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Amy thought it was the most wonderful opportunity she'd ever had. Her faculty advisor had chosen her to accompany him on his sabbatical. He was taking a year to study an obscure tribe in the Central African Republic. The opportunity had taken her a bit by surprise because she was certainly not her advisor's favourite, nor was she anywhere near the top of her class. But when he offered her the chance, the budding social anthropologist jumped on it.
She was fully aware that it would cost her an extra year of study, but it would be the ideal opportunity to do extended research for her PhD. It might also set her up for a coveted faculty position at some point. None of her classmates would be able to post such a study on their resumes.
The trip was to be quite arduous and the tribe's location both remote and rugged. This was not to be a luxury holiday retreat. They would be sleeping in small huts, living off the land as the natives lived. Amy had been told to travel light, but thought it was ridiculous that she had only been allowed one small backpack, which left her room for only one change of clothes.
Doctor Doyle had told her not to worry. They would be able to obtain local clothing at the village. Of course, it was probably best to dress like the locals, allowing them to blend in while they conducted their study. Yes. Living with the tribe, eating what they ate, even dressing like they dressed. It was all so exciting.
The trip was exhausting. After what seemed like an endless flight, they transferred to cars, then four wheel drive Jeeps. The last two days were completed on foot. Amy looked down at herself in disgust. Her clothes were filthy and torn, and she could hardly stand the smell of herself. Her only hope was that there would be somewhere to bathe and she could get some fresh local clothing when they got there.
Soon they found a path that slowly widened to a well travelled trail. About two hours later, they broke through into a clearing surrounded by small stick huts. A little dirty stream ran beside the clearing. So much for a bath. As soon as they came into view, a flock of naked children ran screaming towards the huts, and several women emerged to see what the commotion was all about.
If she had thought about it at all before now, she would not have been so surprised to see that the women were all naked except for small loincloths at their waists. Oh my. Doctor Doyle had talked about local clothing. She hoped this was not the full extent of what would be available to her. She wouldn't dress like that in private, let alone in public. When she turned to look at the Doctor, he just smiled and shrugged.
There was soon a crowd of women and children gathered around them and their guide was trying to interpret the barrage of questions and comments. After the initial shock wore off, the women moved in closer to Amy and began touching her exposed skin and hair. Some of them had seen whites before, but most had not and were fascinated by her straight blonde hair and pale skin. Everyone seemed more interested in her than the men and it was a little disconcerting for her to be the center of so much attention.
Suddenly there was a shout to their left and they turned to see the men returning from the hunt. They had been successful and there was a small deer hanging from a pole between two of the hunters. She had begun to get used to the semi-nudity of the women, but the entrance of the men shocked her again. Most of them had little of anything covering their bodies, and many had their genitals exposed. Although she tried not to look, she couldn't help noticing that several of the men were very well endowed.
When the hunters saw the strangers, they all came over to investigate. Once again, there was little if any interest in the men, the attention was mostly focused on her. They reached out and touched her, stroking her hair and feeling her skin and clothes. Before she could stop them, her knapsack was snatched away and taken to the other side of the compound. She looked to Doctor Doyle for assistance but again, all he did was smile and shrug.
Amy was becoming disturbed by the whole situation. The promised local clothing was clearly non-existent and she now found herself stripped of her possessions, the only white woman for at least 500 miles, surrounded by naked black villagers. This was definitely not what she had signed up for.
Finally when the men and women had returned to butcher the kill, she was alone with the professor.
"Sir. What is happening here?" She asked. "I thought you said there would be local clothes here. Why didn't you stop them taking my knapsack? I don't feel at all safe. We need to leave here immediately."
"Don't be ridiculous Amy." He huffed. "We're not going anywhere for at least a year. I told you this would be the chance of a lifetime. You have the opportunity to live as one of the village women for an entire year, experiencing life as they do, reporting to me all that happens. The only way we will ever find out how these people live and think is to become one of them. You will join the tribe, I will make the observations."
Now Amy was panicked. There was no way she was going to join the tribe. To dress and act and live exactly like these primitive people. She had just decided that she would leave right then and there, to hell with her PhD thesis, when a great roar erupted from the forest.
"I wouldn't think of leaving right now." Sneered Doyle, as if reading her mind. "The scent of that butchered deer has attracted at least one hungry cat. Probably attack you the instant it gets dark. If it waits that long. Oh no Amy. I'd want to stay right here if I were you. That is, of course, unless you intend to become something's dinner."
Amy had never been as afraid as she was at that very moment. The prospect of becoming a part of the tribe, was certainly preferable to being eaten alive by a lion, but it scared her almost as much. Amy realized that she was both hungry and tired. Nothing seemed to be happening tonight, and running off into the jungle would be very dangerous indeed. Better to wait until morning before making her escape.