After our run-in with the military, we headed to the homes of some Afar goat herders. Their houses are low, round, igloo-shaped homes, made of sticks and skins. I was amazed that there was life in the middle of the desert. As far as the eye could see there were only rocks and dust. Family groups live near eachother. In this cluster there were about five homes. Even though the sun was blistering, the people came out to stare at us when when drove up. Women and children squatted down and watched us from a safe distance. They were very shy of cameras and covered their faces with thier head coverings. Quickly the elder came forward. He had a bushy greying beard and very little hair on his head. He wore a piece of fabric wrapped around his waist. His muddy dress shirt was open to show his wrinkled chest and large beaded necklace. He carried a staff, stereotypical of shepherds. With A. translating, the CR, interviewed him about his herd. How much feed each goat? How does he measure? What time of day is the feeing? Where do they graze? When was the last time it had rained? How many goats died this season? Was there enough milk for the children? Was there enough for the adults too? Was there any left over to make butter? How did it compare to the last season? etc. I was far more interested in attempting to communicate with the women and children, but they were afraid of me. I wished I knew some Afaric. A. taught me to say thank you but that is all I could communicate.I tried to imagine living in their portable houses, and walking 4 or 5 hours every day to fetch water. I wondered why they don't stay near a source of water. I suddenly understood that their goats were their life. In southern Ethiopia where they have TOO MUCH rain, the government is trying to evacuate the people but they don't want to leave their cattle. They say if they don't have cattle they have no reason to live. I realized why the only thing we were ever offered in any resturaunt in the Afar region was injera and goat tibs. Thats ALL there was. I wanted to know more about the lives, hopes, dreams and ambitions of these intriguing people, but I couldn't even introduce myself.