The Maasai

SO the past few days (weds, thurs, fri) have just been class days, so nothing too exciting. Today however, was a community service day. We got up at the normal time and had breakfast at 7:30. After eating we all packed lunches and got ready for the service. We found out this morning that we would be helping with a project nearby thats working to get clean water out to local people in the area. Every time we leave camp and drive places we see lots of kids and some adults pushing carts with 9 or 10 huge jugs that carry water through town. Some people have to walk miles to get to clean water to bring back to their homes. The project will hopefully help to shorten the distance between families and clean water.

We were broken into three groups, and brought to different sections of a pipe/waterway that is being built to transport water out into more communities so they don't have to travel so far to get to water themselves. So me and 8 other students got to our site where about 8 Kenyans were already working. The project was basically a trench made in the ground, that had two sets of wooden pieces propped up near the edges that were going to be filled with cement to make two cement walls for water to move through.

The first thing we had to do was shovel dry cement into a wheel barrow and push it maybe 75 yards to the section of canal we were going to work on. When we got there one of the Kenyan guys who looked around our age was pushing it and it didn't look so bad. Then one of the guys from our group tried and it didn't look so easy...but I wanted to try anyway, so I went next. I made it, but it was NOT easy. The Kenyan men didn't think I would make it and I did so it was worth it! I did one more trip after the first, but mostly helped with the shoveling. Once that was finished we moved to the trench that was being dug. I worked on the trench with my roommate Olivia, and my other friend Alex, and three Kenyans, Lucy, Anne, and Joseph. Lucy and Joseph spoke a lot of english so that helped the process go easier. To dig the trench one person would shash a hoe into the ground to loosen the dirt, and then the another person would follow with a shovel to get rid of the dirt. It didn't look very hard, but was surprisingly difficult. Lucy and Anne did it effortlessly.....Lucy is 59, and Anne is older. I could not believe how fast and well they were moving, while us 20 year old Americans were struggling.

After digging the trench which took about an hour, we moved on to help with the cement that was being put into the wooden frames. Olivia and I and another couple girls worked on bringing water to the dry cement pile so the guys could keep mixing and using it. To get water we had to go to a mud pit about 100 yards away and slowly fill up some big buckets. Carrying the buckets back wasn't easy either! Once the section we were working on was finished we left to go back to camp.

It really was amazing how accustomed they were to such strenuous work. They start work at 5 or 6 every morning and are busy with manual labor all day. They were barely even sweating and didn't drink any water the entire time. By the time we left we were all so tired, and ready for lunch, and they were still their working. It was definitely another eye opening experience.

After a lunch break at camp we were very excited for this afternoon. Last night we were told that the Maasai tribe was having a ceremony, and that we were invited to join as their neighbors. The last time students got to go to a Maasai ceremony was in 2003, so we were very excited! Ceremonies in the Maasai tribe are only held a few times each year and they are only for special occasions. Today was a ceremony for an age group of boys who are 'coming of age', and transfering into manhood. We got to see all the men and women in their traditional dress and beading. The women sang and danced, while the men sang/grunted, and jumped soooo high. They were amazing. It was very interesting and exciting to see. Tourists aren't allowed to go to cememonies like this, but they let us join as neighbors. My camera was put to great use once again : )

So today was not a typical day, and maybe not the most exciting to read about...but it definitely was another eye opener. Tomorrow we have another day off, and we are going on a hike outside of camp. Next week were are going to Amboseli National Park two more times for safaris, so I'll have more to write about.

Until then, hope all is well at home!! OH annnd, one of my good old Buddies informed me that I've been making some typos....sorry, spelling isn't my forte, plus I have a time limit on the internet! Hope everyone will forgive me!

ttys
: )