fire-resistant trunk for the nine dry months ahead. The baobab's bark, leaves, fruit, and trunk are all used. The bark of the baobab is used for cloth and rope - also elephants eat the bark, the leaves for condiments and medicines, while the fruit, called "monkey bread", is eaten. Sometimes people live inside of the huge trunks or a variety of animals live there.
We stopped at an outdoor market that is way off the
tourist route. The locals were selling mostly foods-rows and rows of green bananas, tomatoes, onions, avocados, coconuts, beans and lentils, but also socks, shoes, clothes and variety booths which sold soap, erasers, bags, and fabrics etc. We have some colorful photos. It's too bad our photos aren't usually downloaded (or is it uploaded?) in time for the email/blog posts.
We took an hour walk tonight after doing our laundry. We walked to the river (passing a woman who was bathing in the river) and stood on a bridge watching the water. It was such a pretty sight. When I looked up, there was Kilimanjaro, looking majestic and more clear than we've seen in our nearly 2 weeks here. I believe Sydney has posted a photo on her facebook page already. Tomorrow we plan to go into town after our placement and stay for dinner in town, something we haven't done yet. Most of our often rowdy group will be gone on day trips this weekend. We have a day trip to Arusha National Park planned for Sunday. In Arusha NP we are actually allowed out of the safari vans to take a walking tour and may wind up very,
very close to giraffes. We will also canoe for an hour or 2. On Saturday I think we'll be meeting people from Dave's placement and perhaps even eating at the home of the director of the facility.
School keeps us busy. We are working on learning how to spell their names in my room. Sydney has been teaching math and tutoring kids who are behind. Today there were 33 kids in my room today (OK it's Ishmael's room, not mine) and maybe 10 of them wanted to work. Almost all of the kids will work if I sit with them and they get one on one attention but it's hard to give each child more than a few minutes of quality time because craziness breaks out when one of us isn't watching. I know more Swahili than I knew 2 weeks ago but it is far too little. Two girls have brought dolls to school in their worn out backpacks. The dolls were both about 10" tall, white rubber dolls with 1 leg and one arm and several strands of blonde hair and the kids love them and fight over them. One dolls head was pulled off in tussle
and tears were immediate. The head was replaced, the doll put back into the backpack and all was good again.
We read today about the fires still raging out of control in CO. The fires are very close to the home of one pair of Sydney's grandparents and so we are keeping them and all who are affected in our thoughts and prayers. Keep Africa in your thoughts and prayers too. Seeing the corn dried up in the field is a sobbering reminder that for many of the people here there is nothing standing between them and hunger. There has been a drought in many countries in Africa for years and it isn't something that makes the news in the US much. Thousands are dying every day from hunger and preventable diseases.Two kids from "my class" are out with malaria and pneumonia. Everyday we see kids wearing the same clothes and rubbery crocs-type shoes that are inches too small. So much beauty in this land and it's people and so much need. We are reminded every moment about how spoiled we are in the US and so self absorbed. Still we look forward to sleeping in our own beds
and using the washing machine and driving on roads that are paved and were drivers are crazy in a more predictable way.
Happy 64th anniversary Mom and Dad!!
Love,
Sharon, Dave and Sydney
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