Wake up Call

Todays blog is short and sweet.

I forgot to mention that while staying with Joshua we were awakened in the middle of the night by the Muslim church leader (pastor? preist?) who began screaming a sermon into a bullhorn. He would shout and sing songs into the ampliphier. It was too absurd to get on my nervs. It was 5 am on the dot, at least an hour before the sun came up. It was pitch black outside and this guy was just going on. Do people not thnk this is strange? Is this really allowed? Not everyone here is muslim, why don't people protest this? So many times we have experienced moments like this where you think, "what the ? are these people doing?" That is Africa.

I saw my first Masaai people. I am already convinced that they will be one of the highlights of this trip. The Maasai are a people that have preserved thir culture, continually refusing to give up their traditional lives. They stick out because of their size, they are all VERY tall (as tall as me in some cases, and sometimes taller) and extremely thin. East Africans in general are tall and thin but the maasai are even aller and thinner. They also wear red blanket type garments that they wrap around their body. They do strange things with their hair and wear strange jewelry, sometimes stretching their ears. The men often carry weapons, like clubs or spears. It is srtange to see a maasai walking in a market carrying a club. Even though there is no need for a club, they still carry it. I really can't wait to get to learn about the maasai. I even think that my story will center around the maasai in an important way.

Joshua was such a fantastic host and I am so excited that he will be going to Fort Lewis college next year. I look forward to visiting him and following his time in the US. He has such a good heart and is such a firework of energy. I can't wait to post the photos of him, you ill be able to tell how enthusiastic he is all the time. Be Free!!!! He was anxious to show us his family and after meeting his mom and I know where he gets his enthusiasm. She met us with joy and started jumping up and down, just out of pure joy of getting to meet us. It was wild.

Nathan and I took a ferry to Zanzibar, a small island off of the cast which is full of tourists. I got sick on the ferry and for a while thought I migh hurl. The island is another little paradise and tomorrow Nathan and I will rent scooters and cruise the island. So far it is a fun place but again, it is less Africa and more tourist trap. After this weekend, we will be on our final leg of the rtip. A trek through Arusha (maasai land and Mt. Kilimanjaro) and then begin our adventure for lake turkana, the highlight of the trip. In the meantime, it is sun and clear ocean, monkeys and a full moon party tomorrow night where traditional food and music will be the entertainment (and proabbly a lot of drunk tourists).

Footnote: I bought a shirt that says Mzungu (white person) on the front.