| the old pond / frog jumps in / plop! – Matsuo |
In the spring of 2012 I spent a life changing semester in Tanzania, studying ecology and human origins. We explored mountains, walked the paths of the cradle of humanity in the Great Rift Valley, and ate all kinds of good shit.
My girlfriend at the time gave me the perfect gift: a journal! I never had one before and kind of went crazy with it. I used it to chronicle almost every day of my life in Tanzania. That hemorrhagic spewing led to a 65 story blog, all of which is now consolidated here
Some of my best writing from this youthful time:
The Footprints of History, The Mountain of God, Cooking Maasai Food with Maasai People, Animals in a Boma, Giraffe Hunt and Goat Slaughter, Maasai Greetings and Stories, Goat Races and Bob, ‘Kilimanjaro’ and the Fish Market.
Below is the journey in reverse chronological order. Enjoy!
Luther’s Human Subjects Review Board approved me the other day to do my research project with the Maasai! I also got my research proposal back from Molly, which is our biggest graded item in her class and she said that I did an excellent job on it from start to finish! I am happy because…
I woke up this morning with a deep sharp pain in my stomach. Anne thinks that it was from the fresh tomatoes we ate last night at Hotel Silver and I am inclined to agree with her. I felt better after a little while, but I was tempted not to leave at all today from…
Today it is my 2-year anniversary with Beth! It has been a fantastic 2 years! Today and yesterday I helped Simon get water for the school. Simon is one of the founders of the school, a smiley man who lives in Arusha but started the school. He enjoys driving the bus. Getting water for him…
Today was my first day volunteering at the Amka school. We arrived at the place at around 8:00AM and the kids were all outside the school doing their daily ‘assembly’. They were all singing and looking adorable in their blue sweaters, pants and light blue undershirts. There were 34 of them. “Teacher. Teacher. Welcome Teacher”…
Right now I am sitting on the step that leads into my home for the week in rural Northern Tanzania (Babati District) listening to the soundtrack from the movie “O Brother Where Art Thou?”. It is pleasant and relaxing. This area is mountainous and full of rustic architecture; homes made out of red brick and…
Here is my up and coming itinerary for the next 42 days!! Sunday, October 7 – November something… : Day 1: Arrive to Arusha from Dar for hotel accommodation (Outpost lodge) inclusive of dinner, breakfast. Day 2 – Day 3: Drive to Engikaret Masai village (45kms out of Arusha) for 2days and 2nights of cultural,…