The Maasai

The Maasai are probably the most fascinating group of people I've ever come across. Then again, when do you often come across native hunter and gatherers, who prefer to drink cow blood, and don't kiss?

In conclusion-- an absolutely fascinating and beautiful group of people. Tall, slender, and beautiful bone structures of even the oldest women. They called us "Mzungus" or Europeans but they danced for us and the men sang.

I took a picture of a little boy, wearing red (the traditional Maasai color, especially for the males)

I took another picture of the women dancing...

Family Portrait (Caren on right, twin brother Baraka on far left)

The Market

Downtown Moshi, Tanzania

Raw coffee beans at a local coffee plantation, also ate passion fruit right off of the tree!

Orphans at Faraja Orphanage

Africa

I can't believe its about six months since my trip to Africa.

I learned so much, but I feel like I have already forgotten so much. Thank God I kept a journal while I was there or I'm afraid I really would be really lost. The first day I stepped foot at Kilimahewa nursery schol I wrote... "These angels were hanging all over you chanting 'baby, baby' cause they wanted to be held like a baby..." and I wrote their names down... Kindara, Caren, Imani, Georgy, Light, Mhannamissi... the list goes on. All little kids that I taught and I still see their faces.

Low moments..."Oh my heart. I feel so unstable right now, like i'm on top of ice and its beginning to crack..." because it was so overwhelming... seeing everything I saw. Or really lack there of. Kids with soiled clothes, infected ears, women begging for food for their babies.. it really was overwhelming.

In the end of it all, I found myself repeating a phrase... "Balance, Liz, Balance. Moderation."

And I saw so much... I worked with these kids, climbed half of Mount Kilimanjaro, worked with an HIV/Aids group, played soccer with kids in the street...

I remember how red the soil was. Almost blood red.

Here are some pictures of what I saw