As a few of you know, I had difficulty relating to my original host family here in Mayenzere. It wasn’t so much that we didn’t like one another, or that we clashed… it just wasn’t what I was expecting. It wasn’t the typical Kavango family experience, either. My mother was a teacher at my school, living on the homestead with one of her 4 daughters. From time to time there were various other children, and for a time another single woman… but it never really felt homey.

Through a series of event, I ended up living alone on my homestead. My mother had requested a transfer (being both tired of village life, and not wanting to live apart from her other 2 young daughters who are schooling in Rundu). She now lives in town. The Peace Corps and my supervisor felt uncomfortable about my living alone (although I never felt unsafe, my village is fairly quiet) and starting looking for an alternative. The options were limited, with Peace Corps’ housing requirements, and the location of my school. But, it was decided that I should move in with my principal. By American standards, that sounds strange… perhaps I should clarify and say, on my principal’s homestead. At first, I was quite apprehensive about the move. Firstly, I hate moving. One of my least favorite parts of college was moving in and out of dorms each and every year. Blech. Secondly, I originally felt slightly concerned about living with my principal.

But, things have turned out pretty well, so far. I really like the location of my new homestead, and the people who live here. My current homestead family includes Mr. Semethe (my principal), Omama (“Grandmother”, Mr. Semethe’s mother), Maxima (my language tutor/the school cleaner/my best friend on the village), Junior – age 10 months (Maxima’s son), Sendi – age 2 (another one of Omama’s grandchildren) and Maria – age 8 (an orphan who was taken in by my family).

I began moving here on Friday, although I still have a lot of things to move over here. I have way too much stuff. It’s amazing how fast I accumulate things here. I sometimes can’t believe I started out with two bags that I could carry easily by myself. Between Peace Corps materials, the lending library at the PC office, zealous package senders, and my refusal to throw away anything that might be remotely useful… I’ve acquired a mountain of possessions.

This weekend has been… uneventful, I suppose, in some ways. But it’s been wonderful at the same time. It’s exactly what I was expecting when I first moved to my village. It’s been just Omama, Maria, Sendi and I…which has put my Rukwangali skills to the test. Also, since my stove and food are still at my old house, I’ve been taking my meals with them (lots and lots of porridge!). I had the opportunity to help Omama pound mahangu yesterday, after doing some much needed laundry. My arms and hands are sore today, but I was actually getting the hang of it after a while. It’s all in the form… although rhythm and breathing factor in a lot. I’d often wondered why most Namibian women and girls make a little hissing or whistling noise with each stroke of their pounding stick, bu I found it helped keep my tempo strong and helped me remember to breathe – both very important things when you’re pounding!

This afternoon, I decided to try carrying water to my new and slightly further homestead. Since it’s a longer trek, I finally asked some of the women at the tap to help me wind a shitenge into a round, flat pad to put between my head and my jerry can. To use one of these, you need someone to help you place the water on your head, because if you lift it yourself, you’ll knock of the shitenge in the process. So, one of my new friends volunteered to help, and lifted my jug… but she overestimated my water carrying abilities and placed the can on my head standing up straight. (I usually carry it sideways so I have more surface area and can hold the handle as I walk). I gave it a try and tried to straighten up, which resulted in 3 ladies rushing at me to catch the 25 liter container so it didn’t crash to the ground. After that, we did it again…sideways. :) I think I’ll stick with that for now!

 Tjida is also enjoying his new home, which comes complete with a playmate, Pretti, a playful dog who is old enough to subdue my pup, but young enough not mind his constant energy and need of attention. We are both currently staying in a hut that serves as a kitchen during the rainy season (cooking is done outside in the winter). My principal plans to build a new hut for us soon. I’m hoping I can even get him to build me some hammock posts while he has wet cement! And tonight, my new family will I finish watching Tarzan (which we started last night, around the fire). I’m looking forward to it immensely.

I keep thinking I’m going to get better at keeping up with this blog… but then life happens. Haha… Sorry everyone!

I’ll try to summarize:

            - I successfully completed my first term of teaching. It was crazy and frustrating and wonderful. Teaching is really hard work! But, even on the “bad days” when nothing goes as planned… I’m learning to just go with the flow and do whatever I can. I’m slowly getting better at finding those teachable moments, when to bring out the inflatable beach ball to keep things interesting, or how playing Frisbee can become an English lesson.

            - Last term one of my main focuses was getting the library up and running. It went pretty well! I’m in the process of making a few changes in the system to help check out times go more smoothly. The learners love it though! It makes me so happy to see kids so excited about books. I’ve never had fewer than 50 learners come any time the library has been open!

            - Camp Glow! Camp Glow is a youth development camp that I had the pleasure of being a part of this year! It was an amazing week! We had 80 learners there from all over Namibia, some of whom had never before left their village. The week was jam-packed with activities about leadership, health, gender awareness, and planning for the future. We had a blast! I already can’t wait for next year! One of the best things about it was our Namibian counselors. We had 12 of them, some still in high school, all of them amazing! Spending time with them gave me so much hope for the future of Namibia. They are so passionate and smart and wonderful, and I’m so happy I’m to be friends with them.

            - After camp, I spent a week with my amazing host family in Okahandja. I know I brag on them all the time, but I seriously can’t convey just how lucky I am to be a Bezuidenhout. It’s like having a small piece of home here in Namibia. I know I’m always welcome there, that there will be hugs, jokes, quality conversations, a comfy bed and good food. And to cement their place as best host family ever, during this visit, they gave me the most adorable puppy on the planet! 

            - The rest of my holiday was spent at a Peace Corps conference and then hanging out with a few other PCVs back in Kavango. It was an awesome, relaxing and refreshing break.

            - And now, term 2 is underway! So far, we’re off to a great start! :) I can tell that my learners are becoming more comfortable with me, and that they’re making progress. I’m back to diligently studying Rukwangali, and hoping to get together some beginner English classes for adults. God willing, Maxima and I will launch our girls’ club next Wednesday! So hopefully I’ll soon have an update on that.

Thanks for reading!

Packing time!

In order to pay homage to all of the diligent bloggers whose writings I scoured endlessly from the time I was nominated until I left America, and hopefully to help out some future volunteers, it is now time for… the packing list.

To all of you American friends, this probably won’t be very applicable. I apologize, and promise to get a new blog up soon for your reading pleasure…but group 38 needs packing advice first!

I distinctly remember, while going through my obsessive list making before I left for Peace Corps, worrying that I wouldn’t be able to find baking soda (which I used to wash my dreadlocks). Baking soda! Now that seems hilarious… but then it seemed like a very real concern.

Fact – Namibia has grocery stores. Clothing stores. Electronics stores. Camping/outdoor stores. ATMs. Internet cafes. Baking soda AND baking powder.

I guess what I’m trying to say is… if you need it, it’s probably here. Granted, maybe not in your region, but at least in Windhoek, you’ll be able to find most everything you need. If not, enlist someone in the US to ship it to you.

The most important piece of advice I was given about packing for the Peace Corps was this: Pack as if you’re moving, not going on a trip. Seems simple, but it’s a great philosophy to think about when you’re making cuts from your packing list.

So here's my advice... 

Clothing

Nice clothes for teaching – Namibian teachers are snazzy dressers! Don’t be afraid to bring some nice things. I get away with my own, more comfortable version of teaching clothing but if you like to dress up, you’ll fit in here.

Casual clothes – I didn’t bring enough of these. In the village, after school (especially in the summer) all you’re gonna want to be wearing is some shorts and a tank top.

Warm clothes – You’re going to hear this a million times…. but Namibia gets COLD. I know you’re sitting there right now in early summer, thinking “Psh… it’s Africa. How cold could it be? I’m from (insert northern state). I can handle it!”

You can’t. Especially after you’ve been through a Nam summer and your body is used to constantly sweating. Do yourself a favor… bring a warm jacket, a scarf, a hat, socks and gloves.  You won’t regret it.

Special note for those with visible tattoos: Peace Corps informed me about 2 weeks before departure that all tattoos were to be kept covered for the first 8 months in country. I assure you this is completely unnecessary. Save yourself a lot of packing frustrations and just bring clothes that are appropriate for the weather. My tattoos attract attention, but they also start conversations, and allow me explain different aspects of American culture.

Electronics

What I would bring:

Laptop – netbooks are good for traveling, but wither way you’re going to want to have something!

Kindle – optional, but great if you like to go through books quickly. There are some pretty great volunteer libraries floating around (especially in Kavango…which is also the coolest region, overall!) so it’s not a must, but if you have one, bring it!

iPod – Music keeps me sane, so this was non-negotiable for me.

Camera - you’re obviously going to see amazing things here!

External hard drive – filled with new media. As in the new Dexter season that starts next month, Game of Thrones, and all the summer blockbusters. You will make lots of friends! :)

Note: Most of the things you bring with you will probably be broken or stolen while you’re here. Be prepared.

Random other things I’m glad I brought…

ENO hammock

A good kitchen knife – 2 years is a long time to go without a good knife. Bring one!

Pictures and things to decorate

Gerber multitool

Thermarest sleeping pad

Hair cutting scissors

Diva cup

In conclusion... bring what you absolutely need. You need less than you think. If you're unsure about whether or not you can get something here ask me or another current volunteer. 

And...welcome to Namibia! Can't wait to meet you all! 

Morokeni (hello) blog readers!

Sorry for the long gap in between posts… I have not one legitimate excuse, there have been a combination of deterrents. In any case, I’ll try to catch you up a bit!

Bad news first…Bekah (my dog) is gone. She has disappeared into my village somewhere, most likely not on her own volition. My friends here in Mayenzere tell me it is not unlikely that someone has taken her. It’s very sad, but it’s been about a month now…so I don’t think she’s coming back.

Happier things:

I’m proud to announce the school library opened on March 4^th, and has been a huge success so far! The first day it was open we had 70 visitors, and since then we’ve been averaging about 50. The room is small, so all the learners line up outside and I let a few in at a time, trying to keep the internal chaos to a minimum. Everywhere I go I see learners carrying their library books… I’ve even had to ask a few to put their books away while I’m teaching! Each of my English classes elected 4 library helpers, who I have been teaching how to check books in and out, repair older books and organize the books into their classifications. Most of the books were here when I came to Mayenzere, but they were in boxes in a classroom, not being used. I’ve also had some donations from family in the US, and the Ministry of Education even sent some to our school last week! So, slowly but surely, the collection is growing.

Teaching is going well, for the most part. I have bad days of course…where every lesson I planned goes horribly wrong, or simply goes over their heads, or is interrupted by a mandatory teachers meeting… but the good days make up for all of that. I’m constantly discovering new areas where my students need help, and those topics get recycled into my lessons for the next week. For instance, last week I discovered that my 6^th graders had no idea what an opposite was, and my 7^th graders didn’t know the word weather… so this week we’re learning antonyms and weather vocabulary. :) Sometimes I get so caught up in the idea of preparing them for the outrageous exams they must take, that I forget that my learners have only been speaking English a few years… sometime it’s good to take a few steps back and realize that we need to go back to the beginning and lay some more groundwork. So, it’s a learning process for all of us. But I think we’ll accomplish a lot this year!

I’ve been staying very busy the past month or two, I’ve hardly been in my village a whole weekend! (My towering laundry pile is evidence of this!) Among my travels have been two trips to Windhoek for Peace Corps meetings. One of them was a planning meeting for Camp Glow (Girls and guys leading our world). It’s a youth camp for Namibians, focusing on topics like leadership, self-esteem, health, and co-operation. I’m very excited about it – especially because one of my grade 7 learners has been accepted to go! I’m very proud of her, and glad she’ll get this opportunity to meet other learners from around Namibia, and develop her skills as a leader. I’ve also spent some time in Rundu, saying goodbye to the group 33 volunteers as they finished their service and started heading home.

This weekend I also had to pleasure of hosting my first couch surfers! Couchsurfers.org is a website dedicated to helping travelers make connections with people all over the world. When I edited my profile with my Namibian information, I was not really expecting a lot of interest… but I’ve had two requests already! Last night I had the awesome opportunity to host 3 Ukrainians who have been traveling all over southern Africa. It was great to hear about their trip, tell them a bit about Kavango, and learn from then about Ukrainian culture.

Okay….I think that all for now! If any of you have any questions, I’d be happy to answer them, just leave me a comment or message me on facebook! Mbaa (good bye) for now!

a non-cohesive update on life

Okay…so I’ve been waiting for my random thoughts to magically organize themselves into a cohesive blog post for a few weeks now. Unfortunately that hasn’t happened. So, instead…here are some rambling, rabbit trail musings! :)

1) Murphy’s Law of Rainy Season Urination – No matter how long it’s been since you emptied your bladder, when it starts pouring, you WILL need to pee. Badly. And you’ll end up in an internal wrestling match over whether or not to get soaked on your way to the latrine, or endure the torture or staying inside and listening to the (normally beautiful but currently awful) sound of rain hitting your thatched roof. Every. Single. Time.

2) Meetings in Namibia can be… overwhelming. I’m not even sure that’s the right word. My beginning of term staff meeting began at 1:00pm, just after school let out, and I got home at 6:00pm. Let’s just say, surviving a meeting can take some considerable strategic planning.

The Sestito Guide to Nam Meeting Survival

step 1 – Have a good morning. Do whatever you need to do to put yourself in             a good mood. Listen to happy music, treat yourself to some American goodies (like Starbucks via!)… anything that will give you positive energy. Trust me, you’ll need it.

step 2 – Eat before the meeting, even if you’re not hungry yet. By the middle, you’ll be starving.

step 3 – Prepare a mental list of things to think about once you zone out.

step 4 – Always begin the meeting with your water bottle less than full. At some point, you’ll want to stretch your legs… and filling it up will be a good             excuse.

step 5 – smile! :)

3) Shitenges, a traditional cloth in my region are amazing. I always have one with me now. Always. Somehow a piece of fabric, about two yards long, has become an integral accessory to everyday life. I’m keeping a running list of all the ways to use them I’ve come across.

- As clothing. Most women in the village wear them as a wrapped skirt. I’ve also used mine as a beach cover-up, shawl, and dress.

- As shade. While walking in the sun, draping a shitenge over your head is surprisingly helpful. Also, if the sun is shining into the car, you can use it as an instant window shade. :)

- As a shower curtain.

- As a quick dry towel.

- To carry laundry, or other various items

- To carry babies (I thought they deserved their own bullet point…)

- To cushion your head when carrying heavy containers of water

- To lay on the ground when sitting outside.

And, did I mention they come in all sorts of awesome patterns, and cost approximately $2.35 USD?

4) Teaching is challenging, rewarding, frustrating, exciting, and hard work. Most of the best and worst moments I’ve had in the past month have been in the classroom. But, I’m getting there. I’m starting to develop some good routines. I’ beginning to get better at planning good lessons (that are at the appropriate level for my learners, and take the right amount of time). I’m doing my best to learn all of their names. And I’m starting to be relaxed and confident enough in the classroom to have fun while I teach.

5) I cannot get over how beautiful the sky is here. Whether it’s raining, sunny, morning, dusk, or evening… it’s always mind blowing-ly gorgeous. Neither photos nor words do it justice. Come and see.

Okay…..that’s all for now. Much love to everyone! 

A walk in the {theme} park

Peace Corps service is like a rollercoaster.

Okay, maybe this analogy is as dead as the proverbial horse… but I think it still has merit. The application process is about as close as you can get to waiting in line for the newest thrill at Six Flags. You’re standing there, awkwardly stuck between other hopeful faces, not sure when you’ll get to your destination, if you’ll get the seat in the front car as you so desperately desire, or if you’ll finally get to the front of the line only to find that you’re too short, or the park is closing, or someone threw up all over the tracks and the ride is shut down.

Then, your invitation comes. You accept, and suddenly you’re strapped in, legs dangling, clutching the handles and combating a rush of second thoughts. Is it worth it? What if this is the ride that changes everything? Should you call it all off?

But, eventually you decide that you didn’t wait in line for 3 hours (or 9-12 months…) to get to the front and then quit. So you go for it. You lurch forward and begin your long, clickety-clackety journey up the big hill – otherwise known as Pre-Service Training. PST is full of strange time-warping powers, anticipation of the “real ride”, getting to a place where you can see the view around you, and steeling your stomach for all the butterflies that promise to react to the coming drop. You make it to swearing in – that is, the top of the first big hill. You’re sure it’s all warm fuzziness and dopamine from here on out.

And it is.

And it isn’t.

Because this nearly ends the metaphor. The truth is, the actual ride that is Peace Corps Service does offer a lot of heart stopping, stomach dropping, butterfly fluttering moments. But a lot of days… you feel stuck on the tracks. Like you’re not going anywhere. So you call maintenance (cleverly disguised as fellow PCVs, friends and family) and get moving again. It can take a while, but it’ll happen.

And last of all, just like a roller coaster... I have a feeling that it will be over much to soon. And that I will look back on this amazing ride and know that it was worth the time and the price it cost to get here. 

Dread-less and reporting for duty.

There are some rumors going around that I chopped my dreads off.

And...they're all true! I spent a wonderful Christmas with my host family in Okahandja… but it was incredibly hot. And they had hair clippers… and it was just time to say goodbye.

This decision has brought numerous changes, such as:

- No longer being called “rasta” when I walk down the street (which was getting a bit annoying…)

- No need to carefully avoid Velcro

- Bucket baths becoming a thousand times easier

- Loss of head traction when carrying water

In any case, I’m enjoying the new look, which takes virtually the same amount of morning prep time (approximately 0.5 minutes), and is much cooler!

After Christmas I headed back up north to Kavango. I have to say, it’s definitely good to be back. It was an amazing month of traveling, but I missed village life (and my puppy!). I transitioned back into it by spending a very relaxing New Year’s Eve camping outside of Rundu with an awesome and eclectic group of people. After that a fellow volunteer, Kara, was able to come and visit for a few days, and we passed our time cooking and baking delicious treats, playing with Bekah, watching Smash and getting some ideas together for our classes.

Now…school is about to begin! Teachers started yesterday, learners come on Tuesday! I’ve been helping with some of the transferring and registration and today I got to put my hand tool skills to use. Yesterday I asked about getting another cabinet for the library, and was directed to a stack of flat cardboard boxes in one of our classrooms. Evidently, the Ministry of Education dropped off new furniture for us, but no one knew how to put it together! So, in a Providential turn of events, I used my handy screwdriver (thanks Mom!) and problem solving skills to put together two locking cabinets and three bookshelves. It took a bit of creativity (missing parts, extra parts, incorrectly spaced holes…) but I have secured one of the cabinets for library books, and am now moving forward with my plan to move the library stock we have out of the staff room and into a classroom. More on that to come!

It’s kind of hard to believe that I’m only now, after nearly six months in Namibia, getting ready to begin what I came here to do. But, by the same token, it’s kind of hard to believe how much I’ve learned since coming here. I’m feeling a bit apprehensive, but mostly excited and ready to get started! So, wish me luck… I’ll let you know how my first couple days go!