Day 11 - Women's Village in Kitui

We got an early start to a pretty long day, and after eating breakfast we headed over to a specialized basket-making store where we met some of the women we were going to be spending the day with and bought some baskets. The women showed us how they dye and then weave the baskets into different patterns and styles. After we finished purchasing the woven baskets, we got back on the bus and went to a special school for learning. This school was made up of children of all ages with learning disabilities, loss of sight, loss of limb usage, loss of hearing, and other detrimental disabilities. They danced for us and were very cute, and we gave them candy and tried to engage them. Then we left for a women’s village, where we spent the rest of the day. When we arrived there, the women greeted us with songs, dancing, and other festivities. Along with women, there were also many young boys and girls– children from the school nearby. After some greeting festivities, we got to know each other a little better. Then we split off into four groups to make getting comfortable with each other a little easier. Our different groups went to all these different stations that they had, each depicting their daily routines. For example, at one station we ground flour, but this was some ceremony that initiated marriage, so every time one of us did it they asked if we were ready to get married. In another station we mashed corn, at one we got to plow the fields using this metal contraption and two cows. They also showed us their traditional songs and their farm and farmhouses. We all met back together a few hours later to have a traditional lunch: chicken, beans, bread, and lamb. It was also the first time we got free sodas on the trip. It was hard because we had to eat first and in front of all of the children, and you could tell they were so hungry while we were eating all this great food in front of them, so I smuggled them a lot of food and soda and they were so grateful. We finished eating and the women started to dance, and some of the girls (Pia, Olivia, and I mainly) joined in their dance; which consisted of sticking your butt out shaking it at the other person while moving your arms and shaking the rest of your body. If you can imagine it, it was very different than what we’re used to. Everything about these people was different than what we’re used to, and it was so cool to immerse ourselves in the culture for a day. We danced and laughed for a while, and then us Ross students performed “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough”, the Macarena, and “Build Me Up Buttercup” for the kids. After a very long goodbye, we gave them the donations we brought with us from New York and they were very grateful for that. We prayed and were on our way, and we got home at seven thirty, ate dinner, and relaxed for the rest of the night.

-Lucy




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