'Heroes Day', a day to commemorate the people
who've made sacrifices for the country.
In the village it was a normal holiday and there was
a netball tournament scheduled to be held with
four villages participating.
In this area, transportation is a challenge due to fact
that there just isn't that many cars in any of the villages.
If there is transportation, then the challenge is the
money to pay either the amount required or at times,
(if the person is decent) for fuel only.
So, for that, only one village arrived as the other two,
who knows. Another problem in this is that the other
villages are lacking cell phone coverage.
Communication to those villages (one about 50 to 60
kilometers away and the other again, about 80) is,
by just plain going there. It is a problem in organizing
any type of joint activity.
The village that did show up has become to be the
arch rival to the women's netball team here.
A couple of months ago our school's and youth
netball teams went to that village (arch rival's) and
the school won handily and our youth team lost, a
close game.
Yesterday was time for payback and ... payback it
was. Our village youth girls netball won in a total
rout.
What you see in the not so good quality picture above
is ... well ... it kind of throws out the window the
appreciative/humble winner idea right in the loo.
What they are doing is ... in a group ... dancing and
singing and behind them was the other team.
One of the great parts of living in these different
countries is the opportunity to be present at these
practices.
In Senegal, there was more of a cheer leading going
on during the games and it was really colorful and
fun. There, one team's group (mostly girls) would
sing a taunting chant, to be answered by another
from the opposing team's. When the game was over
it kind of calmed down and the celebrating wasn't so
... personal, would be the best way to explain it.
But this is a different part of Africa and though I don't
know the habits of all Namibia, let me tell you, the
celebrating here is ... personal.
I am learning the true meaning of bragging rights. Here
it goes like this, you win, you rub it in. The other team
just has to sit there and watch and hope for the next
chance to change it to their turn.
Don't feel so bad about the other village's team, when
our team lost, we sat and watched as what seemed
to be the whole village, danced and moved as one and
every so often, turned and slapped their rumps.
I don't understand the rump slapping but it probably
isn't too cryptic a gesture and I guess, it was exactly
what it was.
Sure is different from what I was taught about being the
compassionate winner.
Have to say, again, that is the great part of this gig, getting
to see the different cultures in action.
As a person who is trying to help out the village, this was
a great day. It is the beginning of sports activities where
women are the top attraction.
The field was full of people and the villagers went wild
at every goal scored by the home team. There were
60 year old women jumping on the field and dancing
during the breaks between the action.
I have asked people this morning what they thought of
it and they were happy and said that it was fun.
I am hoping for the ... move the mind then the body will
follow idea ... will take hold. In this I am meaning the
moving being fueled and centered around good positive
activities.
In the life of a development/improvement/change effort,
there are the ups and downs. Yesterday was an up and
something to build on.
This morning it was sitting with the manager of the netball
team and critiquing yesterday's event. It was about, what
can we do to make it better next time.
Of course winning makes everything pretty upbeat.
As for me, I think it is kind of fun to watch the people
do the victory dance/celebrating.
It doesn't matter if we win or lose.
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