no more photos for a while

Shortly after returning from the trip north, my flat was broken into
and my camera stolen along with a few other valuable things. I don't
feel unsafe, just bummed that someone would bend the burglar bars on
my window, come into my flat, dig through my stuff, and take things
that could be easily sold for fast cash! BUMMER! The biggest bummer
is that I can't take photos anymore.

I filed a police report (don't really know what they can or will do
about it) and also spoke with my neighbors about what happened.
There is a plan to put a security gate/door thing on that would close
off the outside, back section so that no one would even have access
to the windows. I just don't like having all of these bars and
gates, it seems so unwelcoming!

On the positive side, my mom has been super efficient in finding out
about my insurance and getting the proper forms scanned and emailed
to me. I did have personal article insurance through for PCVs and
just sent everything in today. Hopefully the process won't take too
long and I will be able to get a new camera by Christmas time.

Adventure to the North

In mid-August I traveled to the far northwest corner of Namibia with a fellow volunteer to paint another world map at a village school out in the bush. For those of you with maps of Namibia, dig them out and see if you can find Opuwo and Epupa Falls. The village that I was in is between those two places and is called Okanguati, don't know if you'll find it on a map.

There is a PCV teaching at Okanguati Combined School who runs the school library/computer lab that the previous volunteer established. We were there to paint a world map on one whole wall. It was the end of the school term, so there were many learners free from classes and available to help. Even teachers came to paint and contribute to the project. Working in this village school for a week gave me another view of life in Namibia, much different from my own, and also allowed me to see a part of the country that I had never been to before.

After the map was finished we traveled to Epupa Falls on the Angolan border. It was beautiful and well worth the bumpy, make-you-carsick drive on a gravel road. The pictures don't even do it justice, but I thought I would at least try.

The trip back to Windhoek took two days. The first day we traveled from Epupa Falls to Ondangwa across the north of Namibia. We spent the night with another PCV who lives on an Oshiwambo homestead (see photo of the "bath house" with the rusty truck for one of the walls) and then traveled to Windhoek the next day.

Interesting meats eaten in Namibia...

There has definitely not been a lack of protein or variety in my diet in Namibia...

Biltong is dried meat kind of like beef jerky, but spiced differently and this kind is made from kudu meat.

Next, there is a sheep head. In Wisconsin sheep head is a card game, here it is dinner, but only on a special occasion! I tried the brains, cheek, and tongue, but not the eyeballs!

My favorite of the meat varieties in Namibia is braai vleis (grilled meat). Here are some chops and sausages on the braai. They are among the most common types of braai vleis.

The last photo is not lobster, but crayfish. It's very similar to lobster and this one came fresh from Luderitz!

In addition to these meats pictured I've also tried the following in Namibia: sheep intestines, bone marrow, springbok steak, oryx steak, beef steak, delicious kebabs, pork belly, tuna steak, fresh oysters, fresh sole (in Swakopmund), and prawns.

Agh, and to think that before leaving for Peace Corps friends and family were worried that I would not be eating anything but green mush or red mush depending on the day as my great uncle did when he served in Peace Corps in Kenya in the 1960s...honestly, the consumption of meat in this country really did surprise me when I arrived. I guess I just really didn't know what to think!

Phenomenal Women

The Southern Girls Conference 2006 was a smashing success! Just over 50 girls from the communities of Rehoboth, Aranos, Mariental, Gibeon, Keetmanshoop, Karasburg, and Bethanie gathered in Mariental to grow in leadership, female empowerment, and the creation and capacity building for current Girls Clubs in their communities.

The theme for the weekend was Phenomenal Woman based on the poem by Maya Angelou. This message was woven throughout all of the sessions such as HIV/AIDS impacts on our communities, esteem building, gender and risk reducation, goal setting, and appropriate relationships. The girls also participated in cultural presentations (prepared ahead of time), role plays exploring some of the issues Namibia's school-aged youth face, an extensive women's health session, and a time of reflection and planning for Girls Clubs in their communities.

On Friday evening we invited a panel of some phenomenal women from Mariental to come and share from their life experiences with the girls. The underlying theme of this panel was "Don't look back" and each panelist shared words of wisdom and inspiration for the girls. The girls asked lots of questions in order to better understand how these new role models got to where they are now in life.

The girls took part in a closing ceremony on Sunday morning. They debriefed what they had left behind and what they will take with them from the conference. Each girl received a certificate and a t-shirt. The following comment from on of the evaluations pretty much sums up the whole Southern Girls Conference,
"I am now a phenomenal woman."

Dixon Chix Adventures in NAM

On Thursday June 15, Jaco and I left for Windhoek at 4:30am to fetch
Mom and Ellen from the airport. I was so excited to see them that I
could barely drink my coffee at the airport cafe. I cried when I
heard the announcement that their plane had landed. I cried as I
watched them walk into the airport and go through passport control.
Jaco was surely nervous about meeting my mom and sister and I was
beside myself with anticipation! Mom hugged me and then turned to
Jaco saying, "I feel like I already know you!" and hugged him.
Finally my two worlds are coming together!

It was so fun to have my mom and sister visit and see my life here in
Namibia. I can write and send pictures and tell stories, but until
someone comes here to see it for themselves it's just not the same.
They got to experience a little bit of my work-life by visiting the
Southern Girls Conference and the TRC, meeting many other PCVs and my
Namibian supervisor and counterparts. I have found Namibians to be
very welcoming and hospitable, so it is no surprise that they were
treated to two braais the first weekend they were here, giving them a
picture of my social-life.

After the Girls Conference we left for a 2,700+ kilometer adventure
that took us to Etosha National Park, Swakopmund, Okahandja, and a
game lodge in the Kalahari desert. In Etosha we saw tons of animals
and deeply regretted not having binoculars, especially when a pride
of lions was hanging out near a water-hole that attracted giraffe,
ostrich, oryx, springbok, and zebras! In Swakopmund we ate out at
delicious restaurants, pampered ourselves with pedicures, and shopped
for gifts for friends and family back in the US. The last stop
before returning to Mariental was a huge craft market in Okahandja
where you have to barter for a good prices on the handmade crafts.
Aside from a 7 foot-tall wooden giraffe, they found all of the gifts
that they wanted to buy. After a day to rest and do some laundry we
headed to a game lodge in the Kalahari desert not far from
Mariental. We were treated to a game drive, a sundowner, an amazing
four-course meal, wonderful hospitality, and a delicious breakfast
the next morning!

Before going to the airport, we stopped at the Namibia Craft Centre
in WIndhoek. This is very different from the open market and
bartering. This is all in one building with an amazing gourmet cafe
upstairs and many kiosks of craft throughout the building. After
lunch in the cafe, Mom & Ellen spent some time getting last minute
gifts. What I particularly enjoy about this place, besides the
coffee, is that a portion of the proceeds go to people living with
AIDS. Time in Windhoek always seems to go by quickly because there
is so much to do. Before I knew it, we were hugging, crying, and
saying our final goodbyes at the airport! The time seemed so short!
As I walked out of the airport, tears still in my eyes, I was
grateful for the time I was able to spend with part of my family and
also grateful for the supports that I have from Jaco and his family!

Diversity Committee Educational Tour

The Peace Corps Diversity Committee Needs Your Help!!

Namibia is truly one of the most unique places you could ever hope to visit. As a guest in this country, the number of indigenous tribes along with the shear variation of languages spoken here is overwhelming. The goals of the Peace Corps Diversity Committee are to share Namibian culture with Americans as well as American culture with Namibians. Along with this, the Diversity Committee works to educate Namibians about various cultures that exist in their own country.
One of the biggest and most rewarding projects that the Peace Corps Diversity Committee is responsible for is the Annual National Educational Tour. This tour is open to Namibian Students in grades 8-12. Each year the students are presented with a theme and encouraged to enter the Cultural Expression contest. This is an opportunity for the students to reflect on their own cultural practices and to share their creativity and cultural with both Namibians and Americans.
The Diversity Committee is also dedicated to addressing the concern in regards to the spread of HIV and AIDS. Namibia is one of the leading nations with the highest percentage of HIV infection worldwide. Currently one in five people are infected with the disease. Since 2002, more than 125,000 children have become orphans as a result of the virus; leading to confusion about what is meant to belong to a family. With this in mind, the Diversity Committee has decided that the theme for this year’s Educational Tour will be “Celebrating the Diversity of Family.” The idea behind this theme is to have Namibian youth consider there own definition of what forms a “family,” expectantly realizing that it goes much deeper than just the standard nuclear family that so many youth here are deprived of. This all ties together with the idea that if you have something positive and stable in your life to live for than you will be more apt to make constructive and healthy choices about your own future.
The Peace Corps Diversity Committee is requesting your help in making this years tour a possibility. We are currently seeking funds to allow us to proceed with the project. The committee hopes to invite 30 students to attend the Educational Tour that will include topics focusing on Namibian cultural diversity, environmental education, and HIV and AIDS. If you are interested in sponsoring a child to attend the tour, we are requesting a $30 donation. Checks can be made to the following:

Karen Bowers
122b Cornelia St.
Plattsburgh, New York
12901
Attn: Diversity Committee

Donations will be accepted until August 1st. Every person that donates the suggested $30 will receive a card from one of the Namibian students that attends the tour along with a copy of one of the winning contest entries. If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact Kristin Bowers; chair person for the committee at the following email address: Specialkay83@yahoo.com. Thank you for your time and understanding in helping to make this year’s National Educational Tour a success!

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Check out my Peace Corps site -- http://www.geocities.com/perkykoalapc -- filled with pictures, links, updates, and tons more!

Thursday is a BIG day!

If all goes smoothly in the next 45.5 hours, my mom and sister will land in Windhoek!!! For those of you who are reading this and praying people, please pray for a safe, smooth, peaceful journey for them!

While Mom and Ellen are adjusting to being on another side of the planet and in a different hemisphere, I will be helping facilitate the Southern Girls Conference which starts on Thursday evening!!!