Mama Kasanga
November 21, 2012
“Unasikia njaa?” asks Mama Kasanga, as she does every time we begin preparing a meal, as if ascertaining my level of hunger will determine the speed at which she turns the ugali. “Kidogo”, I respond, as I do every time she asks me. It’s the only acceptable answer. I really feel no hunger at all since at every meal time I am forced to sit at the table until I consume a large mass of food, much like a stubborn child told to finish her peas. (more...)
tags: Language, Culture, Gender
location: Rift Valley, Kenya, Kenya
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Instructions on making a Hadza arrow
November 18, 2012
Instructions on making a Hadza arrow:
Step 1: Procure very straight Acacia branch of the correct thickness, should be approximately ½ cm in diameter and ¾ m long.
Step 2: Insert stick into fire until blackened on one side. Make sure to repeatedly move your stick under other sticks in order to block others’ from blackening properly.
Step 3: Flip stick over to blacken other side. (more...)
tags: Culture
location: Isinya, Rift Valley, Kenya, Rift Valley, Kenya, Kenya
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Maziwe
November 18, 2012
On our last day in Pembe Abwe, we got the opportunity to teach some Swahili students how to snorkel. We got a group of twenty, eleven and twelve year-old Swahili students and none of them knew how to swim! These kids are Muslim, so the girls swam in long leggings or long skirts and shirts. After they changed into their swimming clothes, they were very giggly, shy, and obviously uncomfortable to have their arms and heads showing in front of all of us and the boys. (more...)
tags: Culture, Environment, Gender, Religion, Education
location: Tanga, Tanzania, Tanzania
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Pemba Rainforest
November 18, 2012
In September, we visited Ndege Forest, which is the last natural preservation on Pemba. Although Pemba is considered to be relatively untouched by Westernization, the entire island has still been developed into towns and farmland. Ndege Forest is a rainforest and full of an abundance of organisms. Our guide was very knowledgeable, and he told us about all of the different indigenous and invasive plants and trees. A lot of the trees bear fruit. (more...)
tags: Culture, Environment
location: Central, Kenya, Kenya
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Gikomba
August 29, 2012
The “Industrial Sector”, or Gikomba, is basically a very large market and workplace in Nairobi. It is also quite the sensory experience. It was really loud and incredibly packed full of pretty much everything. Not only were items being sold, but they were also being made. Trunks were being spray painted for students to take to university, metal was being cut down to be used elsewhere, and wheelbarrows were being bolted together. (more...)
tags: Language, Culture, Environment
location: Nairobi, Nairobi Area, Kenya, Nairobi Area, Kenya, Kenya
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