Art-ish

We had a demonstration of batik making today - many steps to make the lovely designs. Draw on cloth, paint on background, dry, apply hot wax to any area not to be black, cool, paint with black ink which is draw up into the fabric anywhere there is no wax so all the little lines fill in, dry, rub off all the wax, iron, touch up if needed, iron again. So I made this.

It's a tree.

Safari 2

The second day we were in more of a forested area, another park. Here the animals were not afraid of the road or cars at all. We frequently stopped for an elephant parade! We saw animals so close up and tons of giraffes. Zebras and wildebeest in huge packs. Plenty of food and water and nature in balance.

The parks are often the homes of only the Maasi, the very traditional tribe that retain many old ways, including eating nothing but meat. So they do not plant at all and can move about in range of the animals without disturbing them. They also marry as many wives as they can and live in tight communities with wood fires and no electricity.

At both parks we took pictures like crazy and no one said anything until we tried to get a photo of a Maasi with his cattle. He asked for money for taking his picture. Obviously feeding his cash cow.....

Reality imitates movies

Remember the snake scene from Indiana Jones' film? Endless Writhing intertwined chaos. 70 kids ages 3-7 on the same rug when the order is given "sleep." 

Housing

 

If you were in a country where the temperature was warm to hot, a few heavy rains, no breeze, and not much need for security, what kind of house would you construct? No need for insulation or storm doors, but whatever breeze is around.

As we drive past houses here I am stuck by how minimally sensible they are - rustic as they are to our  American eyes.  Mud or brick, window and doors to get the cross draft with windows and doors to close for the rain, one level. Bathrooms outside to keep them away from the kitchen and cooking. Wood stove for cooking since there are no gas lines. Water outside from a common pump because the community all goes there. I have seen few 2 story house anywhere except those built for group living. There are a few with gates and gardens of the better off, but it is still a variation of the simple structure. Because that is all that is needed.


What if we only built what we needed? On the other hand I have come to consider indoor plumbing a necessity...

Pentecost 2014

The local pastor has in invited me to preach This Sunday - it is Pentecost. Amazingly in school I took a class in African American preaching, at the time when Obama's pastor was still all the rage. Let's see what I remember. I did need to buy a new dress - the white ankle and calf offend the locals. How often do I get a new preaching dress?

I hope some of the kids in class come - I'd love to see their families.

The congregation was established by a Korean mission in 2004 that was assumed by aTanzanian pastor in 2007. They hope to expand the school to all the grades.

Weekdays

I am teaching whatever is assigned (art, science, maths, English, and Kiswahili) to ages 3-6. They sit amazingly in desks - not by any means "still" but usually in the area they stared in. No toys, no activity sheets, no crayons or paper. Just shared (and frequently chewed) pencils and Blue books for assignments. Chalk board, chalk - the remains of an old eraser. And humans.

Oral tradition is still the most important and our goal at this age is to lay some groundwork for English. So if they get the sounds, the meaning is nice but not necessary. It will come back. I can only hope "the cows in the barn go moo,moo,moo!" makes a lasting impression.

Outdoor play involves running and balls and running after balls and balls chasing while you run. You get the picture. Wildebeest and warthogs were a vacation!

Safari 1

It will take at least a week to report on everything I saw, much less reflect.  I will add pictures but you must believe - though I hardly can - that it was not Disney Animal Kingdom. The animals are in a space, but a very spacious space, a space that has always been theirs. There is abundant grass and they can find water they need. Lions eat zebras in the circle of life, but they balance out so they do not overpopulate.  No guards except for the people! Only tours are allowed in, only a certain number of jeeps per day.

OK with that said, it was another world. Friday we went to a Maasi village and I'll say more about that later.

Saturday we were in Norongoro Crater, a huge grassy area surrounded by mountains. Here are a picture - worth 1000 words or more!