Jump with your fears headfirst

sitting on the 'throne' getting my ankles strapped in

As my toes were wiggling over the edge of the platform and I was asked to bring my arms down to my side to get ready for the count down, I had a brief moment of wanting to turn around and walk back down the wooden steps I previously scampered up.  The guide had his hand on my shoulder to keep my balance while I tried not to look down.  Recognizing my doubt he said “don’t think about it, thinking and bungee jumping don’t go well together” and with that advice I left all my fears behind on the platform and jumped forward over the Nile River.  I fell down about 400 ft. looking directly at the calm beauty of Mother Nature only to later that afternoon feel her power and strength in the rapids. 

Africa always wins

I was in awe of Uganda’s beauty this weekend.  Never before have I seen such green green’s and red red’s.  The colors of Uganda could not have been mixed more vibrantly on a palette. 

Overall my weekend trip to Uganda went like this: 34 hours on a bus, 11 awesome people, 4 days, 3 countries, 1 ridiculous experience 

oh yeah and 1 man selling chicken sticks on the bus....

brilliant

Music For One's Soul

Sunset in Arusha

“Be the drum”- my mantra for the day as my fingers were close to bleeding from tediously stringing the cowhide onto the wahaya drum I was making.  We started the day at a bright and early 7 am and did not return home until 7pm- and still the drum is not fully complete.  Even though I feel as if my fingers are going crack and crumble to the ground at any minute, the end result (almost) and fun I had making it was well worth it.

Mt. Meru at the college this morning

The beginnings of a long day

Final image of drum- coming soon (maybe)

Awesome beats- coming now from my soul drum to yours 

A few more musical notes to spark your interest:  This past weekend I went to see Bi Kidude, the inventor of Taraab Music –yes, she is some where around 100 years old, no one really knows for sure.  I also saw a South African string quartet called Soweto- they were fantastic. Check them out- both are very interesting.

Beautiful times with beautiful people

This past weekend I had the opportunity to stay with a Maasai family that lives on the base of Mt. Meru- not far from where I am staying. Elija and his family were beyond hospitable and made me feel at home instantly.  While they lived in what many of us would consider 'poor' conditions their spirits were far richer.

The reason for our stay was for my music class to see their choir and the influences of music on everyday life. Even though my Kiswahili isn’t great and their English only a little better, we never the less bonded over singing Bob Marley- One love.  Later, one of the children of a teacher from America was telling me that her father spoke seven languages (yeah, pretty impressive). The last language she named was music. 

On Saturday we woke up early to go on a waterfall hike around the base of the mountain, which was absolutely stunning.  

A banana flower

Mt. Meru

Found these berries on the hike and they were amazing

On the way to the waterfall

Most of the group and Prof. Stubbs!

My host- Elija