Sunday part 2...

....so as the kids desired to get a closer look at the wildlife, we took out our lunch that danielle had packed for us and began to eat as we walked out toward. After a bit we turned around and began to head back towards the church when we realized that wild life is actually wild and we were not going to catch any of it.

By the time we got back to the church building, Jackson (our translator and friend) had decided that we should go look at the water pan (an area of earth built up in an area of drainage to catch and hold water for times of less water). in this water pan (middle of an area that usually doesn't have much rain) were several turtles. One of which jackson caught and showed off to the kids.

After leaving this area we approached a set of maasai homes. Jackson now speaking Ma with a woman of about my age. we soon found out from Jackson that we were invited to take some tea. on our way to the home, we met up with this womans' husband and his friend. They were coming to join us for the tea

there is no way to describe the home itself, you must just experience this for yourself.

Upon entering this home (remember no electricity/running water/ windows/chairs/kitchen table/microwave/ carpet/paint/etc...) we all sat on low stools as the mama began to restart the fire.

I noticed that the kids of the village were no longer indie the home with us, so I asked jackson if it would be okay if J and E joined the kids outside. he said sure and they left...we could still hear them talking and playing as the men and jackson were talking about what all had been and was going on in the area. as the fire was getting going the men offered jackson and I some milk. This is an important part of the Maasai culture. As a cattle dependent people milk has always been a big part of their lives. They even have saying about the depth of friendship. a good friend is "one you drink milk with". I should mention that there is no refrigeration so the milk is stored in a kaabaash (sp?). storing milk using this method doesn't usually keep the milk from going a little sour (or a lot). before being served this milk...it is shaken within the kaabaash to break up the chunks... after the chunks are broken up...it is poured into mugs and served.

Jackson knowing that most Americans dislike "sour" milk, he said to the hosts that I didn't need any milk. Then, he proceeded to give me some of his Sour milk. I took a big drink...knowing that the taste will not matter if I took a little or a lot...if it is bad it will be just as bad no matter the amount. Jackson then asked if I liked it and in fact I told him that I did like it. It didn't have the sour taste at all, it did have some small chunks, but was really much like milk in flavor. After seeing that I liked it, jackson offered me some more. I asked him how much I could have and he said I could have half, but after the next drink, it was already well below half. so I handed the mug back to him.

Realizing, that I had drank most of his, he made some comment (in Ma) like, " oh the white guy does like sour milk...to which our hosts refilled his cup. shortly after that the tea was ready. we all had a cup and J and E both has partial cups as well.

we were in the home for about 2 hours...but what were J and E doing?

see part 3.....