Doing Henna the Right way.

I would say close your eyes and listen to this story but well thats not going to work. So read with great imagination. Imagine that you are living in a small Moroccan town about 20,000 people. You live with a family where it is hard for you to communicate because you have only had a week of language classes and they are native speakers. Oh and it's Ramadan, so everyone is fasting during the day and the celbrating at the Mosque or with family every night. You are not really sure about what happens during Ramadan, but are open to whatever comes your way. Then there is one special night where everyone goes to the Mosque all night to pray and then the next day the family spends the whole day baking, and getting ready for something, but your not sure what. Later after the fast is broken, they give you the tradition dress to wear well they bring out these sringe looking things and this gray paste ... Henna. I have never had Henna done before or knew what all went into Henna. My host sister Nole, does Henna so she had me sit down and she starts to draw these wonderful shapes all over my hands and feet. It took about three hours. In the middle of it at about 11pm dinner was served and they had no idea how I was going to eat. After about 5 mins they brought out a plate and fork, which for the US is normal but in Morocco you eat with bread and your hands. They even had to cut up the meal so that I could eat it. They were so thoughtful. We laugh a lot. Then at about 1am I wen to bed with socks and gloves on and in the morning I scrubbed the henna off. The finished product was amazing! I strongly reconmend that your first Henna experince be in a Moroccan living room, wearing a caftan, with four Moroccan woman around you talking in a language you can't understand and yet some how still laughing together. Oh and if you are drinking Moroccan mint tea and eating homemade jelly cookies it makes it even better. I fully plan on renacting this in Grandma's living room before christmas when I get back!