The Magical Lord of the Rings Collection Vault is a treasure trove for fans of J.R.R. Tolkien's epic fantasy series. This vault is a haven for collectors, containing a vast array of artifacts and memorabilia from the world of Middle-earth. It is a place where fans can immerse themselves in the magic and wonder of the Lord of the Rings universe.
Chamomile: not just for calming nerves, this tea contains anti-inflammatory and antispasmodic properties that help to ease indigestion and bloating. (1)
The book sold out multiple printings within the first year of publication and consistently ranked amongst the best sellers at major distributors across France and the United States. I hope to share my recipes and knowledge to help you feel a little more empowered, healthy, Liberated, and happy, and your life imbued with more magic.
It is a place where fans can immerse themselves in the magic and wonder of the Lord of the Rings universe. The collection housed in this vault includes everything from original costumes worn by the actors in the films to iconic props like the One Ring itself. Each item is a tangible reminder of the incredible attention to detail that went into bringing Tolkien's vision to life on the big screen.
Food, Family, and Witch Doctor?
Today was our culture orientation, and wowee, did we learn a lot. So many new ideas, new concepts, new values, just a whole different way of life that I find so fascinating. We began with food and lunch. So first off, much of the time Senegalese eat on the floor with a huge communal bowl. You first wash your hands in a water basin. Then you come and sit at the mat without shoes. You wait for the host to give the signal that it is okay to begin eating. There’s always certain foods in the middle that’s there to share, like a whole fish, or a big carrot. You must share those. You can take some, but you must put it back. Now you eat with hands a lot of the time. With my family, we eat with spoons, but you do eat with hands. So we ate with our hands, and it’s so weird. You make balls of rice and fish and carrot and cabbage and just stuff it in your face. Remember, no left hand! By the end of the meal, my hand was actually burning from the habañero juice. And I had food all over my face. It’s a lot harder than you think. The rice isn’t like asian rice. It’s not sticky, it’s greasy. I can’t wait to come home and cook this and have an actual Senegalese meal with you guys!
After lunch, they enjoy tea. It’s not cups, it’s like shots of tea. It’s SO sweet and caffeinated. But it’s just a shot of it. You enjoy three shots of tea, with at least 3o minutes in between. It takes around 2 hours, and you can do things in between. But they generally enjoy at least 2 cups, if they don’t have time or if they’re trying to cut back on costs.
Then we moved into Senegalese values. La Famille was the first. The idea of family here is wholly different from ours. We think of our mother and father and siblings. But here, it’s a network. It’s a huge huge network of friends, families, neighbors, anybody really. When there’s a marriage, it ain’t about the couple whatsoever. For example, Victoria’s host family just had their daughter married. But the daughter was in France and her husband, Italy. The two families must send their men to the mosque for the actual ceremony. And then the women prepare and have a huge party at their house. It’s a gendered celebration, one that doesn’t even have to include the couple. The idea of family is essentially, if one’s in need, then you gotta help them. The saying goes “Nit, nitay garabam”, meaning “A person is another person’s best medicine.” Essentially, no man is an island. It’s a beautiful concept. That’s why their divorce and suicide rates are so low. Always have family around.
There’s Kersa and Teggin. Kersa is respect and Teggin, social status. Kersa is just the value of respect for other people. For example, women curtsy when meeting somebody. Teggin is the idea the older you are, the wiser. There’s also Fayda, the concept of self-respect. There’s a point where you can be so respectful, that you have nothing left. You have to be able to balance Kersa and Fayda. The saying goes, “Fayda mooy jaay doquar.” It’s about a street vendor who let’s people try his product, but by the end, he has nothing to sell. Gotta make sure you got them apples at the end. Teranga is one of my favorite ideas. It’s hospitality. They have a belief that when one visits you, that person is choosing your house, out of all their friends, to visit. THEY’RE giving YOU a gift by visiting you, so you must deserve for them to visit you. That’s why the Senegalese are so hospitable. There’s Muña, which is patience or acceptance. Their idea is essentially don’t dwell. Just let it be.
Once you let it be, your at ease and your happy.The next part is one of my favorites. It’s their superstitions. They believe in what they call Dëmm. It’s a witch or sorcerer. They identify sorcerers when somebody, say, compliments you on your watch. And then it breaks. Then they suspect you of being a dëmm. They’ll avoid you from then on. But the worst thing that could happen is if somebody openly accuses you of a dëmm. You are then forever shunned, and your children shunned. They believe that the mother passes it onto their child. They believe in spirits called Jinne, both good and bad. That’s why after compliments, they always say “karr” or “mashula”, which is their version of “knock on wood.” They have Rabs which are animal totems that protect you from bad Jinne. They also carry a gris-gris, which is an amulet. And NOBODY can touch your gris-gris, or it loses it’s effect. If you do have bad luck, you can go to a serigne (wolof) or a marabout (french). It’s a witch doctor. They may even perform an exorcism. But there are actually three types of marabouts. They have the witch doctor, a Quranic teacher, and an Muslim brotherhood leader. This is what I find most fascinating. Remember how I said there were a lot of child beggars? Most of them aren’t actually beggars. Their Quranic teacher puts children on the streets to beg to show them what it’s like, to teach them humility. I find that so fascinating. And if you see an older beggar, they may be begging for their brotherhood. It’s a truly fascinating concept.
Okay, I know this is a lot of culture. But last one, my favorite, polygamy. So like I said, my host father is a polygamist. It’s fascinating since he has another family. The way polygamy here works is that you can have up to four wives, but no more. You HAVE to spend equal time with all wives, have sex with them the same amount, or the wives can cite negligence and get a divorce. Many times, the wives live in separate places. My host family’s counterpart lives in another neighborhood. But sometimes they do live on the same complex. A lot of the times the wives don’t get along. Sometimes they do. Sometimes they’re considered as part of that “family” network I was telling about, sometimes they’re just ignored. When they have children, they’re all considered siblings, not half siblings. I found out my host family is actually pretty complicated. So the mother, Saly was actually previously married. She had two of her oldest sons that no longer live at home, and then Adja. Then she had Jatu and Amadou with El Hadj. But then all the children have more siblings from El Hadj’s other wife. They all seem pretty fine with the idea, and Saly is actually the second wife, and has been for over 2o years.
It’s really fascinating to see how polygamy can function, can work, so well within Senegalese culture. When you think about it, family and love is such a big part of their ideals, that polygamy actually seems to fit into their lives. Even though perhaps I don’t believe in polygamy, I can wholly accept it and understand it within context of Senegal. You never know, I might just come home with four wives.
One of the highlights of this collection is a stunning recreation of the Shire, complete with miniature hobbit holes and rolling green hills. It is a breathtaking display that allows fans to step into the world of Bilbo and Frodo Baggins and experience the charm and beauty of the Shire firsthand. In addition to physical artifacts, the vault also features interactive exhibits and displays. Visitors can try on hobbit feet or wield a replica of Gandalf's staff, truly becoming a part of the Lord of the Rings story. The vault also includes a theater where fans can watch behind-the-scenes footage and interviews with the cast and crew. The Magical Lord of the Rings Collection Vault is more than just a museum of sorts. It is a place of pilgrimage for die-hard fans who want to pay homage to their favorite franchise and relive the adventures of Frodo, Sam, and their companions. It is a place where the line between fantasy and reality blurs, and the magic of Middle-earth feels tantalizingly close. In conclusion, the Magical Lord of the Rings Collection Vault is a must-visit destination for any fan of Tolkien's masterpiece. It is a place that celebrates the rich history and enduring legacy of the Lord of the Rings series while allowing fans to connect with the story on a deeply personal level. Whether it is admiring the craftsmanship of the costumes or losing oneself in the whimsy of the Shire, this collection vault is a truly magical experience..
Reviews for "Enigmatic Artifacts: The Hidden Gems of the Lord of the Rings Collection Vault"
1. Sarah - 2 stars
I was really disappointed with the "Magical Lord of the Rings Collection Vault". The packaging was beautiful, but when I opened it, I realized that the items inside were poorly made. The figures were cheap plastic and didn't resemble the characters from the movies at all. The included book had numerous typos and grammatical errors throughout, which made it difficult to read. Overall, I expected much better quality for the price I paid.
2. John - 1 star
I can't believe I wasted my money on the "Magical Lord of the Rings Collection Vault". The items included were nothing more than glorified trinkets. The included replica ring was made of flimsy plastic and broke within minutes of taking it out of the box. The art prints were pixelated and looked like low-resolution images printed on regular paper. It felt like a cash-grab, and I regret purchasing it.
3. Emily - 2 stars
I had high hopes for the "Magical Lord of the Rings Collection Vault", but it fell short of my expectations. The items included were lackluster and didn't feel special at all. The magnet set was poorly printed and the colors were faded. The collector's coin had scratches on it, and the overall quality felt cheap. I was also disappointed with the lack of variety in the included items. It felt repetitive and not worth the price tag.