Finally it is my turn to do the journal entry. Christa has already introduced the subject, the medicine man, Dr. Maretu, presumably a 60 year old Masai man with one eye. The left eye has been injured. We never found out what happened to his left eye as we thought this question was not appropriate. I checked this with our interpreter, Livingston, a Masai himself. He advised me not to bring this question up. It is simply too rude.

Dr. Maretu was a farmer before becaming a doctor at age 40. He apparently became spiritually advanced enough to become a doctor/healer by that age. He stated that he heals his patients from his heart. There were many small children around him. He stated that he is training these children to become future doctors and healers but only a few will make it. Being a doctor/healer is not for everyone.

Dr. Maretu gathers herbs from many diffent places, from hill tops, valleys and near the streams. Apparently they have different healing properties. Herbs were partially dried and had a very “green” odor. A hand full was wrapped in flat leaves and tied with thin strip of dry banana leaf. Patients are to boil the herbs in water, make tea and drink it. This tea is good for a number of ailments, such as asthma, stomach aches, headaches, etc. He also had a jar of yellow powder which is made of ground roots of plants and trees. We just about fell off the benches and stools when he offered a pinch of it to Dr. David Schulman to taste. David was gracious and couragous enough to taste it. We were all holding our breaths expecting him to keel over and fall off the bench, so we were all greatly relieved when he said it tasted like cinnamon and kept on smiling.

Dr. Maretu is a Christian, a Lutheran. This was a big surprise to me to find a Masai doctor/healer to be a Christian but it is apparently quite common.

When he was asked what might be the secrets for a long life,(as despite the average life excectancies of 50 years for men and 53 years for women, there are many 80′s and 90 plus years old Tanzanians around), he said to use little sugar, little salt, limit alcohol, and use NO tobacco.

He did not have an answer for my question – what causes DIS-EASE. Do illneses come from outside or inside? What triggers the very first changes in – genes, DNA, protein, cell, tissue, organs – ultimately manifesting as diseases and illnesses.

He seemed to care a lot about his patients. He is available 24/7. Patients were lined up outside his office to see him. He also appeared to be the village elder – people came to him for advices and arrurance as well. He looked like a gentle old man with a kind right eye.

We left after an hour’s visit. He had a sweater, a jacket and a baseball cap. His consulation room was small and crowded. We all sat on low wooden benches or low wooden stools. There was very little air circulation. I was persiring like I were in a steam bath. He did not even have a bead of sweat on his forehead. He seemed completely comfortable in his environment. Is that being COOL for what?!

I just discovered that there is no SPELL CHECK, so please excuse me for typo’s.