1/13 Tribal Dances

Tribal festivals started up last night.  Drumming and singing all night. Dense beautiful fog in the early morning.  105 students at Assembly! Class I was atypically well behaved today.  Even the quiet ones seemed to be joining in and even attempting to read.  This shattered any remnants of my bad mood.  Dani and Tak and I talked about the Pen Pal Project today.  I've decided to use the Myler's Girls Scout Troupe letters for Class IV and they are going to set up an exchange with a friend of theirs in Australia.  My only concern is if they will be able to continue to write each other after we are gone.    After lunch, we walked to the Burdikura market - the one I visited my second day on the project. Even after a month, I'm still so in awe of the beautiful simplicity.  We stopped by a small hut with a very loud thrashing coming out of what looked like a stove.  Villagers were gathered around with baskets and bags full of rice.  Bhola lead us around for a better look.  The stove was incredible.  Made out of smooth dried earth and metal, rice is poured in with what looked like bubbling boiling black sand.  Then the rice is poured into a sieve to reveal puffed rice.  Brilliant. As we walked into the village, we first heard the high pitched singing of women and young girls.  Then we saw them.  About eight older women were lined up arms linked.  About six young girls hunched over in front of them clapping.  Two drummers led them through the center of the market. Old men with red eyes and little clothing drawing pictures on their arms.  The same story - a long line then a a square, another line and dash.  Another moment were I was totally overwhelmed - so grateful to be able to see this but very sad that I didn't have my camera;).