The weather is heating up in Namibia and we are in the home stretch with classes. Having said that, spring break came at a nice time for us. After finishing classes on Friday, we enjoyed Namibia’s version of Oktoberfest. Most of the attendees were of German decent, the music, food, and beer were also very German. One of our German housemates came with us to the fest and said it was basically a spitting image of Oktoberfest in Germany. It was a unique and fun experience because we got a taste of another culture while in Namibia.
The following morning, we headed to the coast of Namibia for the remainder of our spring break. Swakopmund, the town we stayed in, has a plethora of mom and pop style cafes with a lot of good food to chose from and coffee shops that are similar to those in the states. I was happy to drink good coffee, as that is something about being away from home that I miss. During our days, we spent a lot of time on the beach. It was relaxing–although the water was a little too cold to swim–and really nice to be by the ocean. My favorite part of break was dune sledding. Being right on the desert makes for a fun place to ride the dunes. You start on bunny hills and progressively take on steeper areas of the dune. It was amazing how fast you fly down the sand, the only difficult part about going down, was the return back up, although it was well worth it.
From here, we continue on with classes and internships until the end of November. The semester is flying by and before I know it, I’ll be packing up and heading for Cape Town and then home. I have had such a wonderful time abroad and I look forward to what the next few weeks have in store.
This past week, my group and I traveled to the coast of Namibia, Swakopmund, and I completed my third and final home stay. On the coast, we learned about Namibia’s exports and what impact that has on the economy here. It was interesting tosee some of the topics we discuss in class in action and being able to relate that back to development, which is a huge aspect of this program. We were also granted a free day on the coast, which I spent shopping in town and doing a yoga class on the beach. My personal favorite part of the being at the coast, was climbing Dune 7, the oldest and largest dune in the Namib desert. It was exhilarating to climb- considering it was almost at a 90 degree angle- but we all made it up and our reward was the view at the top and the trip down because it felt like we were walking on the moon, or so I’d imagine. Swakopmund all around was a highly enjoyable experience and I look forward to going back for my spring break.
Following the trip to the coast, was my home stay. I stayed with Oma (Grandma) Elizabeth, Rhianna, and her children on their family’s farm. Oma did not speak any English nor did Rhianna’s children, so Rhianna helped translate since I only know basic phrases of Damara. It was an experience that was rewarding and sometimes challenging when considering the language barrier. Still, I was able to participate in daily life on the farm even when it was just Oma and/or the children and I. From collecting wood with Oma to following her instructions on herding goats to playing with the children, it was cool to see how you can still understand one another even without speaking the same language.
One of my favorite things about the farm was the sense of community. Everyone was either related or close friends and all the families were extremely open and welcoming to us. They included us as if we were part of their community. For example, on Tuesdays and Thursdays, the members of the farm watch a soap opera or “soapies” as they call them. About twenty people gathered around a small TV that was probably at least 50 years old and fuzzy in order to tune in. People sat close to each other, pulling up chairs, squeezing on the bed, or finding space on the floor. The soapie was comical in and of itself. It was actually a Mexican drama that was dubbed over in English. None of the voices matched the characters and the filming of it was humorus. The story line was pretty good and it was a lot of fun to watch with all the families on the farm.
Even if I went to another family’s home, I was welcomed with open arms. Being part of a community from the moment I stepped foot on the farm made the week very enjoyable. Spending a week there made me a little nervous at first because I was not sure what to expect, but I was sad saying my farewells and I definitely could have stayed longer if I need to. All in all, it was a very enjoyable week and a great experience trying new things. I was grateful for the program because I know that if I were to ever travel to Namibia on my own, I would never have the same experience. It is something that I will never forget.
The air has finally cooled down. I roll over to look at the clock. It’s 5:09am and I know that in 51 minutes I’ll be meeting outside our tent to run around the campsite before the sun comes up. My mind wanders off into amazement and disbelief that I’m camping in Namibia where lions, zebras, giraffes, and elephants roam right outside our gate.
It’s 6:00 now and we are off running, first around the campsite and then to the waterhole with hopes of seeing animals gather for a drink. When we arrive, I can tell that some people have been perched there for hours; bundled in scarves and hats, accompanied by large lensed cameras that sit on tripods. After waiting for a while, there’s no luck. We head back to the campsite for breakfast and a game drive.
Driving through the park, we see mostly zebras and springbok at first. Moving onwards, there are elephants and giraffes. A pile up of cars is ahead and one of the other drivers told us that there is a leopard under one of the trees. Our van is frantic over the binoculars until we see his polk-a-dotted coat under the tree. Amazed, we stare a little longer.
Now, we make our way to another waterhole where a hyena drinks. Zebras approach in a single file line, keeping there distance from the hyena as they stay on the other side. The hyena ignores them for a few minutes, but decides it is time for them to go, running towards them. They who is in charge, so they take off. The hyena takes a few more drinks and then sprawls out on the ground. It is out of our sight now.
Looping back around, a herd of elephants approach the leopard from behind the tree he lays under. There are baby elephants in the herd and some of us start to worry that the leopard might attack, but our driver assures us he won’t. Instead, the elephants will be the ones to kick the leopard of his spot. The four baby elephants stay back as two of the elders chaperone them. Two more approach the the leopard and, sure enough, he moves for them. We drive parallel to the leopard as he tries to find another spot. He lays down again under shade, staying far enough from the elephants not to be bothered again.
Back at camp we have lunch and swim. Later, we go on another drive to see elephants, both young and old, and other areas of the park. After, we watch the sun dye itself a pinkish orange at the waterhole and rhinos approach for a drink.
For the past few weeks, I have been working with first and second graders at my internship to help with reading and grammar. Last week, I enjoyed spending time with the older kids, grade six and seven, to help with math work. I still truly like to work with younger students, but I have also been thrilled giving assistance to older students. It’s been a lot of fun getting to know them and getting good feedback from them on homework that we worked on in previous sessions. One of the girls I helped, Brumelda, has become a buddy of mine. After the first time helping her with work, she’s come to me for other help ever since. This was a neat moment for me because I was worried that I might not be as useful to the students as I would like, but I’m more confident now in helping them. It’s very satisfying to me when I see them to start understanding the work and have students approach me for help. I try to be extra positive and enthusiastic with the students because they might not get that at school, according to my supervisor. Brumelda noticed this and, at first, I thought she might have found it a bit annoying, but she ended up writing a story for school about a day when her life changed and she wrote about meeting me! I think she picked it mostly because she was struggling to chose a topic, but it was awesome that she even thought about me for that. As far as interning goes, it has been a great week and was followed by a fun weekend.
On Saturday night, we celebrated the first birthday in our house. We had fun going to a sky bar at the top of the Hilton Hotel in town and then made our way to other parts of town. It’s always fun to try new places around Windhoek and everyone had a great time. Following our evening, we decided to go out for brunch on Sunday morning. It did not go as planned, though. The restaurant we selected only got one of eleven orders correct. For example, two friends got Eggs Benedict, but they gave them a piece of stale bread, ham, and boiled eggs slathered with a frighteningly large amount of mayo. Some of us were a little frustrated, but the group of us have such good attitudes, we were all laughing about it an hour later. I can’t wait to see what lies ahead this week as we travel to the northern part of the country.
For the past week, I lived with a family in Katatura, Windhoek. Katatura is an informal settlement, similar to a suburb. I attended classes during the week, interned in the afternoons, and returned to my host family’s home in the evenings. During the week, I enjoyed dinner with them and I was lucky enough to go to a Swaziland v. Namibia soccer game. Soccer is very important to the Namibian people, so it functioned as both a sporting event and a cultural experience. Between the fans and the environment itself, it was very similar to any sporting event in the United States. We sat next to the Namibian women’s team, who came to support the male players. I was happy to be there and for the experience especially because I don’t know if that is something I will ever be able to do again.
On the other hand, the week did present its challenges. Between being busy with class, school work, an internship, and trying to find time to spend with my host family, I found it difficult to manage time. During the weekend, I also experienced my first wave of homesickness. I was wishing I was spending time with my own family, as the weekend presented difficulties. I did, however, enjoy the soccer game and some of the conversations we had. I learned a bit about the politics of Namibia and the culture of the family’s tribe, which we have been discussing in class. I liked hearing stories from a direct source and being able to apply them to recent readings and topics. In general, they were willing to answer the questions I had and the topics I brought up. I was pleased to answer any questions they had about the United States and I jumped at opportunities to correct some stereotypes they had aboutAmerica.While the week went by very fast, the weekend moved a little slower and I was happy to reunite with my group. On this home stay, I discovered that part of the fun was rehashing the weekend and sharing experiences with fellow students and I look forward to telling the story of my home stay to friends and family back at home!
Although I have had very little class time so far this semester, I’m enjoying what I have learned and excited for what knowledge has yet to come. The majority of my time I have been interning at Bernard Nordkamp Centre (BNC), where underprivileged children (grade 1-7) seek academic assistance after school. So far, I have worked with first and second graders, helping them with reading and on occasion, grammar. Students and I meet one-on-one and he/she reads to me. Education is not my college major and I have never taught anyone to read, which is more challenging than I anticipated.
I’ve only been at BNC for one week, and I understand how people are passionate about education. It’s endearing to work with children who are eager to learn and want to make improvements. From what my supervisor has told me, not all the BNC students are as interested as others, but for the most part, they are all there because they want to be. Working with children who want to learn is the best part of my internship, but leaves me in awe at the same time. I felt my mouth drop open when I learned that teachers sometimes hit the students with a branch or ruler and call them “stupid” if they aren’t understanding. I couldn’t help but wonder how students could be enthusiastic about learning when they are punished for not understanding the material. Knowing this, BNC is truly a great place for students. They come after school, have a little bit of free time, eat, and learn. They are encouraged and taught with enthusiasm and respect, which is what they need.
In other news, my group and I have been enjoying Namibia. During the day we go often times go off in different directions, whether it be to class or an internship, but reunite for dinner. We have an awesome community and have been enjoying ourselves. On weekends we like to go shopping, hang out by the pool, and hit the town at night. We have community events on Sundays, where we all do activities as a group. Last week, we had a picnic in Parliament Gardens and this week we will be having a pool party. The semester is already flying by, but we have been sure to soak up all the knowledge and fun that we possibly can!
After a 17 hour flight, we arrived safe and sound in Johannesburg, South Africa. Very quickly, we were immersed in a new and exciting culture through visits to museums and time spent with representatives of political parties. The most insightful experience for me, however, was the weekend we spent in Soweto, a township in Johannesburg. During that time, a fellow student and I lived with a family of four. We enjoyed spending time with the family and getting to know their cultures, Sutho and Zulu. The mother of the household was quite knowledgable, as she grew up Zulu and became Sutho when she married. She had a lot to say about different customs and rituals they celebrate, especially marriage and funerals. She told us about how South Africans have two wedding ceremonies: one “western,” much like what we see in the US. The other is traditional and, arguably, the more important of the two. Before this ceremony, the groom makes a payment to the family and if they accept, the couple can marry. At the ceremony a goat is sacrificed in honor of the couple and the love they share. Without the traditional ceremony, the couple is not considered married in their culture, therefore couples will often marry traditionally before having a western wedding.
Although I learned a lot during the weekend with my host family, I was surprised about how similar things were to families in the United States. I expected life on the other side of the world to be opposite of what I know so well when we it was quite the same, essentially. It was engrossing to see how parents still want the same things for their children and children are still silly and innocent. They go to school and are in activities and family values still matter. Realizing this was the most impactful aspect of the weekend because regardless of location, ethnicity, and culture, we have similarities and there is always a common ground.
Deciding to study abroad was not a challenging decision for me. Growing up, I knew I was interested, and it was highly encouraged in my family. My mom lived and studied in Europe during her college years and after graduation, she moved to Japan for a year to teach English. To this day, she is still enthusiastic about her experiences and I believe that this is what triggered my own desire to study abroad, although it was ultimately my decision.
I was fortunate enough to travel to other countries such as Canada, Costa Rica, Mexico, Belize, and Honduras. Canada was my first time outside of the United States and although I enjoyed it, it almost felt like I had not left America, because we were just over the border. A few summers later, my parents said we were going on a cruise which is when we went to Mexico, Belize, and Honduras. After seeing part of Mexico, I quickly realized that the world is a very large and unique place and it’s important to acknowledge that it is so much bigger than who we are as individuals. I was happy to be see these places even if I didn’t see everything and grateful for the lessons that I learned and memories that I made. Fast forwarding two years later, I got to see Costa Rica where I embraced a culture different from my own as my family and I lived like locals. We ate the same foods and stayed in a home similar to that of the residents. Living like this was an eye opening experience by taking on daily life in another part of the world, and makes you very appreciative of what you have, which is why it’s important to see new places.
Although my mother is an advocate of traveling, it was my own experiences in the countries I have been to that made me want to go abroad. These vacations gave me a thirst for new sights, adventures, memories, and lessons, which can be satisfied by studying abroad, in my opinion. Overall, I chose to study abroad to enrich my college experience and my perspective on life in general.
The past two weeks have been an emotional roller coaster to say the least. The final week and a half in Namibia were filled with final projects and papers, but also tearful goodbyes. After all of our projects were done, the fifteen of us cooked dinner for all the staff that made our four months in Namibia what it was. We got a chance to go around the table and say our thank yous. A lot of the group mentioned how awesome it was that in a group of 15 of us, we all got along really well and how uncommon it is for that to happen. I couldn’t agree more. Living with three guys who go to polytechnic of Namibia, we were able to really get to know them and it was a rough goodbye. I know I’ve said this time and time again, but Namibia has become home to me, and my heart broke leaving.
Inside Robben Island prison
Despite the sadness, an excitement filled the bus because our long awaited trip to Cape Town was finally here. Throughout the week, we visited various museums, churches and heard from many different speakers. My favorite of which was Robben Island where we got to tour the prison, hear from a man who was imprisoned for five years, and see Mandela’s solitary confinement cell.
Throughout the week we also got to to non-academic actives like visiting Cape Point, Boulder’s beach and hiking Lion’s head. Cape Town is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen. On the hike up Lion’s head — unfortunately we weren’t able to hike Table Mountain while we were here because of weather — we were able to see all around the coast for miles with Table Mountain and Devil’s peak on one side and the twelve disciples on the other. It was an incredible view, photos don’t even do it justice! Cape point was breathtaking standing on one of the southernmost points in the world seeing two oceans joining together. Great white shark cage diving was planned for me and Sam, but the weather and time scheduling didn’t permit it.. I guess I’ll just have to come back for that one!
Cape Point
Despite all the fun activities that have been happening this week, it’s not easy knowing I’ll be back in the U.S in 48 hours. The best way I can describe it really is simply bittersweet. It will be nice to be with family and friends, but I am so not ready to be leaving southern Africa. Every day, I’m reminded just how special my time spent here was. There is no doubt in my mind that I am no where close to the person I was when I left Claremont, CA on January 18th. The people I’ve met, the things I’ve seen and the places I’ve been have shaped me in ways I never imagined possible. God has worked in my life these past four months in pretty incredible ways that I’d have to take way longer to explain to you — if even possible to explain. I’m leaving Namibia and south Africa with a very heavy heart, but a heart filled with memories and experiences that I am infinitely grateful for. There’s no doubt in my mind that I’ll be back in two years with my BSN. Thank you southern Africa for the most amazing time of my life, and thank you to each and every one of you who reached out to me with words of encouragement every step of the way. I am beyond blessed.
I have 16 days left in Namibia and 23 left in southern Africa, WHAT? Crazy, right? So this past week was full of classwork and projects, so instead of telling you about that, I’ll give you a little glimpse into how I’m feeling as this last month of the semester rolls in – as hard as that is for me to admit. My semester has been 100% all I have ever hoped for and so much more. I’ve learned things I never would have even thought I would learn about myself and about the world around me. I ‘ve made new friends, tried new foods, seen beautiful places, gained family members, and fell in love with every little bit and piece of Namibia. I can say with my entire heart that Windhoek has become my home, and I know that when I leave, I’ll long to return.
As I was writing in my journal the other night, I was trying to make a list of what I’m excited for about going home vs. what I know I’ll miss about southern Africa. Seeing family and friends definitely tops the first list, but the latter? I could go on for days. I’ll try to make it as short as possible:
Things I’m excited about:
1. Seeing Family & Friends – This goes without saying, I miss my family and my friends like crazy. It’ll be awesome to see their smiling faces in person again. Thank God for FaceTime.
2. Fruit – I can’t wait to sink my teeth into a fresh strawberry – scratch that how about an entire fruit salad. I’ve had plenty of apples for just about the rest of my life – but it’s all those good berries I miss.
3. Salad – You’ll notice a lot of this list has to do with food. My apologies. As one Namibian student put it here.. “You guys just eat leaves in America.. Is that even good?” YES.. yes it is. I’ll be having a nice fresh salad when I get home. (And some in-n-out)
4. Clothes Dryer – Don’t get me wrong, a clothes line works just fine, but there’s something so nice about knowing you can wash & dry your clothes in around an hour instead of 6… unless it rains. Then give it another day.
5. A gym – Running around our neighborhood has been nice, but the same loop gets boring after a while. It’ll be nice to be back in a gym again.
6. Driving – If I even remember how or which side I’m supposed to drive on, it’ll be nice to drive again.
7 . Baseball games – Hey.. it’s baseball season.. I can’t help myself
8. The radio –Of course we have radios here, but it’s about a year behind the U.S. I couldn’t tell you one song that’s being overplayed on American radios right now. It’ll be nice to hear all the new stuff that’s been released in the past 4 months
Things I’ll miss:
1. Sunsets – if you’ve been reading my blogs, I’m sure you’ve caught onto this by now. Sunsets are by far one of my favorite things and in Namibia, they’re just about as beautiful as they come. The pinks, the purples, the oranges, the blues… nothing beats ’em.
2. Days spent laying by the pool – Pretty self explanatory, nothing beats a poolside nap. Have a ton of reading to do for class? Oh, I’ll just lay by the pool and do it. Can I do that at Valpo ? No. Will I miss it? YES.
3. The mountain/sky duo – Oh my goodness… The picture perfect white clouds in the light blue sky meeting the green mountains that encompass Windhoek.. pure beauty right there.
4. The pap – Despite my hate for carbs that has been created by this trip, I really will miss the pap – eating it with our hands, and all the delicious sauce – ah perfection!
5. Non-stop beautiful weather– Again, if you know me, you know I don’t do well in anything but sunshine = aka Valpourainsnow can be torture at times. There’s nothing better than not having to look at the weather app, just knowing that shorts and a tank top will do no matter what. (Or a bathing suit poolside)
6. CGE House- This house has become a home to me, no doubt about it. I remember getting here the first day and being like whoa this place is huge. It’s familiar now – especially after being gone for 3 weeks.
7. $1 Taxis- Sure the taxi drivers are pushy and annoying at times, but what’s better than only paying N$10 ($1 USD) to get wherever you need to be in the Windhoek area
8. Nights out on the town – Whether it’s seeing a play, watching a sunset at three circles, staring at the city lights, or out at the club, nights in Windhoek have made for some amazing memories.
9. FHS- My heart breaks leaving this place, especially the people. I’ve made a family over the past 4 months at FHS and these people have touched me more than I could have ever imagined – those I worked with, and the little ones I taught every Monday & Tuesday. I long to see their smiling faces again, but I know God is constantly working in their lives.
10. The people- I’ve said it time and time again, but I’ve made a family here in southern Africa – in Johannesburg, in Windhoek, in Katutura and in Khorixas. Whether it’s my home stay families, my teachers, my coworkers or the group of 15, my trip would not have been the same without these amazing individuals. There’s not much more I can say besides that it kills me to know I may never see some of them again. And a huge thank you goes out to each and every one of them for touching my life in a way they probably don’t even realize.
I could go on for days, but I won’t. I’ve never been happier than during my past 3 months I’ve spent in Namibia. I still think every day about how lucky I am to have been given this incredible opportunity, and thank you for letting me share it with you! But hey.. I still have 23 days, 7 of which include CAPE TOWN! So peace out for now.
This photo doesn’t do it justice, but see what I mean?
Here’s what my third month all around southern Africa looked like:
Thanks always for reading!
All my love,
xoxo
Maddy
The dunes
abroad was not a challenging decision for me. Growing up, I knew I was interested, and it was highly encouraged in my family. My mom lived and studied in Europe during her college years and after graduation, she moved to Japan for a year to teach English. To this day, she is still enthusiastic about her experiences and I believe that this is what triggered my own desire to study abroad, although it was ultimately my decision.
