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Viva, SWAPO, Viva?

This past weekend I experienced something I’ve never experienced before: a political rally. But this wasn’t just any political rally. This was for SWAPO.

SWAPO (South-West Africa People’s Organization) has officially been in power in Namibia since 1990, when Namibia

A man raises his fist as a sign of support for SWAPO

achieved its independence. SWAPO got its start in 1962 as a nationalist movement and it played an instrumental role in gaining Namibia’s independence through use of guerilla attacks to fight the South African military.

SWAPO has been accused of torturing and committing other human rights abuses against suspected spies during the struggle for independence. SWAPO denies these accusations, although there are many pieces of criminalizing evidence.

After independence and after SWAPO became the dominant political party, Sam Nujoma was elected as Namibia’s first president. He changed the constitution so that he could run for a third term in 1999. In 2004, he was replaced by Hifikepunye Pohama, who many describe as Nujoma’s hand-picked successor. He is still in office.

History lesson aside, what you should know is that SWAPO is still dominant in politics here. They usually receive about 75% of the vote at each election and it does not look like they will be out of power any time soon. There is great loyalty toward the party from people all over Namibia because they led the country to independence. However, now they are abusing their power and instead of focusing on developing the country, developing themselves and their political prowess.

A convoy of children arrived to attend and perform at the rally

The rally I attended was just up the street from our house. It looked like a party: loud music, dancing, singing. It was appealing. The afternoon started off with some announcements and introductions of new council members. Then we moved on to an address by Sam Nujoma’s son, Utoni Nujoma (who, by the way, is now the Deputy Minister of Justice as well as a representative in the National Assembly).

It is amazing how much so many of the people worship this guy’s dad, and thus him. A direct quote that was made by one of the council members about Sam Nujoma was “Nelson Mandela and Sam Nujoma were the same leaders, just marketed differently.” Fascinating.

The entire event was spirited and focused on the incredible things that party has done. At least one every 5 minutes someone would shout “Viva, SWAPO, Viva!” either from the audience, the podium, or from their cars as they passed on the street. SWAPO clothing was everywhere and I stood out in my pearl earrings and rose-colored dress from New York & Co (Hey, I’d just come from church!). Fists were raised and pumped and thrown in the air. Children, brought and indoctrinated by their parents, danced to praise SWAPO’s name. An incredible sight to see.

My experience at the SWAPO rally really capped off my semester of studying Namibian politics. We have been talking about all the struggles Namibia has been having and all of the challenges it will have in the future. It hasn’t been hard for us to see that in order to develop this country SWAPO is going to have to lose its power and make room for another party more focused on developing the nation, not itself.

Las Alpujarras

November 16, 2010 / John Webster / 0 Comments

I have spent the last two Saturdays up in the Alpujarras, a mountain range on lower south side of the Sierra Nevada characterized by its spring water and Jamón Serrano (ham that is dried in the mountains). The Alpujarras has many small villages tucked into the sides of the mountains or on plateaus. You can hike the entire Alpujarras in one week on the GR-7, which runs through the Alpujarras all the way up through Spain, France, and Italy, to Greece.

The GR-7 looking over Lanjarón

On my first trip I went with four others to Lanjarón, a long and narrow village. Using my Andalucia Travel guide from Lonely Planet (a must have for this semester, thank you mom) we stopped at a tourist office where the guide showed us a good trail and gave us a map. Then we went to check out the view from the Arabic castle. It was phenomenal. The Alpujarras doesn’t get a lot of attention because it’s right next to the Sierra Nevada, so the castle was a great find that not too many know about.

My second trip was with another set of friends, this time we headed to Pampaneira. When we arrived the tourist guide told us we could take the bus from a village further up the mountain, so that way we would have time to make a substantial hike. We headed up and sideways along the valley through Bubión and Capileira, stopping every little while to take in the view. At one point I could see the snow capped Sierra Nevadas, the village dotted valley I was in, the lake it led to, and the sun-reflecting Mediterranean ocean, all from one place!

Classic Alpujjaras pine trees on the way to Bubión

Nearing the end of our trek we tried to cut off the path in order to try to summit before the bus came. Of course, fate would have it that we just ended up in a field with a horse staring at us. Then we had to walk behind what looked like a quiet house, only to find a small barbecue party on the other side. After they stared at us once they pretended like we didn’t exist, phew! We awkwardly played along and walked around their house back to the street. Embarrassing!

We found a praying mantis on the hike! Had a blast doing some photography with him

We ended up having a little time in Capileira before the bus came, so we sat down at Bar El Tilo to have tapas. At one point I had

Chestnuts roasting on an open fire...

to ask if we could have a minute to think and was told, “En las Alpujarras no hay estres” (in the Alpujarras there is no stress). Very chill, thank you cool waiter guy with yoga pants. Then as we ate the plaza below us filled up with people lining up to get roasted chestnuts. At first puzzled, I went down to check it out and discovered they were free! Someone gave me a small newspaper which I used to scoop some up. So great! I have no idea who was cooking them or why they were free, or if it was custom, but it was fantastic.

Different Dispositions, Same Sensitivities

November 15, 2010 / Allie Sauber / 0 Comments

Maya Angelou once said, “Perhaps travel cannot prevent bigotry, but by demonstrating that all peoples cry, laugh, eat, worry, and die, it can introduce the idea that if we try and understand each other, we may even become friends.”

This quote really resonates with me. While I haven’t necessarily made any lasting friendships with those of other countries, the traveling, keen observation, and friendly small-talk that has taken place has been sufficient enough to demonstrate that we truly are all innately the same.

On the train to Venice, I was sitting across from a mother who was with her one-year-old child.

View of Italy from train

I remember not being able to take my eyes off of that precious being, as any smile she made inevitably became one that light up my face, too. How can one not smile at a smiling baby? However, the affection, love, and gracious attention that the mother gave her child was what touched me the most. For, it was apparent to me that a mother’s love is the same regardless of geographical location. While the outward demeanor of an Italian woman is different from that of an American’s, the inward sensitivities that exist are ultimately the same. Both women have the same profound, immeasurable, and unmatched love for their children. Although this may seem like an obvious observation, it was a heart-warming moment for me, as I am starting to miss that very same love. Although suddenly, that specific love wasn’t so absent anymore.

Dinner in Tubingen

Another observance of a similar love has been one that is romantic in nature. It seems that in every city I’ve visited, there is love expressed between couples quite outwardly. Whether it’s straddling the loved one or french kissing for minutes on end in a popular park, their expression of love toward one another lacks shame and modesty. While that kind of overt public display of affection is generally unacceptable in America, there is something boldlyinspiring about the sight of those young, passionate lovers caressing one another. I do not mean to say that those are appropriate gestures for my life (because they’re not), but their affectionate audacity is ultimately a lovely proclamation of their love. Although the love I share with my loved one is more private in nature, it’s fulfilling to see that same inner passion existing in all the world.

Though the differences between my life in American and my life in Germany are endless, one thing has remained beautifully stable: we are all blessed with the same sensitivities, whether it is between a mother and her child or two lovers.

The beauty of Switzerland

November 14, 2010 / Amber Will / 0 Comments

Switzerland is known for its overpriced lifestyle, its neutrality, and the beauty of its panoramic view everywhere you go. On my weekend trip to Switzerland, I thankfully only had to encounter the latter and avoided aiding in the Swiss economy almost entirely. Packing PB&J sandwiches really helps the wallet stay full.

Outlook from the train to Luzern

And traveling in Switzerland does the opposite for your memory card on your camera. There are so many scenic pictures that could be from postcards wherever you look. It’s fascinating to be around such real and untouched beauty; the picturesqueness of the views made me stop and think about how awesome God’s creation is and how much time He must have spent in creating Switzerland because He did it right.

There are all these small little towns enclosed by broad and magnificent mountains; you have the Alps on one side and some more ‘minuscule’ mountains on the other. Just riding around on the train can bring about some amazing pictures. All in all, I traveled to four cities all in the central part of the country: Zurich, Bern, Interlaken, and Luzern. Although all of them had superior scenery in comparison to many other cities that I have traveled to, Luzern was definitely the most beautiful.

Aided by the warm and sunny weather, Luzern was a truly gorgeous town to walk through. Matt and I only spent a few short hours there, but we got to see much of the city. Chapel Bridge was constructed in the first half of the 14th century and is one of the oldest wooden bridges standing. Walking across it allowed us to see paintings up along the rafters showcasing local history. Much of the bridge burned down in 1993, but the rebuilding was quick and allows for visitors to still witness the history of the fortified city. And across the water were the most scenic views of the Alps. Simply breathtaking. Matt and I took picture after picture to try to capture the magnitude of the sight.

The Dying Lion of Luzern

Further along into the city is the Dying Lion of Luzern; it is a carved lion in a piece of rock that portrays the pain and suffering of the massacred Swiss Guard in 1792 during the French Revolution. The emotion is clearly strewn upon the lion’s face making it a very powerful sight to behold. Also in this part of the town are the Nine Towers. These towers are left over from the fortifications of the city which was built in 1386. This remaining history is so important to the city and drives the tourism in the area.

The trip to Luzern would have been enough to satisfy me in visiting Switzerland as a whole. The other areas I went to were beautiful as well, but Luzern was the epitome of perfection. It was the perfect way to end my tour of Switzerland and a perfect way to unwind from the hectic 17 day break before. Luzern is a place that brings you so much closer to your surroundings and to God; it is not a place to miss.

A look back at Fall Break

November 14, 2010 / Amber Will / 0 Comments

I did say I would write more about fall break, and now since I feel like I have finally had some time to relax, this is the perfect time. My break was planned in a way to basically encircle Germany to hit all of the destinations too far away for just a weekend trip. Most of this excursion was spent with my boyfriend, my roommate, and my boyfriend’s roommate. Four people on an experience of a lifetime.

I can honestly say that Istanbul was the most worthwhile destination; however, I wrote about that before and will not bore anyone with further details… just go there are see it for yourself! Rather than take time for that, I just wanted to write about my overall impressions about each destination: this will give a general feel for the area and also allow me to relive my travels.

After Istanbul, Matt, Brenna, and I went to Athens and Mykonos in Greece. Athens was a short trip, with more time devoted to the picturesque qualities of the Greek island. The weather was perfect while we were there adding to the overall allure to the city. Matt and I rented ATVs and drove around the entire island going beach hopping to wherever the map looked interesting. The time in Mykonos was pure relaxation and resort-like satisfaction. When we went back to Athens a few days later, we had to hit up the entire city in a short morning. Walking around at a decent pace to make sure we hit all of the monuments got to be tiring, but we ended up seeing everything we wanted to in a few hours.

Matt and I in front of the Temple of Hephasius, Athens

And let me tell you, I was geeking out to the max. Being a history major, I was enthralled to see all of the ruins left around Athens. The Acropolis was definitely jaw dropping, but I appreciated the Temple of Hephasius even more. This temple is the oldest remaining building of its kind, and it is still in such pristine condition. To stand in front of such perfect history like that gave me the chills and a look onto the world that is ever changing. No matter how little of importance you think something may be, in a thousand years people could be standing looking at our newest building thinking it was the most perfect historic monument. Freaky cool.

After our historic adventures in Greece, we traveled quickly to Rome. I have previously been to Rome in the past, and this visit was a quick review to what I have already seen. Unfortunately I didn’t get to the catacombs like I had planned, but I revisited the Vatican museum and took in the glory of the Sistine Chapel once more. This masterpiece does not need any words but only full dedication. It is a truly magnificent piece of art that has a lot of hidden jokes throughout. Props to Michelangelo.

Matt and I in front of an Amsterdam Canal

The north was next. Amsterdam was a beautiful city with water everywhere you looked. Besides some untimely rain, all of the experiences here were worthwhile. We were able to see the Van Gogh Museum, which is not worth the money but nice nonetheless. I again geeked out at the Anne Frank House, but we didn’t have time to go inside. This city is so great to walk around in though because you can get so completely lost without feeling you are doomed. The city looks too inviting to present any real danger. Just watch your purses in the red light district!

Copenhagen and Stockholm were both beautiful cities. We didn’t find too many touristic sites in either city, so we just spent most of our time walking around and thinking about the Dominoes we were going to order in Copenhagen. Copenhagen also has a part of the city called Christiana, which is a self governed section and gave me the extreme heeby-jeebies. Never going back there again. Stockholm was by far the coldest weather we encountered. The sun also set at about 3:30pm there, which did not do well for my freezing toes or my desire to actually see the city. Overall, this trip helped me grow in ways I didn’t imagine and take in sites I had only seen in my history text books. A well planned and well executed way to spend 17 days.

The Magic of Dance

November 12, 2010 / Lydia Mertz / 0 Comments

The other night, my friends and I attended “Muestra de Baile” here on campus in which students from the university performed a variety of dances from around the world. For those of you from Valpo, this is similar to the spectacular Dance Ensemble put on every year.

The very beautiful and seductive moves of Polynesian dancing.

The “Muestra de Baile” took the audience in a dancing journey that featured nine types of dance including salsa, folkloric, hip hop, Polynesian and more. It was fascinating to watch the dancers (mostly Mexican students with a few international students) as they swayed, popped and maneuvered their bodies to a variety of beats and rhythms.

Hip Hip to Usher-yes, in Mexico!

I couldn’t help but think that the hip hop piece that had Mexican students dancing to the very contemporary (and very attractive) Usher was simply globalization in dance form. While there was a modern vibe to the program, it also featured traditional Mexican folkloric dance from Veracruz. The couple that did this particular piece wooed the crowd with delicate steps but with a certain richness that made me so happy to be living in this country. My particular favorite was the traditional African dance. The beats were so raw and pure and made the performance incredibly energizing as the dancers shook their bodies.

The “Muestra de Baile” exemplified that dance illustrates the beauty of cultures and tempts an individual to learn more about a culture. As we gaze on the dancer, our eyes take on their movements and physical interpretation of the music. Whether it is seductive moves of Polynesian dancing or the raw vibrancy of the African dancing, it stirs up a hidden (and sometimes unspoken) desire and energy inside our souls that inspires us to transfer that to our bodies.

Traditional Mexican folkloric from Veracruz

This is the magic of dance. It inspires up to project energy from our souls to our bodies-if we allow ourselves to embrace it. Whether it is Polynesican, hip hop, the tango or whatever it may be, learn to dance. Allow rhythms and beats to transcend into your soul and into your beautiful body-it really is magical.

Some Snapshots of this Mexican Life….

November 9, 2010 / Lydia Mertz / 0 Comments

My Valpo friend Erin and I at a recent birthday party. The theme was the letter “P”-she was a padre and I was a professor!

Inside the beautiful San Andres church. At one point, this church underwent major reconstruction after the roof fell in-it looks brand new!

Gracias, Madrid

November 8, 2010 / Jeff Harbert / 0 Comments

“Ah, Madrid… you chose the perfect city to visit in Europe.” Those were the words of Javier, an extremely friendly Spanish guy who sat next to me on the flight from London to Madrid during the second week of my two and a half week Fall Break. After four days of being in Spain’s capital, Javier couldn’t have been more correct. What a great city, what a fantastic culture, and what an unforgettable experience in the heart of Spain.

My first taste of Madrid and Spanish culture arrived where most people wouldn’t expect, but for those who know me would hardly come as much of a surprise. Shorty after taking the Metro from Madrid Barajas Airpot to the western part of the city and getting situated at my friend’s apartment, I joined the masses and headed for the Vicente Calderon – the home of Atletico Madrid. Although nowhere near as popular or successful as cross-town rivals and world-renowned European giants Real Madrid, Atletico are one of the best teams in the La Liga, Spain’s first division, and just came off of a season in which they won the Europa Cup.

My first taste of Spanish football

I can’t say that I’m much of an Atletico Madrid fan, but going to a Spanish futbol match was undoubtedly something I just couldn’t pass up. Despite Atetico drawing 1-1 with U.D. Almeria, a smaller club from southern Spain, it was still a highly entertaining match and an experience I’ll never forget. Going to football games in England is one thing, but witnessing the beautiful game in the country that just won the World Cup was an experience of its own. It was without a doubt the perfect way to kick-off my trip to Madrid.

Plaza Monumental de las Ventas

One thing that made my trip successful was the easiness of Madrid’s Metro system. The system is actually the sixth largest in the world, but after a few days of hopping on and off at various locations around the city I found it to be the least complicated of its type that I’ve used before. I suppose it helped that I had been well accustomed to using such modes of transportation through the London Underground. Regardless, Madrid’s Metro was also my cheapest way of traveling around the city with each single trip across the entire network only being 2 euros and a 10 trip ticket costing just 9 euros.

Despite using train several times each day, I spent the majority of my time walking and taking all of the great sights and simply observing people go about their day. At times I walked with absolutely no clue of what direction I was headed in and somehow always arrived at a point of interest. But in a city as richly and historic as Madrid, how could I not? It’s nice to have a plan of where you’re going to go and what you’re going to see on a particular day, but often times it’s refreshing just exploring and getting lost in the magnificence and splendor of such a great city.

Plaza de Cibeles

One of the highlights of my trip was seeing the Palacio Real, the official residence of the King of Spain. I’ve seen Buckingham Palace on numerous occasions and I’ve always been in awe of it, but the Palacio Real might even trump it in my opinion (Sorry Queen Elizabeth!). Along with the Royal Palace, I also visited Plaza Espana, Puerta de Toledo, Plaza Mayor, Almudena Cathedral, the Debod Temple, Puerta del Sol, Plaza de Cibeles, the Santiago Barnebeu, Plaza Monumental de las Ventas and numerous other sights. It was a great couple of days walking around and viewing the sights and embracing everything Madrid has to offer. It was also a wake-up call for me, however. Apparently my Spanish isn’t as good as I thought it was as I found out at about every restaurant I attempted to order food at!

Seeing fascinating buildings and visiting historic sites is great, but in order to truly embrace a country and its culture you have to converse with the people. A sign at the airport when I arrived welcomed me by saying ‘Bienvenidos’, but it was the people in Madrid who really helped me feel welcome in their city. Everywhere I went people were friendly, even if they didn’t speak more than a sentence of English. I’ll always remember Madrid for its beauty and splendor, but I am absolutely certain I will never forget the countless people who chose to make a foreigner like me feel welcome in their remarkable city and wonderful country. Salud, Madrid…