Comments on: Living with the Machigenga: Questions answered… http://oliversteeds.com/2009/04/03/living-with-the-machigenga-questions-answered/ Journalist - Presenter - Adventurer Mon, 12 Jul 2010 16:19:05 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Kathryn Wissler http://oliversteeds.com/2009/04/03/living-with-the-machigenga-questions-answered/comment-page-2/#comment-1747 Kathryn Wissler Fri, 13 Nov 2009 03:17:13 +0000 http://oliversteeds.com/2009/04/03/living-with-the-machigenga-questions-answered/#comment-1747 Hello Just a quick thank-you for helping through a very difficult surgery. I was pretty much bed ridden and that was so very difficult being an athlete/PE/Health teacher. I looked forward to all your adventures and it really made me feel as if I was somewhere else in the world instead of stuck in my room healing. Thank-you for sharing your story with me. It meant more than I can say. I dreamed of being healthy and someday going out and helping others with what small gifts I have. Im finally well and I miss your show being on. I hope to see you back at some point in time. If your ever in Portland OR. USA give me a shout. Id love to meet you and hear about your adventures in person. Hello
Just a quick thank-you for helping through a very difficult surgery. I was pretty much bed ridden and that was so very difficult being an athlete/PE/Health teacher. I looked forward to all your adventures and it really made me feel as if I was somewhere else in the world instead of stuck in my room healing. Thank-you for sharing your story with me. It meant more than I can say. I dreamed of being healthy and someday going out and helping others with what small gifts I have. Im finally well and I miss your show being on. I hope to see you back at some point in time. If your ever in Portland OR. USA give me a shout. Id love to meet you and hear about your adventures in person.

]]> By: Bobbi Lee Hitchon http://oliversteeds.com/2009/04/03/living-with-the-machigenga-questions-answered/comment-page-2/#comment-1720 Bobbi Lee Hitchon Tue, 22 Sep 2009 02:31:42 +0000 http://oliversteeds.com/2009/04/03/living-with-the-machigenga-questions-answered/#comment-1720 Here's an answer for your question "Any takers?" in regards to taking a woman along on your journey. I'm a taker! In fact, I thought while watching Mek, that it would be a lot better if you had a woman there to interact with the women in the tribe. Have a camera and will travel with no notice! Cheers. Here’s an answer for your question “Any takers?” in regards to taking a woman along on your journey. I’m a taker! In fact, I thought while watching Mek, that it would be a lot better if you had a woman there to interact with the women in the tribe. Have a camera and will travel with no notice! Cheers.

]]> By: Mike http://oliversteeds.com/2009/04/03/living-with-the-machigenga-questions-answered/comment-page-2/#comment-1719 Mike Sun, 13 Sep 2009 16:53:34 +0000 http://oliversteeds.com/2009/04/03/living-with-the-machigenga-questions-answered/#comment-1719 Hello Olly, I dont know if you are still taking questions about the tribes you lived with but if so I have some. Do you know the draw wieghts of any of the bows from the three tribes you lived with? How many arrow did a Mek, Kombai, and Machiguanga man usually own and how often did they make new ones? And did the Machiguanga retrieve an arrow after shooting it into the air at a monkey or bird if they missed? I heard Lucio say to Mark "you weasted an arrow" when he missed a bird.. That gave me the impresion they dont. Or do they only look for it a short time? Thanks, Mike Hello Olly,
I dont know if you are still taking questions about the tribes you lived with but if so I have some.
Do you know the draw wieghts of any of the bows from the three tribes you lived with?

How many arrow did a Mek, Kombai, and Machiguanga man usually own and how often did they make new ones?

And did the Machiguanga retrieve an arrow after shooting it into the air at a monkey or bird if they missed? I heard Lucio say to Mark “you weasted an arrow” when he missed a bird.. That gave me the impresion they dont. Or do they only look for it a short time?

Thanks,
Mike

]]> By: Natalya http://oliversteeds.com/2009/04/03/living-with-the-machigenga-questions-answered/comment-page-2/#comment-1712 Natalya Sun, 16 Aug 2009 07:43:27 +0000 http://oliversteeds.com/2009/04/03/living-with-the-machigenga-questions-answered/#comment-1712 Hi! So i'm hoping you get a chance to respond to this, whether it be in a time or not. I would like to know if you had any experience/observation or learned anything of how the Machigengas view/see/respond to death. I'm working on a Spanish final paper for my decree (which is now over a year overdue...) It's based around this book El hablador by Mario Vargas Llosa. Perhaps you've read it. It's fictitious of course (i think so anyway). There is one story/myth about a man who pees on a flower where there is a bee, and the bee stings the man's penis and it grows and swells to a ridiculous amount. So maybe Llosa picked that up from the "bad big penis man" you mentioned. Anyway, if you have any insight or can send me in a good direction for more information re: machigengas i would be greatly indebted. My focus is their culture around death as well as their spiritual beliefs (like the tasorintshis and evil spirits whose names i forget at present). Or if you know what they believe around spirits/souls, suicide or infanticide (of "imperfect" children). It's really hard to find good in depth information on the Machigenga present or past. Wish i could go myself and ask. Do you speak many languages??? thanks nati nfrancov@yahoo.com Hi! So i’m hoping you get a chance to respond to this, whether it be in a time or not. I would like to know if you had any experience/observation or learned anything of how the Machigengas view/see/respond to death. I’m working on a Spanish final paper for my decree (which is now over a year overdue…)

It’s based around this book El hablador by Mario Vargas Llosa. Perhaps you’ve read it. It’s fictitious of course (i think so anyway). There is one story/myth about a man who pees on a flower where there is a bee, and the bee stings the man’s penis and it grows and swells to a ridiculous amount. So maybe Llosa picked that up from the “bad big penis man” you mentioned.

Anyway, if you have any insight or can send me in a good direction for more information re: machigengas i would be greatly indebted. My focus is their culture around death as well as their spiritual beliefs (like the tasorintshis and evil spirits whose names i forget at present). Or if you know what they believe around spirits/souls, suicide or infanticide (of “imperfect” children). It’s really hard to find good in depth information on the Machigenga present or past. Wish i could go myself and ask.

Do you speak many languages???

thanks
nati
nfrancov@yahoo.com

]]> By: christine http://oliversteeds.com/2009/04/03/living-with-the-machigenga-questions-answered/comment-page-2/#comment-1697 christine Mon, 29 Jun 2009 01:23:41 +0000 http://oliversteeds.com/2009/04/03/living-with-the-machigenga-questions-answered/#comment-1697 Hi Olly, Have some thoughts about why the tribe may have been so terrified by the arrival of the deer. I live in Massachusetts, outside of Boston. We have plenty of white tailed deer. They are beautiful creatures and I used to really enjoy catching a glimpse of them. Now I shudder when I see one, especially if it happens to be close to home. The deer are hosts to ticks who harbor infections which are harmless to the deer but can be very harmful to humans. There has been a resurgence of the deer population in recent years due to conservation efforts. With the deer have come an increase in human diseases such as Lyme, babesiosis, bartonella, erilichiosis and rocky mountin spotted fever. Lyme disease is a spirochete shaped bacteria shaped like the syphilis bacteria. It bores deep into tissues like cartilage in the joints and if left untreated can effect the heart and brain. I feel like I'm surrounded by Lyme disease. I'm a nurse in a clinic where we treat a lot of patients with the disease and I have a daughter who unfortunately has chronic late stage Lyme with brain involvement. Like any mother of a child with a disease, I've done a lot of reading. I read recently that the native Americans who lived in the New England area did not allow deer to come anywhere near their settlements. They were aware that deer harbored disease. Some Lyme patients suffer from mental illness. I couldn't help but wonder as I watched the reaction of the tribe members if their ancestors had made the connection between the deer and the disease and interpreted it as the work of evil spirits. Hope you and Mark are keeping well- please stay away from deer pelts!! I enjoy your show. It's one of the very few shows my husband and I can sit with our teenagers and all enjoy. I was wondering when we could expect to see your next tribal adventure in the states. Our Sunday nights just haven't been the same without our Mark and Olly fix. Regards, Chris Hi Olly,

Have some thoughts about why the tribe may have been so terrified by the arrival of the deer. I live in Massachusetts, outside of Boston. We have plenty of white tailed deer. They are beautiful creatures and I used to really enjoy catching a glimpse of them. Now I shudder when I see one, especially if it happens to be close to home. The deer are hosts to ticks who harbor infections which are harmless to the deer but can be very harmful to humans. There has been a resurgence of the deer population in recent years due to conservation efforts. With the deer have come an increase in human diseases such as Lyme, babesiosis, bartonella, erilichiosis and rocky mountin spotted fever. Lyme disease is a spirochete shaped bacteria shaped like the syphilis bacteria. It bores deep into tissues like cartilage in the joints and if left untreated can effect the heart and brain. I feel like I’m surrounded by Lyme disease. I’m a nurse in a clinic where we treat a lot of patients with the disease and I have a daughter who unfortunately has chronic late stage Lyme with brain involvement. Like any mother of a child with a disease, I’ve done a lot of reading. I read recently that the native Americans who lived in the New England area did not allow deer to come anywhere near their settlements. They were aware that deer harbored disease. Some Lyme patients suffer from mental illness. I couldn’t help but wonder as I watched the reaction of the tribe members if their ancestors had made the connection between the deer and the disease and interpreted it as the work of evil spirits.
Hope you and Mark are keeping well- please stay away from deer pelts!! I enjoy your show. It’s one of the very few shows my husband and I can sit with our teenagers and all enjoy. I was wondering when we could expect to see your next tribal adventure in the states. Our Sunday nights just haven’t been the same without our Mark and Olly fix.
Regards,
Chris

]]> By: Anna http://oliversteeds.com/2009/04/03/living-with-the-machigenga-questions-answered/comment-page-2/#comment-1654 Anna Thu, 14 May 2009 21:36:43 +0000 http://oliversteeds.com/2009/04/03/living-with-the-machigenga-questions-answered/#comment-1654 Hi Olly, Hows it going? Not sure if you're looking this far back in your blog now. I'm way behind and have lots of reading to do clearly!!! I just wondered (and i'm sorry if this was answered in the episode - I can't get the channel to watch it) what happens if a marriage out there has problems? Are they forced to stay together? Do either have the right to walk away and if so are there any repercussions? Can a man treat his wife however he wants? I'm sorry if you've already answered this. Carmen: thank you for the kind words. It's the hardest decision i've ever made. I will respond to our discussion in Episode 2 blog soon. Take care Anna Hi Olly,

Hows it going? Not sure if you’re looking this far back in your blog now. I’m way behind and have lots of reading to do clearly!!! I just wondered (and i’m sorry if this was answered in the episode – I can’t get the channel to watch it) what happens if a marriage out there has problems? Are they forced to stay together? Do either have the right to walk away and if so are there any repercussions? Can a man treat his wife however he wants? I’m sorry if you’ve already answered this.

Carmen: thank you for the kind words. It’s the hardest decision i’ve ever made. I will respond to our discussion in Episode 2 blog soon.

Take care
Anna

]]> By: Sara M http://oliversteeds.com/2009/04/03/living-with-the-machigenga-questions-answered/comment-page-2/#comment-1640 Sara M Mon, 04 May 2009 00:23:31 +0000 http://oliversteeds.com/2009/04/03/living-with-the-machigenga-questions-answered/#comment-1640 For those interested in world music, the May/June issue of Utne magazine has a great article on world music blogs. Here are some links: likembe.blogspot.com awesometapesfromafrica.blogspot.com www.radiodiffusion.net voodoofunk.blogspot.com bennloxo.com The last blog has some really great, obscure, old things (like an Italian cover of The Who's "Can't Explain" which is one of my all-time favorite songs) and some great newer stuff (like acoustic Icelandic pop, a group called "Seabear"). Enjoy! Sara M For those interested in world music, the May/June issue of Utne magazine has a great article on world music blogs. Here are some links:

likembe.blogspot.com
awesometapesfromafrica.blogspot.com
http://www.radiodiffusion.net
voodoofunk.blogspot.com
bennloxo.com

The last blog has some really great, obscure, old things (like an Italian cover of The Who’s “Can’t Explain” which is one of my all-time favorite songs) and some great newer stuff (like acoustic Icelandic pop, a group called “Seabear”). Enjoy!

Sara M

]]> By: Sara M http://oliversteeds.com/2009/04/03/living-with-the-machigenga-questions-answered/comment-page-2/#comment-1630 Sara M Sat, 25 Apr 2009 01:55:11 +0000 http://oliversteeds.com/2009/04/03/living-with-the-machigenga-questions-answered/#comment-1630 I agree, we shouldn't be asking Olly to be our social secretary! I don't have Facebook (it feels like one more thing to have to check) despite a bunch of friends telling me I should. True story, one of my best friends who lives in San Diego called me a few weeks ago. She said, "You should totally get on Facebook, then we could be friends!" My reply was, "But we are already friends and have been since we were 12". OK, I'm going to go out on a limb, take one for the team (stop using cliches!) and post my email: woohoo67@comcast.net Sara M I agree, we shouldn’t be asking Olly to be our social secretary! I don’t have Facebook (it feels like one more thing to have to check) despite a bunch of friends telling me I should. True story, one of my best friends who lives in San Diego called me a few weeks ago. She said, “You should totally get on Facebook, then we could be friends!” My reply was, “But we are already friends and have been since we were 12″. OK, I’m going to go out on a limb, take one for the team (stop using cliches!) and post my email:

woohoo67@comcast.net

Sara M

]]> By: Ana Maria http://oliversteeds.com/2009/04/03/living-with-the-machigenga-questions-answered/comment-page-2/#comment-1629 Ana Maria Fri, 24 Apr 2009 18:45:30 +0000 http://oliversteeds.com/2009/04/03/living-with-the-machigenga-questions-answered/#comment-1629 PS In all the time I lived in Maryland, I always had intentions of going to Alexandria, but never made it. There just never seemed to be enough time. I heard so much about it, now that I think about it again, I'm sorry I never went. Oh, well. Maybe sometime in the near future... PS In all the time I lived in Maryland, I always had intentions of going to Alexandria, but never made it. There just never seemed to be enough time. I heard so much about it, now that I think about it again, I’m sorry I never went. Oh, well. Maybe sometime in the near future…

]]> By: Ana Maria http://oliversteeds.com/2009/04/03/living-with-the-machigenga-questions-answered/comment-page-2/#comment-1628 Ana Maria Fri, 24 Apr 2009 18:43:00 +0000 http://oliversteeds.com/2009/04/03/living-with-the-machigenga-questions-answered/#comment-1628 I agree about "Brigitte's Sexiest Beaches." Not something to aspire to watch, I'd say. And shame on Travel Channel for taking the "bimbo approach" to travel. Totally without substance, but I suppose that is the point. I think you're right about Olly setting a precedent for us. It's not fair for us to expect him to serve as our go-between, especially since he is so busy. I don't have anything on Facebook, and don't plan to get on there anytime soon, so we need to come up with a solution amongst ourselves. We'll figure it out!!! :) Have a good day, everybody. Ana Maria I agree about “Brigitte’s Sexiest Beaches.” Not something to aspire to watch, I’d say. And shame on Travel Channel for taking the “bimbo approach” to travel. Totally without substance, but I suppose that is the point.

I think you’re right about Olly setting a precedent for us. It’s not fair for us to expect him to serve as our go-between, especially since he is so busy. I don’t have anything on Facebook, and don’t plan to get on there anytime soon, so we need to come up with a solution amongst ourselves. We’ll figure it out!!! :)

Have a good day, everybody.

Ana Maria

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