An eye opening message

I received an email from my team leader to include some much needed supplies to pack! They just returned from Turkana with an update on how they are since the last trip out there and what is more specifically needed come February.  She also included some information to begin our mental preparation for the experience.  While I do think everyday about the people I will meet and what I will learn about them and their culture and I cannot wait to earn their respect and share with you all what these people have taught us...I have these thoughts in my head and pictures I see online while doing my own research about Turkana but this tidbit in our email makes it more real! And makes me get butterflies thinking about being there and experiencing their lives. 

Section of the email entitled "FISHBOWL EFFECT"

~You WILL feel like you are in a fishbowl, being watched all the time, because, well, you are! The Turkana are very curious, a lot never having seen a white person before, and will watch your every move.  Expect to hear “How are yo?” at least 50 times a day being yelled at you while you walk. They do however respect our personal space in the past, as long as we set that expectation.  The children will crowd around and will walk with us and watch us eat and set up clinic. We need to be very conspicuous when we eat. Most of the people do not have much food or any, and it is very hard to have them ask for food. If you start handing out food, they will swarm and it is overwhelming.  It is good to know and prepare for before you leave that your personal space will not be what you are used to for the duration of our trip. We will be in close quarters with each other for a long time, and with the people in the villages we visit.

Crazy to imagine that we will be the center of interest for them! Seems unfathomable to me.  Not only do I want to learn about them and learn from them, but respectfully back, I look forward to them wanting to learn about us <3