Two days after my last post, I started feeling ill: fatigued, headaches, night sweats, nausea. As a matter of fact, as soon as I went into the school my principal took one look at me and told me to go home. So I did and called Peace Corps medical just to be safe.

Six weeks later I find myself sad and nervous: I am getting Medically Separated from the Peace Corps because although I have gotten a diagnosis (mononucleosis) I am still not getting better.

Over the past six weeks I have:

Seen 4 doctors

2 specialists

Given 1 stool sample

2 urine samples

5 blood samples (for about 15 different tests)

Had 1 Chest XRay

1 CT Scan

1 Eye Exam

Have Taken 2 different anti nausea meds

3 stomach/antacid meds

1 sinusitus tablet

4 different headache meds

Was taken off Doxycycline (malaria meds)

Yasmin (Birth Control)

Was put BACK on Doxycycline

-and here I stand: still having headaches and extreme fatigue...thus the reason for Med Sep.

Most people keep asking me, "How do you feel about it?" I don't exactly have the answer to that question at this point in time. I'm sad to be leaving Africa, that much I know. I am also happy to get to see my family and friends. I am still trying to process Peace Corps decision. I know it is for the best, because my health needs to come first, it is jut unfortunate that my service has to end so soon and for this reason. I will be curious to see what kind of diagnosis I get once I'm back in the US.

I can leave you with this: I got everything I wanted out of my service here in Namibia, even if it was only for 6 months. I experienced a whole new culture, learned the language, survived PST, met some great people who are passionate about the same things I'm passionate about and had my mind opened to a reality I had never experienced. I can't even count this as a loss in my life because I've gained so much throughout the process.

I wish my fellow volunteers well as they complete their service and a great farewell to Namibia-The Land of The Brave.

The past two weeks have been busy! Let me just give you a little summary of what I have accomplished in my first month at site:

Miss RHS Pageant-I choreographed a dance to Fergie's Glamorous, came up with the theme "Glam-Rock" and designed their outfits for the dance. After many after school practices the Pageant is over and the girls did great! They even performed the dance at the Day of the African Child Festivities!

Hostel Activities-

     Movie Night: I held a movie night for the boys of the hostel a couple weekends ago. I showed the movie Goonies (one of my personal favorites) and tried to sell bags of popcorn to help fund future activities, however, none of the popcorn sold. I ended up feeding it to the birds on my back porch so I guess someone benefitted from all that popping!

     Sun-Catchers: The weekend after the movie with the boys, I hosted a craft activity for 13 of the girls. My cousin Jessica sent sun-catchers, paint and paint brushes in a care package. The girls loved painting the sun-catchers and I hung them on string so they could hang them from the burglar bars on their windows in the hostel. Hopefully it will bring a little beauty to their rooms.

Drug and Alcohol Awareness Week/ AIDS Week-This week (June 20-24) is AIDS week as well as Drug and Alcohol Awareness week. I have made green ribbon pins for the AIDS club to sell to the learners and teacher to raise money as green is the official color for Alcohol and Drug Awareness day on friday. I am also talking to the learners during the assemble tomorrow about where Namibia stands on HIV prevalence in the Sub- Saharan Africa region. Namibia has 180,000 people living with HIV out of 2 million, 70,000 orphans as a result of the disease and 13.1 of the 18.8% are victims ages 15-49 years old.

Star For Life Kick Off-Last week we introduced the school to a new program called Star For Life. This program encourages learners to go for their dreams, stay committed to leading a positive life free of HIV/ AIDS and to empower them to make their own decisions (ideally, good ones). They held a teacher training, which I participated in to motivate us to inspire the learners by embracing our OWN dreams. Then, they held a large assembly for each grade (which I supervised). There was a kick-off event last friday to officially declare Rehoboth High School a Star School. We now have a Coach named Desmond who comes every Thursday to help with behavioral/ counseling issues who I hope to work with closely. I even got a new polo and a pin! No PCV turns down a free t-shirt. I wear it every Friday.

Keetmanshoop Photo Shoot- I recently traveled (shhhhh!) to Keetmanshoop to work with an organization called Karas Huisen Craft Center. My friend Becky is helping them launch a website to help advertise their products as well as create an updated catalog. I took photos of the women working, the crafts and also did headshots which will let them write a bio of each of the women. I had a lot of fun and hope to return soon!

Composting-I started composting for the first time ever! I plan on trying to make a garden in my backyard so that I can grow vegetables and flowers. I want to extend this garden project to the hostel learners but need to try growing my own first (since I've never had a garden before). My composting soil is starting to look fertile so I can't wait to start planning out and digging my garden!

I have had a few hangups this week as well.. I am still struggling with the behavior of the learners in some of my classes. There are some that constantly test my boundaries and my patience. It makes it hard to come to work with a positive attitude everyday. I am struggling with keeping myself motivated and inspired to do the work I am doing. I have decided in my mind that the teaching I am doing is going to have to be the hard part of my job that may not bear the results I am looking for. I have also decided that the outside activities (ie hostel activities and extra curricular work) will be where I have the most fun and maybe the most impact. A group of girls approached me today asking me to be their cheerleading coach. I am seriously considering it as the soccer/ rugby season will be over in 2 months and then I could start a dance group of some of the same girls. I also have had a problem with the behavior of the boys staying in the hostel. A group of them tried to break into my garage (unsuccessfully) and the principal actually threatened to come down on the learners like 'a pile of bricks' if they bothered me again. I think that worked because one of my learners actually came to me after the assembly and apologized profusely!

All in all there have been many challenges and a few successes but all part of the Peace Corps experience. I am very results-driven so it is hard for me to keep faith in a system that may not be what I thought it to be, but I do still feel there is a reason for my presence here in Namibia-I just haven't figured it out yet.

Don't forget to check out all of my new pictures at www.anamibianadventure.shutterfly.com! There was a Lunar Eclipse here last weekend as well that I photographed-pretty neat :)

Tot Later!

Amanda

Im assuming that since nobody commented on my last post that you all aren't too interested in hearing about my adventures in teaching..besides, I think I could sum up my experience as a teacher in one word: pointless. These learners have much more important issues than learning basic information science or how to use a computer: They need to learn discipline and respect. My goal as a PCV has now been reduced to simply teaching my learners how to maintain silence while another person is talking. This could DEFINATELY become a two-year project.

The one thing right now that has been a really fun experience for me is choreographing and teaching the opening dance number for the Miss RHS Pageant that will take place in a community hall next friday. The girls are doing great and I'm even designing the outfits! I will be sure to videotape the dance and put it up on my shutterfly site so you all can see how it turns out.

Another new development in my life as a PCV: Im getting a puppy! It's a girl and she is part German Shepherd but that's all I can give you for now. I will get her in 6 weeks or so and can't wait to have a companion to keep me company and snuggle with me on those cold African winter nights! I am still working out a name. Any suggestions?

I have also started re-vamping the library. I am trying to organize the books and make new signs-livin up the place. I want it to be a place where learners want to come and read. So far my first open library day (yesterday) was a flop. Only a handful of learners came to check out books.

I created a picture wall (I think of it as my wall of inspiration) in my kitchen. I have hung pictures of friends and family that were either included in packages or given to me before I left as well as the wonderful cards I got from coworkers, friends and family. It makes me smile everytime I look at it and when people come over I get to tell them about all of you who support my dreams! It really makes me proud.

I got a couple of packages also! My cousin Jessica and my Aunt Mary, Uncle Niel and cousin Cassidy sent me an array of art supplies for the kids, snacks, condiments, cards, pictures and other miscellaneous items. Thank You times a million! It made me feel really good to get stuff from home! I made tacos with cool ranch Doritos and Taco seasoning that my cousin sent and ate a whole bag of Goldfish crackers in 15 minutes that my Aunt sent me. It was phenomenal!

My friend Becca gave me a small desktop aquarium to remind me of san diego and my friends there. I named the mermaid Malika (it means african queen) and have finally created her home. Im thinking about using her as a lesson for my learners as it came with a small book about mermaid folklore. Not sure how I'm going to use it as a lesson but it will be a great way to make them use their imagination! Thanks Becca!

Well, Thats all for now. Sorry I don't have much more exciting stories. It's been all work and no play lately. I will post next with pictures of Miss RHS next week and I also have a visitor coming this weekend: another PCV whom I've never met. I hear she's a Michigan State fan though so this could be an interesting weekend!

Tot Siens!

New Digs:I have officially moved into my flat on the school grounds. I had a house-warming party and invited the local PCV's to make them dinner and have drinks to celebrate my freedom. We had a great time and it was nice to have weekend guests. My friend Lucy even brought me a small wire salamander as a gift. Subsequently I had a REAL salamander sneak into my bedroom. I caught him and set him free outside.

Mal Weer (Crazy Weather):In the past couple of weeks, the weather has become quite weird. It is very cold in the mornings (I'm really wishing I had more cozy socks and sweaters!) and it is dry and windy outside. This is the driest weather I have ever experienced, in fact, it is so dry that no amount of lotion or ointment can keep my feet and hands from cracking. Just to give you an idea of what I'm dealing with here, I actually saw a sand tornado when I was walking to the store yesterday. Also, I woke up early last Sunday to do laundry after my visitors left and hung my clothes on the line. After about a half hour, it got so windy that the sand was blowing horizontally, completely coating my newly washed clothes in red sand. I was furious!

Teaching at RHS:My first week as a teacher at RHS was a success. I did run into a few behavioral problems but, for the most part, I survived and so did the learners. I have 23 classes: 19 BIS (Basic Information Science) and 4 ICT (computers) classes. They are grade 8, 9 and 10 and class sizes range from 30-50 learners in a given class.

My behavioral issues were in classes whose size was greater than 40 and had a high number of grade 8 boys. I am introducing a rewards system this week which will (hopefully) curb their behavior as a class in order to work toward a goal. I have decided that I will start out each class with 5 points. A point will be deducted if I have to talk to them about their behavior. They can earn extra points by answering a 'bulletin board' question at the beginning of class. This will be in the form of a riddle or a question written on the board. If the class answers correctly, they get an extra 3 points. The prize this month will be a class movie/ popcorn day during week 5.

In BIS I am focusing on reading and writing English. Activities I have planned include using adjectives to describe their personalities through the letters in their names, exploring different types of poetry in the form of song lyrics, limericks, haikus and shel silverstein poems. They will write their own poem as well. I am also reading a couple of short stories with them and playing games with questions from the story. I made a board game in which the learner that gets to 100 (through answering story questions correctly) wins. I am also re-introducing an anonymous question box through which the learners can ask questions, which I will answer as a class lecture.

In ICT I am responsible for teaching learners uses of computers, parts and functions of computer parts, and basic word processing skills, such as how to save a document or how to copy and paste items.

I have also been asked to choreograph a themed dance for the Miss RHS Pageant that is to take place in 3 weeks. I have decided the theme shall be 'Glam-Rock' and they girls are dancing to 'Glamorous' by Fergie.

Future projects I would like to do:

Start a Dance GroupStart a Reading GroupOffer Weekend Activities for Learners Staying In the Hostel (Art, Games etc.)Start My Own GardenCreate Mock Job InterviewsOffer ICT Courses To Kitchen Staff and Custodians

I am also in charge of the library and keeping track of books checked in, checked out and donated.

As you can see I am already a very busy girl. I have had a couple of challenging days due to students' behavior but I will not let them discourage me. I also know from experience that it is their duty as angsty teenagers to test my boundaries and see what they can get away with. I believe I have let them know this week that I will not be easily pushed around. In fact, I made one class of 47 learners sit with their heads down for the last 15 minutes of class because they wouldn't stop talking over me. They didn't like that very much!

I am settling in well and can't wait to really get going!

(check out my first week pics at http://www.anamibianadventure.shutterfly.com/)

Until Next Time!

Amanda Pratt

Last weekend, on Saturday, April 30th, my host sister (Nabila) and her Fiance (Laro) got married. My it was a crazy day! The night before the wedding, it is customary to stay up very late and party. My family didn't go to bed until around 3am. I know this because the loud music kept me up pretty much all night and because I woke up earlier than everyone else (which NEVER happens lol).

The first few hours of the day were pretty chill-I walked to my hostel to shower and try to do something presentable with myself-and the rest of the family just cleaned the house. My room was to be prepared for the bride and bridesmaids to get ready in. When I got back, Nabila was running around trying to get everything ready and the dresses for herself and the bridesmaids still had to be picked up (the seamstress's sewing machine had broken the day before, but she assured Nabila that they would be ready). Nabila then went to the salon to get her hair done.

A few hours later, she returned..and not very happy. She was unhappy with her hair and stressed out that some members of the wedding party were late in arriving. The flower girls hair was done and turned out great. My host brother's girlfriend was a hair dresser and had come down from the north for the weekend to lend a helping hand. She also fixed Nabila's hair to a point that she was satisfied with (poor girl). Once people started showing up, craziness ensued. The wedding party was supposed to be at the church at 12:30pm and it was quickly approaching that time, with much still to be done. It was obvious they were going to be late. I was just running around taking pictures of everyone getting ready (the bride hired a photographer who turned out to be nothing of the sort).

When everyone was finally ready, the bride was escorted in a decorated car to the church while the bridesmaids were excorted in a following vehicle. The groom and his men, Im assuming, got ready at a different house and were escorted in the same fashion. I was left behind to find a ride to the church and came later, so unfortunately I missed their church entrance.

When I finally did get to the church, I sat and watched the ceremony which was beautiful. They have several parts to the wedding:

The bride and groom sit in chairs before the pastor with groomsmen to the left and brides to the right. This is different than in the states because the bride sits on the left and the groom on the right. Usually we have the groomsmen on the same side as the groom and bridesmaids on the bride's side.

The couple has a few performances in between the words of wisdom. One was a singer, one was a dancer and one was a sax player.

The pastor gives his wisdom (none of which I understood as it is all in Afrikaans) and the couple take their vows and exchange rings.

After they had exchanged rings, they are excorted to the a table to sign the wedding papers, witnessed by their maid of honor and best man, before they are blessed by the pastor and then announced as husband and wife.

Once it is official, everyone leaves the church and watches the couple exit. Then everyone piles in their vehicles and drives around honking thier horns like crazy in celebration. We all headed to Rehoboth Spa for group pictures while eveyone else went back and got ready to head to the farm for the reception. We headed there shortly after group pictures. I ended up riding with Christa, the hired photographer. I didn't even know she was the photographer until after the wedding was over. She video taped the service but I didn't see her take any pictures. She took me to the reception and when we arrived it was raining, so she left.

The whole night went by really fast. The bride and groom arrive and the wedding party is announced as they walk in. They sat in a tent at a long table, just like we do, only the bride sits with the grooms mother and father and the groom sits with the brides mother and father while the wedding party sits at a separate table. The first part of the reception is used to allow the family to give speeches to congratulate the couple and offer their words of encouragement. The bride and groom also give speeches thanking their families for the help they have given them to get them to this point. then, they eat. We were fed meat (duh.) with pasta salad, cucumber and tomato salad and a couple other items in a styrofoam 'to-go' box (easier to prepare in the kitchen) and ice cream for dessert. The wedding food was prepared in the farm kitchen by family members and they fed us all twice: once during the reception and another time later in the evening around 10pm. After the food is eaten and cleared, the guests trickle out to the dance floor (the large cement slap porch in from of the house) and the bride throws her boquet. The women here go CRAZY over this event. They all fight and push each other to try to catch the flowers. I, on the other hand, stood behind a few people and hoped the bride didn't call me out as being 'single'. I sure as hell didn't want to catch it, and it found me wondering... why do we single women in the U.S. hate and are embarrassed by being a part of this ritual at weddings? Maybe it's just me but I have always thought it was stupid. If that thing were to hit me in the face-I would let it hit the ground and walk away stealthily. Women here jump and guard it as if it were there only chance at finding a husband. Im assuming the difference lies in the fact that we try to steer away from gender roles and dependence while women in Namibia are still very much family oriented. After the boquet-throwing madness, the groom 'removes' the bride's garter-thing (not sure what that band is called) and throws it to the groomsmen (who are much more cool about it). The bride is then put on display and offered up as a 'hanger' of offerings. A family member announces that people should come up and clothes-pin cards and money to her dress in order to help they young couple in their new life. Then the couple dances (long arm of course) and they rest of the night is partying.

My wedding-party-til-sunrise experience didn't fair so well. I had succesfully drank a glass of the wine I brought and a glass of the beer while the rest was enjoyed by other family members (I couldn't keep people away from my drinks so I just gave it to them). Not far into the night's celebrations, I was sitting outside talking to the lady who runs the caravan in our yard, when i felt a decent-sized rock hit my leg. I looked up to see where it had come from and Wam! I was hit in the face with a similar sized rock (also, very decent). I touched my face to find that it was bleeding and was instantly furious. I looked around desperately to see if I could spot a guilty face in the crowd, but no luck. I went into the kitchen and iced it to prevent swelling and hide from the crowd. When I told my family what had happened as they came in and out of the kitchen, they reacted with "Yeah, you should stay away from those Basters our there. They are crazy." So that's pretty much what I did. I danced a few songs but stayed closer to the house and then went to bed early at around 1am.

I woke up at 5am with what felt like a burning throat. I realized that I had heartburn (from mixing wine, beer, food and ice cream no less) so bad that I had to throw up and call for someone to seek out tums. They, of course, had nothing of the sort and had no clue what I meant by 'heartburn' so I ended up laying back down and just trying to ignore it. I was sick for 2 days after that and didn't eat because the burning was so intense I could hardly stand drinking water let alone eating. It took me until wednesday morning to feel back to normal again. Note to self: No more red wine right before bed!

So that was the wedding. Exciting and scary at the same time. The rest of the past week has also been pretty scary for me..

As Im sure most of you have heard, I got the terrible news on Thursday that one of my very close students that I worked with in Oceanside was murdered Tuesday. She was in the gang prevention program I worked with for two years and I had become especially close with her in the year before my African Adventure began. She was sitting on a bench at the park, next to the Elementary School I also worked at, with her boyfriend. A man ran by and shot both of them, killing them at the scene. Sandra was only 14 and her boyfriend was only 16. Please keep their families in your thoughts. I am still struggling with how to deal with this traumatic news.. I have never really lost anyone close to me let alone to such a horrific crime. It really hurts to see such a wonderful young woman that I have worked with and have watched grow in such positive ways see such a terrible fate.

I have come to the conclusion that emotionally I will be scarred for a while, but there is nothing I can do or could have done to prevent this from happening. All I have to keep telling myself is that good things do happen everyday. I'm going to remember her for her beautiful smile and kind heart.

RIP Sandra Salgado

Thank you all for your support and kind words.. It is always appreciated. I start school next monday and move into my hostel this weekend. I am already decorating and just scored some pastels, water colors and acrylic paints from another volunteer so I can destress by painting finally!

Don't forget to check out the wedding photos at http://www.anamaibianadventure.shutterfly.com/ and remember, patience is a virtue (mom).. I have about a third of them up now and am working on the rest.

Tot Later!

This weekend I was invited to my host family's farm, just outside of Rehoboth. We left on Friday and stayed until Monday night-and I finally showered today (gross-I know). We all (5 kids and 5 adults) piled into a single cab pickup truck and made the 45 minute trip driving through two very deep puddles of water which required the folks riding in the bed of the truck to get out and walk so that the engine didn't flood. We drove through 3 other farms before we finally came to Ouma and Oupa Bok's plot of land. Their farm is fenced off and every child (including my host mother) has a tin house on the farm. The houses are spread throughout the plot and most of the children do not live their permanently, although some of the farm workers are allowed to stay on the farm in tin houses of their own or in a family members house while they are away. There is no electricity and no water in the main house. We cook all of our meals over a fire outside or on top of a wood burning stove inside the kitchen (which is also separate from the rest of the house). There IS a toilet inside with running water, but it is the only modern convenience I experienced during the long weekend at the farm. There were about 15 to 25 people coming and going on any given day, all with preparation for the upcoming wedding in mind.

The first night was spent mostly being introduced to the members of the family I hadn't met yet. Then we had dinner and sat and watched Hidden Passions (a soapie/ western) on a TV that seemed to be plugged into some kind of small power box which could only be switched on for about as long as the show ran. We were served a plate which held a piece of meat (goat, I think..but in Namibia one can never be sure..) and a bread roll. After dinner and soapie, we went to bed.

Saturday was much more exciting for me. I woke up and had coffee made with hot milk which, in my opinion, is the best way to have cafe au lait. After I got dressed, my host cousin (Mookie is her house name) took me around the farm to take pictures of the cows (getting milked), goats and sheep. Mookie follows me around and has become kind of attached to me. She is in grade 5 and doesn't speak English very well for her age. The first day I met her at the aunt's house she is staying with in Rehoboth, she didn't say a word. The family makes fun of her because she barely speaks, is very shy and especially doesn't speak English. I found out from speaking with her, that her father died in a car accident in Okahandja. I am teaching Mookie how to read English and since I have been interacting with her, she has started speaking and asking questions almost non-stop! From what I hear, the family now thinks my presence there is 'the will of God' and although it is not my belief I DO believe that my presence there is teaching them all a lot about a culture different than their own.

So, back to the farm. After taking pictures of the animals, Mookie and I noticed that the boys had rounded up the donkeys and were getting ready to go fetch the horses, so we decided that this was a perfect opportunity for Miss to partake in her first ever donkey cart ride. On the cart were Mookie, myself, Rizo, P Jay, Luciano, two other young boys and two young men (the names of which I am not sure). The terrain here in Rehoboth is absolutely beautiful. I took pictures while the dogs followed, until we stopped to let the two young men out to go hunt Springbok in the field. The young boy (whose name I can't remember) took over driving the cart to look for and round up the horses that were grazing in the field. As we drove, Mookie yelled something in Afrikaans and the boy driving immediately stopped the cart to get out and look in the field behind us. I saw him grab something and walk back to the cart. I looked to see what he was holding and he said 'skullpot'. Of course what he said was the Afrikaans word for a turtle. Mookie asked 'Miss, what is it in English?', 'Turtle', I answered, and all 3 of the older children spent the next 30 seconds trying to say 'turtle'. I said, 'We must take him back to the farm and make him our pet!' It was about the most exciting thing that had happened to me in a long time (sad isn't it?). So we continued to look for the horses and , when we found them, drove them back towards the house.

When we got out of the cart, one of the young men suggested 'Miss must ride a horse.' I said, 'Well, I will get on for a picture, but that's it!' I had seen the boys riding the horses bareback and most of them were still wild-mannered and didn't seem to have any riding discipline so I thought it best in terms of my safety for me to opt-out of horseback riding for now. Mookie took a fabulous picture for me and I hopped back down off the horse to go give our new pet turtle a name. (I'm teaching Mookie how to take pictures and I must say-she is a natural!) We named him Skully (short for skullpot) and tied a blue ribbon around him so if he wandered off, we would find him easier. Our pet excitement was short lived though because Skully isn't just any turtle, he is the fastest turtle in Namibia. When we took him to the garden to eat and walk around, he had disappeared within a half hour into a field of really tall grass. Needless to say, Skully didn't see being our pet in his future. When we got back to the house, my aunt let me try !Naba (the exclamation is a 'click' made with your tongue to the roof of your mouth along with the 'N' sound). !Naba is a field potato that they boil and season with salt. It is a mustard-yellow color inside and is much more dense and squishy than a regular potato. It was weird at first but after a couple times eating it I quite liked it. They also eat these prickly looking things that are actually field cucumbers. I didn't try any but I will this weekend! We had Springbok for dinner around the fire with bread and coffee. Springbok is probably the best tasting game I've had so far. After dinner I looked up and realized that The Milky Way was blanketing the house. I taught Mookie how to spot it in the sky along with Orion's Belt and the Big and Little Dippers.

Sunday was the craziest day I've had yet in Namibia. I witnessed about 4 goats and 1 cow get slaughtered and then cut apart for purposes of feeding the wedding guests. Here in Namibia, it is customary to provide the guests at one's wedding with as much meat as your family can feasibly provide. It seems to be a sense of pride for the family and for the married couple-to-be. There seems to be a general consensus agreed upon by the citizens of Namibia and can ring true in any social situation: The more meat, the better! At this point, every meal I have had for the past two days has been either porridge, or bread and meat and my stomach is not feeling its best. When I woke up and stepped out of the front door to walk to the kitchen for my morning coffee, I noticed carcases hanging from metal hooks in the large tree that stands to the left of the porch. As I continued my walk to caffiene-induced euphoria, I saw about 20 people hard at work handing each other what seemed to be the insides of what used to be a farm animal. Yes, before I even had my morning coffee, I saw young children playing with intestines, adults shaving stomachs, dogs soaked in blood and babies dancing around the scene to the usual loud Afrikaans music. I sat and watched this activity for about an hour when my mother came up to me and said, 'You must take photos. Come, you must see.' And so I did. I took pictures of the goat guts and hanging meat as it was being prepared. As I noticed them cleaning and slicing almost every piece of the insides of the goat, I couldn't help but think: 'I sure hope they don't try to feed me any of this!'

I felt as if I had won a victory since no one had asked me to actually participate in the slaughtering of these animals. They did ask if I wanted to help clean out the guts but I politely told them I preferred to watch and take pictures and, since they all love seeing themselves on camera, they posed enthusiastically. I had no sooner sat down, thinking the worst was over, when my mother came rushing over again yelling, 'Stand up! Miss must see the cow! You must take pictures!' I knew exactly what she was talking about: The cow had not yet been slaughtered and thanks to that damn rooster outside my window, I woke up late enough to miss the goat massacre but still early enough to see the cow get slaughtered. So I watched as about 8 men lassoed the cow and dragged it toward the house. I kept thinking, 'Where are they going to slaughter this thing? They are getting awfully close to the house..' and then I realized: oh shit. They're slaughtering it right here! They played tug-of-war with the livestock until they could tie his feet and flip him on his side. Then, they cut his throat right on the front porch! I took pictures and tried not to think about what was happening and before I knew it, the men were peeling the hide off the cow and cutting off his hooves, while the women and children had their bowls ready to gather the guts. Wow. This was enough to make me lose my appetite for the next week and vow to live on vegetables for the rest of my life! I went and took a nap to debrief my brain and get away from the stench of dead meat.

When I woke up I was hoping that all of the killing was done and the body parts were no longer in the hands of the children I had seen as innocent and sweet just a day before. For the most part, all was calm just as I had hoped. Then again, there is always a sense of calm right before your slapped with some realization that your 'not in Kansas anymore'. I went to the kitchen to see what the women of the family were up to and noticed they were making bread in the oven. The one thing I always look forward to is baked bread. It is the most comforting thing to me and I could eat it all day long! So I helped make some bread rolls while Ouma was cooking something on the stove that smelled absolutely delicious. I was so excited about fresh bread that I was completely blind to what was about to happen to me. Once the bread was out of the oven and mom started slicing, my mouth watered. I was so hungry at this point because I hadn't eaten all day and hadn't had anything except meat and bread for three days straight. I sat at a chair and waited for my fresh bread and next thing I knew I was handed a bowl that smelled like curry and a plate of sliced bread. Yum! I started tearing the bread apart and dipped it into what looked like a curry stew with potatoes and... meat? As I looked closer at the bowl my mother had placed in front of me, I realized that this curry stew was really animal gut stew! I did not recognize a single piece of meat in the entire bowl and instantly pictured that poor cow being decapitated. It had finally dawned on me that I was about to eat the liver, lungs and esophagus of that very same cow. I looked around at everyone gobbling up their gut stew and knew that I could not say no or I would offend my family and go hungry until the next morning. So, I just decided I wasn't going to think about what it was but try to taste it..who knows, maybe lungs taste like chicken. Nope. They don't. In case your ever wondering: liver is delicious, esophagus is good fried OR stewed but lungs? Lungs have the texture of a beach ball and taste like plastic. I figure, at the very least, my family thinks I'm the coolest American ever because (externally) I was a steel cage when it came to slaughtering and eating farm animals.

Now that I have showered and am back in Rehoboth I must say I've had an exciting weekend. I ate !Naba, Springbok, Cow esophagus, liver and lungs, rode a donkey cart, saw a cow being milked, rounded up horses, sat on a wild horse, had a pet turtle, lost a pet turtle and listened to a LOT of Afrikaans. I wonder if my counterparts are having crazy experiences like the ones I am having but I imagine that we are all creating unique stories of our own. Next weekend is the wedding and I have been told that we will party 'til the sun comes' and I am trying to prepare myself for crazy drunken family members and old men trying to long-arm dance with me.

Miss you all and hope my stories are keeping you interested. You really can't make this stuff up..

Until Next Time!

Amanda Pratt

(Don't forget to see my Farm Pictures at www.anamibianadventure.shutterfly.com)

It has been almost a week since I moved in with my new host family in Rehoboth and my, has it been interesting!

I arrived Thursday afternoon to what I will refer to from my last blog entry as 'The Bad Omen', however, my stay has been quite positive. My room is large and I have a full-sized bed. My house is very modest (so modest I haven't taken pictures because I don't want to offend my family) and there is no hot water but I am within walking distance of my hostel so I frequently go there to take showers. My host family consists of: My mother, Shiela (pronounced in Afrikaans 'Seela').. My host father, Johnny...Their Sons Piezano (23) PJay (2) and their daughter, Nabila (21). (There is a third son, but he is quiet and I haven't caught his real name..they call him Mana as a nickname I think..) Also living at the house are Nabila's Fiance, Laro (21) and their son Rizo (1). There are quite often many other family members visiting such as cousins, aunts, uncles, grandmas and grandpas so we always have a full house!

Our daily routine for the past week has been pretty chill. I wake up around 6am to the babies crying in the next room (because they don't want to sleep anymore) which is usually my cue to wake up too. They're kind of like roosters, or a really reliable alarm clock. Then we have coffee and breakfast, which usually consists of these cereal bars called Wheat-Pix that you pour hot milk over and top with LOTS of sugar. They're really delicious! Then the family cleans. They clean everyday rain or shine. They may not have much-but they make sure they take care of what they have! They also LOVE listening to music. LOUD music. There has been a lot of preparation for the wedding so most of the innards of our days consist of dress fittings and flower arrangements. My family is now convinced that I am an expert boquet designer all because I had to show off my creativity by making the bridesmaids handpieces from fake flowers they bought at the store. If you ask me, they're right-they did turn out pretty good! I am also having a dress made to wear for the wedding from the material I brought with me. I am very excited to see the finished product! One good thing about Rehoboth-everybody knows somebody who knows how to do something useful (like make dresses). Once we are done with the days errands, we all end up back at the house for dinner and coffee and soapies (and more coffee). We're all in bed around 9 pm.

Some Humerous Mentionables:

The morning after I arrived I awoke to rain. LOTS of rain. It was hitting my tin rooved cieling so loudly I couldn't hear my own dreams (and when you can't hear malaria-medication-induced-dreams you KNOW that rain was loud)! When I walked to the kitchen I saw around 8 plastic bowls catching rain droppings and what I saw outside was even more unsettling: my new home was now an island! Our entire surrounding 'yard' was completely flooded. My jaw dropped and my host mother laughed as she greeted me and handed me a cup of instant Ricoffy. 'Sometimes it gets so deep it comes in the kitchen' she said. I must teach my mother not to drop bombs on the new American houstguest before she drinks her coffee. Luckily, the flooding subsided as quickly as it came, but the drippy roof and rain are like parasites and stagnant water: you can't have one without the other tagging along.

The Tropical Inn is a Reho version of the Wayside in Mount Pleasant, MI. There is a bar with pool tables on one side and a dance club/ bar on the other. My new host sister wanted to take me out and, despite the stab-o-clock rumors, I reluctantly joined her. She informed me that we would be going in a large group and the boys walked us to our destination so I felt safe. Once we got there, I ordered a beer (which turned out to be a 40 oz that we Americans carry around in brown paper bags in order to inconspicuously drink in public) and tried to convince my host sister that I had no idea I was ordering the monster of all beers with an intention of getting hammered. Im not sure if she believed me, after all, it HAD been a long and stressful week. After I finished the beer we went to the other side and danced the night away to African House Music and a few American Hit Singles. (*please note that when I say 'dance the night away' I mean that I had the Fiance take me home at 12:30am because I am now a huge sissy who goes to bed early and doesn't know how to drink and dance for hours on end anymore. I suppose having an 8 o'clock curfew for 2 months will do that to a girl.)

My Host brother, Piezano, turned 23 this week. His birthday celebration started the night we went to the club (friday) and ended right about the time when we noticed him passed out on the cement slab 'porch' outside -in plain view from of the kitchen door. It was raining and he did NOT want to be moved. So much so that even after my host sister and mother picked him up by his hands and legs and carried him to bed, he crawled back out to his spot on the porch to lie back in the rain. Of course this would also be the same time when my fellow PCV's and their parents decided to show up and deliver a hard drive they so graciously picked up for me in the states. I simply explained that the man lying on the ground in front of my house was my host brother and that it was his birthday and they simply nodded and said 'yup. welcome to namibia.' Of course then I did what any self respecting sister would do at a time like this: I took pictures. I didn't take pictures of him subsequently throwing up though so don't think I'm as mean as I could have been. It took him two days to cover and still won't look me in the eye. I guess he heard that I'm an aspiring photographer and isn't quite ready for his next close-up.

I woke up to horses this morning, in my front yard. Their hooves were hoof-cuffed together so they wouldn't run off. They were pulling a cart and the family was trying to get the horses to turn around and take the cart back to the farm. It took them an hour and of course.. I took pictures.

That's all for my week in review. I am also posting about the farm in a separate post. Sorry for all the reading but it's been a busy week!

Tot Siens!



As of yesterday, April 14, 2011, I am officially a Peace Corps Volunteer with group #33 in Namibia. I made it through 8 weeks of training and passed my language tests with flying colors and was sworn in by the US Ambassador to Namibia.

The processions were touching and inspiring. The Minister of Health, Honourable Dr. Richard Nchabi Kamwi working under President Hifikepunye Pohamba, offered us words of advice: 'The challenges are great-but the rewards are also great. Make the best of your time in Namibia.' He definately made us feel welcomed and appreciated! We were sworn in by the U.S Ambassador to Namiba, her excellency Wanda Nesbitt, promising to:

"support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter. So help me God."

After we were sworn in, we enjoyed some entertainment by a local cultural dancing/ singing group and refreshments before departing to our new homes.

It was really hard saying goodbye to my host family. They have been great friends to me over the past two months and I have bonded with and become especially close to my host sister Fatima. I gave them parting gifts and they did the same. My host sister texted me last night to tell me that they missed me and I left to soon.. My sentiment is the same.

My new host family lives in much more modest housing. The house has a tin roof and 5 beds spread across 3 'bedrooms' only one of which resembles an actual bedroom as we might see it in the United States. There is a woman who sells food out of a caravan in the front yard. She comes as soon as she wakes in the morning and leaves late at night. My host mother doesn't speak much English so I am relying on my Afrikaans a great deal more than I did at my last family. The daughter and her fiance also live there and are to be married on the family farm end of month, which I will also be attending. I will get to ride horses, donkey carts and participate in the slaughtering of multiple forms of livestock as well as decorating and cooking the food for the guests. I will also be attending 2 funerals this weekend. Funerals and weddings in this community as well at greater Namibia, are great cultural events. They are often observed for a whole week as part of a series of gatherings. It is a great honor to be invited to them and to share in the families grief (for a funeral) and happiness (for a wedding). I am very excited to be included in such culturally rich experiences!

I think my new host family stay will be challenging but great. I'm not so sure they feel the same way, however, as they recieved a bad omen upon my arrival. As my supervisor's wife drove away, a large and I mean LARGE, mole ran across the street in the direction of my new home. The caravan woman ran at it, throwing rocks to kill it. After it was dead, she summoned me over to see it. It had LARGE teeth and was the size of a very fat rat. I said, 'What is that?' , 'It's a mole!' she replied. 'It's bad luck!' (I really hope they didn't associate my arrival with such bad luck!) I tried to make light of the situation by saying 'Wow! Look at those teeth!', but Im not sure it helped lol.

I heard I have some packages on their way to me and have to say, Im VERY excited to get pieces of home! So thank you to all who sent a package. I will let my mother know when I recieve them!

Thanks for all the support the past two months. It really helped me survive training and due to such support, I can officially say I'm a Peace Corps Volunteer! It's a GREAT feeling.

Sien jou later!

Amanda

(ps. I added pictures from the American Cultural Day as well as Swearing-In at http://www.anamibianadventure.shutterfly.com/ )

As Peace Corps volunteers we are constantly being told many things. First, nothing is certain. We have become accustomed to hearing ‘it depends’ and ‘don’t worry, it will work out’. Second, and the topic of this particular blog, is that the proverbial funk will come. You never know when or why, but it WILL come, and my friends: MY funk has arrived. The PCV life cycle resembles something like a piece of spaghetti on your plate that you’ve swirled up and down or one of those ribbon hard-candies my mom loves at Christmas time: a lot of ups and downs. This past week since we returned from site visit has been my down (which is also why it’s taken me so long to write a new blog entry) . Before I get into The Funk, let me first talk about the good stuff.Site visit went extremely well. My house is awesome-hot water, indoor plumbing, working stove and electricity. What more could a PCV ask for? I have 3 bedrooms and a back porch overlooking the high school’s new rugby field (not sure what rugby is but I will definitely have the opportunity and the obligation to learn since I apparently have the best seats in the house. Literally). It is located within a stone’s throw from the school and about a 25 minute walk from town.My supervisor, Principal Titus, and counterpart, Mrs. Van Der Hoven, are two EXTREMELY generous people who I feel very lucky to be working with. They are very open to my ideas and have hosted many volunteers before me so they have welcomed me in with open arms. The teachers have also been very warm and quick to help in any way they know how.My primary job will be teaching 23 classes: 5 life skills courses and 18 BIS courses (basic information science AKA the library) for 8, 9 and 10th grade learners. I will also be assisting with the after school HIV club and can start any other projects I feel appropriate to address the school’s various issues.Let’s talk about the issues:Teen Pregnancy: 7 girls at RHS got pregnant in year 2009 (they often use the term ‘fell’ pregnant as if it were a sickness-this can be due to a translation from Afrikaans to English but many feel this terminology allows pregnancy to be seen as a result of external forces other than personal choices). This issue is very complex because not only are girls obviously having unprotected sex, but they are at very high risk of contracting HIV. There used to be a policy that required pregnant girls to leave school immediately for one year but has now changed to allow them a choice to stay in school. Many educators feel this new policy is giving pregnancy popularity amidst the school culture if they are to be seen at school with the baby bump. *please note: abortion is illegal in Namibia and due to the high Christian population most girls are not allowed to take birth control either. Many of these girls are using traditional ‘cures’ for pregnancy which sometimes involves boiling newspaper in water and drinking it to get rid of the baby. Some of the girls’ mothers’ even force them to do this.Food: This school does not have a feeding program. This means that school can only be in session from 7 am to 1 pm because students who live in the hostel and have food at home must eat lunch. During Wednesday assemblies, students have been known to faint due to exhaustion and hunger as assemblies sometimes take over an hour-which they must stand for. When asked why there is no feeding program at the school, the principal explained that the Ministry of Education offers porridge at school request. The students, however, must complete a survey stating that they would eat the porridge and most students either have too much pride or they just plain don’t like porridge (it has NO nutritional value or flavor. It’s basically a very thick or very soupy, bland version of what we know as Malt-o-Meal.) Please keep in mind, that there is a high population of orphans who also have no food available outside of school.Low Test Scores: The school is in trouble with the Ministry of Ed. due to extremely low test scores in the core subjects. The students have no motivation to read and score very low in their English skills meaning most of the learners are reading at levels far below where they should be. The books available to them in the library (my new domain) are out-dated or much too hard for them to read. Low Community Support/ School Pride: Many of the learners in this school fall into the low income or poverty bracket and live in ‘the location’. Students who fail out of other schools or test low are then sent to Rehoboth High School which is seen very negatively in the community. The principal takes pride in his school and seems to be very fatherly to his institution but is very concerned that many view attending as a punishment or the bottom of the ladder which, he feels, gives learners a reason to give up on their education. It is because of this that they display a lack of respect to authority and toward each other, then creating a discipline problem. They often damage school property, fight each other and blatantly defy school rules. Many can be seen absconding from class with little or no repercussions. School officials are over worked and there is no accountability for students who break the rules.

So these are my biggest challenges that I will face over the next two years. I do have a little bit of a plan, which I will not share with you now as it is not yet complete. When I arrive at site permanently next Thursday, I will be living with a host family (to integrate me into the community) and planning my attack (so to speak) on the issues. When I have made a decision-trust me.. I will let you all know. Too many ideas float around this crazy head of mine to share with you sane people-you would most likely get overwhelmed with my list of possible projects!A couple other site visit mentionables:I was introduced to the entire school as ‘Miss Amanda from California: Sharon Stone lives on her left and Tom Cruise lives across the street’. Every learner now thinks I’m a celebrity and wants to know what Chris Brown is like.I have unlimited internet access! There is a decent computer lab at school that I will have access too for free (thank goodness). This means quicker blog entries (MOM) and more time to chat.I was invited to do a presentation on goal setting for a girls group of 46 7th graders at the neighboring primary school, which went very well. I even taught the girls how to do ‘the wave’.My principal took me to Windhoek with his wife, where I met their son and daughter (who attend University of Namibia) and got treated to chocolate dipped soft serve ice cream and KFC=HEAVEN. I survived my first hitch-hiking experience. We are responsible for our own transportation which leaves us the following options: hiking, kombis or taxis. Taxis are often driven by unlicensed drivers and are very expensive. Kombis are large busses that require very long waits and are also very expensive. Hiking is most often free and therefore the preferred mode of travel by PCV’s. I hitched a ride with a gentleman who spoke very good English, knew my supervisor and a fellow PCV and didn’t charge me a Rand! A successful first hike is, as Martha Stewart puts it, a GOOD THING.Stress Relief Day was.. well.. stress relieveing. For a DAY anyways. We visited a local dam where we swam, listened to music, danced a bit and barbecued. It was great to hang out with the group and the trainers and do something other than train.Ok-back to The Funk.Since I got back from site visit, my stomach has not been feeling well. Every time I eat a meal I have, what feels like, a knot in the pit of my stomach that won’t go away for hours. This has caused me to start eating smaller portions and even skip meals. I have lost around 6 lbs in the past 3 days and is effecting my sleep as well. I was put on pro-biotics today by the PCMO as she feels it might be a result of a change in diet. We will see how it goes. Also, this week has been a very stressful one! The sites in the north of Namibia are experiencing terrible flooding. Most of the PCVs located there have been relocated for the time being. Also there is fighting happening in the north between the local tribe and some authority members. The report was very vague but we are restricted from going there. This week, we have already visited an orphanage (see videos of the orphans singing for us at the site below) and a youth center in the location and we are doing an HIV presentation at two secondary schools tomorrow in conclusion to just one of many trainings crammed into this week as well as our very prestigious swearing-in ceremony to plan for. We are inviting some important community members (whom we have write speeches for) and can feel the stress of our training staff as they prepare for the event. We also have our final LPI on Monday to get our language proficiency and we (the trainees) are hosting an American Cultural Day on Saturday to thank our host families here in Okahandja for putting up with us (which we also have to recite speeches for). Now do you feel my stress? In closing, I am hoping for a Funk Free tomorrow. That is all.Totsiens!(*ps I have a new picture web site! This is where I will post all pictures, videos and even a calendar of events. http://www.anamibianadventure.shutterfly.com/ Please sign my guestbook so I know who has visited me!)Amanda Pratt

On Friday of last week our permanent sites were announced. Our trainers took us outside (as if our anxiety wasn’t high enough) to a large picture of the outline of Namibia drawn into the dirt behind the training center. Within the country, were bricks that held down pieces of paper with city/ village names on them. We could see where our possible sites were but had to wait patiently as Benna (our training director) announced us one by one. As he announced, I waited. And waited. And waited. Of course, I would be the last site announced.I finally found out where my permanent site will be: Rehoboth.For those of you who don’t know, Rehoboth is just 40 minutes south of Windhoek (Namibia’s capital and the largest city in Namibia). It is a large town with a population of about 30,000 people. I will be working at Rehoboth High School as a Life Skills teacher. I will be addressing major issues at the school such as teenage pregnancy, HIV/AIDS, drug and alcohol abuse, self esteem and peer pressure. I will be responsible for the library (as this will be my classroom) and may be teaching some computer information courses. I will also be helping with the after school HIV Club. I will have wireless internet access through the school and will be living on the grounds as well.I will be living in what is described as a 3 bedroom brick ‘flat’ with a kitchen, living room (open plan) and a bathroom with toilet and shower (typically, the toilet is in one bathroom and the shower is in another room by itself-both with sinks). I will be staying with the volunteer I am replacing for this week (I leave tomorrow) to take pictures and check things out. As you can see, this assignment is right up my alley. I am excited that I will get to work with kids and that I have an awesome living arrangement..most volunteers are not as lucky as I and I feel very blessed to be living in such a great space! (pictures to come soon)Some cons: Rehoboth is dangerous. I’ve heard nightfall referred to as ‘stab-o-clock’ and ‘zombieland’ because there are so many stabbings and dangerous people out after dark. There is a HUGE alcohol abuse problem in the south which is a trigger for violent behavior. Corporal punishment is used in schools. This ranges from hitting on the hand with a wooden plank to beating, bruising and welting students with ropes, sticks and other items. Discipline is a huge problem and will be a challenge to me because I will not be using punishment in my class in such a way. Students who have grown up being disciplined so harshly tend to have a hard time responding to other forms of discipline, or are more violent themselves as a result. It is also very hard to witness.I am not allowed to do condom demonstrations in school. This is a problem because there is a high rate of teenage pregnancy. Pregnant teenagers = unprotected sex = HIV/AIDS. If they do not know how to use a condom, how will they protect themselves? There is actually a very low rate of HIV/ AIDS in Rehoboth though (4.2 %) so I will mostly be addressing the ‘unprotected sex = babies’ part. There is a problem with racism. This town has a great deal of history behind it that is still a bit complex to me. The ethnic groups in Rehoboth are primarily Basters, Coloureds, Afrikaaners (whites), Blacks, Namas and some Damara. I have heard from current and past volunteers that there is a lot of racism against whites working with other ethnicities in the area by both whites and the other ethnicities. All in all I am very excited about my placement. The school year started in January and the trimester ends in April. At the end of each trimester the school takes a month break, which means I will have a lot of time to do lesson plans and get adjusted. I may even start a garden J

Send Packages!Once I get there I will get an address so people can start sending me packages. A few tips:· Don’t declare what’s actually in the package or the true value of the items within it. If you claim expensive items, batteries, cigarettes, honey etc. the package most likely will get stolen. Be smart: claim school supplies, books, or religious materials. · Do reinforce the corners of the box with packing tape. They get thrown around a lot. · Do use the USPS flat rate boxes. You can fit a lot in them for a small amount of money and they get here reliably.· Don’t leave anything in the box of value in the open. If you send me anything valuable or priceless that you don’t want to get stolen, put it inside something inconspicuous: a granola box, a box of tampons, wrapped in newspaper etc. think of it as making it as hard as possible for someone to find it (just make sure I can find it lol).Here are some things I might want (of course you can feel free to send me things you may think I would want.. be creative.. part of the excitement of getting a package is not knowing what’s in it!)· Girl Scout Cookies (someone just got a package with boxes of GS cookies. I almost died.)· Pictures. I miss your faces.· Magazines (yes. Even celebrity gossip ones. I typically don’t read them but I just need to know whats going on in America in the worst way.)· Newspapers· Snacks: any and all.· Cigarettes. If you know me, you know what kind. Im doing good trying to quit but these would be nice for those days when my learners drive me up a wall. Don’t look at it as contributing to a bad habit, look at it as saving me from ripping out my hair. · Condiments, sauce packets, easy add ons for meals (miracle whip, ranch, taco seasoning, etc.)· Instant Coffee with the highest amount of caffeine possible.· Flash drives· Hard drives (this is the one thing I wish I would have bought!)· Movies· School supplies (dollar store items like pencils, pens, stickers etc. or anything that can be used as a prize/ incentive)· Art Supplies (schools have none.)· Used magazines (for collage activities with the kids)· Ummm letters? If you send a package please write me a letter. I miss you all. Also, send your return address. I will want to send you a postcard/ thank you letter!Well, That’s all for now.. and I mean now-now-now-now. Sien jou later!Amanda(P.S. My sister just told me that I’m the coolest thing to ever be imported from America. Word. Thanks Fatima. You’re pretty cool too.)

A couple weeks and 3 shots later, Group 33 is almost at the mid-point of our PST. That being said, we have experienced a lot and still have even more in store for us. Here's a breakdown of some events that stand out to me from the past two weeks of training:

Field Trips:

We've had a few field trips since Windhoek..

Okahandja Clinic- This is the main medical clinic here in the Nau Aib area of Okahandja and offers Family Planning services, TB treatment and HIV/AIDS counseling. Upon arriving at the clinic it was clear to me that we were too many people for this little space. There were two nurses on staff and a receptionist checking people in. There was a line formed out the front door and we were expected to make our way through the sick patients with small children waiting to be serviced just so they could show us around the 4 rooms the small building offered services in. We were immediately uncomfortable and felt bad that we were absorbing the valuable time of one of the only two nurses available to help these patients. There were benches in the middle of the small square space, which reminded me of the long, back-to-back benches at a train station, except the only train in this building was the one we formed along two walls, waving pieces of paper in front of our faces. I will never understand why volunteer organizations such as PC and AC think it is good training to take volunteers into rural, low income areas in large tour buses as if we are going to see Shamu. It's really bad public relations. Anyways, the clinic offers free immunizations for 0-5 year old children, free birth control and contraceptives and free pap smears for women. They also offer free TB treatment, which they observe due to a high rate of failure to take meds, as well as home-based healthcare for those who can't leave home.

Okahandja Hospital-I was a little more impressed with the hospital. They had humble but efficient spaces for emergency patients, mens and womens wards, a pediatric ward, a TB treatment room, a pharmacy, a maternity ward, a mortuary and an HIV/AIDS medical officer. The hospital didn't seem sanitary and had only one ultrasound machine and one x-ray machine (which took only standing x-rays) so their services were quite limited, but they seemed to be making due with what they had available. They have 5 doctors on staff who seem to be very knowledgeable about the areas needs and were very happy to answer our questions.

Green Spot Organic Garden-One of our speakers this week had some very valuable information that I couldn't wait to wrap my brain around: Perma-Gardens. The whole idea that one can plant something and keep it alive to bear anything is a skill that I have always been envious of. My thumbs are as far from green as one's thumbs can be so this was my favorite field trip of the week. The man, whose name I can't remember (probably all the Afrikaans floating around in my head), took us to a beautiful garden where he teaches people how to grow sustainable gardens that can empower families and be turned into income generating resources. He taught us how to compost correctly, how to utilize small spaces of land, and how to funnel and use rainwater runoff to water your garden. He also showed us the benefits of 'double digging' the dirt in order to provide efficient room for roots to grow and taught us to plant in a triangle pattern in order to eliminate weed growth. The most amazing thing he taught us though, was this: you can poke holes in the bottom of a pop bottle, turn the cap ever so slightly, dig the bottle into the ground (between the triangularly planted seeds) and create a self-watering system! I made him explain it twice so I could make sure I understood how it works. The dry soil draws the water out of the bottle when it needs it. Once the soil is moist, you can close the cap and turn it only when you need to water the plants. It's a lazy gardener's dream. I'm hoping it's also a black-thumbed gardener's dream because I am going to try it as soon as I get to my site.

Namibian Culture Day:

This past Saturday we experienced more Namibian culture than we knew how to handle. Peace Corps set up a group braai (BBQ) that consisted of 6 different fire-pits, one for each language learner group and their trainers. Each group represents a different tribe in Namibia and would therefore be cooking foods from that culture. My group, the Afrikaans group, is probably the most basic/ least cultural group in the mix. I spent a great deal of time walking around to the other groups, taking pictures and experiencing what they had to offer. Here are some things that really stayed in my memory from the day:

The cultural dresses were very bright and colorful. The Herero women wear a large headpiece and long dress that reminds me of a prom dress from the 80's: large, poofy shoulders and overbearing print. These women look amazing in them and I must say.. anyone that can pull off that dress is OK by me. (no worries, I will be wearing a different version for my swearing-in that my host sister is letting me borrow, complete with head wrap)I ate Mopane Worms! Yes, I said worms. Mopane Worms are caterpillar-looking worms that live in the Mopane Tree here in Africa. They harvest the worms, kill them, dry them in the sun and cook them in a pot over an open fire. Then they season them with oil or butter.. I'm not sure which.. (I didn't watch them prepare them, I just ate them). They have a chewy, jerky-like texture and have a strong flavor that, to me, tip-toed between fishy and gamey.. either way, they were salty and not that bad!I witnessed the execution of no less than 6 chickens. The most depressing part was that I was befriending them while they were awaiting their fate in the back of one of the trainers trucks. The chicken had it's head sticking out of the box, no doubt in an attempt to escape the crazy people, when I decided to take a picture. Apparently here in Africa, it is common to kill your supper. Mostly they do this with chickens and goats, although we didn't get the pleasure of killing a goat. I, personally, didn't have to kill the chickens.. but the other language groups did, so I did what any self-respecting Peace Corps volunteer would do- I took pictures. The trainer held the head of the chicken on a piece of cinder block while the trainee (looking like they knew they were going to hell immediately after doing the deed) sawed through the neck until the head was severed. Only one chicken got up and ran afterward, but I missed it as I was probably off taking pictures of pigs feet or other chicken executions. After they behead them, they dip their bodies into boiling water and immediately pluck off the feathers and hold the bare bodies over the fire to singe off any small hairs. Then they throw the body, head and feet into the pot to cook. Yum!I shaved pig's feet. I have never had pig's feet before so I never dreamed that I would ever shave one but once again, my Swiss Army knife was put to good use. I learned how to make rooster brood! The buttered bread roll that I pay 5 Namibian dollars for on the street is now in my cooking repertoire. After beating that dough and grilling it, I definitely appreciate the lady I buy it from for all her hard work!I spoke Afrikaans! It was great to get to put all my language lessons to good use with people OTHER than my language trainer and fellow trainees. Not that I don't like speaking Afrikaans to Tannie Marta, but it's nice for a change of pace to keep you on your tongue (phonetically speaking)I got a nickname! A young 10 year old boy, who also happens to be my neighbor, gave me a nickname. First of all, He has 3 names of his own: Leonardo is his school name, Vladimir is his house name and Lang is his nickname.. (or is Leonardo his home name and Vladimir is his school name?) Anyhow, He gave me the name Aimar. Apparentlyy, Aimar was a very likeable character on a soapie called 'Storms Over Paradise'. Namibians LOVE their soapies, so I took this as a compliment. I happen to like the name Aimar and plan to keep it.At the end of all our hard work, the food was blessed by a local pastor in Afrikaans, and we broke brood.

What's Coming Next...

This week is our mid-term style LPI (language proficiency interview). We will talk with an interviewer in Afrikaans until we can't speak or get stuck, and they rate us on our proficiency to let us know if we need a tutor or are on the right track.

We also have a mid-evaluation to let us know how we are doing so far. We can express any concerns or questions we have as well as get feedback on our learning and performance.

Friday we will find out where we will be permanently placed for our two years of service!

I will announce my site as soon as I find out! Please continue to keep me in your thoughts and keep your fingers crossed for an awesome site placement for me!

Totsiens!

Amanda aka Aimar

(P.S. Don't forget to check out my new pictures on Flickr! http://www.flickr.com/photos/60250379@N03/sets/72157626204895416/

(each account only holds 200 pictures for free and I can only upload a little bit at a time so I am constantly adding pictures and at some point I will probably take some old ones down and put newer ones up so keep checking them out!)

DUECES.. Im Out.

Namibia is mooi (beautiful)! I arrived in Namibia and reunited with my group almost a week ago and it seems as if I was here the whole time. Upon arriving at the airport I heard the trickling sounds of water through the airport speaker system and felt like I was in paradise. Although I was tired and hadn't slept in two days (or eaten a real meal) I was rejuvenated as soon as my feet hit Namibian soil.. I am finally here!

My driver was waiting to take me to the Peace Corps office in Windhoek (Namibia's capital city) to start immediately with paperwork and interviews. The drive from the airport to the city was about 35 minutes. I realized I wasn't in the US anymore when I tried to get into the car on the right side, only to get reminded by the driver that he would be driving. They also drive on the left side of the road.. which is really hard to get used to, especially when crossing the street! We started our drive and was hit once again by another out-of-country experience: babboons hanging out on fences roadside! Yes. I said babboons. Apparently they are like deer here and must be watched out for as they will dart across the road in front of your car.

Once we arrived at the Andreas Kukuri Training Center in Okahandja, I was given 2 shots and started on my malaria prophylaxis immediately. Then I got to take a shower and meet up with the group at lunch. What a GREAT feeling! They welcomed me with open arms and it felt so great to be back on track! The training center provided us with meat and potatoes during lunch and dinner for the first few days, as well as two tea-breaks (one mid morning and one mid afternoon). Their coffee here is something similar to Nescafe but with a third of the caffiene (*note to readers: I will accept American instant coffee at any time in much appreciated care packages).

Our training consists of singing local songs in the morning-as well as the Namibian Anthem and the American National Anthem (video to come soon), language training and informational sessions in the afternoons. I am learning Afrikaans which means I will most likely be placed in the southern or central regions of Namibia. So far we have learned from our teacher Auntie Marta: Greetings (Hoe Gaan Dit?), Farewells (Totsiens!) and a few phrases (Ek het lief fir jou!). In our trainings we have learned about Namibia's history including tribal and racial tensions, the HIV/ AIDS and TB epidemics, a LOT of Safety and Security issues, and health, health, health! (I believe we are on our 4th shot since arrival with about 5 more to go!)

We also moved in with our host families this week! I am staying within walking distance of the training center in a blue house with the Hones family. Ma Juliana and sister Fatima (brother is staying at an uncles so I haven't met him). We all eat dinner together everyday and Fatima and I watch American TV while Ma listens to music. They both speak English, Afrikaans and Koi Koi (the 'clicking' language). Most people here speak English (because it is the national language), Afrikaans (which WAS the national language up until 1990) and whatever language that belongs to the tribe they are from. That's a lot of linguistics! I wash my laundry in their washing machine and line-dry the clothes. We are not allowed to hang undergarments outside (it is not allowed). I even cooked dinner for my family for the first time last night: I made fried chicken coated in crushed, seasoned corn-flakes with peas and rice.. It was a hit!

We went on a field trip Saturday to learn more about Namibia's history and to experience local food fare. We went to a place called Heroes Acre, a national monument to honor those who fought and died for Namibia's independence, and an old graveyard, which was the site of a massacre in 1959 related to racial tensions between the local whites and blacks. We then traveled to a place in town called the Single Quarter-a meat and produce market. Local Namibians come to sell spices, fruits, vegetables, dried fish, beans and meat to the community. We were there for one thing: Kapana. It is meat that is grilled and cut into small pieces which you then dip into a chili seasoning. Sounds simple and easy, but this is no ordinary meat. First of all, there is one rule in Namibia: Don't ask what kind of meat you are eating-just eat it! It is most likely goat, pork or beef (but you never really know). Secondly, upon walking to the grills, there are dead carcasses and severed pigs heads lying on tables where the meat is being butchered out in the open (amidst the flies and the heat) which makes even the most avid carnivores a little weary of consumption. However, I, being the iron-stomached adventurer that I am, could not deny the smell of grilled meat. I probably taste-'tested' the meat 5 times before I bought enough to last me the ride home. My host sister was so impressed by my moxie that she has officially dubbed me a Namibian by blood. I will return to Single Quarter as soon as humanly possible.

After my meat adventure, our last segment of the trip was to drive down the street to which we are never to return. This neighborhood is considered a shanty town, filled with 'tin boxes' which are houses made out of aluminum siding. The thing that makes this neighborhood so sketchy, is that every other house is what's called a Shebeens: a bar/ car wash/ barber shop. Alcoholism is a very serious issue in Namibia and these are considered some of the most lucrative places to open. They basically look like a tin shed surrounded by vast amounts of people drinking 40oz beers. This is definitely not a safe place to be, Peace Corps informs us, and I don't think any of us could argue with that.

Sunday was our first day of rest from a long week of training. A couple other volunteers and I decided to go hiking in the morning to a small mountain which had a large cross at the very top. It ended up being around 6 miles from our houses to the top and back. The views were beautiful and we discovered many beautiful flowers and lots of bugs. We had a couple of incidents: Elizabeth (my fellow PCV) got caught in a thorn-tree and was scratched while simultaneously bumping against/ grabbing a small caterpiller that shed little black hairs, which ended up getting lodged into her side and hand. We removed them (thanks to my handy dandy swiss army knife) and moved on. I then got into a fight with a thorn-tree as well and was scratched in the forehead. Elizabeth had a second run-in with another caterpiller on the way back down the mountain. We also experienced the dilemma of dealing with spider webs along the hike. There were large black spiders with bright orange stripes on their legs scattered across the trails. We simply tossed large sticks at them and tread on.. when we got home we found out that they are very poisonous. Oops.

As you can see we have experienced a LOT this past couple of weeks which is why I haven't posted and entry yet. I have a cell phone as well as an internet stick which I purchased just this week. I can chat/ email/ skype now for free from 1am to 5am ( 7pm to 11pm EST). My cell number is: 011 (code to get out of the US) 264 (Namibia's country code) 81-6939142.

***Pics are posted on my Flicker account at http://www.flickr.com/photos/akpratt/ in a folder titled 'African Adventures'.

Thanks for the continuing support! Miss you all!

Tot Later!

Amanda

My trip thus far has not been going as I had planned. Just a little update:

I arrived in Philadelphia on the 15th with what seemed to be a dirty contact lense. No sooner had I checked into my room, I noticed that upon taking out the lense, my eye turned pink ad started hurting. I let it lie for the night hoping that it was just irritated by the circulated airplane air, but awoke to an even redder, puffier eye. I alerted my staging officers who then arranged to sendme to the Jefferson University Hospital Emergency Room right after I recieved my Yellow Fever Vaccination Wednesday morning.

I arrived at the Hospital at 8:30am and finally got in an hour or so later. The nurse practitioner then put numbing drops in my eye (I was in so much pain that I was in tears and could barely keep my eyes open) and proceeded to examine it. She wasn't sure what was wrong so she gave me the bottle of numbing drops and referred me to the Eye Emergency Room down the street. They discharged me after another hour or so, and I was on my way (numbing drops in tow).

I found emergency room number 2 only to be informed that I still had to go through the triage and registration process all over again (which of course took around 2 hours). Once I got in to see the doctor, she asked if I had bee utting any drops in my eye or was taking any medication for it. I informed her that I was given numbing drops by the nurse at the hospital and had been taking them whenever the pain came back. The Dr. yelled at me "Who gave you these? You should NOT be using these! They can cause corneal melting!" I sat in absolute SHOCK, and realized that the nurse had put my vision in danger as well as made my situation worse. But, it gets better... The Dr. called the Nurse Practitioner that gave me the drops and (in an effort to save her own butt) she told her that I TOOK them from her! (THE NERVE!)

Anyways... The eye Dr. took the numbing drops (which put me back into the worst pain of my life) and gave me the right ones. I struggled, but finally caught a taxi back to the hotel and was so happy to be in bed knowing that the worst day of my life was over!

Well, ALMOST over. I had to call my Medical Officer to let her know what happened only to hear that I would be placed on Medical Hold until my eye got better. Meaning, my group flew out to Africa this morning without me. Instead, I got on a train to Washington DC this morning and here I will sit until I see a specialist tomorrow, who can clear me for take-off. The Peace Corps staging officers and medical officers have done NOTHING but accommodate me in the nicest ways possible: Giving me extra money for food, putting me up in an amazing hotel, getting my medical/ perscription cards available and even filling my perscriptions for me so I could sleep!

If all goes well I will only be a few days behind everyone else and you better BELIEVE that this will not stop me. I am lucky to have the support of my family, friends and colleagues who have helped me stay positive about all of this. Thank you all!

I will keep you posted on anything else that happens, but in the mean time just keep me in your thoughts!

Basically sums up my day..



Where I spent 90% of my time in Philly: Bed at the Hilton Garden Inn (Malika the Traveling Mermaid was resting too)

My room at the Washington Plaza Hotel In DC:

My view in DC: I love all of the buildings here!

Our favorite part of traveling: Room Service!

I have been informed that I will be training as a part of Namibia, Group 33!

I have also been informed that Namibia is one of the best countries a volunteer could be placed. It is widely regarded as one of the most peaceful, stable and developed countries in Africa

Eight language and cross-cultural Facilitators have been hired to help us learn the language spoken in each of our specific placement regions. During training, I will study one of the following languages: Afrikaans, Otjiherero, Oshindonga, Thimbukushu, Rukwangali or Silozi.

My technical training will cover basic information, depending on my assignment, such as: Project plans, Current HIV/AIDS intervention, Functions of available HIV/AIDS service organizations, Organizational structure, Community projects, Role of Volunteer in Development, etc. I also will have the opportunity to work with community members on identifying and implementing viable projects.

Here is my Pre Service Training Itinerary:

February 18 Trainees arrive in Windhoek and travel straight to the Training Center in Okahandja Week 1 & 2 February 19-26 Orientation @ Andreas Kukuri Training Center -Okahandja February 24 Move in with host families February 21- Mar 5 Intensive training (all components) Week 3 & 4 March 7- 18 Intensive training (all components) March 16 Mid Language Proficiency (LPI) Interview March 18 Mid Evaluation by PCTs and Site Announcements Week 5 & 6 March 24 Meet your Supervisor & sessions March 25 Travel to Permanent Sites (“Future Site Visit”) March 25 - 31 On-the-Job Orientation with Supervisor and host organization March 31 Travel from Permanent Sites to Okahandja Week 7 & 8 April 4 - 13 Intensive training (all components) Week 8 April 11 Final Language Proficiency (LPI) Interview April 12 Final Evaluation of PCTs April 14 Swearing-in ceremony at Andreas Kukuri Training Center, Okahandja / End of PST Depart to Permanent Sites with Supervisor/host organization staff

**I have been informed that training does NOT guarantee that I will move forward as a volunteer. I will have to pass all evaluations and language proficiencies in order to be sworn in as a Peace Corps volunteer.

Other Notes:

Winter is approaching in Southern Africa, so the weather at the time of my arrival will be cool. Highs may be in the 50’s to 70’s, with lows anywhere from the 20’s to 40’s. I will be in the rainy season starting from November and ending in April or early May.

I will be given an allowance during pre service training to purchase whatever I need. This allowance is currently N$25 per-day (or about $3.50 USD per day at an exchange rate of 7.5 Namibian dollars to one US dollar).

Communication:

There will be no regular schedule for delivery of mail during PST; staff will bring mail to me when it arrives. Staying in touch with loved-ones can be challenging at first, but I can expect a relatively regular letter flow as I begin to settle in (2-4 weeks respectively). That said, be ready for a decreased level of communication with those in the U.S. during my first months in Namibia.

Please use the following address for mail to be sent from the States: Amanda PrattPeace Corps Office P.O. BOX 6862 19 Nachtigal Street Ausspannplatz Windhoek Namibia

Within the first few days of my arrival at the Andreas Kukuri Training Centre in Okahandja, Peace Corps staff will assist me in purchasing international calling cards if I want to phone family or friends to inform them of my safe arrival. (Please note that international calling cards purchased in the U.S. do not work with the Namibian phone system.) Family and friends should not expect a call from me before February 19 at the earliest. During my community-based training, telephone access may be limited, so do not expect easy, inexpensive, or regular telephone and e-mail accessibility. Remember, Namibia is six (7) hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time (EST) in the United States at this time of year.

I have attached a letter to my family and friends about what to expect from my service. Please read it and save it as it has contact phone numbers and addresses where I can be reached and may be of help during difficult times. (click on link above)

**Here are some video clips of recent Peace Corps Volunteer experiences in Namibia. I will most likely be in a similar situation. The guy named Patrick is my Host Country Desk Officer and I will get to meet him in Philly for Staging:

Host Family Experience (1of5)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ytx1whxDNhc

Host Family Experience (2of5)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LZva2SBg-vE

Host Family Experience (3of5)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DHrIq81bUCc

Host Family Experience (4of5)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CdWK7ziEgd4

Host Family Experience (5of5)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9gKSAo_jbbg

I am really excited about how well they are communicating with me as far as expectations and packing lists. I have also been informed that I will have a Volunteer Network available as a resource for mentoring and advice. I feel really good about my capabilities and am confident that this will be a challenging and rewarding experience for me. Wish me well and keep my in your thoughts!

*ps. I named the mermaid "Malika the Traveling Mermaid". Malika means African Princess. I thought it was very suiting ;) I will post her first traveling picture upon arrival in Philly!

I am all moved out and officially out of California. I have to say.. I already miss it! A very optimistic friend informed me that I left on a good omen: a full moon rose in complete sequence with the setting sun. What a positive sign that what I am doing is all part of the plan! My other good friend Becca gave me a great parting gift complete with idea as to it's use: a small mermaid kit to remind me of San Diego everywhere I go. She also suggested taking pictures of her like Garth the traveling Gnome. I have decided to do this but haven't given her a name yet.. stay tuned for more details about that!

The next step of my journey is called "staging". It is a process that involves meeting fellow volunteers, completing vaccinations, finishing up last minute paperwork, pre-service expectations and what to expect upon arrival.

Here is my itinerary:

I fly out of Flint, MI February 15 at 10:24am to head to Philadelphia, PARegistration is at 6:00pmFebruary 16th begins at 7:00am with shots (yippee!) and finishes with icebreakers (double yippee!) and training until 6:30pmFebruary 17th begins at 2:00am (ok Im not giving this one a 'yippee') to check out and head to JFK airport Flight to Namibia departs at 10:40am (15 hrs), arrives in Johannesburg at 8:40am, leaves for Namibia at 2:45pm and arrives in Windhoek (Namibia's Capital City) at 4:35pm February 18thI am still packing and putting together my list of items to take with me. I am currently in Las Vegas with family until next Monday when I drive to Michigan with my best friend to spend the remainder of my time until departure. I am literally saying goodbye to half of the country! Click on the links about to visually experience my travels and keep me in your thoughts!

Monday, January 10, 2011 marks the day I officially accepted the offer Peace Corps extended me to work as a Health Extension Volunteer in Namibia. This blog will chronicle my journey and allow me to share my experience with my friends, family, colleagues, former students and World Wise Schools classrooms (classes I will be writing to during my service). Please refrain from posts that are inappropriate or use vulgar language as this blog may be seen by young adults and former colleagues-I wish to respect all that choose to follow my journey.

As of right now I am in the process of moving, packing, and making that final transition to prepare for living abroad. I am feeling a wide range of emotions: sadness, anxiety, excitement, fulfillment and curiousity. I am leaving behind a family at the PASS Program and the students have touched my heart. I am also leaving behind great and supportive friends and family. This has been the hardest part of the process. Every experience I have shared with my friends on the west coast has been unforgettable and my friends back home in Michigan never fail to welcome me back with open arms: for this I am very grateful.

Thank you to all who have supported me through this process. In a way, you have helped to carry me and my passions to where I am today. I know that my departure not only effects me, but everyone who has touched my life. I thank you from the bottom of my heart for letting me go-to live my dream.

And so...

My Journey Begins Here.