The Last Few Weeks

I loved every one of the people that I met in Zanzibar, and every part of the experience. It actually was a lot of hard work, but in paradise with these wonderful people it really didn't feel like I was working much at all.

Kizimkazi Cultural Music Festival is an annual music festival meant to encourage protecting the environment. It has local, cultural artists, as well as, this year, international.

The people I've worked with before and after say I seem to love life more since Kizimkazi. I'm happy all the time and I almost never stop singing (which, they say they haven't gotten sick of [yet]). My friends say I should be a theater major (and I am considering a minor, actually). So much happened in Zanzibar, and I think I did change. I've been trying to write about Kizimkazi for weeks now, but I have no idea what to say. I think I will leave it out of the blogosphere for now--let us skip ahead.

After the New Year, a group of (mostly nursing) students came from Salisbury University. That was interesting. We were used to working with two or three other volunteers, and suddenly, there were fifteen! They were a lot of fun though; just bummed they were only here for two weeks.
We spent the last two weeks camping out in villages. The first week was in Mtu-WaMbu (Mosquito River in Kiswahili). It lived up to its name. There's a picture of my foot on my Picasa... 20-something bites--one ankle. This was my first time teaching the Sustainable Agriculture part of the program. My orientation was a little rushed, so the other people did most of the teaching and I studied a little. But I got to dig! Which is actually what I have been most excited for. It really does feel good to just get down and dig a 3-foot deep hole, 1.5x6 meters.
We met a kid named John who is 14; he makes bracelets and such to pay for school. He gave one of the girls some really nice gifts for her birthday, so we love him. They put together a package and are planning on sending him stuff, I think. And we bought a lot from him to help him out.

Last week, we were camping in Ngurdoto. No cell phone reception. Oh snap! We vaccinated chickens! It was actually a lot of fun, chasing them to put drops in their eyes. We started at 6:00 am, so the chickens wouldn't be far from the homes. Good times... So sleeping in this weekend is amazing.
Starting at 6 meant we finished early, and we didn't have much to do in the afternoons. So, we played with the children from the villages for hours. I learned that I'm not a very good soccer goalie, and we played a lot of frisbee with them too. It was great times. Now I'm back in Arusha for one week, and then back to camping (I think). I'll be camping without cell reception for about three weeks and I may or may not be back on weekends.

But I will keep in touch! Miss you all!

Goat.

I feel as though this part of the experience deserves a blog of its own.

Merry Christmas! In Sweeden and Germany, they celebrate Christmas on December 24th. So, we did the same, as Clockwise was from Sweeden, and Rico (another volunteer) and the owners of the property (our hosts) were from Germany.
Anyway, that's not the point of this story.

To celebrate Christmas, we decided to buy a goat. And, in doing so, I began my participation in a very... interesting cultural experience.

We named the goat Queen Victoria, took pictures with her, and, you know, got attached a little bit. But then came time for the Masai to.. prepare her.

Stop reading now if you are a vegetarian, are thinking of becoming a vegetarian, or love animals to an extreme. PETA members strictly prohibited. Also, don't read if you are faint of "heart"--If you know what I mean.

I know it was gross, and may sound disturbing, but you really had to be there. In the moment, it was completely different.

Erik (one of the members of Clockwise) and two of the Masai held down the goat, and Tom cut its throat. The Masai were holding a cup in front to catch the blood, and passed it around. Then, once it slowed down, they started drinking blood straight from the throat.
After watching this, I felt like giving it a try. So.. I nealt down and drank some. Possibly one of the most out-there things I have ever done, in retrospect. I knew before that I wanted to try the blood, but from the throat? Never crossed my mind (though I didn't even know they did it).

I am proud to say that I was the only Mzungu to drink the blood. Hah. I won't talk about the flavor right now, however.
I think someone got it on video... but you probably don't want to see it.

After they finished skinning Queen Victoria, the Masai handed Erik, Rico and I pieces of Kidney. We tried it; Erik and I managed to swallow it. It actually was much better than I had expected. The after-taste was pretty good, in fact. I have to say it didn't taste very dissimilar to the part of the meat the Masai cooked (they cooked half their way, and we cooked half our way). I was expecting it to be chewier, I think, but it really wasn't of an unpleasant consistancy.

It was very delicious cooked. Erik and Yolanda marinated it, and then Erik and I grilled it. It turned out amazing-ly.

The next day I was attacked by a goat. Oh goodness, crazy times. I messed with it like a Matador, and Yolanda just laughed and laughed.