Masaai generosity

For my research, I have to conduct questionnaires with many different people in many different villages. This means that I have to walk large distances to reach every village, I cannot use another way of transport since all the villages are located in very remote places with no real access roads.

When I finally reach these villages (usually after 2 hours of walking in the blazing sun) every time I am amazed in what poverty most people live. Their houses are made of mud and stones, with grass roofs while the floor inside is just sand. Usually the women are outside, making colourful decorations (necklaces or bracelets) or cooking while the men are either looking after their livestock or went to the market to sell livestock and talk with other people.

Most children do not attend school since their families do not have the money or because the children have to look after the livestock. This means that most people I speak have not done any form of education, and I keep on wondering: how can one develop without education?! Most families are poor and are completely dependent on their livestock. Children are playing with plastic bags or sticks, I have not seen any toy in the two months that I have been here, and to think that we as children complain when we do not get the PlayStation we asked for at Sinterklaas. It makes you think.

But no matter how poor the people are, they are always friendly, and more often than not they offer me tea. Today, I went to a family to ask some questions for my research and I got offered black coffee. Since I do not like the taste of coffee, I politely refused. However, when the others were drinking coffee the women came to me with a plate of beans with onions and chapattis (maize flour pancakes, very nice). So despite being poor they wanted me to eat their food since I was an honoredFor my research, I have to conduct questionnaires with many different people in many different villages. This means that I have to walk large distances to reach every village, I cannot use another way of transport since all the villages are located in very remote places with no real access roads. guest, I felt a bit ashamed, I was hungry, but I was eating their lunch. However, they insisted so I enjoyed a good meal. Every day I experience the generosity and kindness of the masaai people, I feel blessed.