Memories To Last A Life Time

Memories To Last A Life Time

            These past two days have been filled with nothing less than some of the most memorable moments of my life. Around 12:30 on Friday, we said our “good-byes” to the students from Baby Class to Class Five. On each arm, I had at least five to six kids asking me for my contact information and why I had to leave. I realize that, no matter how many times I say good-bye, it never gets easier. All the students who I bonded with the most were in Class Four, so I made each of them individual letters saying what I will miss the most and promising I wouldn’t ever forget them. I ran to hug “the crew” (which I was let into several days after teaching in Class Four). It consisted of mostly the class four boys such as Honest, Christian, Otto, Benard, Emannuel, Peter, William, and a few others. Christian, whom I bonded with the most, held a letter up to me, smiled and hugged me before running away. It was heartbreaking because that was the last time I would see him and the moment seemed too short. All of the students seemed to change my heart in some way, and having to leave the people who shaped your life for the past two weeks made it all the more difficult. We rushed to the cars and drove straight home to prepare for the dance we had planned for Class Six and Seven. We cut fruit, made fairy bread (bread with butter and sprinkles), cooked nuts and popcorn, and grabbed the decorations. Rasta John, who by far is one of the chillest guys I have ever met, came to DJ for us. Shortly after we finished setting up for the dance, all the students and teachers came dressed up in their best clothing. After a few minutes, we were all dripping with sweat from dancing, but it didn’t matter because this was the last night we would be spending together. Seeing the kids smiling outside of school and having the time of their lives was the best feeling in the world.

            Saturday, I had no idea what to expect other than a very long Dola-Dola ride through Tanzania. We drove out of Arusha through several small towns/villages until we reached a dirt road with a sign reading “Maasai Lands”. (If you don’t know who the Maasai are I suggest you Google them now.) The land around us was not lush like in Arusha, with huge banana trees and brightly colored flowers. This area of land seemed to stretch on for miles in every direction, and the ground and trees looked like they came directly out of “The Lion King”. Upon arriving, the very first things I noticed were the Maasai people’s clothing and jewelry. The men and women who greeted us all wore brightly beaded necklaces, earrings, and headdresses. They had red and blue patterned cloths wrapped around their bodies and embroidered belts to keep them from slipping. We probably looked ridiculous with our dull-colored clothing and little jewelry. As soon as they saw us, they began to sing a welcoming song. They only used their voices/vocal cords, but it sounded like they had drums and other instruments. We were welcomed into their “village”, which is a tourist attraction site, but the people who showed us around were born Maasai and all the money made goes to their actual village nearby. We learned all about their life and the different stages men have to go through in order to go from being a boy to a man. One of the most important rituals for the men and women of the Maasai to go through would be circumcision. Once the men turn eighteen, they must be circumcised in order to marry, and the girls can be at any age to undergo this process. What really took me by surprise was the incorporation of Christianity with the traditional Maasai culture. As a Massai man, you can have more than one wife. Freddy, our Maasai tour guide (“Freddy” was not his given Maasai name), explained to us that his father at the age of 77 has 14 wives and 89 children. To them, this is completely normal, but it definitely took us all by surprise. In the Christian religion, it is said that one man can have only one wife, so for the Massai who consider themselves Christian, there is a conflict. Their culture is one of the most unique I have ever learned about, but to have it changed by another religion made me wonder, “How long will it be before their culture is completely modernized?” Going to see the Massai and their way of life was another reminder of how big the world is; it’s not just Vail, Colorado, there’s a much bigger picture. To end the day, as we were driving through Massai Lands after leaving, we spotted several zebras and two giraffes. I never in my life thought I would be able to see those animals in their natural habitat, in the wild,  with my own two eyes. Saturday was a day I will never forget. In fact this whole experience is something I will never forget.

After teaching the students at LOAMO, seeing the impact we had on their lives in class and on the home visits, and loving how they take care of one another in their communities are just a few reasons why this trip will last a lifetime.