After Maasai homestay, we spent 2 more nights camping in Engare Sera. We had some focal groups with Maasai men and women. They had some very interesting questions for us. They were very interested in our marriage customs. The men asked us how lesbian couples are able to have sex, and a couple of them got up and left when they got their answer! A couple of Maasai warriors came and slaughtered a goat for us. It is quite a process. First, the suffocate it so it doesn’t spoil the blood. Then they skin it and remove the fall bladder. The blood all flows into the body cavity, and they drink it directly out of the body! It coagulates very quickly and they eat it like jello. The kidneys are also eaten raw. Then they separate out the rest of the parts and roast them on the fire. Mmmm (not really). On Friday, we had a free day. I chose to go for a hike up the river. We hiked along the ledges with breathtaking views the whole time. Over 20 waterfalls! We ended up at a huge canyon cul de sac with waterfalls all around. It was a beautiful way to spend the day!
We returned to Arusha on Saturday. A woman had visited the camp a few day before, because she was going to have a baby. Baba Jack gave her a ride to the clinic. The baby was born prematurely, and was in need of much more medical attention than the clinic could offer. We made room in one of our cars for them and rushed them to the hospital in Arusha, 5 hours away on a dusty, bumpy, hot road. They weren’t sure if they would make it in time. Unfortunately, we found out today that the baby did not survive the surgery. Baba Jack helped them bury it today. It felt so great knowing that we could help save a life, but unfortunately, it was not enough. Theis leads me to question my opposition to the paved road that will cut through the Serengeti. Maybe if there was a road, the baby could have gotten to the hospital in time.
The presidential elections were yesterday. Today, we found out that the opposition party won in Arusha. This has never happened before. CCM usually get 80-90% of the vote overall. People took to the streets and there were huge riots. Dozens of people would cram into cars, trucks, or dala dalas and honk and wave flags. I saw one group of several thousand running down the street! People started burning posters of Kikwete, the president, and the army was called in to keep things under control! There is very little chance that CCM didn’t win the president spot, but people are celebrating this small victory nonetheless! We kept close to the hotel today, but it was fun watching everything from the roof!
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