Trip to Windhoek during PST

Yay! I found a program I can use while offline, to update my blog! It's amazing to realize how much the internet has been a part of my life - and how much I have relied on it…..and now, I am very limited. Ah, but this is just part of the journey….

Ok, I am finally getting myself organized, with my pictures, videos, etc.....and my plan is to go back in time, a bit, and talk about some of the fun times during PST (Pre-Service Training), and eventually bring you up-to-date – and HOPEFULLY, I can do this in a short amount of time. I'm writing this blog from my hut right now, along with the next few blog entries, as well as organizing the pictures and videos, so when I do get a good internet connection on the computer, I can upload everything....at least, that's the plan (though, I'm learning very quickly, in the Peace Corps, that things don't always go according to YOUR plan. And so I'm kind of learning to enjoy going with the flow, not feeling disheartened or disappointed if something doesn't work out how I had planned or wanted. And actually, when I look back over the last few months, everything ended up how it was supposed to be – without me thinking I had to plan every moment of my life and somehow think I could control it. Crazy me!)

So let me rewind a little, and tell you about our trip to Windhoek, during PST. We all loaded up onto a bus, on a Saturday morning, and drove about an hour and a half to Windhoek, the capital of Namibia. The plan was to see a few historic sites, then to the mall for lunch, then an open market, and finally drive down a road in a not-so-nice part of town. (We were told we would not be getting off the bus to walk around this street.)

I'm including a slide show at the bottom of this post, along with a few other pictures, here on this post. I'm not sure the pictures do these places real justice, but you will, at the very least, get a good idea of some of what we saw, the history of Namibia, and present-day Namibia.

The drive to Windhoek was along the B1 – the major highway in Namibia. It pretty much runs from the north to the south. So, if you ever find yourself in Namibia, just hop on the B1, and you can get almost anywhere….

The drive was beautiful, with some animals along the way (baboons, cattle, donkeys, goats – you'll find this all up and down the B1) and some mountains in the distance.

Our first stop was Heroes Acre. This is the official war memorial in Namibia. It represents the spirit of patriotism and nationalism , in hopes of passing this on to future generations. It was beautiful. Many of the gravesites don't have anyone buried there, but a headstone in their honor.

For more info, go to this website: www.namibia-1on1.com/heroes-acre.html

Our next stop was the Old Location, where, in 1959, a massacre took place. Here, in this neighborhood, only blacks lived. But apartheid was still law. The government wanted to move the black people out of their homes, to a different location, and build houses for whites only. Most blacks left, but some remained, in protest. The police opened fire on these protesters, killing 11, and injuring 44.

December 10 is actually International Human Rights Day, as well as Namibian Women's Day.

If you want to read more about the massacre, here are a few links: Old Location 1959 Massacre & Katatura

Next, was the mall. It looks like the typical westernized mall – with shops and restaurants. It was nice to be inside for a bit, and out of the sun.... :)

We then went to the open market, where foods of all kind were sold. Some spices, dried spinach (evanda), ombidi (spinach), mahangu and soghum flour, and lots of meat, mainly beef. As we walked around, and were able to get a taste of some of the meat (which was delicious!), I noticed the heads of the cows just laying around on the ground. And the raw meat is hung, for people to purchase, or those selling will cook it for you. And finally, there was someone selling ice cream. Ahh! To many of us PCTs, that was just what the doctor had ordered....

Our next stop was Herero Mall. This was a few rows of bars, or as they call them here in Namibia, shabeens. We stopped in one, danced a little, and had a grand time. (The picture below is what many of the shabeens look like - although this one is actually a little bigger than most….)

Our last stop, before heading back to Okahandja, was driving down ***look up street in Windhoek***. This road is mainly filled with shebeens and car washes. Apparently, it's not a very safe area – as alcoholism has become a major problem, here in Namibia. And so, yes, as you would guess – while people are drinking, they get their cars washed – and then drive home. I've included some pictures of this road in my photo album below. These pictures are a very real look at what many parts of this developing country look like – at least, outside the villages. But, understand, these buildings look exactly like many shops, shebeens, and even houses (more like, a room, where a person lives) throughout Namibia – even in the villages.

Overall, it was a very educational day – and, now that I've been here for almost 5 months, I am understanding the significance of all of these places. Maybe I should return to them, as I now have a better appreciation of Namibia, it's history, and it's future....

Below, is a slide show with more pictures from the outing...

Group 37 with our PC Staff Trainers - at the top of Heroes' Acre

From oh, so long ago....

Here are 2 different slideshows of some pictures during PST (Pre-Service Training)... One is of my host family's house, and the other has some random pictures during our time in Okahandja... I know, I'm really, really, REALLY late with these...I guess you could say I'm officially on "Peace Corps time"!  :)

No shoes, no fear!

About a week after we got to training, one of the current PCV's here in Okahandja, Neil,  took us on a hike....to Pride Rock (where the Lion King was filmed! Ok, just kidding...but I'd like to think the cast is somewhere out here in Namibia, around the Pride Rock). 
We had to walk through a family's homestead, in order to climb.... And so the kids joined us, and lead us up to the top!  This is their "playground" everyday! They were sweet, happy, energetic kids - who LOVED getting their pictures taken  AND borrowing our cameras to test out their own photography skills.
It was a beautiful day, I forgot to use sunscreen, and ended up with a nice burn, but it was totally worth the climb. I'm hoping to go back before I leave Okahandja, and training.  Apparently, there are baboons around there, among the trees and rocks....so I'm hoping to get some good shots of these Namibian animals....
Enjoy the pictures! (If the slideshow isn't working, you can go to this site:  Pride Rock Hike )
(p.s. I have updated my contact info, with my address of my permanent site, along with some other info. You can find it on the Contact tab of this blog.)

FINALLY arrived in Namibia!!

Alright…I really need to catch you up to date….so I'll try to make this quick!

Ok, we finally arrived in Johannesburg….it was about 8 in the morning, and we had a 6 hour layover. We actually didn't mind having the time, since it took a while to get from our gate, to the next, and we were able to walk around, send some postcards, relax, and many of us even were able to connect to the internet and talk to/email our families and friends, to let them know we made it safely across the pond. Right before boarding the plane to Windhoek, Namibia, we had to change out of our comfy clothes, into our "business casual" work attire. This was our first day on the job, so we had to dress appropriately. We finally boarded the plane, and ended up sitting there for about an hour and a half, due to rain that was in the area…..

As we flew back over Africa, to the western side, the excitement began to build! We were ready to meet our staff and see Namibia!! As we came down over Namibia, we oooh-ed and ahhh-ed over the site of the land. It looked exactly as we had all seen in pictures….some mountains, and very desert-like - lots of sand/dirt, with trees scattered here and there…

After deplaning, and going through customs, we handed our passports over to the PC staff (we would be getting these later, after they finish our visa applications), and finally getting our luggage, the staff was there to greet us with water and hot cakes - a favorite desert in Namibia (basically, fried dough). We loaded all of our luggage in to 2 trucks, and climbed into the vans that would take us and hour and a half north to Okahandja, where we would begin our training.  A current, and very patient, PC Volunteer rode with us as well. We bombarded him with questions - safety and security, language, our assignments, the land, the people……we asked him  EVERYTHING! 

Since we were running late, they decided to take us straight to the Kukuri Center, where we would be staying for the next few days. 4 people to a room, with a dining hall - within walking distance to the training center. We finally arrived, tired from our long day of travel, dragging our bags into our rooms (for the last time, at least for a few days), ate some dinner, and then headed to bed. We were to begin training in the morning at 7:30, breakfast would be ready at 6:30…..

Over the next few days, training consisted of morning Namibian song-singing (hopefully I can get a video of this for you to hear!), ID photo-taking, meeting the staff, meeting the doctors, shots (ooooh, so many shots - and we're still getting 1-2 a week! These consist of Hep A&B, Meningitis,Typhoid, Rabies, Flu), safety & security, meeting with some current PCVs for Diversity Training, discussing what we, as Health Volunteers may be doing, interviewing to discuss what kind of living conditions we would prefer, and what kind of job we would want, and then orientation to discuss "Homestay" - where we live with a family for 6 weeks during our training time. 

Let me further explain options for the living conditions (our permanent homes for the next 2 years) and job positions. This would determine which language we would learn (there are approximately 10 different Namibian languages), and where we would be placed.  As for living arrangements, they asked us if we would prefer to live near other volunteers. From Windhoek, south, it can get colder in the winter. There are more urban areas here as well. In the north, you see more rural villages, huts, and the landscape is more green (great for gardening). The HIV and teen pregnancy prevalence is much higher in the north, as well. About half of us would be placed at a completely brand new site. In other words, not following in a current PCV's footsteps in the community.  I was actually surprised with how many of my fellow trainees wanted to be placed near others.  During my interview, I told them that I didn't feel I needed to be placed near anyone. Over the years, I've become comfortable with being alone, so this didn't bother me. I've heard so many stories, anyway, of Volunteers staying in their sites, and loving their communities so much, that they don't always feel the need to leave and visit the other PCVs. I also knew that everyone would be a phone call away. And that many of us would take weekends to visit each other. So, if they chose to place me in a very rural area, I would be just fine with that. Plus, I'd get to live in a hut!! (By the way, many of these areas may not have showers - so bucket baths are your friend. And electricity may or may not be there. And honestly, it seems there are so many different types of living situations in Namibia, that the staff could never really give us a straight answer when asked to describe each area of Namibia. 

BUT, when it comes to our placement, the big determining factor, is the job. If they feel we would be better in a hospital in an urban area, then that's where we will be placed, and will learn whatever language is in that area. They don't place us based on where we want to live, but rather, the job. As for jobs - well, we are learning that as a Health Volunteer, it can be very challenging. We aren't really given any true 9-5 job. We create our own. We create our own projects. We may be based out of a clinic or hospital, possibly, and have a counterpart from that area, but that doesn't necessarily mean we will work in the clinic or hospital. We can start a community garden. We can create after-school programs for kids. We can work with other local, national, or global organizations as well.We can teach a yoga class. Or give sex/health education to learners (Children in primary and secondary schools are referred to as learners. At the university level, you become a student). Or start up a Grassroots Soccer program. We can pretty much do anything we want. Many of us will be working with kids. The children, here, need something to keep them busy after school. Girls' and boys' clubs are a popular program many PCVs begin. Sex education doesn't happen much at home, or even in school. They are supposed to learn "life skills", but many teachers are uncomfortable talking about these issues. This is where a PCV comes in. We can educate these learners about many health-related topics. And we can also have educational groups for adults as well. (Youth, here in Namibia, is considered 0-35 years old). Our main goal, in the beginning of our service, is to get to know the community, the leaders, the children, and determine the needs of the community. From there, the sky's the limit, with what we can do!  

Through the principles of "Do No Harm, Respect of Persons, Non-discrimination, and Participation", a Health Peace Corps Volunteer, in Namibia, addresses global health issues, in the areas of HIV & TB mitigation, maternal, neonatal, and child health (including early childhood development, Malaria prevention and control), environmental health (water, sanitation and hygiene), and/or life skills for healthy behaviors (nutrition, alcohol and substance abuse prevention, youth sexual reproductive health). The goal is sustainable community development, that will educate and empower the community, so it will continue after we leave. Basically, I'm going to have to think of myself as a project manager (yes, Cortney - you would be perfect for this!!). I already know this is going to be challenging for me.  At many times in my life, I've gone in to a problem or project, thinking that it's just easier if I do it myself. But the problem with this thinking, in the Peace Corps, is that if I don't teach these children and adults how to continue educating the next group of kids, and the ones after that, then my project will not be a success. These people need to become empowered and educated - to help themselves. And so, here I am…..

And on day 5 of training, I found out I will be learning to speak Oshikwanyama - a Bantu language! It's one of the many Oshiwombo languages. Basically, they are all very similar, just different dialects. And since I'm learning this language, supposedly I will be placed in the very northern part of Namibia - in the Ohangwena region!! 

Well, I don't want to overwhelm you with info - because I have a LOT to share!  

I will leave you with this statement, given to us during the first few days of training:

"You will never, never be the same after this……"  

(and I am beginning to believe it!)

Here are some pictures from my first week of training and staying at the Kukuri Center:

Details, details...

Language lesson for the day:

Details are important, especially when speaking in Oshikwanyama!

For example:

oshikombo = goat
oshikombe = broom
oshikombu = prostitute

This lesson will especially come in handy when going to the market, and trying to tell a local you want to buy goat meat...
(true story!)

Stay tuned for more Kwanyama tips...

Peace -

On my way home...

Here is the main road Amy (another Volunteer) and I walk on our way home from training everyday. This road is B1- one of the main highways in Namibia - and leads to Windhoek, the capital.

In this picture, we are actually looking back towards town...and the storm clouds coming in....though they really did not produce any rain today. When it does rain, it only lasts for about 10 minutes. We got caught in the "rain" yesterday, but were so happy to be cooled off somewhat....

I found my Harry....

Wa uhala po? (How are you this afternoon?)

Hello again!! I really need to catch you all up to date…..and I have a lot to tell…but if you don't mind, I'd like to talk about my present day….and so the things I will write about in this post, will be explained much MUCH further in future posts. I guess I just wanted to let you all know what my thoughts are today….

I FINALLY started a separate, hand-written journal. I want to remember everything. And I'm sure there will be times that I'll want to  put it down, but may not want to share with the world….especially after my last roller-coaster of a week. Let's just say, this really IS the toughest job you will ever love. And everything they've told us we will feel, well, I've felt it this week. Again, I promise I will go further in to detail with EVERYTHING. But for today, this is how I've been feeling….and so I'm just going to copy from my hand-written journal, my thoughts on the last, almost 20 hours: (sorry it's kind of long! I have sooooo much that I want to say! And even trying to text/email my friends and family has been tough to explain it all. So, I hope this will give you some insight as to what my Namibian life is, as of right now.)

24 March 2013

I went to m room last night after dinner - it seems that's when bedtime happens here at my host family's house.  We eat around 8pm. I hate going to bed right after, but at the same time, I like having some quiet time to myself - to either study or reflect or both.  The girls (9 year olds) are great, and English is easier with them, but I'm still trying to figure out the culture, etc. Anyway, as I'm in my room, looking at my entire life in bags in the corner, I couldn't help but feel powerless (PC says this is normal). And I think a lot of my PCV friends feel the same at times. All of a sudden, we're on the PC's time and our families' time. Everything is different. I don't speak the language (though I actually feel like I'm making SOME slow progress in this area), and I can't help but think "What the hell am I doing??" I just want to eat with a fork and knife. I just want a napkin. And soap to wash my hands (don't worry, I use mine - it's just not a common thing to keep it near the sinks). And go for a run. (Again, I'll further explain these things in future posts.). 

So I started taking a few things out of my bag to help decorate my room and remind me of home - and who I am. A picture of a sunflower, mardi gras beads and a picture of my family  (side note: ATTENTION Mom & Dad, please send another! I only have 1 small one)  I didn't have enough room in my luggage to bring all of the things to make me feel "home", so I can't wait for my mom to send the others…..And then I came across this journal. Zan gave it to me. Everyone at both of my going-away parties signed it, and wrote a little note. I purposefully did not read it while I was in the States. I wanted to wait until I got over here. So I opened it up, and started reading.  And then came the tears. I missed everyone and everything I know and am familiar with. I miss not being able to just pick up the phone and talk to those back in America. For one, the time difference. Secondly, it's expensive. I have apps to talk/text for free, but I still use up my data. Internet is not readily available. And especially free wifi. So true communication is difficult. And I wonder what everyone back home is doing. (So to friends and family who are reading this, even if I don't respond right away to your email, PLEASE send me updates on YOUR life! I want to know how all of YOU are doing!!)  

But the tears were also of joy and motivation, and the deep down strong feelings I have inside for helping these people. I finally felt like myself again, for a moment. (Again, the PC said that at times, you will not feel like you.)  The reason I'm here. What I'm going thru at this moment, is completely worth it. It's real. It won't kill me. This truly IS the toughest job you'll ever love. It's just differences in culture. And we are all the same. Halfway around this world. We laugh, cry and have joy for the same reasons. We just do things in a little different way.  All of a sudden, I found my motivation again. Motivated to learn this culture (don't worry, I will get into LOTS of details soon). Motivation to learn the language (Sam, a current PCV who is in the region where I will probably be - the north - told me that those who have some education, speak some English. It's those who don't speak English, and only their "mother-tongue", who are the less educated -  and the ones who I may be able to really help. So, the better I can converse in Oshikwanyama, the more people I may be able to educate.) So, language is SO important. Meme Maria (which means mother or madam - or ma'am for those in the south! And "Meme" is pronounced as if you were french - Mae-mae) is a true Kwanyama. She came from northern Namibia. She explained that the language is their culture. It's who they are. Who I will be living and working with (again, I'll explain more in future posts). Anyway, I found my Harry. My Lion. My motivation to go after these challenges……

I fell asleep - hot, no air circulating in the room, under the mosquito net…..and satisfied…….

This morning was Palm Sunday. I went to church with Meme. It's a Lutheran church. Her cousin (a female) is the pastor. Women are becoming pastors more and more, after Namibia gained their independence (another side note: there is a big Women's Liberation movement happening in Namibia right now!). Today's service was a little different - it was the men's service. They were in charge today. It lasted 3 hours and 20 minutes. Normally, it's only 2 hours long. I think it was longer because of it being Palm Sunday. Lots of different groups of adults and kids singing and taking collections for different things. At one point, all the men and boys went up to the alter, and stood before the rest of the congregation. A man spoke to them. He told them that they all need to make sure to be "real men." That a real man does not take his wife for granted. He told them they need to give and not just take. And a real man does not hurt or injure or kill his wife. (Apparently, there are many men who abuse, even to the point of death, their wives. This is a big concern in Namibia. And I'm still trying to find out more about the repercussions of these actions…..). (Another side note: So far, those Namibian men I have met, are WONDERFUL! They are happy, giving, helpful. So, please don't take what I wrote as the norm. I am still learning about their culture and way of life. I've been reading the paper a lot as well - and again, will go in to further detail in future posts!). Anyway, church was looooooong. Oh, and it was all in Oshikwanyama. BUT, I was pretty happy that I was able to understand a word, here and there. Meme had to translate a lot for me. And luckily she had all the songs in a book. So I sang along, not knowing what I was singing, BUT, for the most part, I pronunciated the words correctly. (Success!!!)

We came home from church, and Mwalonga had lunch ready for us. (She's Meme's cousin/nanny/housekeeper). We ate porridge (oh don't worry - there WILL be a blog post about this!), spaghetti (no sauce - though the girls used "tomato sauce" - or ketsup - as we call it in the States), veggies (the frozen kind I remember growing up eating - with tiny pieces of carrots, green beans and corn) and some meat in a soup. I didn't ask what kind of meat - I don't want to know (again, wait for the post about my first culture shock with food that happened earlier in the week!). Though it was tough to bite in to, so I'm assuming it was goat.  The girls wanted to play checkers and cards, but Meme told them I needed to rest, since church service was so long, and honestly, I didn't mind taking the break.  We'll play checkers and cards later -

And so now I get to start this hand-written journal…AND update my blog (which I do at home, and then will upload it when I get to the cafe with free wifi tomorrow). Maybe I'll shut my eyes for a little as well. I have a TON of studying to do again tonight, but this afternoon, Mwalonga is going to show me how to do my laundry - and then of course, I'll play with the girls!

So….today is a good day. :)

Kala po nawa na oshi iwete…..

(Stay well and see you later….)

p.s. Here is an album of some pictures I took today at the house! Enjoy!
(for those having trouble viewing the slideshow, click here for the direct link:  Meme Maria's house