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Tag: Katie Wilson

Three Down, One To Go| Why Africa?

BLOOP

This is one of the biggest questions I’ve gotten since I announced back in September 2014 that I was going to spend a semester studying, traveling, and interning in Southern Africa.

For starters, why not?  Africa is beautiful and it has beautiful people.  To be honest, Africa has held an allure to me for as long as I can remember and I’ve had it on my bucket list for a long time.  Many people I know put Europe or Asia first on their list of places to travel, but mine has always been Africa.  Something about the culture, the environment, the mystery had me completely smitten.  When I started surfing a few years back then the amazing surfing culture in South Africa also caught my eye.  Some people might view Africa as this untamed place, almost wild, and that’s what hooks me.  I loved the prospect of being in a culture that was so different from my own Western world and being with people who I knew could teach me new viewpoints and a way of thinking.  I loved how historical and influential Africa had been on the rest of the world.  Part of the mystery and pull Africa had for me was the fact that I would be so out of my element like nothing else in my life and I relished that challenge.  I knew that no matter what, I’d be in Africa (whether volunteering, working, or just on my own crazy backpacking whim) the very first opportunity I got.

When I started college, I knew I wanted to go abroad.  I was willing to do whatever possible in order to make it happen.  Interestingly enough, one of the colleges I looked at had a study abroad program in Southern Africa offered to students sophomore through senior year.  I would be lying if I didn’t say that was one of my main deciding factors when I finally choose a University.  Freshman year rolled through and I kept talking about eventually going to Africa without really knowing how to put my plan into action or what it would really mean or what would actually be involved– I just really wanted to go!  Then sophomore year rolled around and I experienced some major life changes.  It was in a very blah night that I decided I needed a life change and right then and there I decided I would follow my heart and the desires that had been rooted there for so long and try to go to Africa that spring. I went to my parents and my academic adviser the next day and that started the giant ball rolling.  Surprisingly everyone was SUPER supportive and encouraging and the more I found out about the Southern Africa study abroad program, the more I realized it was a perfect fit for me and my academic studies.  Africa really was perfect for me.

During the final month I spent stateside and after I made my travel plans official I had a lot of people come up to me and ask about my trip.  I got a variety of responses but some common ones were “Oh good for you”, “Are you going to work in an orphanage?” “Aren’t you afraid of Ebola?”.   The stigma and misconceptions surrounding Africa are huge but I knew that I was going to be taught.  What I’d be taught was a little more obscure but I didn’t care.  I was completely willing to be open to this new experience and whatever was thrown my way.  I wanted to be broken down and remade.  I was fearless in traveling to Africa because I knew deep down that it was exactly what I was suppose to be doing with my life.

So it’s now three months into my travels through and studies in Africa and I can happily say that each of my desires have been fulfilled and are continuously being fulfilled every day.  Africa has been challenging, heartbreaking, miraculous, and beautiful all in one.  It has given me everything that I hoped and provided so much more than I could have ever imagined.  Things have happened where in the moment I didn’t know I needed and I’d spend a lot of time confused or making gripes, but looking back I realize it was exactly what I needed.  During my first two weeks here, I learned more about life and humanity than I learned in thirteen years of school.  And in three months, I have learned more about myself and what I am capable of and I am so thankful.  Not every day here is easy and not every day is happy, but what matters is how each day is taken in side and each day is a chance to discover a little more about yourself and the world around you.  Coming to Africa has been a blessing and with one more month left to love, I can’t wait to see what other joys are coming.

 

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(Spending the day with my Host family’s little ones.)

10 Things I’m Learning

Swakopmund Sunsets

 

Ten Things I’m Learning


1. Sunset runs are so refreshing and a good way to let out the day’s stress.  It’s also a good way to explore this beautiful city and enjoy the mountains and the day’s sunset.


2. Time alone and away from technology is so good and so necessary.  It’s very important to live in the moment not just for a little, but for a while and let yourself enjoy it.


3. Let people miss you.  Sometimes it’s very necessary and while it is hard to be away from people you care about, sometimes it makes them miss you more.


4. Spending money is not a bad thing.  If the money you spend allows you and other people enjoy their life a little more, then stop feeling so darn guilty.


5.  Dairy products — like ice cream and Don Pedros, while tempting, are not worth feeling horrible and laying curled in fetal position from a tummy ache for hours after.  However, sometimes they are worth it.


6. Being on the road is fun and it’s exciting to meet new people but coming home is also nice.  It’s good to lay your head somewhere solid for a little while.


7. It’s ok to read the same book over and over.  If you like it, keep reading it again and again.  Underline your favorite parts and circle your favorite words.  Make it yours.


8. I was born in the wrong era, I like letters way way way to much.  But they make me very happy.


9. Be better at managing my time.  Let myself have work time and play time.


10. Enjoy every second left here.  Don’t put things off.  If you have a chance to do something here — DO IT.  The only time is now.

Coastal Living: Swakopmund

On Thursday our group of 14 took off for a long weekend in Swakopmund.  Located on the coast and next to the massive Namibian port Walvis Bay, Swakopmund was originally inhabited by Damaras and later settled by the Germans.  Despite the four hour drive to the coast it passed relatively quickly between naps and breathing in the cooling air.  The heat break as we drove West was so welcome — there’s a twenty degree difference between Windhoek and Swako.  The most incredible thing about Swakopmund was the scenery as we drove up; we were greeted by palm trees, beautiful rising dunes, and the Atlantic Ocean.  Seeing the ocean meet the desert will always be one of the most breathtaking things.

The Desert Meets the Sea

The Desert Meets the Sea

Before settling in we visited the memorial site for the OvaHerero/OvaMbanderu genocide that occured from 1904-1908 at the hand of German colonialists.  The site is right before the bridge the leads from Swako to Walvis Bay.  Many people are not aware that this site exists and I think it is important to overlook the German influence in the town and realize what that really means.

Monument

 

The next day we headed to Walvis Bay which boasts the largest Ports in Southern Africa.  It’s also a safe place for Sea Vessels and Cargo Ships because it’s a natural deep water harbor.  This also contributes to the business since bigger Cargo ships can dock as well.  The imports from Walvis Bay service from South Africa to the Democratic Republic of the Congo.  When we stopped at the Lagoon, I found a really beautiful dock and took a picture with it because I liked it so much.

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While in Walvis Bay we visted NACOMA (which is an enviormental centere), Walvis Bay Multipurpose Center (which is a youth mobilization community outreach that focuses on AIDS/HIV, relationships amongst genders, and preventional care and support) and NamPort –he shipping yard. Namport manages both the Port of Walvis Bay and the Port of Luderitz which is much further south.  Namport is essential in catering to the Import/Export needs of Southern Africa, increasing the competitiveness of SADC regions trade (through port services), and facilitate growth in Namibia by boasting one of the largest, most efficient trade routes in Africa.

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Before leaving Walvis Bay we did what we came here to do: climb Dune 7.  Dune 7 is the highest Dune in the world and located in the Namib Desert and is 383m tall.

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Miranda and I before the climb!IMG_1156

The climb up was practically vertical and it took about 5-7 minutes to climb to the very top.  However, the view from the top was absolutely breathtaking (literally… I sat in the sand and caught my breath for a little) and made the “breathless” assent completely worth it.

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That night I traveled down to the jetty and was able to take some amazing shots of the sunset. (Again, I’m kind of obsessed).

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On Saturday we had a free day, we could do whatever we wanted.  Some people choose to go ride ATVs in the desert, others went skydiving, some hung out at the beach, and me and three friends went on a Boat Ride.  We saw Seals, Pelicans, Dolphins, and tons of other cool critters. One of the coolest things we witnessed was Pelican Point which is home to THOUSANDS of seals. It’s one of the largest seal colonies in the world according to our Captain.  We also had a seal jump in our boat which was kind of a shock (Seconds before the Captain was telling us how just last week an aggressive male seal took a chunk out of a passengers arm… yikes).  They’re quite dense creatures up close.  I also tried oysters for the first time and they are very much so an acquired taste.  Afterward, my friend Louise and I decided to make the whole day ocean themed and walked to the Swakopmund aquarium and hung out there for a while and then ended our day at the beach.  It was an awesome day and I took plenty of pictures.

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Visiting Swakopmund and Walvis Bay was probably one of my favorite adventures to date and it was wonderful to get away for the long weekend. Not only is it a beautiful place, but it’s rich in history. It’s definitely on my list of places to return to one day.

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Finding a Family in Katutura

I’m back from my second homestay and about four weeks into my crazy, exciting adventure in Africa.  It has certainly been a fun few weeks and I’m pretty sure the last five days takes the cake.  Thank you for everyone who has been patient with my horrible updating schedule.  We actually broke the internet so wifi has been hard to come by.  However… here are some highlights of my super fun last couple of days:

-My host family was Ovambo and speaks Oshiwambo primarly.  This was such a great language learning opportunity!  They also run a kindergarten and I had six host siblings, 2.5 weeks old to twenty-one years.  This meant small children (YAY!) and people my age that I could hang out with… best of both worlds.

-I got to live in Katutura, which is a township of Windhoek, for five days which meant I was able to get outside the (occasionally touristy) bubble of Windhoek.

-I was able to learn so much about traditional Ovambo culture and language; I even got to wear a traditional Ovambo skirt and belt and necklace.

-I got to spend every evening with my amazing host brothers and sisters which was the best form of relaxation in the world.

-Kapana and Mangos, Kapana and Mangos.

-I was taken in like a long lost daughter by this family and never felt so at home when physically I’m so far away from it. (So grateful and blessed).

-I got to hold a little baby, run around with small children, and (attempt!) to learn how to cook each and every day which was such a cool experience.

-I figured out how to be out of my comfort zone and embrace it fully for a few days.

My Lovely Little Home

My Lovely Little Home

This urban homestay, for me especially, was an incredible new challenge and experience.  It was the first time since being here in Southern Africa that I really was thrust out of my comfort zone and learned how embrace flying by the seat of my pants.  I’m a big believer that if you’re not doing something terrifying you aren’t changing and you aren’t growing.  This growth has happened now twice: the first time was actually getting on the plane to come to Africa, the close second was staying with my family in Katutura.  It really allowed me to slow down, appreciate the small things, and relinquish control of things (sometimes).  It put me back in a home-environment and allowed me to build relationships with some of the most wonderful people I’ve ever encountered.   I loved spending evenings cooking with my oldest Host-sister or coming home and playing with the kids after a long day at school.  I loved that I had a true HOME to go to.

My two littlest host brothers.

My two littlest host brothers.

 

To be surrounded by a family with the kindest hearts and experience local Namibian culture is the biggest blessing I could have asked for.  Things that I hoped to see and feelings I hoped to experience while in Africa were all there in this family of eight.  I was able to take myself out of the critical-student/tourist/individual identity role and become part of a family where I could just listen and learn.  The experience allowed me to slow down and enjoy time with my little host brothers and gave me time with my camera that I had been ignoring.  It gave me a breakfast every morning with Meme (means Mother, in Oshiwambo) where she gave me a language lesson.  It required that I not have control all the time.  No internet? Oh well.  Dinner at various times? Ok.  Last minute adventuring?YES.  Living in Katutura gave me back something that I lost in growing up: the joy of living in the moment.  And as I lived in those moments, I was able to enjoy “just being”.  I was able to laugh harder, humble myself more, empathize better, care more, and love a lot harder.

Family

My youngest and eldest host siblings

My youngest and eldest host siblings

My five days in Katutura were so badly needed and I don’t think I will ever be able to voice to my family what it meant to me.  It’s only now, in the recent days, that I have began to formulate what it really gave me beyond a great cultural experience, awesome food, and a family to love.  It settled my heart and gave it renewed joy that I hope I will be able to carry with me the rest of my time here in Africa.  I  feel like I am starting to now see the importance of my time here — just how much I am suppose to grow and a tiny glimpse  of the person I was designed & intended to be.  This adventure was more than a dream but a chance for something so incredibly great.  I hope that by the time I leave Africa in three short months I will have a fresh understanding of why I really came here, how the love of a family and other beautiful little things are just another representation of a greater, higher love; and that I am better able to view this heartbreaking world through a lens of goodness.
Here are some photos so far from the last few days.  I tried my best to capture my love for this family and the joy that they have and the joy that they instill in me.  I hope you are enjoying this adventure with me so far and like me, am excited for what the future holds

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Exploring Windhoek

We’ve been in Namibia for a little over a week and a half now. A lot of it has been settling into our new home and doing the (necessary) safety talks and orientation like activities. One of our activities was exploring Katutura, the nearby township, with local college students. The students are part of a group called the Young Achievers and are just an incredible group of people. Our tour guide/student person turned out to be a really cool kid who was also a ton of fun to hang out with during the week and whatnot. So far, minus a few moments of strangeness, adjusting to the city has been both exciting and easy; I’m glad I finally have an address to call home.

Informal Townships

Overlooking the Townships

This week we started our internships as well. I’m currently working in the Ministry of Education with FAWENA, a non-governmental organization, that helps address the educational challenges girls face in Namibia. FAWENA stands for Forum for African Women Educationalists in Namibia.  One of their biggest initiatives is to provide financial support to girls in order to encourage their continuation of schooling.  They also partner with communities to create supportive community initiatives to encourage young children to stay in school.  To be able to travel throughout Namibia and study in Southern Africa is such a blessing; but to be able to gain experience working alongside Namibians and learning more about their educational policies is extremely fascinating.

Forum for African Women Educationalists in NAmibia

Forum for African Women Educationalists in NAmibia

Since classes and internships have started, I’ve had a more than a few reminders that I’m actually here to go to school and work. It’s really hard though when my classroom is a living room filled with comfy couches and there’s a tempting pool ten feet away. Also since settling in I’m getting to know my fellow travelers better which I’m grateful for. They are all pretty cool and this semester is going to be so much fun.

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My lovely friend Winnie

 

One day we did a Staff/Student retreat in order to get to know one another better. It was basically “emotional team-building” and it was interesting. Each of us got something different out of the experience but I think it’s safe to make the blanket statement that we all know a little more about each other (which was the goal so yay!). There also were horses and cats and some Baboons running around so that was pretty fun and I met a super great dog.

 

Dog Friend

Dog Friend

Team Building

 

It’s been a good couple of days getting around Windhoek and on Tuesday (TOMORROW! EAK!) we are off to our Urban Homestay. I’m pretty excited and have high expectations after my last, incredible experience in Soweto, South Africa. It’s also kind of nerve-wracking since we are spending 5 days with these families and the staff keep stressing how we’ll be getting “out of our comfort zones”. Honestly, what that means.. I couldn’t tell you. I can’t wait to get to know my family and get to learn more about Namibian culture and life. There’s so many things to do and opportunities and I plan on taking advantage of every second. Stay turned for posts about my Home Stay, our Trip to the coast in a few weeks, and some more “Things I’m Learning”. I’ll leave you with this awesome double rainbow we saw after a rainstorm. Africa is the coolest.

Rainbow Nation

Rainbow Nation

Pretoria and Welcome to Namibia!

To say our final thirty-six hours in South Africa, were bittersweet is an understatement. While all of us weary travelers were exhausted and home stays had given us a teasing taste of finally being settled in again, Johannesburg was beautiful and no one was ready to leave South Africa yet. Our final day full day we packed a ton of activities in, which also was tribute to the intense academic and adventuring schedule that had occurred for the past nine days. We woke up as the sun was starting to come up and headed out to Pretoria — which is the capital of South Africa– to visit the United State’s Embassy, Freedom Park and Voortrekker Monument. The drive to Pretoria takes about an hour so I took advantage of that time to doze back off but woke up in time to view Pretoria as we passed through. First glance, Pretoria seems a lot cleaner than Johannesburg, it’s also notably smaller in size and population. I wish we could have spent a day or two exploring Pretoria because aside from it’s tourist and historical monuments and elements, it looks like a fascinating place to be.

Pretoria from the Hills

Pretoria from the Hills

The visit to the Embassy was educational and is home ‘base’ to approximately 28 Government departments and agencies. Part of this can be contributed to the United State’s strong business and trade partnerships with South Africa. As of 2010, the United States was South Africa’s third largest trading partner falling after Germany and China. The US is also the largest source of foreign direct investment in South Africa and the Embassy regularly holds workshops on entrepreneurialism, small and medium business management, and financial planning for businesses. It was an interesting visit as the traditional blanket role is to protect the American individual overseas, but the Embassy reveled to me that it’s also any American investments and accessories. It also put somethings in perspective for me since I have considered professions within the International Government sector and the trip shed some more light on what that would actually be like in practice.

After the embassy, we went to Freedom park and took a long walk around. Freedom Park is a beautifully constructed tribute to those who lost their lives in South Africa’s turbulent history. There is a wall of names which dedicated to all those who were killed during the South African Wars, World War I & II, and during the Apartheid.

Wall of Names

Wall of Names

The museum part of the Park hosts elements from the beginning of Africa’s geological conception, 3.6 Billion years ago all the way to recent years where it serves as a means of symbolic reconciliation where past elements can be laid aside in order to heal.

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Following Freedom Park, we went directly across the hills to the Voortrekker Monument which memorializes the opposite side of history. The Voortrekker Monument pays tribute to the other side of South African heritage.IMG_9559

The inside was pretty spectacular. It is called the “Wall of Heroes” which is decorated by 26 hand-carved, marble, Italian mural like works that chronicle the Afrikaner assent into South Africa and the pioneer history that the country has. The large circle opening is where the Cenotaph in the Cenotaph Hall can be viewed.

Wall of Heroes

Wall of Heroes

But the most incredible part of the Voortrekker was the view from the very top of the monument. You could see for miles in every single direction. It was absolutely breathtaking to see Pretoria in this fashion. I’d also say that for this reason, the Monument was my favorite thing we did that day.

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It was really fascinating to see Freedom Park and the Voortrekker in the same five hour time span. Both cover vastly different sides of history and it’s very interesting to see how each side has been memorialized and celebrated by the South African people. After a long day of running around, our group had dinner in Mandela Square and I got to take a picture under the giant dancing Mandela statue with my friend Jordan.

Mandela Square!

Mandela Square!

The next morning we flew to Namibia and got to see our new home! The house is beautiful and I’m feeling so blessed to be here. The last ten days have flown by fast and it’s crazy to realize the first leg of my adventure is over. I still have 102 days of adventuring left and I plan on taking advantage of every second.

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Welcome to Johannesburg!

Greetings from South Africa! It’s been a crazy last couple of days since arriving late on the 11th of January. The weather is warm, the sky is blue, and my heart is open to everything around me. The beginning of our trip (Jan 11-21) kicks off with ten intensive days in Johannesburg, South Africa and the surrounding area.  Believe it or not, the flight here wasn’t horrible.  The journey started with leaving home at 5 in the morning, flying out from O’Hare at 9, landing in Washington Dulles and hanging out there for six hours and then boarding South African Airlines.  We also had another layover after seven hours of flying in Dakar, Senegal but most passengers did not deplane.  Finally, after a few take-off delays we landed in Johannesburg at 7pm (which is 11am CST).  Everyone was pretty exhausted so we ate some dinner and toddled off to bed.

Flying South African Airways

Flying South African Airways

The first two days were spent learning about the South African liberation struggle and the Apartheid. We had an incredible speaker and guide named Moleffi who was personally active in the liberation struggle. The culture here in South Africa is something to be embraced, and I am so excited to absorb every second of the next four months. We traveled around Soweto which is the largest township in South Africa, home to 32 communities and estimated 4.5-5 million people.

Soweto, Guateng, South Africa

Soweto, Guateng, South Africa

We also visited many sites that are significant to the liberation struggle such as the Hector Pieterson Museum and Kliptown where the Freedom Charter is inscribed.  The Freedom Charter is a set of core principles “made for the people and by the people” that the South African Congress Alliance developed and contains such statements such as: ‘The People Shall Govern’, ‘All Shall Be Equal Before the Law’, ‘All Shall Enjoy Equal Human Rights’, and ‘There Shall Be Peace and Friendship’.  Yes, it is an idealist document but a revolutionary one at that.

Looking up in the Freedom Charter monument

Looking up in the Freedom Charter monument

Hector Pieterson Museum

Hector Pieterson Museum

We also drove around Kliptown, which is one of the oldest communities in Soweto.  It’s beautiful and resilient here and I’m getting use to being stared at as our big bus drives by.  Most people are super friendly though and if you gibe a smile, you’re guaranteed to get one back.

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One of my favorite places we traveled to was Orange Farm.  Orange Farm is small in land, but large in community with an estimated one million people which makes it one of the largest informal settlements in South Africa.  While we were there we visited a rycycling center which is a source of many women’s income.  It’s awesome to see a community creating and developing an eco-conscious program which directly benefits back to it’s community.

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We also visited the local preschool and since it was the first day back to school for the little ones, we got to visit them too (yay!).  In talking to some of the lovely women who run the preschool, it was great to hear how passionate they were about these children and providing them with an education.   After visiting Orange Farm, I’m walking away with a new appreciation for how much I have but also an appreciation for the Human resilience and determination.  The hearts and hopes of the people we met there are bigger than the sky, which is incredibly inspiring, and they do so much within their community from the recycling plant, support groups, and the preschool.

On Friday, I departed for my first homestay in Soweto with Maddie another girl from my group.  We stayed at a B&B (Bed and Breakfast) and had the most incredible time.  Friday Maddie and I both were sick (which was really unfortunate) but our Hostfamily was incredibly gracious and understanding.  When we were feeling better, we spent most of the weekend hanging out with our host-sisters, going for walks, hanging out in the park, going to the mall, and just getting to know eachother.

Maddie and I with our beautiful host-sisters.

Maddie and I with our beautiful host-sisters.

We had a ton of amazing conversations and I loved asking my host sisters and their friends questions and answering their questions in return.  Just in conversation alone, I learn so much about the culture and the daily life that goes on.  We also visited some of the other people in our group that were staying with their host family to have lunch.  I’m pretty sure I could have died completely happy that day from the amount of fantastic food MaChanza made for us.

 

Homemade Bread with MaChanza and Abbie

Homemade Bread with MaChanza and Abbie

For me, it’s an amazing experience to be immersed in such a beautiful country that is rich in both history and culture.  Each place we visit is not only historically significant in regards to the Apartheid and liberation struggle, but often also a juxtaposition between what used to be and what currently is.  There’s so much to look forward to this semester and this is only the beginning so stay tuned!

Hugs from around the world,

Katie

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