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Dung and Masai...
Hello :)
At the moment I am sat in a deck chair after lunch... Boots on my feet, shorts and t-shirt on overlooking Mt Meru on one side and Mt Kili on the other :)....... That was all I managed to write at lunch time so now I am actually tucked up and bed again after a weird and wonderful day...
This morning we did EDP project, Elephant Dung Paper. I was really excited to do this as in Kenya it was one of my favourite activities! After a bit of a slow start we eventually had our mix, 2 parts elephant poo to 1 part recycled shredded paper. We then mashed this together to remove excess water which made a kind of brown pulp. Next we mixed this with PVA glue water before fishing it out on special boards, sponging and leaving it to dry. It was good to do it again and I'm sure that I can incorporate this into my Y6 teaching next year! :)
After lunch, which was fishcakes, we set off to a local Masai Boma. I was looking forward to this as I don't really know much about the Masai Tribe but what I found will stay with me forever. As we approached the village the Masai people arrived in their traditional garments and jewelry hanging from everywhere! As soon as we got close I found it difficult as there were lots of children who were covered in flies! They didn't flinch, move them off or even notice them! There were thousands of them all over their bodies and it was was awful! We then learnt about the Masai tradition! The man standing in front of me had 8 wives and 35 children! What a joke! He stood there like a king with the women and children behind him. I just didn't like it!
We were then invited into the village center where they also keep their cattle. I walked in to find more women selling beaded bracelets and necklaces and made a hasty exit. I didn't like any of it and it really brought home to me the harrowing life some people in Africa live!
As I got back to camp my washing that I had done was nearly dry and I felt safe and more relaxed about things. I had a shower, sorted some stuff out and had dinner. After dinner Miss Phillips organised a quiz and I then enjoyed a long chat with Peter about him visiting the UK :)
So last night I fell asleep when writing this. It is now 9:02pm on the 29th July and I've just got in bed. I'm going to end this blog now and start a new one to tell you about today :)
Tom x
- comments
Rachel Hussey Finally sitting down to read all your blogs. I'd heard similar feedback from friends who have visited the Masai. They had said it was all for show and they tried selling you everything to try make some money. Elephant dung paper!!! I did a talk at school before we broke up and showed my elephant dung paper from my time in Kenya. Got the kids to try guess what it was made from. Aww memories ha!