Week 7- I'm in Eritrea!

Off to Eritrea! Thank you marketplace.publicradio.org for this picture!

Hi everyone! Though I started my journey to Eritrea on time, I just haven't had time to talk about it yet. This week my focus is the use of henna by the people of this country. Usually henna is associated more with the Indian culture, but women of Eritrea use it also to decorate their skin and even dye their hair! Henna comes from a plant and is made into a paste from its powdered form. Designs are made with the paste on the skin and then are left to dry for a few hours. The black layer is rubbed off leaving an orange tattoo of the design underneath. It really looks beautiful. At many American beaches, henna tattoos can be done for tourists but the art originated in countries like Eritrea, located right above the horn of Africa. This week, I will be decorating my skin (hands, feet, ankles, stomach) with henna and if I get adventurous, may even try it in my hair! Though I don't know the traditional designs of Eritrea (I have looked, believe me), I will do my best to avoid Americanized designs. You will see pictures of my attempted artistry on this week's closing post. I think appreciating this art form traditionally this week and not the way many Americans do will be very beneficial! I am excited to continue on in my travels in Eritrea!