A new view ...

I am out of the village at this moment and
took a few days to visit the host family that
I stayed with in Okahandja.

I had been in the village almost full time
since returning from my 1 month vacation
at the end of June. I didn't have to stay there
all the time but I did because there always
seemed something going on that I didn't
want to miss being a part of.

But I feel that I was due to just relax a bit. Here
I can catch up on some of the things that I
wanted to work on. In the village the electricity
was basically limited to 1 hour a day and when
they fixed the big generator and it was on for
about 9 hours per, I ran out of airtime for going
on the internet to look up information.
With the 3G connection we have it costs about
1 USD for 7 megabytes of download/upload.
So by being in the city I can get access to buying
airtime by just going to the center of town. In
the village it is hit or miss with airtime so there
are limitations.

In the title it says 'A new view' which basically means
that I am in another place. In the picture is a
part of the new view. On the left is Helvy and on
the right is Helena. They are a part of the host
family that I stayed with during my first three months in
Namibia. It is part of the Peace Corps' program
to have trainees live with host families at the
beginning. It is actually a very good thing as it
gives one a chance to get immersed while making
the transition.

This family in particular has been very good to me
during training and ever since. I visit them every
so often when I get a chance to pass by this side
of the country.

Back to Helvy and Helena ... Helvy is in her last year
at the University of Namibia and she is finishing
her studies in economy. Also she is from the Ovambo
people, one of the many different peoples/tribes in
Namibia. In her language to say hello to
anyone who visits this blog one would say
... ongeipi ... which means 'how are you'.
the reply if things are going well is ... nawa.
Helena is still in high school and will be entering
the 11th grade.
They are both good girls and I am sure that they
will do well with their lives.

Now it is time to end this blog entry and take
advantage of the electricity. Maybe we'll watch a
movie or listen to the radio and even crazier, watch
TV.

Going without those things isn't a real problem and
when I get the chance to use these every so often, it
really is a treat. I really like how this experience helps
keep life into a perspective. I am hoping and am
almost sure that from here on in, I will never take
any of these things for granted.

What a way to enjoy all the things life has to offer ...
but it starts by learning to never take them for granted.