Cornrows and Circumcision
Today was hardly an average day in
Monduli, Tanzania. Despite a typical, quiet morning of transporting dirt and
practicing Swahili, the post-lunch adventures of the Crew were exotic.
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| Click to see photos. |
Following the
daily rice and beans, we gathered in the third form classroom to hear about a
very special Maasai ceremony. Sangorie and a few other
form five boys explained (very patiently) the activities that were about to
take place. This ceremony celebrated the beginning of manhood for boys in
Maasai culture following their circumcision and period of preparation. We
boarded the buses with thirty of the Orkeeswa school kids and departed for a
MaasaiBoma. When we arrived, the elders of the village were gathered for
raucous celebration. After a half hour, we saw an unforgettable sight; a
tightly packed herd of young men were approaching, singing and dancing wildly.
As they came closer, we observed that the dancing consisted of hopping and
rocking one’s torso. The men shrieked and hummed as they ran towards onlookers.
Sticks in hand, the men were quite a spectacle. The ceremony was enjoyed with some
bottled sodas, which the Orkeeswa girls impressively opened using their teeth
as a bottle opener.
We returned
to E’manyata around four, but the adventures were far from over. Many members
of the Crew walked into town and bought snacks at the Tumaini shop. Mimi
inquired about the nearest hair salon, as many girls were interested in a new
“do.” The clerk responded with a strong suggestion of “NOT in Monduli.” Mimi
nodded and led the Crew across the street to the Precious Hair Salon. The
curtain used as a substitute door and backyard bonfire did not faze anyone (if
only it had). The people were welcoming; the hairstyles were bad. Holly, Mimi,
Reed and Georgia each requested four cornrows on the side of their head.
Although the goal was extreme beauty, the results were closer to baldness than
expected. When we got back to the lodge, the reactions were mixed. The evening
was not complete without a photo shoot.
To say the least, we all kept it pretty kosher ;)
-Wells and Anna T.
OMG loving the hair, can't wait to see it in person in a few weeks!!! xoxo
ReplyDeleteWow, this brings back a lot of memories. I can just picture you all sitting in a circle at the E'manyata passing around a light and doing ANCHOR. You are in the midst of an incredible experience. With that said, I have some advice.
ReplyDelete1. Buy stuff.
If you dig through the piles of clothes at the market there are some great finds! And sure they might be used or have some misspellings, but for less than a dollar, come on- how could you resist. Some of my favorite Tanz clothes include one XXL shirt I bought that says "Life is Crap" (I think this must be a rival of the "Life is Good" brand) and red cotton underwear that say Barack Obama (my brother has since claimed them.) And obviously the Tanzania jewelry is prime.
2. Make your food last.
By the end of the second day, Gina Kim and I had finished an entire jar of Flintstone gummy vitamins with a label that read "50 servings." Not the best decision. Trust me, by the last couple of days you'll be glad if you saved a little Nutella or whatever it is you brought.
3. Write everything down.
Take advantage of your journal. There is nothing like reading about a moment, a feeling, or a sight you experienced in Tanzania. I really wish I had written down more of the little moments that made me smile.
And now for some shout outs.
Layla- I am so incredibly jealous that you're back! I hope you're showing everyone the lay of the land. I can't imagine a better tour guide than you... what is this your third time in Tanz?
Mimi- Our JVlax sweatshirts have not arrived yet.... I'm starting to doubt they ever will.
Laura- I feel your pain. Wearing contacts in Tanz is a struggle. I spent most of my days wearing some nice librariany glasses.
Holly, Mimi, Reed and Georgia- Cornrows? You are brave. I was dying when I saw the picture of Georgia.
Please send my love to Eunice, Justina, Lota, Memusi, Dickson, and Agnes.
PS. You guys are all so poetic. Kelsey's sonnet, Fraser's haiku, Layla and Olivia's blog, Derek's deep thoughts. Impressive stuff. Kwa heri
Elizabeth Dickson
Geo...love the cornrows. we all miss you, including Bella. Take pics. I love you. Dad
ReplyDeleteWhat an exciting day! how are the cornrows holding up today? It is wonderful to read all about your adventures, keep them coming. Wylie wants to know if you have seen any hippos yet.....
ReplyDeletehugs,
Mom (Cate)
Greetings to the Groton crew from South Africa! The pictures of your journey thus far are beautiful and inspirational. Enjoy each moment and especially the connections and smiles you are sharing with your new friends. Like all of your families, we look forward to hearing more about your adventure on this blog and when you return home. Love and ubuntu,
ReplyDeleteJennie and Sean (Anna R.'s mom and dad)