Culture Night by Maddie Z, Makayla, Cade, Sara

3/28/18    Maddie Z, Makayla, Cade, Sara

Culture night. It is a night where we learn and experience the traditional ways of the Chagga people of Tanzania. This is Baba Dick’s favorite night, because he is an honorary Chagga. The night started out with us welcoming the Uru secondary school students, the Mamas, the Canadians, and the traditional Chagga performers. Many of us had the opportunity to talk with several of the students until dinner. Maddie met two boys who wanted to become cardiologists. One aspired to be President of Tanzania. Our awesome cooks prepared the Chagga meal which was interesting. It consisted of rice, beef, fried bananas that tasted nothing like potatoes, yams, Ugali, and some vegetable stuff. The food was finished off easily, mostly by the native Tanzanians. Following dinner we cleared the center of the lodge to make way for a party of the Tanzanian sort. The performers came in with their drums and the Mamas came in after. They began chanting things and dancing around in a circle around the drummers. A few of them started pulling us in with them, we followed, reluctantly at first. Cade and Noah had a drum off, Cade won. And so we danced for three hours. The Uru students and the Mamas showed us up big-time. We watched the natives dance like Chagga and attempted to follow along. Despite our unfortunate lack of rhythm they helped us catch on. In the middle of the dance session we took a break to try one of their traditional party games. The game was to go into the middle splits with no hands and pick up money with your mouth. Makayla, Kate, Katelyn, and Cade all attempted and got it, except for Cade. Katelyn ripped her pants. After that we continued to dance until our guests had to leave. Julius and Dale, the boy in form 3, danced with Sara, Kateri, Megan, Maddie, and Kate. The guys were all smooth dancers but the Tanzanian girls were bouncing off the walls. It was much fun, indescribably fun. It was an experience that you would just have to see for yourself. By the end of the night, we were all exhausted. Culture Night was a blast, and a blessing to learn about the traditional, fun ways of the Chagga people.

*check your kid’s bank accounts - some of us need money for tanzanite and airport food

Hey Mom, Dad, Becca, Chris Mary and Ella. Love you guys and can’t wait to see you all soon! – Sara

Hi Mom and Dad, I’m having a lot of fun and it’s going to be hard to leave, but I can’t wait to see you guys soon!-Love Makayla

Hey Mom, Dad, and siblings. I love you all –Cade ps I don’t need money

Hi family, things are good here. Don’t worry about me, seriously Jess I’m good. Love you all- Maddie Zack