June 23

Yesterday they didn't have us go to work instead we went to Marangua for the day. we started out at some local "shops" and then we took a tour of some underground Chaaga tunnels where they used to hide from their enemies. We had to stoop down really low-almost crawl to get through them. They taught us all about it-how they would have guards to stand watch for 6 hour intervals and kill the intruders and hide their bodies  then at night they would chop up the bodies and float them down the river--cool huh? Then we went on another hike to a waterfall. this time it was a huge steps going down but not that far-probably only took us about 30 minutes and we saw another beautiful waterfall which was runoff from Mount Kilimanjaro. We went down a few more steps and most of our group went swimming. Erika wasn't planning on it but kind of fell in with her clothes on. Ha ha-i think on purpose. some of the other girls offered her some dry clothing after. then we had to go back up those huge steps to get back. My legs were just shaking because of our last workout but at least it wasn't very far. I could feel my asthma again but I survived. After we went to a museum of Chaaga tribal stuff and then went to a beautiful hotel for a refreshment-outside. The hotel was majorly luxurious. Our guide wanted to show me his house so I got some other people to go also-and some protective cadets followed us for protection and Joseph showed us his humble abode which he built himself. He was very proud of it. Most people don't have running water or electricity here. They cut their grass with a machete and the don't have dishwashers or washers or dryers. Everything is done by hand.Even if you had them the electricity is not reliable so why have it... Well I need to go but we are leaving on our safarai tomorrow so we won't be able to talk to you for a few days...don't worry! Maybe by Monday we will talk again. The internet won't allow us to upload pictures sorry.. Love you all very much and we miss you. It is another world entirely here--they are at least 50-60 years behind us. It's crazy but they have many good happy people.

A banana tree with a banana flower hanging below