Today is rainy-day Tuesday (it rains in New England...I'm telling you, it RAINS...) It did NOT, however, rain on us last weekend.
Last Saturday we decided to explore a place they call "Plimouth Plantation." This is very close to the town of Plymouth, and the Mayflower II that we visited last summer. They spell it with an 'I' to avoid confusion with the town, and also in earlier times they actually did spell "Plimouth" that way.
We walked back into the 17th century, right after the people of the Mayflower had completed their treacherous journ
ey across the Atlantic ocean. Their first winter here killed fully half of them--of the 102 people on the original voyage, 52 people died within 6 months. They built homes as close to English style as they could, mostly because that was what they were familiar with. Not because it was necessarily the best protection from the cold. 
Kara stood by a pile of wood that would probably last OUR family 5 winters here...
We asked questions and heard stories from immigrants who fled their countries for a better life, or for a freedom from persecution. The kids fed their livestock...
...and learned from a steelworker first-hand how he made hinges...
Then we walked through the Wampanoag village. MANY of these people--entire villages-- died of diseases the Pilgrims brought with them. Different clothing, different homes, different philosophy on raising children.
The women farmed.
The men hunted.
Children just played. No jobs or chores, sunup to sundown, until THEY decided they wanted to learn or do more. Employees at this park are actually Native people, belonging 
to various nations...this part was especially interesting, I think. Also, our children REALLY liked that philosophy of raising children!
One man had a drum, and Teresa asked him to play. He ended up singing us a mournfully hypnotic song--it was quite amazing. It felt weird taking pictures of them...so I didn't. These two Wampanoag photos are from the Internet.
It was a great day! These types of places help us think, and hopefully set aside stereotypes. Maybe we can respect and understand just a tiny bit more, the people of that time.
The women farmed.
The men hunted.
Children just played. No jobs or chores, sunup to sundown, until THEY decided they wanted to learn or do more. Employees at this park are actually Native people, belonging 
to various nations...this part was especially interesting, I think. Also, our children REALLY liked that philosophy of raising children!One man had a drum, and Teresa asked him to play. He ended up singing us a mournfully hypnotic song--it was quite amazing. It felt weird taking pictures of them...so I didn't. These two Wampanoag photos are from the Internet.
It was a great day! These types of places help us think, and hopefully set aside stereotypes. Maybe we can respect and understand just a tiny bit more, the people of that time.
4 comments:
I love reading your blogs - they're so historical and full of information - you're learning so much from the variety of places you've been. Great pics of my nieces and nephew!
Wow- way cool place. And I love your new heading photo.
Oh yes, the native people have a very unique sound don't they? I love to visit places where the people dress and speak in character. Have you been to williamsburg? We did when in 1986, fun fun fun.
We loved that place too! Good to know about the spelling - that drove me a little nuts....
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