i will update this neglected xanga soon.

i am back, and have been for a few months, in Fresno.

cheers.

to the surprise of some, yes, i'm actually leaving (at least for awhile...heh) namibia. time has FLOWN (is that a word?) by this year, and my contact is up mid-june. for those of you kind souls who send me goodies now & again, i think it's best you stop sending them by the end of april/very early may, so they don't fall into the hands of the wrong people after i depart.for those just itching to send one last something...might i suggest my chai-obsession - http://www.flickr.com/photos/amberlung/3447334452/ from trader joe's? :)cheers.

went camping with a friend over easter holiday and took her to visit my garden family, who she loved. great time, all in all. some new photos are up on flickr (ww.flickr.com/photos/amberlung). also, had a good conversation about travels to Uganda through Tanzania, so i'm getting pumped.

http://oshikukubasketproject.org - CHECK IT OUT.also, do you twitter? www.twitter.comfinally, my brilliant geniuses i'm indebted to 'fo life: www.thehalcyonlab.com

http://oshikukubasketproject.org - CHECK IT OUT.also, do you twitter? www.twitter.comfinally, my brilliant geniuses i'm indebted to 'fo life: www.thehalcyonlab.com

Have you seen the video presentation thingy yet? It’s new. http://oshikukubasketproject.orgPlease, spread the word.

Have you seen the video presentation thingy yet? It’s new. http://oshikukubasketproject.orgPlease, spread the word.

hi all, updated a few photos onto flickr site if interested. cheers!

hi all, updated a few photos onto flickr site if interested. cheers!

...is 70-year tate kulu hauling heavy loads with the rest of us, through the mud & rain, because the ef-ing truck wouldn’t go through a little water to make the delivery at the house. And by heavy loads with the rest us, I mean, he was carrying more than I could, and with much greater ease. ...is rosalia, heaving the 30 metre roll of diamond mesh up onto her head. Sheetekela challenged me, saying the fencing was too heavy for me to carry. I tried to heave it onto my shoulder, but lost balance and it fell. Rosalia and I tried to carry it together, but it was awkward. So, stopping, she smiled her beautiful “guacamole!” smile and much to the surprise of both Sheetekela and I, heaved it up onto her shoulder, and then her head. So, I tried again, successfully heaved it onto my shoulder, and started walking. I could feel every muscle in my back and midsection under the strain, and looked ahead at Rosalia walking as though she had nothing more than a hat on. After dropping it at the house, turning back for more, I saw the other meme’s cruising along with the diamond mesh on their head... Just another day in the village...but, oh, my dear, the next day my muscles, “they were paining...”

Walking along in Oshakati, a man just in front of me stopped to urinate. Not uncommon, though usually they step a bit further away. I passed by. “oh, sorry!” I keep walking “no, really, sorry!” I keep walking, “oshili nawa.” “oshili nawa?” I hear, what I think is pissing man trying to catch up with me after he finishes his business. I walk, thinking, please, pissing man, don’t come talk to me. “You seem tired.” Oh no, he came to talk to me. As usual, i was carrying a box of baskets around Oshakati with me, and was, in fact, tired. “I’m fine.” “I know you’re fine, you’re a hard worker.” I shrug, keep walking. “We need more people like you...” he pauses. I smile, keep walking. “...people who do, and don’t just say.” I keep walking. “Well, see you one of the good days," and he wandered off. Indeed, pissing man, see you one of the good days. And thanks.

...is 70-year tate kulu hauling heavy loads with the rest of us, through the mud & rain, because the ef-ing truck wouldn’t go through a little water to make the delivery at the house. And by heavy loads with the rest us, I mean, he was carrying more than I could, and with much greater ease. ...is rosalia, heaving the 30 metre roll of diamond mesh up onto her head. Sheetekela challenged me, saying the fencing was too heavy for me to carry. I tried to heave it onto my shoulder, but lost balance and it fell. Rosalia and I tried to carry it together, but it was awkward. So, stopping, she smiled her beautiful “guacamole!” smile and much to the surprise of both Sheetekela and I, heaved it up onto her shoulder, and then her head. So, I tried again, successfully heaved it onto my shoulder, and started walking. I could feel every muscle in my back and midsection under the strain, and looked ahead at Rosalia walking as though she had nothing more than a hat on. After dropping it at the house, turning back for more, I saw the other meme’s cruising along with the diamond mesh on their head... Just another day in the village...but, oh, my dear, the next day my muscles, “they were paining...”

Walking along in Oshakati, a man just in front of me stopped to urinate. Not uncommon, though usually they step a bit further away. I passed by. “oh, sorry!” I keep walking “no, really, sorry!” I keep walking, “oshili nawa.” “oshili nawa?” I hear, what I think is pissing man trying to catch up with me after he finishes his business. I walk, thinking, please, pissing man, don’t come talk to me. “You seem tired.” Oh no, he came to talk to me. As usual, i was carrying a box of baskets around Oshakati with me, and was, in fact, tired. “I’m fine.” “I know you’re fine, you’re a hard worker.” I shrug, keep walking. “We need more people like you...” he pauses. I smile, keep walking. “...people who do, and don’t just say.” I keep walking. “Well, see you one of the good days," and he wandered off. Indeed, pissing man, see you one of the good days. And thanks.

photos updated for december basket meme home visits, weddings, boxing day, new years, etc.

www.flickr.com/photos/amberlung

photos updated for december basket meme home visits, weddings, boxing day, new years, etc.

www.flickr.com/photos/amberlung

Just took a leisurely walk to the market, where I bought a cooldrink and chips instead of soap to do my wash. Oops. On the way I passed some children who have started a new game of greet the Oshilumbu 1,873 times. You would think this would get old after 3+ years of being here. But, you see, it’s a new generation of just-learning-to-speak children and they are following in the footsteps of older siblings who have lost interest. Once at the market, I sat down with my snacks and watched a mass of children playing some chaotic game of tag or chase or who knows what. On the way home it was approaching sunset so brilliant hues of pink, orange, and purple blended together and the colors of everything were sharper and more dramatic. The storm moving in made it even more beautiful. I greeted many people I knew along the way, and thought to myself how hard it is going to be to say goodbye. Not just to say goodbye to people, but to these storms, sunsets, palm trees, sand, goats, bats, everything. I’m at peace with leaving though, because I know I’ll be back, somehow, in some way, one day. Namibia is a special place. Many people, many volunteers, don’t see it that way. I didn’t see it that way for a long time. Neither of us are more right or wrong. I have lost respect for anyone who tried to force me to see things their way, or believed me insane for staying so long. Different folks, different strokes. Some exciting news: a new, large, grant has come in for the garden project, the basket project website is going to be re-vamped, basket project is shortlisted for two grants, I can access internet from my room, I can access internet from my room, I can access internet from my room. Did you get that? Bluetooth is amazing. Thrilling. Exhilarating. More soon...

Just took a leisurely walk to the market, where I bought a cooldrink and chips instead of soap to do my wash. Oops. On the way I passed some children who have started a new game of greet the Oshilumbu 1,873 times. You would think this would get old after 3+ years of being here. But, you see, it’s a new generation of just-learning-to-speak children and they are following in the footsteps of older siblings who have lost interest. Once at the market, I sat down with my snacks and watched a mass of children playing some chaotic game of tag or chase or who knows what. On the way home it was approaching sunset so brilliant hues of pink, orange, and purple blended together and the colors of everything were sharper and more dramatic. The storm moving in made it even more beautiful. I greeted many people I knew along the way, and thought to myself how hard it is going to be to say goodbye. Not just to say goodbye to people, but to these storms, sunsets, palm trees, sand, goats, bats, everything. I’m at peace with leaving though, because I know I’ll be back, somehow, in some way, one day. Namibia is a special place. Many people, many volunteers, don’t see it that way. I didn’t see it that way for a long time. Neither of us are more right or wrong. I have lost respect for anyone who tried to force me to see things their way, or believed me insane for staying so long. Different folks, different strokes. Some exciting news: a new, large, grant has come in for the garden project, the basket project website is going to be re-vamped, basket project is shortlisted for two grants, I can access internet from my room, I can access internet from my room, I can access internet from my room. Did you get that? Bluetooth is amazing. Thrilling. Exhilarating. More soon...

http://www.namibian.com.na/Look under marketplace to see the article about the Tukwafeni Project...had a great photo, as well...people are very excited and we are trying to get another article in a reputable Nam-magazine. Hoping to get tate kulu and co. recognized for their work and build more enthusiasm for funding its expansion.

http://www.namibian.com.na/Look under marketplace to see the article about the Tukwafeni Project...had a great photo, as well...people are very excited and we are trying to get another article in a reputable Nam-magazine. Hoping to get tate kulu and co. recognized for their work and build more enthusiasm for funding its expansion.

http://www.namibian.com.na/Look under marketplace to see the article about the Tukwafeni Project...had a great photo, as well...people are very excited and we are trying to get another article in a reputable Nam-magazine. Hoping to get tate kulu and co. recognized for their work and build more enthusiasm for funding its expansion.

After being here three years, I thought I could handle the heat. When what I thought was summer arrived, and people started complaining, I didn't think it was so bad. Then, mother nature, slapped me in the face and delivered a heat I have never known.I drank litres and litres of water that must have sweat out of me because I considered it a good day if I peed twice. I couldn't keep my legs or arms bent for very long due to pools of sweat that would form under them. I drank 500ml cool drinks like they were shots. I became obsessed with my floppy hat. I became used to the sensatation of sweat trickling down my legs, even in the shade. And the night, it was unbearable inside. If not for the possibility of snakes, I would have gladly slept outside, because for a person who generally has little to no trouble sleeping, I simply could not sleep.And then we had a slight reprieve (proper english?). It was only hot, not unbearable.But Sunday, I made the mistake of walking to Shop Rite without my hat, scolded along the way by friends concerned for me. I came home, exhausted, and fearing another unbearable week was coming. Then, last night, around 4am, I woke up for no good reason...or so I thought, especially considering how much I had biked during the day and how tired I was. I tossed and turned for awhile, then rose to get some water out of my wannabe freezer. As I passed the fan, I wondered why it was blowing hot air. And as I drank the cold water I realized I was awake because my insides, they were melting.

After being here three years, I thought I could handle the heat. When what I thought was summer arrived, and people started complaining, I didn't think it was so bad. Then, mother nature, slapped me in the face and delivered a heat I have never known.I drank litres and litres of water that must have sweat out of me because I considered it a good day if I peed twice. I couldn't keep my legs or arms bent for very long due to pools of sweat that would form under them. I drank 500ml cool drinks like they were shots. I became obsessed with my floppy hat. I became used to the sensatation of sweat trickling down my legs, even in the shade. And the night, it was unbearable inside. If not for the possibility of snakes, I would have gladly slept outside, because for a person who generally has little to no trouble sleeping, I simply could not sleep.And then we had a slight reprieve (proper english?). It was only hot, not unbearable.But Sunday, I made the mistake of walking to Shop Rite without my hat, scolded along the way by friends concerned for me. I came home, exhausted, and fearing another unbearable week was coming. Then, last night, around 4am, I woke up for no good reason...or so I thought, especially considering how much I had biked during the day and how tired I was. I tossed and turned for awhile, then rose to get some water out of my wannabe freezer. As I passed the fan, I wondered why it was blowing hot air. And as I drank the cold water I realized I was awake because my insides, they were melting.

Now that the 2008 election is over, reporters are spilling all the juciest, and previously off the record, gossip from the campaign trail. Much of it is about the infighting between Palin and McCain's staff, as Newsweek's treasure trove of post-election gossip reveals. However, perhaps one of the most astounding and previously unknown tidbits about Sarah Palin has to do with her already dubious grasp of geography. According to Fox News Chief Political Correspondent Carl Cameron, there was great concern within the McCain campaign that Palin lacked "a degree of knowledgeability necessary to be a running mate, a vice president, a heartbeat away from the presidency," in part because she didn't know which countries were in NAFTA, and she "didn't understand that Africa was a continent, rather than a series, a country just in itself." Palin was apparently a nightmare for her campaign staff to deal with. She refused preparation help for her interview with Katie Couric and then blamed her staff, specifically Nicole Wallace, when the interview was panned as a disaster. After the Couric interview, Fox News reported, Palin turned nasty with her staff and began to accuse them of mishandling her. Palin would view press clippings of herself in the morning and throw "tantrums" over the negative coverage. There were times when she would be so nasty and angry that her staff was reduced to tears.------

Reporting from Phoenix -- Sarah Palin left the national stage Wednesday, but the controversy over her role on the ticket flared as aides to John McCain disclosed new details about her expensive wardrobe purchases and revealed that a Republican Party lawyer would be dispatched to Alaska to inventory and retrieve the clothes still in her possession...

For weeks, the McCain-Palin campaign has dealt with the fallout from the disclosure that the Republican National Committee was billed for $150,000 in wardrobe purchases for the Palin family -- a discovery that was widely ridiculed and undercut Palin's hockey mom appeal. Several McCain aides said they had recently discovered that Palin's traveling staff had used personal credit cards to spend as much as $20,000 to $30,000 on additional wardrobe items for Palin.

Now that the 2008 election is over, reporters are spilling all the juciest, and previously off the record, gossip from the campaign trail. Much of it is about the infighting between Palin and McCain's staff, as Newsweek's treasure trove of post-election gossip reveals. However, perhaps one of the most astounding and previously unknown tidbits about Sarah Palin has to do with her already dubious grasp of geography. According to Fox News Chief Political Correspondent Carl Cameron, there was great concern within the McCain campaign that Palin lacked "a degree of knowledgeability necessary to be a running mate, a vice president, a heartbeat away from the presidency," in part because she didn't know which countries were in NAFTA, and she "didn't understand that Africa was a continent, rather than a series, a country just in itself." Palin was apparently a nightmare for her campaign staff to deal with. She refused preparation help for her interview with Katie Couric and then blamed her staff, specifically Nicole Wallace, when the interview was panned as a disaster. After the Couric interview, Fox News reported, Palin turned nasty with her staff and began to accuse them of mishandling her. Palin would view press clippings of herself in the morning and throw "tantrums" over the negative coverage. There were times when she would be so nasty and angry that her staff was reduced to tears.------

Reporting from Phoenix -- Sarah Palin left the national stage Wednesday, but the controversy over her role on the ticket flared as aides to John McCain disclosed new details about her expensive wardrobe purchases and revealed that a Republican Party lawyer would be dispatched to Alaska to inventory and retrieve the clothes still in her possession...

For weeks, the McCain-Palin campaign has dealt with the fallout from the disclosure that the Republican National Committee was billed for $150,000 in wardrobe purchases for the Palin family -- a discovery that was widely ridiculed and undercut Palin's hockey mom appeal. Several McCain aides said they had recently discovered that Palin's traveling staff had used personal credit cards to spend as much as $20,000 to $30,000 on additional wardrobe items for Palin.

I don't know that I could ever reside permanently in USA again.

I don't know that I could ever reside permanently in USA again.

say it ain't so, joe?Making women pay for their own rape examinations?foreign policy experience from seeing russia from her alaska home?mayor of town of ~5,000? govenor of alaska for 2 years?Palin replied. “I can give you examples of things that John McCain has done, that has shown his foresight, his pragmatism, and his leadership abilities. And that is what America needs today.” Pressed for more specific examples, Palin responded: “I'll try to find you some and I'll bring them to you.” ....???

say it ain't so, joe?Making women pay for their own rape examinations?foreign policy experience from seeing russia from her alaska home?mayor of town of ~5,000? govenor of alaska for 2 years?Palin replied. “I can give you examples of things that John McCain has done, that has shown his foresight, his pragmatism, and his leadership abilities. And that is what America needs today.” Pressed for more specific examples, Palin responded: “I'll try to find you some and I'll bring them to you.” ....???

I voted absentee last week, thanks to Peace Corps doing what I consider to be the most impressive thing of my service. They coordinated site development with distributing absentee ballots.So, if I vote from Namibia, you better damn well vote from wherever you are.

I voted absentee last week, thanks to Peace Corps doing what I consider to be the most impressive thing of my service. They coordinated site development with distributing absentee ballots.So, if I vote from Namibia, you better damn well vote from wherever you are.

As I'll be leaving CAA, I will be sharing a new P.O. Box with some very kind Swiss volunteers for now...so you can reach me post office style at Tuyoleni Emba Iyambo c/o Amber Lung P.O. Box 1078 Oshakati, Namibia.Thanks.

As I'll be leaving CAA, I will be sharing a new P.O. Box with some very kind Swiss volunteers for now...so you can reach me post office style at Tuyoleni Emba Iyambo c/o Amber Lung P.O. Box 1078 Oshakati, Namibia.Thanks.

Shuffle (This will clearly show you my priorities): a few months ago on my way back from a basket trip I still had about half an m-bag of baskets, my small backpack, and a handbag. Getting dropped at a backpackers in Tsumeb in the evening with a lift that was going to Grootfontein and then Katima (= far), the driver opened the boot of the car and I gave him a basket as promised. I took the bag from the boot, closed it myself, thanked him, and said goodbye. Approximately 3.5 minutes later I realized I hadn’t taken my backpack out of the boot of the car. Seriously? The good news is that miraculously, he returned it to the backpackers and a few days later had friends driving through who picked it up for me. The bad news is that someone had snatched my shuffle that was inside. It has been a quiet, sad, few months. Okay not really, I have a stereo…but, still sad on walks, runs, bike rides, or travels.“America?” I made an unplanned trip to Khorixas to urgently deliver baskets and light fixtures to a Namibia Wildlife Resorts Lodge undergoing renovations. They needed to have five rooms complete for international press coming by a certain date. Ended up being a fantastic trip because I got to know exactly how the baskets would be used and got to know some key people from NWR. The mama mia guy – from a few blogs back – didn’t know I was coming. And so, as I rounded the corner and surprised him, he shook his head in disbelief, asking… “America?” USD 2,000? Ha! NWR national manager thought PCV’s received USD 2,000/per month. I nearly choked. Then, he did when he realized I meant Namibian. I told him now he knew why I like Punyu punyu. “The sun will finish you.” On a recent basket day, I was running errands in Oshakati, walking from one place to the next, as I usually do, especially with the increasing taxi fares. One colleague from CAA picked me up, kindly dropping me at my next stop. He explained the sun would finish me if I walked around. Ha. I realized he had no idea how I get around. Resignation. I submitted my resignation to CAA. My colleagues, as expected, didn’t take it very well. They are sort of happy I will stay, but not happy I will stay with something else, or happy for the project’s success, etc. I was trying to lighten the mood with jokes and laughter but they asked why I was laughing when they were sad, why I was making jokes when they felt sick. They said they lost all energy when the read the letter. So dramatic. It’s time to go. Tukwafeni: The garden project received its first grant for USD 1,000 and I had a phone call from one organization that might fully fund phase I of the project! We only asked for 25% from them, so full funding would be huge, and would mean we could use funding from other sources for Phase II. "You are wearing the sun." That's how awesome my tan lines are. Time to NOT ride my bike in short pants. Basket Expansion: Membership is growing, and we are so, so very backordered. It’s exciting, but also intimidating.

Shuffle (This will clearly show you my priorities): a few months ago on my way back from a basket trip I still had about half an m-bag of baskets, my small backpack, and a handbag. Getting dropped at a backpackers in Tsumeb in the evening with a lift that was going to Grootfontein and then Katima (= far), the driver opened the boot of the car and I gave him a basket as promised. I took the bag from the boot, closed it myself, thanked him, and said goodbye. Approximately 3.5 minutes later I realized I hadn’t taken my backpack out of the boot of the car. Seriously? The good news is that miraculously, he returned it to the backpackers and a few days later had friends driving through who picked it up for me. The bad news is that someone had snatched my shuffle that was inside. It has been a quiet, sad, few months. Okay not really, I have a stereo…but, still sad on walks, runs, bike rides, or travels.“America?” I made an unplanned trip to Khorixas to urgently deliver baskets and light fixtures to a Namibia Wildlife Resorts Lodge undergoing renovations. They needed to have five rooms complete for international press coming by a certain date. Ended up being a fantastic trip because I got to know exactly how the baskets would be used and got to know some key people from NWR. The mama mia guy – from a few blogs back – didn’t know I was coming. And so, as I rounded the corner and surprised him, he shook his head in disbelief, asking… “America?” USD 2,000? Ha! NWR national manager thought PCV’s received USD 2,000/per month. I nearly choked. Then, he did when he realized I meant Namibian. I told him now he knew why I like Punyu punyu. “The sun will finish you.” On a recent basket day, I was running errands in Oshakati, walking from one place to the next, as I usually do, especially with the increasing taxi fares. One colleague from CAA picked me up, kindly dropping me at my next stop. He explained the sun would finish me if I walked around. Ha. I realized he had no idea how I get around. Resignation. I submitted my resignation to CAA. My colleagues, as expected, didn’t take it very well. They are sort of happy I will stay, but not happy I will stay with something else, or happy for the project’s success, etc. I was trying to lighten the mood with jokes and laughter but they asked why I was laughing when they were sad, why I was making jokes when they felt sick. They said they lost all energy when the read the letter. So dramatic. It’s time to go. Tukwafeni: The garden project received its first grant for USD 1,000 and I had a phone call from one organization that might fully fund phase I of the project! We only asked for 25% from them, so full funding would be huge, and would mean we could use funding from other sources for Phase II. "You are wearing the sun." That's how awesome my tan lines are. Time to NOT ride my bike in short pants. Basket Expansion: Membership is growing, and we are so, so very backordered. It’s exciting, but also intimidating.

And so it goes, I will continue on in Namibia for an additional 6 months (until June 2009), I’m mostly certain. It’s not enough time to make the basket project sustainable, but it will be enough time to smooth the transition with joining another co-op or artisan group, I hope. The project is blowing up, in a good way. I no longer live with hundreds of baskets, and we are very, very backordered. We are expanding membership, now at 39, and growing. Peace Corps approved the basket project being a primary gig with the garden secondary, which means I’ll have basket memes and tate kulu Prisku as counterparts, which means it’s a dream come true. It’s unfortunate this took so long, but better late than never. I plan to leave CAA in mid-October to start the new arrangement. Let me tell you, on that day, I will celebrate. There will be cheese and avocado and song and dance and some fine, fine, fine, very cheap red wine. PS. Can someone send me some Burt’s Bees chapstick? You’re the best.

And so it goes, I will continue on in Namibia for an additional 6 months (until June 2009), I’m mostly certain. It’s not enough time to make the basket project sustainable, but it will be enough time to smooth the transition with joining another co-op or artisan group, I hope. The project is blowing up, in a good way. I no longer live with hundreds of baskets, and we are very, very backordered. We are expanding membership, now at 39, and growing. Peace Corps approved the basket project being a primary gig with the garden secondary, which means I’ll have basket memes and tate kulu Prisku as counterparts, which means it’s a dream come true. It’s unfortunate this took so long, but better late than never. I plan to leave CAA in mid-October to start the new arrangement. Let me tell you, on that day, I will celebrate. There will be cheese and avocado and song and dance and some fine, fine, fine, very cheap red wine. PS. Can someone send me some Burt’s Bees chapstick? You’re the best.