A Prison Without Walls

Today we visited the youth prison and the cattle market – they were two very different and very new experiences. The youth prison houses youth from age 16-20 and is nothing like the juvenile detention centers you find in the States. First off, there were no walls holding the prisoners in. They live in these open rooms with about 10-12 beds on the ground. During the day, they are outside (where, remember, there are no walls holding them in). The guards don’t carry guns, rather they carry sticks – big difference… they don’t seem to have the security issues that warrant the need for guns.
We were talking about why these differences might exist, and we concluded that if prisoners are treated like human beings and allowed to live like people (rather than animals in cages) then they will be more willing to cooperate. – Just think what might change if we applied this philosophy around the world.
Then (the big one) we went to the cattle market. It was the most amazing thing I have ever seen – there were Massai walking around and selling things (livestock, fabric, knives, sticks, etc.). I could have done without seeing all the dead animals hanging around waiting to be cooked – but at the same time, that is beautiful to me. After wandering around for awhile, we went off to the side and ate some goat. I think it was a big adjustment for most of us since the meat was very pink still and it was very fatty. But that is where my observation for today comes in… I noticed a big difference in sanitary standards between Tanzanians and Americans/Europeans – and mind you, I am EXTREMELY hesitant to post this, because the last thing I want is for you all to think that they are any worse or less civilized than we are. We are different, and there is nothing wrong with that.
Back home we would be appalled at the thought of not always using soap to wash your hands, picking your nose in public, or eating with your hands. But here all of the above are routine. But they make a very conscious point of making sure that everyone has washed their hands before they ate – at every meal in the villages someone walks around with a bucket of water and pours it over people’s hands allowing them to wash them (both before and after each meal). It seems like the issue is not a lack of desire for sanitation, it just is a matter of availability and need. Money is spent on the important things – food, water, housing, church offerings – soap and Kleenex are not absolute necessities. It is interesting the accommodations that are made for the difference in sanitation standards. It seems like less and less surprises me here with each passing day. Things are never worse, they are just different.
Peace.