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!

After a week of too much school work, too much procrastination, and just enough dancing in the living room (to prolong the procrastination), the weekend finally arrived! However, there is nothing too exciting to report about this weekend because it’s been full of lounging by the pool and enjoying each other’s company.

Friday night half of us stayed in and just relaxed and watched some movies. On Saturday, a few of us went to the Namibia Crafts Centre which was completely overwhelming! I loved it, but now I think I need a whole other suitcase to hold everything that I’m going to want to buy friends and family…and myself too. A lot of the stores hold similar, typical African souvenirs; but there is one very large center with multiple vendors that has so many amazing, original works. I’m not planning on going back until right before we leave here or else I’ll blow my whole budget!

The rest of yesterday and this morning have been pretty lazy. We really wanted to go hiking this weekend, but it’s slightly complicated to find transportation to the trails without planning in advance. And we can’t go just anywhere because some of the mountains are not safe for tourists. Today, I’m just enjoying the sunshine and the warm weather. And there is nothing wrong with that!

A lot of advice from past students tells us to get out of the house whenever we can, which I intend to do as well. But my favorite piece of wisdom said “Don’t let anyone make you feel bad about what you choose to do – be it traveling, clubbing, or spending time in the house – whatever you’re doing, you’re doing it in Namibia and that’s way cool!” I wholeheartedly agree with this statement I think that it is a statement that should guide anyone’s travels to whatever continent they choose! (but don’t forget to wear sunscreen!)

I think I’ve repeated it 10 times in two days, but I really cannot wait for Wednesday when we leave for the coast! Looking forward to great long weekend in Swakopmund!

The past 10 days I’ve been with my family on my urban homestay in Windhoek. It was slightly less eventful than the first few action packed weeks, but it was a good time nonetheless!
For the CGE program, homestays are an essential part of our learning process. We did the 2 day one in Soweto, this one for 10 days, and in about 4 weeks we have a 5 day rural stay in a northern village. They serve as a chance for us to be really immersed in culture here. Although, one of the things I’ve learned is that Namibian culture is just as diverse as American; every family has a different story, language, and life. Life in general is similar; my family watched TV to wind down, ate a lot of meat and rice, and everyone enjoys a good party. The struggle is in learning to accept the little things like driving habits, waking up early, and the smell of food.
Some tips for a successful homestay:
-Have a big appetite for dinner or else make sure you serve yourself! The food was good, but it was always more than I was hungry for.
-Be comfortable with using your hands and a spoon to eat! It is actually quite freeing to be able to pick apart your chicken without worrying about what someone will think.
-Accept that there will be times when you will be utterly confused about where you’re going and what is going on. Between the language barrier and spontaneous friend visits, you’ll end up lost at some point.
-Learn to love to watch soccer or get good at faking it. (I certainly didn’t mind!)
-Bake a recipe from home if you’re homesick, but check ingredient availability first.

Sometimes the language and cultural barriers are tough and each experience is unique. Whether good or bad, they are more than worthwhile. Now I’m ready for a week and half of a near normal schedule before we head to the coast!

My host mother, Renathe, and one of my host brothers, Donovan.

And if you want to listen to some popular South African House music, check out Liquideep’s “Alone”!

This week we started working our way into a semi-normal schedule. I say semi because travel or homestay interrupts our schedule at least every two weeks. We began our internships and two of our classes and that means lots of reading! Some of it is interesting, some of it…not so much. It’ll be difficult to get done because it is super easy to get distracted in this house!

Family Bonding!

On Tuesday we headed outside of the city for the day for a team building retreat with the group and the CGE staff. Since I love my group, it was nice to spend a day getting to know everyone better. We were only the highway out of the city for a few minutes when we got off and encountered the gravel roads which dominate most of Namibia. It was certainly an adventure, especially navigating over the shallow rivers and streams. I’m pretty sure if it had rained while we were there that we wouldn’t have been able to get back!

Wednesday night, a few of us headed to Joe’s Beer House which is a popular tourist spot for trying game meat! I sampled zebra, ostrich, and oryx, all of which were pretty good! All three tasted a lot like beef from home. And for those reading at home, an oryx is a kind of antelope, my high school mascot! People do not eat most of these things on a regular basis, they eat the same meats we do in the states. It was a really cool restaurant and a fun night.

Ostrich, Zebra, and Oryx, oh my! (There's some crocodile and Kudu in there, too.)

Finally, last night we left for our urban homestay. My family is a mother, father, daughter (23), and two sons (19 and 20). It was just a quiet, laid back night, but I’m eager to get to know them better.

And it’s wonderful.  Everyone got a little pink/tan this weekend.  It has actually stormed significantly every day since we’ve been here, but at least half the day is usually sunny and warm.

Namibia is still beautiful and Windhoek is just a lovely little city.  When I say little, I just mean smaller than Jo’burg which was HUGE.  There is still quite an expanse to explore here both by foot and taxi.  And of course there’s the rest of the country which I cannot wait to see as well.  Just to give you and understanding, the country of Namibia is twice the size of California but it’s population is only 2 million people.  That’s less people than live in just the city of Los Angeles. It’s even hard for us to wrap our heads around, especially since we’ve just been in one of the only major cities in the country which contains a lot of people.

Our time here hasn’t been quite as packed as South Africa was, which is good, because I don’t think I could keep up much longer with a schedule like that.  Thursday and Friday we did some touring of the city, especially Katatura which remains almost 100% black since apartheid, similar to Soweto. (Namibia was under South African rule until 1990)

Saturday we attended our first soccer game in Africa!  It was the Namibia Women’s National team versus the Angola women.  We met a local student who had been a guide for us around Katatura and walked to the game with him because his sister (who is only 16!) is on the team.  Luckily I grabbed my raincoat before leaving because of course the rain started just in time for the game.  And apparently they play through lightning and thunder here.  There weren’t a ton of people there so we were able to sit under the overhang and keep a little dry.  Despite low attendance, the crowd was still wild and loud and had plenty of vuvuzelas!  The kids at the game were so lively and excited.  The game was pretty exciting, but it ended in a 0-0 tie.

Last night we went out for our first big night on the town to celebrate two birthdays in the group.  We went to the bar up the street and then to a club called Zanzibar.  I think of 20 of us went dancing and we had a great time!

I just keep thinking about how we’ve only been here two weeks and I feel like we’ve done and seen and learned so much and it blows my mind!  This program is definitely what I wanted.  What we’re doing is so beyond just site-seeing and appreciating culture.  We are actually placed into the culture through homestays and are pushed to see the issues in this region through so many different perspectives.  There were definitely other study abroad programs that I would’ve been happy to go on, but I don’t know if they would’ve made me think as much as I have here.  However, if you’re a prospective student, regardless of the program, if you even think you want to study abroad then look into it.  I’m only two weeks in, but I know I’m going to learn way more here than I could ever learn in a classroom.  (Too bad I had to write that french paper on the importance of travel before I came here!)

Tomorrow we start our internships!  I was placed with the Namibia Development Trust which is an NGO that focuses on promoting rural development.  It seems right up my alley. I’m excited and nervous to see what my time there brings and I’m hoping I gain some good experience!

Yes, I am!

We (myself and 22 other students from various universities across the U.S.) landed safely in Johannesburg, South Africa Sunday evening after nearly 17 hours on a plane.  It was a rather uncomfortable experience, but I’m pretty sure it will be completely worth it.  I keep wondering when it will really hit me that I am here, in a place so different from what I know, for four months.  However, I think it is more of a slowly sinking in process.

The past two days have been a bit of a whirlwind and our schedule for the rest of our time here in Johannesburg looks about the same, but that’s okay because we are learning and seeing so much!  Both today and yesterday we toured different parts of Soweto which is the historically black, impoverished part of Jo’burg.  It was eye-opening and overwhelming at times.  We stopped at Regina Mundi, the most influential catholic church in the city, as well as the Hector Pieterson Museum.  Both of these places are extremely important reminders of the black struggle for liberation.  Regina Mundi was the first church to be shot upon by police, which no one thought would ever happen.  Hector Pieterson turned into a national symbol when, at the age of 13, he was the first child to be killed by police fire.  The museum was all about the Soweto uprising which started in 1976.

Today, we started off at St. Martin’s School in Soweto.  It is a semi-private secondary school and is one of the best performing in the city.  The kids there were wonderful and welcoming and it was a pleasure to walk around to the classrooms talking to them.

My classmates and I with our St. Martin's student guides!

We were impressed to learn that the children are almost all fluent in at least 3 languages, if not more. (There are 11 official languages in South Africa)  They were all disappointed that most of us had not met any celebrities, especially Beyonce!  Everyone was having such a good time connecting with the kids that we were reluctant to leave.

Before lunch, we stopped by Kliptown which is one of the poorest areas in all of Johannesburg.  The people in this part of town still lack their own plumbing; they use communal toilets and water taps. We all agreed that it was difficult to realize that a town such as this existed 5 minutes down the road from a major mall.

We finished our day with a talk from Dale McKinley who discussed the political economy of South Africa.  He was very intriguing and helped us to understand more of the political problems the country has had since the ANC took over government in 1994.

I would love to talk in more detail about everything we’ve done, but if I started, this post would be 3 pages long!  So feel free to contact me with any questions or comments throughout the semester!

These past two days have been great and I cannot wait to keep learning.  Tomorrow, we head to downtown Jo’burg which we haven’t seen yet; we’ll also be going to the Apartheid Museum.  Can’t wait to see what the rest of our time here will bring…

After a great semester, the time to depart is finally upon us. Final projects have been presented, grades have been submitted, and bags have been packed. Our time here in Windhoek has been amazing. I know that what I have learned I will carry with me well beyond the plane flight home. The last four months have opened my eyes to both injustice and beauty, hurt and hope.

I am not exactly sure how this semester will impact the way I live in America, although I know that it will in a very big way. However, I know that the people I have meet have helped me re-evaluate what I hold to be the most important:

From host families, I have learned to appreciate simply sitting in silence and doing absolutely nothing and that being an open, giving person is one of the most important things to bring to any relationship.

From my peers, I have learned how to appreciate relationships that are formed through shared experiences, despite differences in values, perspectives, and opinions.

From guest speakers, taxi drivers, and others I have met along the way, I have learned to value the opinions of strangers on things like politics, education, or religion.

From those who have so little, I have learned that the little things – a roof over your head, food on the table, friends, and family – are the greatest of blessings and they should never be taken for granted.

From those who are in situations like those we often see on Christian charity commercials, I have learned that it is not money that makes you rich; it is hope and the love of another.

From the children’s laughter, I have learned what it means to have joy.

From the freedom fighters, I have learned the importance of standing up for your rights and persevering even in the face of oppression.

From both the empowered and disempowered people around me, I have learned how to recognize my own privilege and make great efforts to minimize its impact that it might influence the direction of future equality.

This semester we have discussed what the role of the foreigner should be in southern Africa almost constantly. I am left with so many questions as to where I fit into the global community and what my role is as a global citizen, but I hope that upon my return to the States I am able to formulate more conclusive thoughts based on my experience as an American that has been abroad.

Although the main part of my adventure ends here, we still have one more week in southern Africa. Tomorrow morning we are flying to Cape Town, South Africa to round out our semester.

So, with that, I’d like to thank you all for reading and following me through my semester abroad. I really appreciate it. I hope that I have conveyed some of the main ideas that we have been discussing and debating, as well as given you a taste of my experience of Namibian culture.

I wish you all the happiest of holidays!

With Love,

Christiana