Mis Viajes

Saturday, December 17, 2011

Wamba Casa

As always...we start and end each day with a meal. Gotta love it!

On the night of the 7th, Wednesday...we made it to Wamba, in the district of Samburu. This was a long drive. Thank God, we made it with no problems!

We had the latest dinner ever- around 10pm. This place has electricity via generator between the hours of 6-10pm. The water is warm from the solar panels, and you're lucky to catch a drop of it after the sun goes down with our group taking showers.

Our new home during the day....

OH...I was dying to wash my hair! My goodness its been 5 days! I couldn't wash it in Muranga because the shower wasn't working at times. Oh the simple things we take for granted in America- water: clean water, running water, a flushing toilet, hot water. If you want your child to appreciate the little things in life, I think a trip to a 3rd world will do the trick! :)

There are nets above each bed in our room. Automatically that makes me paranoid...but I didn't get any mosquito bites from here. The flies were the most irritating! they know exactly where to land on- your face! They know that would be the least likely place you would slap (really hard)....so that's where they land. haha.

Muranga photos

yes...let's start with food pictures! if you don't know me by now, I'm obsessed with food and taking pictures of every meal!!

Left: Chapati- similar to Indian bread. Like a thick tortilla.

Milli's mom on her cell phone :) Technology has its ways!

Toni, Tabitha, Jeremy (and Milli handling some business)

Fresh coffee beans from the back yard!

Nadia, me and Milli collecting our freshly cleaned rain boots

So Cute! While on a morning walk, I bump into these kids on their way to school :)

Local women

(nice picture jen!)

water bottles = sharps containers!

What I love about Milli...no matter how stressful a situation can be, you can count on her to smile in front of the camera! :)

Kristine working hard in the pharmacy. Instructions had to be translated to each patient.

HAKUNA MATATA.

Maasai People

We finally arrived to Wamba, which is in the Samburu District, around 9pm on the 7th of December.

This is an area where the Maasai people live.

http://www.maasai-association.org/maasai.html

"Women are responsible for making the houses as well as supplying water, collecting firewood, milking cattle and cooking for the family. Warriors are in charge security while boys are responsible for herding livestock. During the drought season, both warriors and boys assume the responsibility for herding livestock...

The Maasai are a semi-nomadic people who lived under a communal land management system. The movement of livestock is based on seasonal rotation. Contrary to many claims made by outsiders, particularly the Hardinian school of thought, this communal land management system allows us to utilize resources in a sustainable manner. Each section manages its own territory. Under normal conditions, reserve pastures are fallowed and guarded by the warriors. However, if the dry season becomes especially harsh, sections boundaries are ignored and people graze animals throughout the land until the rainy season arrives. According to Maasai traditional land agreement, no one should be denied access to natural resources such as water and land."

Dr. Lily, Nancy and Dr. Allison with the locals

Look at their necklaces!! Those are heavy!

Anthony and Jeremy posing with the Maasai Warriors

Dr. Lily hanging with the boys

Dr. Isaac (back right)

_____

The doctors we travelled with, Alfred and Isaac, are Maasai.

Website for the MAA Health Care Initiative:
http://www.maahealthcareinitiative.or.ke/
"The organization was founded by a group of Medical professionals in Kenya who were pricked by the burden of community members who are suffering and dying easily from preventative and curable health conditions..."

An organization dedicated to providing free healthcare and education to those in need.