lesson of the day:Vervet monkeys are always watching you.

Day 25 (9/29)
Around 8 AM we headed off to Amboseli for the 3rd time in 3 weeks. Amazing as usual. We went on a mini-game drive, sung some awesome sing-a-long songs and then went to the Maasai Boma meant for tourism. This one was way different than the neighboring Boma we visited a couple weeks ago or so. We were greeted by their welcome song which was very similar to the one we were sung before only this time there were men and women. The guys jumped with the Maasai men and the girls all jumped with the women (warrior men jump as high as possible and women more like hop around.) One of the Mamas took my hand and gave me a necklace to wear. They all took a bunch of our hands and led us to jump with them. It was a lot of fun but the emotion wasn’t the same compared to our neighboring Boma that sung for us.

We then were led around and they told us about how their Boma works, the socio/economic/cultural aspects of their culture. They were telling us about how their customs are changing (they don’t just live off milk, blood and meat and have moved onto more agricultural means of eating.) This Boma mainly makes their living off of the tourists that come into their homes and completely invade their space (granted, they are invited but most people don’t understand that this is all highly organized and planned out, even the language that they use is critical. They are expected to create this perception of what their life is like based on notions that they believe tourists have and/or want to see.)

There were “250 people, but only 4 families because they are polygamists” and whether or not they all live there or spend the day there it is a very well organized event, almost like a living exhibit in a museum or something like that. They showed us how they make fire and the plants they use for their medicines.

The last thing we did was see what the Mamas were selling. Only this time you were escorted (almost expected to buy something) and then if you expressed interest in an item, the man who was escorting you would lead you out of the circle to barter for price, instead of bartering with the Mama. And if you were both satisfied you gave the money to him. Not the Mama who made it. No one was impressed with this system because it was a very touristy way to deal with us, and they were trying to completely rip us off compared to the prices we knew we could get in the Markets (because we’ve been so many times, and dealt with pushy Mamas).

Anyway, after we left we went to the (5 star beautiful) lodge, had a short discussion on what we saw. And not to mention we had African teachers with us (as opposed to the tourists whose tour drivers will drop them off and not talk to them about their experience.) so they knew what was an act and what was real. Not to mention Daniel (our Swahili teacher) is a Maasai and could give us a better idea on what his views on their representation of their culture was.

What was a little disheartening was when we were being shown how they make fire/use plants another group of tourists came up and most of the people who were relaxing within the Boma got up and ran to greet them and did the exact same dance that was done with us. It was just apparent that this was a rehearsed lifestyle. They weren’t doing it because they were happy to see the new people, they were doing it because it was their job. Their culture somehow has turned into a livelihood.

But either way, it was a lot of fun and this group of Maasai makes serious money off tourists who come to visit them. They all speak English and have gone to school, and seem to live a generally good lifestyle compared to some who have been severely suffering from the drought, it still just makes me think about tourism and ways that people have chosen to exploit such a sacred culture.

BUFFET was amazing, end of story. After that we spent a few hours by the pool, swimming and laying around and more swimming. The view is amazing and ironically enough the chlorine made me feel really clean and sanitized.
Haha, we got some fruit drinks and Lauren (the same girl who got her lunch and orange stolen a week ago) got hers stolen by a Vervet monkey. It came up to the little table and grabbed the fruit pieces on the top of the cup, spilled the drink and ran off. Hilarious. Then an askari was assigned to our area again and Cecily and I talked to him, he thought my Ipod was really cool so were trying to explain to him how it works and I let him listen to some songs.
On the way back we did a game drive and saw a Zebra ATTACK another Zebra. So cool.

P.S. About 10 people have gotten sick with a stomach bug thing, supposedly this happens every semester, everyone gets sick and then in a couple days it’s over. People are dropping like flies, everyday more and more people are getting sick and I’ve heard its not enjoyable in any way, shape or form.