Celebrate

These people love a reason to take off work, get dressed up, eat lots of food, and hang out with friends and family.  I mean, let's be honest, who doesn't?  Ok, I could do without the getting dressed up part, but everything else sounds great!  Lucky for us, this week is full of celebrations here! Today is Nyerere Day, which is a national holiday to celebrate Julius Nyerere, the first President of this country. Nothing big happened except the schools and some stores were closed.  Then, on Wednesday, they will celebrate Eid-al-Adha, the Festival of Sacrifice.  This is a celebration at the end of the Hajj.  I am told the celebration will continue until Friday, and then school will resume again on Monday.  When I went to visit Mariam this morning, she was making henna to put on her granddaughters and neighbors in preparation for the coming days.  She showed me how to crush, boil, and mix the henna leaves, and then showed me how she paints it on the bottom of their hands and feet.  

Neighbor, Aisha, helping Mariam grind and sift the Henna leaves.

We had an awesome time laughing about her “squat” position, which is perfect. I am trying to learn from her because my toilet at the house I’m staying at now is a squatty potty.  This might be too much information, so forgive me if it is, but I’m trying to get some tips on how to successful go to the bathroom in the hole and not get some drops of pee on my feet.  I was embarrassed to admit that until I started talking to other women here and they all say it happens often and there’s no shame in it.  It's just part of life here.  Unless they are just telling me that it happens to them too, to make me feel better...

Mariam is still an incredible squatter after 55(ish) years.

As we were talking, the chickens started stealing her son and granddaughters’ bread.  It was hilarious because these chickens were literally jumping in the air to get food.  I caught one in the act.

The granddaughters would start crying when the chickens would come and take their bread, but the son or myself would jump up and chase them and get it back for them.  The tears would stop, but they started hiding their bread under their dresses, and one even put some of her bread in the pocket of her shirt as she scared them away with a knife!  

I’ve been invited back for the celebration on Wednesday and I’m looking forward to it.  Who wouldn't want to hang out with this awesome family?  I think I might have to get some henna tats to fit in, though.

Amina (Neighbor), Mariam (Mariam's Granddaughter), Abduli (Mariam's son), and Mariam (Mariam's Granddaughter)