Thank you Eritrea!

Henna on my hand!

Henna on the back of my hand!

Henna- you can get it in a tube and already prepared

Additions to my first hand design

Henna on my foot- this is what it looks like after it dries and you pull off the outer part.

Henna on my leg drying!

Hi everyone! Happy Monday! Yesterday was my last in Eritrea and it was a week that I definitely enjoyed! I did my best with the designs and they didn't always look the very best, but it was still really fun decorating my hands and feet. I learned this week a similar lesson to that in Micronesia. The people of Eritrea are so in-tune with nature and have been for years and years. To be able to take henna, born from a plant and use it to adorn the body is incredible. I admire them for how they see their bodies and how they see the Earth as a means of naturally adorning them. We can really look to Eritrea as we should to Micronesia as we try to save this sick Earth that belongs to us all. The beauty that comes with henna and even coconut oil is true beauty because it connects us all to our roots in nature. It means something to the people of Eritrea to decorate themselves with this natural ink and at the same time, they connect to their culture and the root of everyone-the Earth. Henna may be available at most beaches around the U.S but it may not always be accompanied by the true meaning behind it. Some of this meaning may be connected to the religion of the people of Eritrea, but a lot of the meaning is seated in what I have learned this week- appreciating nature and the human body and connecting those appreciations to each other and to culture. Thank you Eritrea for showing me this meaning!