Before I left for Kenya, I watched both "Kill Bill" movies by Quentin Tarantino. These movies were his attempt to see how much action he could put into action flicks. The bride, played by Uma Thurman, goes around with a Samaria sword strapped to her back while she searches out those who attempted to kill her. She is seeking vengeance. One of the over the top and somewhat humorous aspects of the movie is that she has the sword on her wherever she goes. She even has it on board a jet as she travels to various destinations. Not only does she have it on board the plane but so do other passengers. This is kind of a surrealistic aspect of the movie.
When I got to Kenya and started hanging out with the Massai they too carry their machetes wherever they go. Not only that but they also carry clubs and sticks with them. many of these men are in Western garb and carry such things with them. They are useful tools an the above photo is of my Maasai machete and belt. I often wear them out here in the bush. I have mainly used it to cut back thorny bushes which populate the camp and want to grab at you. It is kind of like a Quentin movie out here. Just much more safer.
Here in Kenya there are guards at big stores with metal detecting wands which they sweep you with before you enter the store. Not sure what they are really for because I have walked in after they have scanned me and they have gone off because of a knife I may have been carrying. Just yesterday we walked into a big store in another town and the Maasai warrior, with us, had a club and machete on him. They waved the wand on him and he showed and slapped his weapons for them to see. They let him and us in without any bother. Sometimes reality is stranger than a Tarantino movie.
The Maasai Association has done some wonderful work in Kenya for the Massai in the 10 years it has been in existence. They have brought good water to the village, a primary and secondary school and a medical clinic. 10 years ago they did not have such important things. Above are some photos taken on the day of their anniversary.
Some of the boy from the grade school crowded to have their photos taken while the girls stood in the shade of the trees.
Then the group with us, who had been on safari in Kenya, introduced themselves to the children and told them what sort of work we did and what sort of education we had. We were showing them the sort of different things one can do if one gets an education.
The 3rd photo is of the inside of the clinic which is only 5 years old.
After seeing the grade school and clinic we walked over to the high school. I was surprised to see name I knew on the buildings. Juli and Erik Nordstrom funded the class rooms we first saw. they are of the Nordstrom store family.
Then we saw the administration building and it was funded by Monica and Diago Piacentini family. they are friends of mine and Diago went to the same high school I went to in Lacey Wa.
The last photo is of the celebration at Simba camp of the Maasai Association. People were invited to stand up and share what was on their minds and hearts about the work wch had been done in the past 10 years and in the hopes of the next 10 years.
Hi Friends and Family,
I am about to start on a journey to the land of the Maasai in Kenya. this region is also the cradle of humanity. I will be living with the Maasai and documenting my experiences on this blog. I want to introduce you to this blog before I leave so you bookmark it and so I have the ball rolling before I get there. My journey begins on November 1st. and the first posts from Kenya should follow soon after.
Now that you have reference to this blog, feel free to visit it and view updates to
this journey. I will be sharing photos, videos and my thoughts on what I
am experiencing in a part of the world unfamiliar and probably strange and/or exciting to many of you.
I have little to share with you at this time. But I can introduce you to the Maasai association and it's work to help the Maasai people in humanitarian and relief work aimed at building schools, water systems, providing academic scholarship to disadvantaged children, and supporting sustainable economic development projects in the Maasai region.
This is a great introduction to the people and the region I will be living in. I'll let the association share themselves with you by referring to their website: http://www.maasai-association.org/
Gene Dreyer
