Of all the things we’ve discovered on this Faces of Change 2009 Tour, I think the most shocking is that the Maasai (Masai) are – loudly and boldly – the Fashion Police. The other day, evening had come and we were staying in the youth room of a church. I was working on the computer, and feeling a little bit cold. I added a short blue and white hooded sweater on top of my long pink top. I went into the other room to tell the En-kata Choir the program for the next day… but they didn’t hear a word I said. They pointed, laughed, there may even have been a little rolling on the floor. It was absolutely hopeless trying to talk to them in my mis-matched outfit. I had to take the sweater off before the Fashion Police would hear a word I said.

Perhaps my favourite example though, is the morning in Kentucky when JoAnna woke up, came out of the tent and was greeted by Mathayo’s fashion critique. It went something like this:

Mathayo: “Good morning Jo. You look beautiful when you wear those shoes.”

Jo: “Why thank you Mathayo.”

Mathayo: “But why did you put your pants on inside-out?”

Jo: “I’m pretty sure they’re right side out…”

Mathayo: “They look like they’re inside-out.”

Jo: “Oh… um…”

Mathayo: “You’d look even prettier if you wore your white shirt instead of your black one…”

We all end up a little speechless, no, a Lot speechless when greeted by such decisive opinions on Western fashions.