My host brother Dantago.

Only a mere week ago, I was headed to live with Namibian couple Sam and Trudy Geiseb, Katatura, a township of Windhoek. I am not usually one who gets nervous over social situations and looking back on my first home stay experience in Soweto, South Africa, I was not nervous at all. But the entire day before I was going to meet my new “family” for the week I couldn’t shake the butterfly feeling from my stomach. I could not help but think of the amazing time I had with my host grandma, Machanza, in South Africa, and pray that I had a similar experience. I was worried that I was not going to get along with these new host parents as well or that I would not be able to have such a relaxed relationship as I did with Machanza. However, in any situation it is not fair to go in with a preconceived notion as to how the experience will play out. And as fate would have it, the experience turned out to be like nothing I could have imagined.

I was picked up on Monday evening by my host father, Sam, and as far as first impressions go, he seemed like a very nice man. We had good small talk in the car while we headed to his house (soon to be my home also for the next week) to pick up his son Dantago. We then continued to pick up my host mother Trudy from work and then headed home for the night. What seemed like a very simple task of picking people up, was actually more stressful then you would think, mostly because there was a screaming one and half year old in the car. However, I think that is the best word that can describe my overall week with the Geiseb family, stressful. There were a few moments that were really great throughout my time with them, but for the most part I was really happy to return to the CGE house on Sunday evening. There are a few things that stick out in my mind for the week, some good and some bad. I’ll start with the bad news and end with the good!
The most stressful thing for me had to be the fact that I felt like I constantly did not fit in. Now at this point in my trip it should not surprise me, because I have once again adapted to being the minority in a country. Nevertheless, it became more than feeling like the odd man out for me this past week. I strived throughout this experience to really understand the people that I was living with along with their culture, and in return I felt that there was no interest about what made me tick as a person. There were multiple times during my experience, where I felt like a burden to my family. For instance, most nights they would not realize until it was late into the evening around eight or nine pm that they needed to feed me dinner. Every time we sat down together, I asked so many questions so that I could begin to comprehend where they fit within the constructs of Namibia. They would politely answer my questions, but never ask where I stood on the issues that I brought up. I think the most difficult time of my stay was on Saturday. I was left alone in the house without any word of when the family would return. Even though I had been staying in their home for almost 6 days, I felt like a complete stranger. Later in the day when Trudy finally arrived home, I once again became pseudo babysitter to my host brother. (The babysitting had been going on all week and only got worse over the weekend.) At around four o’clock Sam, Dantago, and myself headed to a family party. When I arrived, all eyes were on me, and not in the good way. I could feel the heat of everyone’s stares, but being optimistic I kept a smile on my face thinking that when they got to meet me it wouldn’t be as awkward. But they never even came over to ask my name, they all just whispered and stared at me; for the entire evening. It was one of the most uncomfortable experiences I have ever had. And to add to the “fun” of the evening, I not only babysat my host brother but a whole slew of other children, and I was not fed because I was allergic to all the food they had. The entire day was stressful, overwhelming, and exhausting and that night was the first time I felt a sense of homesickness. Despite all of those feelings, there is a light the end of the tunnel.

Me and my new friend Percy 🙂

Ok so this is my first post and I probably should have written sooner, but so much has happened since I arrived about two weeks ago. When I got onto the plane, I thought that the reality of going to Africa was bound to hit me, but it is almost 15 days later and I still don’t think it has sunk in. Coming to Africa I did not have any idea what I was getting into, but everything that I had previously thought would be in a study abroad experience has been totally blown out of the water. I don’t feel like I am a tourist, just passing through this beautiful country, but rather a concerned citizen trying to understand what is truly going on here. While I was in South Africa I heard from so many different people, ranging from political figures to people living in areas that do not have regular access to water and electricity. It was so amazing because I didn’t just get the surface view of the country but I got to hear the voices of the people that make up the heart and soul of South Africa. Every day we would hear from someone different; each having their own opinion on the country and its post-apartheid status. It was so interesting to hear how each person felt about what the country has gone through and where it is going in the future. However it also made me realize that what I may think needs to be done in the country is sometimes different than what the people want or need. I have constantly been questioning my role in this experience. Am I supposed to be a student and educate myself in order to be more informed and educate other people, or am I supposed to take action. At the end of each day in South Africa, I would lay awake in my bed thinking of everything I had seen and heard, trying in some way to formulate my opinion. I have come to this conclusion thus far, and that is “I don’t know” I have no idea where I stand, or if I will be able to pick a “side” in all of the mess that is going on in Southern Africa. But I can say this, after spending 10 days in Johannesburg, South Africa, and 5 days in Windhoek, Namibia, I have hope. Southern Africa is so beautiful and so full of life and promise, that I can’t help but to have hope for their future. I may not know if I will play a role in making it a better one, but I have hope that they will get there. Until next time 🙂

I thought it fitting that my first post title was questioning my arrival (I’m in Africa?!) and now my possibly last post title is questioning my departure from this lovely place.  Time has flown.  In less than 6 hours I will leave Windhoek for a week in Cape Town, South Africa and in 8 days I will be on a plane bound for home.  When did that happen?

I don’t have any idea how to start a post that sums up my experiences here. They were overwhelming. Eye-opening. Enlightening. Beautiful. Upsetting. Heart-warming. Frustrating. Humbling. The list goes on. But ultimately, because of the good and the bad, this semester has been wonderful.  Every day presented a new adventure.  Every adventure had a lesson to be learned.  I know that I will continue to learn from my days here long after this, especially in my first months back at home.  People always tell you that studying abroad will change you and your life, and while I can’t say for sure, I can foresee myself agreeing with that statement.

I’ve been working on this post for two days and I’m still at a loss for what to say.

My housemates, my homestays, my travels, my classes…they’ve all given me more than I could have imagined in one semester.  The question I think we’re all struggling with though is how to take it all back.  At this point everything I’ve learned is still pretty overwhelming.  Just know that when you ask me how my semester was, the short answer that you’re expecting won’t even begin to skim the surface of how my time here went.

I’ll leave you with the link to CGE Namibia’s blog which we were required to write in throughout the semester.  I don’t know why I didn’t think to post it earlier, but it will give you much more insight into what we learned about here than my blog has.

We’re off to the airport in a few minutes and I have no idea when, if ever, I’ll be able to return to Namibia.  I’m not sure that I have really realized that yet either.  Since I’m doing a terrible job at summing things up here, perhaps I’ll give it another try when I get home.

Thank you Namibia and CGE for giving me the best semester yet of my college career!

So you’re planning on studying abroad or at least considering it…

If you’re anything like me you’re pretty excited at the opportunity but can’t help thinking “[insert location here] is so far away!”   (I am approximately 7,579 miles from my home in Pittsburgh right now!)  No need to worry, studying abroad is well worth traveling the distance.  And in case you’re still worried, I’ve got a few tips for how to cope with the distance!

#1. Know your chocolate source! Haha, we asked some Americans working in Namibia their tips and this was what one of the women said. She was half joking, but I’m not.  I’ve eaten more chocolate here than I do at home.  Also, Cadbury seems to have the chocolate monopoly here and they have so many delicious chocolate bars! (I recommend coconut and cashew)

#2. Know and love the people you’re living with. Being in one house as a living-learning community means I constantly have 22 fellow students to vent to when necessary.  It occasionally means conflict as well, but that’s inevitable.  There are plenty of programs where you don’t live in a big community like this, so I can’t speak from experience, but I suggest making some close friends who you can go to when you’re having a rough day.  I certainly wouldn’t have been able to cope all on my own. And I can’t imagine what living in this house would have been like if I hadn’t bothered to get to know everyone.

#3. Skype! I’m sure you all know this by now, but it’s a wonderful little invention that allows you to talk to your family and friends…for free! And if you’re lucky enough to have decent internet, you may even be able to video chat. (Don’t always depend on that in Namibia) There’s always the good old telephone, too.  But skype is just a nice step up.  Especially for your cheap college friends who you don’t expect to pay for a calling card.

#4. Bring DVDs. I didn’t do this, but luckily some other people did.  Sometimes you just need a taste of your favorite movie or TV show. (Gilmore Girls)  They’re also good for nights spent in when you don’t want to do your work!

#5. Become familiar with your surroundings. For me, getting to know my way around town at least a little makes me feel more at home.  That way you won’t get lost while on a walk or be totally confused when your taxi driver can’t find his way to your neighborhood.  And you can find the best way to the convenience store with the delicious french fries (aka spice or hot chips) or the place with cheap gelato.

#6. Figure out what you can’t live without, then live without it. This was the serious piece of advice that the American workers gave us.  Depending on where you study, you may or may not have access to things that are a regular part of your life at home, especially technology. And some staple foods. (A perk of Namibia – they have peanut butter and lots of it! This house goes through a ridiculous amount every week. I hear it’s a bit harder to come by in Europe…) I hate to admit that I’m a little too attached to my cell phone at home, but I don’t even have one here and I don’t care one bit!  You will survive, I promise. (Although it is a bit tough on those days when I just really want some triscuits.)

For now, these are what I can think of as some of the most important.  If something else essential comes to me, I’ll update this post.  For me, the best thing is hanging out with my housemates because they’re hilarious and they keep from thinking too much about the distance.  But when I am thinking about it, writing to people back home keeps me connected and happy.  Receiving mail is pretty awesome, too!

The places people live here (and plenty of other countries) continue to amaze me.  After class on Thursday, we headed south to go camping for the weekend and we stayed in a few towns that really are just plopped in what feels like the middle of nowhere.  The landscape of the south is much drier than the north and it is a pretty good display of Namibia’s low population density.  If you’ve ever wondered what the Earth looked like before humans took over, the South of this country is the place to look.  You can stand on top of a mountain and see nothing for miles in all directions. (I know, I did it!)

All of our trips are not only chances to see more of the country, but also to learn more about the people, culture, history, and development of Southern Africa.  During this travel seminar, we stayed at two community run campsites and a private game lodge that practices social and environmental responsibility.  The layout of Namibia, both with land and people, lends itself to practicing natural resource management combined with tourism activities like campsites

Brukkaros Mountain near Berseba, Namibia.

and craft markets.  It was particularly interesting for me as the first two campsites are actually run by the organization I intern for, Namibia Development Trust.  It is still up in the air if this is an effective development strategy, especially in a place that is so spaced out.

Becca Hertz playing with a local child.

Our second campsite was probably the coolest (except for these tiny green bugs that attacked us and everything we owned).  It was near the base of Brukkaros mountain, which isn’t very tall, but still pretty awesome.  Most of us woke up early in the morning and hiked to the top.  It was my first mountain climb!  The view was beautiful and the climb was a great workout early in the morning. I’m still feeling pretty sore but it was well worth it.  We were a little intimidated by the 8 or so baboons that were not pleased by our presence, but luckily they let us pass.

After our climb on Saturday morning, we met up with a group of high school kids from the school in Berseba and helped to repaint an old school building that they are trying to rehabilitate.  It was actually more of an opportunity for us to interact with community members which we appreciated.  An important part of this program is learning about life here from Namibians, not just our teachers, so being able to talk to them about their town and their school was enlightening.  There was also a community meeting happening later in the day, so it seemed like the whole town was there and all the little children had a ball running around with us.  Best of all, the high school kids were in their school’s choir so they sang to us and it was amazing!  Every time a group of Namibians sings to us, I am in awe.  The title of this post comes from the lyrics to a song that they sang – and one we were able to sing with them.  Being in Namibia certainly is a worthy reason for celebration!

It’s hard to believe, but this trip was our last big group travel in Namibia for the semester.  We only have 3 more weeks left in this beautiful country before we head to Cape Town, South Africa for a week and then it’s home to the States.  Of course I am finally settled in and I have to start thinking about leaving…

The final installment of my adventure blog is about my rafting trip on the Orange River! Sorry this took so long!

CGE allows us just over a week to do our own traveling wherever we may want to go.  Most people in our group headed to Zimbabwe and Botswana to see Victoria Falls.  That was the trip I had originally planned on taking, but when we discussed our Spring Break options, a few relaxing days on a river just seemed to call to me.  Truthfully, I really want to go to Vic Falls when I can sit in the pool on the edge, but that’s not an option in this extra-rainy season!

Myself and two Clark University students, Amanda Major and Katie McGonagle, drove all the way to the South to reach the Orange which forms the border between South Africa and Namibia.  As usual, the landscape continually amazes me and this trip was no exception.  While we were in the North, we saw flat, flooded, grassy lands.  Now we were seeing the exact opposite.  The lands became desert, like on our trip to Swakopmund, but this time the land seemed more orange than brown.  Eventually we hit a long series of plateaus that seemed so out of place.  After 9 or so hours, we reached the border in over 90 degree heat!

We thought there would be other students on our trip because it was a special student price, but it ended up just being the three of us and our rafting guides!  Pine was a 40 something stereotypical adventure guide and Frans was 24 and new to being a rafting guide.  Pine also brought his crazy girlfriend Kelly.  The three of them made for a great time!  We woke up the next day and had to go back to the border post and stamp back into Namibia since our trip would be ending on the opposite side of the river.  We finally set out on our trip and I knew it was going to be great – the water was warm and calm and the scenery was beautiful.  We spent the next 3 days navigating the Orange while swimming or drinking whenever we pleased and sleeping under the stars and the full moon.  Talking to our guides about their lives in South Africa was also a highlight of the trip.  Pine had been in the forces fighting against the Namibian freedom fighters in the 80s, so it was definitely interesting to get his perspective since we’ve been studying so much Namibia history.

When it comes to deciding on your own travel, I say go wherever your heart desires!  I still would love to go to Victoria Falls someday, but rafting called to me as soon as I heard about it.  And I don’t regret it one bit!  It was nice to get away from the big group for a while and I had an amazing time!

OH! I forgot to mention before that my friends and I got our picture in the Namibian, the newspaper here!  We were at an Elemotho concert at a local restaurant (he’s pretty good, by the way!) when they took our picture, and sure enough it turned up in the “Faces and Places” section the next week! We all thought it was pretty exciting.

Our free weekends are dwindling in numbers, so I’m off to find something new to do in this place before I run out of time!

Only one, but I had been starting to lose hope about seeing any, and then finally it was right there, eating a tree! It was wonderful.  Some friends headed to Botswana later and were able to see a lot more, but since I didn’t, I was happy to see any at all!

I should backtrack and say that this happened in Etosha National Park which is where we spent the last two days of our trip to the North.  It’s one of the best places for wildlife viewing in Southern Africa and we saw plenty of zebras and giraffes and everything else you can imagine that you probably saw in The Lion King.  It was amazing.

The best way to share my experience is through pictures, so I’ll post a few here and the rest on my Picasa! The pictures really don’t do the animals justice; it really is something you have to see for yourself.  Going to Disney’s Animal Kingdom is pretty cool, but it doesn’t get nearly as good as seeing these animals in their true environment!

I could have watched these giraffes all day long.

So if you look very closely under the tree on the left, you can see lions relaxing underneath.  We watched this giraffe and his friends play chicken with these lions for a good 20 minutes. This was really all the farther the giraffes got, but we couldn’t figure out why they would want to get that close at all!

One of my favorite photos of zebras at a water hole.

This was all I truly wanted to see!

Vultures snackin' on some giraffe.

Needless to say, Etosha was breathtaking and certainly something I’ll never forget! Now I’m going to donate my laptop to the good of the house so we can relax and watch a movie, but I’ll provide a summary of my spring break trip on the Orange River soon!

We’re leaving in half an hour for a two week trip to the north of Namibia!  We’re heading to Ovamboland, which is the most densely populated portion of Namibia. (Not saying much for the 2nd least densely populated country on Earth.)  We’ll be doing a rural homestay for about a week, which should definitely be an interesting, but amazing experience.  We’re also going to Etosha National Park and if I don’t see elephants, I will be quite upset!

This will certainly be the biggest adventure of our semester yet.  Then I’ll come back for a day then head out for a rafting trip for spring break.  I’ll try to update you in between, but until then, I’ll be out of touch!

And that’s probably because we were.

Our 4 hour journey to the lovely coastal town of Swakopmund highlighted a few of the reasons why Namibia is called “the land of contrasts.”  As we left the lush green mountains of Windhoek, the land became a bit more flat and at one point we passed a few giraffes!  About halfway there, the landscape made a pretty quick transition to tan with some plants and then eventually just brown as far as the eye could see, dotted with small bushes.  We had hit the Namib Desert and it was beautiful in a whole new way!  I was particularly mystified by the miles of sand interrupted by random mountains…it made me want to study geology. (I hope my roommate from school appreciates that!)  Then of course we finally reached our destination and could see the waters of the Atlantic Ocean spreading out in front of us.

If I begin to write about this short trip, I may not stop.  So instead, I’m going to highlight our days with pictures.  You can check out the rest of my photos on my picasa page!

The beautiful sunset we arrived just in time to see.

Sand, flat, sand, flat, Mountain?

The Rossing Uranium mine pit. As deep as the Eiffel Tower is tall. Nearly a mile long!

This is the old bucket used for shoveling. The new ones are even bigger!

The lagoon is formed by a long sand peninsula sheltering it from the ocean.

There were so many flamingoes and they were beautiful!

We climbed the second highest dune in Namibia, Dune 7!

For our free day, some of use went sea kayaking and saw tons of seals.

We thought the top of the dune was a pretty cool place for our VALPO picture!

So our trip was amazing, but it wasn’t all just fun and games.  We continued our theme of Nation Building, Globalization, and Decolonizing the Mind by touring the mine, hearing from speakers about economic policy, and visiting some wellness centers for adults and children.  Check out these links to find out more about where we went!

Rossing Uranium Mine

Mondesa Youth Opportunities

Export Processing Zones

I wish I could have spent my whole semester there, but we are back in Windhoek and back in the swing of things for a week before starting nearly 3 weeks of travel. Just have to make it through these 5 days!