African trip proves incredibly enlightening
Cultural differences seem to only enhance Woods' trip
Monica Harmon
Issue date: 11/4/09 Section: Life
Far away, below the equator and halfway around the world, sits an African country covered in deserts, lakes, mountains and animals of all varieties. This country is Tanzania.
While many are trying to picture its location, chemistry professor Dr. Wood is reminiscing about the trip he and his family took there this past September.
Dr. Wood and his family spent three weeks in Tanzania and had the privilege of meeting native peoples, going on a safari and even learning Swahili, the national language.
Let's get properly acquainted. Tanzania is a country located in east Africa, is below the equator and has over 800 miles of coastline. Tanzania is over 8,500 miles away from Springfield.
Dr. Wood explained his adventure in Africa to me. Going on a safari, driving by a cheetah hunting and eating his prey, elephants, lions basking, and a leopard in a tree were just some of the experiences that the Wood family had, not to mention going near these animals meant they were within 30 feet of some of them.
A safari is definitely something to experience, but Tanzania is a country with so much more than animals. The culture is deeply rooted in tradition and there are still many native tribes living as they have always lived.
One group of people that the Wood family visited is the Maasai. They are polygamous and semi-nomadic, two traits that are very foreign to the average American.
However, Dr. Wood found that fitting in was not far beyond having a translator. "It was surreal to be in another country with people that some people might look down on, but they were happy," Dr. Wood said.
Having met several women who were married to the same man, Dr. Wood still found it easy to get along with them.
Almost immediately the women joked around with him and were very friendly towards each other as well. "They're in it together," Dr. Wood said. The women seemed to break the language barrier through laughter.
When asked what he would remember most, Dr. Wood's son Mark said, "Tanzanite. It is a thousand times rarer than a diamond."
Besides geology, Dr. and Mrs. Wood both found it fascinating that the people live with next to nothing. "Sometimes they only get one meal a day," said Marie Wood.
Nonetheless, the people live happily. They were both very impressed with how friendly and inviting these people were with such a simple life.
While these people may not have the material things that we Americans take for granted or even the necessities like clean water and a consistent supply of food, their quality of life seems to be as high as ours, if not better.
It goes to show that having a lot of things may only complicate and diminish the quality of life rather than improve it.
While many are trying to picture its location, chemistry professor Dr. Wood is reminiscing about the trip he and his family took there this past September.
Dr. Wood and his family spent three weeks in Tanzania and had the privilege of meeting native peoples, going on a safari and even learning Swahili, the national language.
Let's get properly acquainted. Tanzania is a country located in east Africa, is below the equator and has over 800 miles of coastline. Tanzania is over 8,500 miles away from Springfield.
Dr. Wood explained his adventure in Africa to me. Going on a safari, driving by a cheetah hunting and eating his prey, elephants, lions basking, and a leopard in a tree were just some of the experiences that the Wood family had, not to mention going near these animals meant they were within 30 feet of some of them.
A safari is definitely something to experience, but Tanzania is a country with so much more than animals. The culture is deeply rooted in tradition and there are still many native tribes living as they have always lived.
One group of people that the Wood family visited is the Maasai. They are polygamous and semi-nomadic, two traits that are very foreign to the average American.
However, Dr. Wood found that fitting in was not far beyond having a translator. "It was surreal to be in another country with people that some people might look down on, but they were happy," Dr. Wood said.
Having met several women who were married to the same man, Dr. Wood still found it easy to get along with them.
Almost immediately the women joked around with him and were very friendly towards each other as well. "They're in it together," Dr. Wood said. The women seemed to break the language barrier through laughter.
When asked what he would remember most, Dr. Wood's son Mark said, "Tanzanite. It is a thousand times rarer than a diamond."
Besides geology, Dr. and Mrs. Wood both found it fascinating that the people live with next to nothing. "Sometimes they only get one meal a day," said Marie Wood.
Nonetheless, the people live happily. They were both very impressed with how friendly and inviting these people were with such a simple life.
While these people may not have the material things that we Americans take for granted or even the necessities like clean water and a consistent supply of food, their quality of life seems to be as high as ours, if not better.
It goes to show that having a lot of things may only complicate and diminish the quality of life rather than improve it.
Article last update: 11/3/09 at 8:16 PM CST
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venas
posted 11/04/09 @ 7:18 PM CST
This could be an eye opener for most Americans who haven't been outside the USA.There is a lot of adventureS when travelling abroad except in Somalia and other conflict prone countries. (Continued…)
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