A purchase

What you see in the picture is a traditional San hatchett/hand held ax. I bought it from an elderly San woman today. In the Khue language it is called a 'boh'. There is a bigger version used to cut trees and fire wood. For my purposes the smaller version is just fine. It actually works great, has a good feel to it. Also I can understand why it could be a valuable tool. Can't wait to go out in the bush with the San and see how adept they are with it.

Learned something today

How to make bread using a hole in the ground. The lady at the 'China' shop has started her own little business making what they call bread. It is more like sweet buns as known in my region of the States. I buy some almost daily. Don't know why but I assumed that she had some form of traditional oven. Because the other day she mentioned that she needed fire wood to bake a batch of bread for the next day. So I asked her if the oven was at her house. She said no and pointed to a space under a tree in some mini-field across the way. I didn't get it at first and thought she was talking about some house down the way a bit. She mentioned that it was right under the tree. We went to the area and she showed me a hole in the ground about 2 ft. ( 66 cm ) deep and about a yard ( or a meter ) square. Covering it was a corrugated piece of sheet metal roofing. It is kind of a luau style cooking method. She woke up 5 in the morning, started a fire in the pit, got it all hot and placed a couple of pans of bread inside. It took about half an hour to bake. The buns are really pretty good and she is the only one in the village making them at the moment. It was a first for me to see that baking method. Just reminded of the old 'where there's a will, there's a way' saying.

Quality H2O

The water is running again and needless to say - life is good. It appears that some fuel for the pump at the bore hole arrived this morning. In the picture is where our side of town gets our H2O. As mentioned it is at least a quarter of a mile away. That is one of the three 25 liter jugs that I have. For those not familiar with the metric system there is about four or so liters to the gallon. Each gallon equals 8.34 lbs. So it is about 53 lbs when filled. The women carry water on their head. But me, I lug one in each hand for a total of 105 lbs. My strategy is to walk 50 steps then stop. Mostly because the handles of the jugs really dig into the hands. There really isn't much need to go to a gym when one is living in an African village. Also have to say the water is of drinkable quality. This sure is a good thing. Number one on my list of what I wouldn't mind having in a remote village setting. So from my seat near the cooking fire, under a star filled sky with a quarter moon and listening to a radio station in the Thimbukushu language, I say - kare po thiwana - may you stay well.

Random Happenings

Just a few things that went on and some follow up on prior articles ... Well the same three people showed up Sunday at four (2 hours later than scheduled) for the Women's Support group meeting. In the end it was a decent one that began to clear up the air. As of now there will be a bigger meeting next Saturday. The beans in the watering efficient seedbed ( in photo ) are coming up fairly ok. In what I thought was going to be an extremely slow day turned out to be actually pretty productive. I was able to have discussions with people whom are interested in trying something. The goals need to be a little clearer but I have found that talking and coming to a point of action is where most of the work is. Also went to the health clinic and continued with the computer lessons. Now the nurse can more or less email at will. This is going to be huge seeing as we are so isolated. Went to hang out at what is called the ' China shop ' to practice the Thimbukushu language. I learned to say ' just, kick them in the butt' which added up to a quantum leap in my language skills. But the funnest thing was making a few paper airplanes for these three 10 year oldish kids. They just played with them for an hour or so. It was a good day.

Easy Saturday

Yeah it was a really easy/lazy day. There isn't any water to go fetch because there is no water coming out the taps. Reason being, there is no fuel for the generator at the bore hole. It will be either Monday or Tuesday when the water will be running again, they said. I am sure you can imagine how it affects the daily routine. In this respect the villages I lived in while in El Salvador and Senegal were better. There it was your basic well with rope, bucket and pulley (if we were lucky) but there was always water. Also there was the classic meeting for two in the afternoon that only three people attended when they arrived at four. What was accomplished was the decision that we'd meet tomorrow at two in the afternoon. Of course I am thinking, yeah, tomorrow, you and everyone else will be there on time? You'se guys think I'm a sap? I'm showing up at four, of course they'd probably show up on time. Then again I'd look like a sap. So what to do? Go at two and look stupid sitting there for two hours or come at four while they arrived at two. Well seeing as this an easy day, I'll just sit here and think about what time to show up tomorrow.

Fields of Mahango

Today I went out to see the fields with the priest from Lesotho this morning. Which is mostly planted with Mahango. I've seen it refered to as 'pearl millet'. It was an informative trip. I asked him about the cost and we spoke of the amount of profit which could be made. This is my fourth consective agricultural village or small city that I've lived in. So I have an idea on which  questions to ask. But one big (literally) problem that cuts into the farmers profits is the damage done by elephants. We went to see a lady's field in which an elephant or two did considerable damage. If it wasn't eaten, it was trampled. But the struggle goes on for the people. There was a first today. We got a computer hooked up to the internet. The first time ever in this village. It is for the health clinic's usage. Now it is time to teach them how to use it. This should really help to start the process of moving forward.

First giant step

The nightly routine that has developed over the whole six days I've been here goes as follows. Five o'clock it is the quarter mile jaunt to the tap to fetch water. Then it is wash up time which is followed by supper. It continues by going to watch what has been to this point, predominately Nigerian movies. I have up to this juncture been going with the people I've been staying with. I must note that it is almost totally dark out here in the village at night. Tonight I decided it was time to venture out in the solo mode. Instead of going to see a movie I would head to the clinic. So off with my red LL Bean windup flashlight in hand I go. Finding the clinic was a bit tricky and after a few backtracks I arrived. All was well until half way on the return trip home. I don't know what happened but a funny thing did, I ended up wandering around actually lost for half an hour. The only thought that kept re-entering the mind was watching the people kill a black mamba in the area I had to travel through just this very afternoon. After ten minutes I half expected to see one of the mambas reared up in the middle of the path. I was becoming a little concerned when I happened to stumble onto the school which gave me my bearings. When I walked through the door they mentioned that they thought I was lost. I kind of sheepishly said that I was slightly lost (understatement). So that is my first giant step in an effort to be self sufficient. In the end it was alright. But for a minute I thought that I'd be blogging from somewhere in the night Namibia.

Project de jour ... and another day

Today's project (photo) is what hopefully will be a successful easy to water mini seed bed. With water being at least a quarter of a mile away for most people, I don't see very many home gardens. Also another possible factor is that the San were historically hunter gatherers for the most part. So this mini seed bed is the beginning of a water efficient demonstration home garden. This should be a challenge as the garden area looks like a nice beach, nothing but sand. I've always wanted to try and produce vegetables in what amounts to a desert environment. We've picked up some old plastic soda/water bottles and I cut out some rings that should keep the water concentrated directly at the root area. Also it delves into a little recycling/cleanup. A funny exchange happened today. There is a Catholic priest from Lesotho here at the church. He was driving by and stopped to say hi. We greeted and made a little small talk, then he drove away. About five minutes later I saw him out of the truck and walked over to shake his hand. That is the normal way of greeting here. As I approached him and put out my hand to shake his I said: "now I can greet more formal". He asked me to repeat what I had just said. So I did and had to several more times. He just couldn't understand the words 'more formal'. After he finally understood, he said that he thought I was speaking in an African language. I guess that has to be blamed on my thick Boston style accent. Eight years from that part of the country hasn't taken any edge off the old accent. The day finished well as we went to one of the very few places that has a TV and DVD player and watched music videos of the incredible Gospel singer from Botswana, Winnie Masaba. It was great till they shut the generator off at 9 sharp and plunged into total darkness. So we walked home and I've been writing this article on the cell phone ever since. But I think it's time to see if there is any BBC radio on the shortwave band. So goodnight from a village in northern Namibia.

Blogging live from the tarmac of ...

The village runway/airport (in photo). I am either on the north or south end of the runway. Only know which way east and west is at the moment. This afternoon's mission is to find out where north is situated. This morning me and John (kind of a counterpart) worked cleaning out the Womens' HIV support group's vegetable garden area. It wouldn't go down as a stellar developmental example seeing as there wasn't narry a woman from the group present to participate. The majority were working in their fields and there was also a tad of communication breakdown. This is pretty much normal as we begin the process of learning how each one of us opperates and how our working styles flow. So far, every place I've been in, is totally unique from the other. But tomorrow there should be a few women there to plant the garden, hopefully. Also tomorrow the nurse at the clinic I'm assigned to will be returning from the capitol. So there is some getting on the same activities to do. Also spoke with the leader of the San cultural group and we will sit sometime this week and discuss in what and maybe where we may collaborate. Likewise met with the ministry of youth representatives and I will go to their office tomorrow to fix a problem with their computer. Hoping to build good karma there, which could open a door to possibilities later. Also picked up some discarded plastic bottles to cut to make rings to place around the stems of a few bean plants. This is to try and keep the water near the roots which hopefully results in an efficiency in watering. The water spigot is a quarter mile away. Ergo the need to be efficient. Well ... that's about it and blogging off from the tarmac of Omega village.

First Sunday in the village

Or to be more exact, the first half day seeing as it is only one in the afternoon. In Namibia the custom is for the noon meal on Sundays to be the special one for the week. Let me tell you, it was. We are all full and I think that siesta time will begin after posting this article. Let me tell you how the morning went. When I was here for my site visit about 6 weeks ago, I mentioned that a girls' soccer team is a must. Well now there has to be at least 25 or more girls interested. While walking through the village it seemed like every young girl we passed asked "when will the team start"? I purchased 2 soccer balls yesterday so it is up to the coach to organize the practices. Hopefully, sometime this week they will start. Also along the road we saw a dead pig that died from a snake bite. There was a trailor truck that drove through the center of the village (anybody lost?). We saw the truck while we were on our way to see the garden area of the Womens' HIV Support Group (above photo). They should be cleaning and planting this upcoming week. Part of me being here is to work with and support them. I hope we will be able to do some good things. I met a young girl named Natalia who wants to participate in the soccer team but, she is also a member of a San cultural group in the village. I gather that they haven't been all too active since 2007. She seems passionate about keeping the San (Bushmen) traditions alive. The village is an old abandoned military base and doesn't have any traditional San structures. Natalia thought that a traditional San building/hut that could be used as a cultural meeting place, would help to keep their San culture from fading away. Again, I hope to get involved and see if it is at all possible to support the San cultural group. I am here and will try my best. And, I am thinking, pretty cool Sunday so far.

I am now officially ...

An Omega community member and a resident in the Bwabwata Game Reserve. The village is located within the reserve's boundaries. It is two-thirty on a beautiful Saturday afternoon and I am sitting in back of the house, in the shade, eating boiled peanuts with a neighbor and the lady of that house in with which I will be staying in. The generator is off until 5 p.m. as is usual. That means there is no radio reception. By being in a remote location it is neccessary to have a dish that receives the radio waves then re-transmits them throughout the community. So it is left to actually making conversation (novel idea, huh?) amongst ourselves. That is a challenge at the moment seeing as I am learning Thimbukushu and they are speaking in that language and Rukungali, Oshiwambo, Khoidam, Damarra, and god knows what other language, because I don't. I just sit there smiling and shaking my head yes when I think I'm supposed to respond. Again only god knows how dumb I must look by just smiling and nodding yes all the time. So that was what day one is about, here, somewhere in the middle of the Bwabwata Game Reserve.

Sunset over Okahandja

This is it, last day of training. We are off to be pledged in as full fledged volunteers. By noon we will begin to go our seperate ways, spread out through Namibia, ready to save the world. I'll be heading north and should arrive in the village tomorrow. So for us the sun has set for our 2 months of training in Okahandja. Their is a lot of adventure and emotion ahead. I guess after noon today it will be time for us to get to work.

Day in Windhoek

Windhoek is the capital of Namibia. It is about 45 miles from Okahandja and we went there to pick up some things that we'll need in our sites. We went to a mall (in photo) and in my case, it was a last opportunity to experience these types of creature comforts for a while. I will be in a village at least 450 or more miles away from that mall, and a world away. It will be walking a quarter to get water. It will be sitting by the cooking fire and trying to understand a new language. It will be cold showers/bathing and going to sleep early because the generator that produces electricity for 8 hours a day is turned off 9 at night. So, one last day with luxury was an OK thing. What I've learned is that the key to a happy life is the ability to live with or without and in one's heart of hearts ... it is the same.

Music and memories

We all have those songs or artists that bring our minds and emotions back in time. In El Salvador it was Jose Luis Guerra and in Senegal it was Yousof N'Dour's sister, Viviane. In Romania it was Nicolae Gupta a Roma man who sings in the music genre 'Manele'. Even though it is early in my Namibia tour. I have found the artist that will probably be the one that will forever bring me back to Namibia. She is a South African Gospel singer named Rebecca Malope. Just do a You Tube or Google search to hear her sing. Just a great voice and an uplifting spirit (in my opinion). One of the great bonuses of going to various regions in the world is that I get to become aware of these tremendous singers and their songs. Maybe as it is so early in my tour, Rebecca could change as the artist that could transport me to Namibia. But she will definitely be one of them.

Last Blue Monday in Okahandja

It is also a deeper shade of blue because it is the day after Easter. There's no school today for the kids and there isn't many other people working today except for the food markets. So for that, trudging off to the training center, makes it a deeper Blue Monday. But it is the last week and this Friday we will be taking our pledges and we will be transformed from a trainee to a volunteer. This last week usually goes by quickly. There are last minute preparations and packing to do. I am pretty much ready on that account. I found that after being in the village a few days it is easier to make a list then go to get those neccessities. But next Monday will be the first Monday that we will be alone in our new villages. Everything new, house, neighbors, work, new shops to look for and so on. I wonder what shade of blue next Monday will be.

Easter Sunday in Okahandja

This morning I went to the Elcin Evangelical Lutheran Church (in above picture) with my homestay sister for an Easter service. I am not the most devout person by nature but I do enjoy participating in various church services. Also the church's congregation is of the Ovambo people and they use the Oshiwambo language. I am learning the Thimbukushu language and even though they are both of the Bantou language family, they are not similar enough for me to understand more than just about nothing. My host sister brought a book of song/prayers and I was able to sing along despite not knowing what even one word meant. Also an interesting fact was that I was the only white person there. I defintely was noticed. From my view point it is an opportunity to be 'the minority' and to walk a mile in someone elses shoes. It sure does challenge the self but it does also allow an opportunity to work on eliminating ignorance. The least amount of ignorance the better I say, especially on this beautiful Easter Day 2009.

You know your in Africa ... when ...

There is a Black Mamba at your training center.
As you can see in the picture it was taken care of
and no one was either hurt nor surprised by it's
presence.

I have some info regarding the Black Mamba ...
if your interested, then by all means read on ...

Black mambas are fast, nervous, lethally venomous, and
when threatened, highly aggressive. They have been blamed
for numerous human deaths, and African myths exaggerate
their capabilities to legendary proportions. For these reasons,
the black mamba is widely considered the world's deadliest
snake.

They live in the savannas and rocky hills of southern and
eastern Africa. They are Africa's longest venomous snake,
reaching up to 14 feet (4.5 meters) in length, although 8.2 feet
(2.5 meters) is more the average. They are also among the
fastest snakes in the world, slithering at speeds of up to 12.5 miles
per hour (20 kilometers per hour).

They get their name not from their skin color, which tends to
be olive to gray, but rather from the blue-black color of the
inside of their mouth, which they display when threatened.

Black mambas are shy and will almost always seek to escape
when confronted. However, when cornered, these snakes will
raise their heads, sometimes with a third of their body off the
ground, spread their cobra-like neck-flap, open their black
mouths and hiss. If an attacker persists, the mamba will strike
not once, but repeatedly, injecting large amounts of potent
neuro and cardiotoxin with each strike.

Before the advent of black mamba antivenin, a bite from this
fearsome serpent was 100 percent fatal, usually within about
20 minutes.

Humm, the Black Mamba is probably something that would be
better neither shaken, nor stirred, wouldn't you agree?

Mini project report

We finished our four day mini community project yesterday and I felt that it went well. Truth be told, it went real well. The goal was for us to acquire a taste of interacting and collaborate/work with people in Namibia. With only four days to do it, it did give us a taste, but when we get to our sites the process will be a more prolonged one. Despite the compactness of the exercise we were able to accomplish some meaningful work. As mentioned in prior articles my group was assigned to the Okahandja Home Based Care facility. We helped improve the computer and grant writing skills of the secretary. Also, we worked revitalizing their vegetable garden (in photo). A priority for persons with HIV/AIDS, is that of good nutrition. There is an emphasis on eating well to help the immune system as much as possible. This garden will support the facilities kitchen and serve as a demonstration garden. But when all is said and done, it was positive experience for both parties involved.

This story is sweet ...

Literally that is. The other day before we were going to go to the Okahandja Home Based Care facility for our mini project, one in our group mentioned that they weren't feeling well. He said that he was feeling kind of weak and had a little problem with his vision. So I gave him a wonder cure (shown in picture). If it looks like a bag of fudge to you, then you are correct. In fact it is the famous 'Julia's fudge and what has become my only vice. I am known as an huge fan of it by my colleagues. I better enjoy it while I can because after next week, the only fudge I'll see will be in the picture. In the bush there won't be anything like it. So, it is enjoy it while I can. But in conclusion, it was a happy ending as with the incredible amounts of sugar each piece contains it gave my colleague a turbo boost of energy. He said that he became energized and he could see clear to Botswana. Julia's fudge worked miracles.

Another beautiful morning ...

In Okahandja. Just took a picture of what I'm looking at while waiting for a ride to the training center. I have a little LLBean keychain thermometer and it's telling me that it is 70 degrees. Also with the small amount of vehicles around, the air is just so clear and fresh. This is my first time in or living in the southern hemisphere. So as the people in the northern hemisphere are marching into spring, we in the southern are entering autumn. I will be in the northern part of Namibia and closer to the equator. So how cold it may be? They tell me that it can get very chilly. So I am thinking that when I get to the village that I'll take my little thermometer and cell phone with camera and internet and go to the dung filled airstrip and play a bush weather man. Then I'll write a blog with the weather as it is. I wonder what the villagers would think about their 1 American community member.

Who would have thunk it ...

The other day I just happened to put the name of the
new village (Omega) that I will be living in, into a Google
search.
I was astounded to find that it has it's own airport code.
Yeah, just like JFK and airports like that. Omega was a
military base before independence.
Oh yeah, here is a stat on the Omega runway/airport.
It is about 5,560 or so feet long which makes it over a
mile long (good place to jog). I've seen it when I
visited there a few weeks ago. It was covered with animal
dung but it definitely was long.
So just go to a web site that has an airport code search
and put in OMG.
Omega is 45 miles (70 kilometers) from anywhere, has
no public ground transport in or out. But they can virtually
land a jet liner in the village.
So who would have thunk that.

When you live in ...

The second least populated country on earth ... what you see in the above photo is Namibia's most important highway 'B1' at 3 o'clock on a Saturday afternoon. This is pretty much what it looks like all the time. It is kind of a unique thing to see two cars in the same panorama. This is the main highway that ties the south on through the Capitol and up to the north. Namibia is half the size of Alaska with a population of a little more or less than 2 million people. So imagine having a road like that with no traffic to have to deal with as your usual daily commute.

Where I'm hanging my hat ...

For two more weeks that is. That is the house I've been staying in since arriving in Okahandja. The interesting part about this is more about where it is. During the aparthied/South African rule before independence this house was situated in what was called a 'location'. How it worked was that the white people where located in the center of town. Then the best way to explain it would be to envision an outer ring around the center. In there was generally where the mix raced people resided. Outside that would be the black Africans in another ring, so to speak. Again their area was called a 'location' and the name is still in use to this day. The locations at that time were divided along tribal lines. The location where I am staying is called Budget Homes and it was settled by the Ovambo/Oshiwambo tribe people. Two more weeks in the location then off to the bush.

Two weeks left in training ...

Next week, as part of our training we will be
going out in the community to get some hands
on experience.
It will only be for four days and for that
reason, we can't expect to save the world
by next Thursday.
Despite that, we are looking forward to getting
out there and do what we can.
We have been assigned in groups and I am part
of a four person one.
The organizations that we have been matched up
with vary from youth care to a marginalized
neighborhood action committee.
I consider myself lucky that I am a part of the group
that will be working with the Okahandja Home Based
Care. Which was a topic of a prior article dated
Friday, March 27, 2009.
We went there today to discuss possible alternatives
for a four day project or mini-projects that we
could do to assist their organization.
They mentioned that they could use some help with
a garden that they will replant which they use to
help feed their clients.
Also, they asked for assistance in grant writing and
we have a person in our group that used to teach
it at the university level.
Another problem area they mentioned that could
use some attention. is that of the two ancient
computers that they have. It appears that they freeze
up all the time. So that is where my emphasis will be.
But also another important thing is to just support
the 14 volunteers who staff the Okahandja Home
Based Care organization. They do a difficult job
providing care and assistance to their HIV/AIDS
and even a few cancer patients. Again, they do
this all without pay.
Maybe we will be able to help out a little and
after our four days there things will be even just
a tiny bit better.