New Friends

With everything I have experienced so far, I must say that the highlight of my time here has been meeting the people. Their hospitality is as warm as the African sun. I periodically pinch myself to make sure I'm not dreaming and if I'm not pinching myself the children are to make sure this "mzungu" is real and not a ghost. I have been busily photographing the children including those that have been sponsored to further their education by foreigners. This task has generally been followed by tiny hands clamouring to view the LCD screen on my camera. Every click of the shutter has brought on a chorus of giggles from my new friends. Imagine being mobbed by so many smiling faces grasping at your arms and hands that you can't even take a step forward. This is what I've experienced at the schools and local bomas. I beam at the memory! The other day I was a guest of honour at the Opilagilagi school closing as another school term was coming to an end. After handing out colourful pencils I had managed to stow away in my camera bag, I was entertained by angelic voices. Singing in their native tongue only heightened the experience. The headmaster's closing speech was followed by a prayer and then the dismissal for the holiday break. The children ran so fast it was as though they were being carried away by the wind.  Afterwards, we headed over to one of the local Maasai villages to hand out shoes that were so generously donated by past clients of the camp. There will always be more bare feet than shoes but there was no animosity among the villagers only joy for those who were lucky enough to have the right shoe size. In the end, the village elders were so grateful they sent us back to camp with a beautiful rooster which became part of our dinner the next evening. It was delicious!