I realize that I haven't been sharing my thoughts about Namibia and the people. I have become so used to getting around and interacting with everyone that the newness has worn off. I also think I wont be able to share my teaching experience and my project work until 2016 as that is when things will really start humming. My intention was to make this an educational blog with reflections about teaching here and notes on getting started on educational and community projects. For the time being, I'll share photos of my PC staging experience and my first impressions of my site, Khaxatsus (Gibeon).
Since my arrival, I have spent 4 weeks in Okahandja with 49 other volunteers. We had to go through technical, cultural and language training. I lived with a host family to integrate and improve my language skills. I have been assigned the Khoekhoe Damar/Nama language...yes, with the clicks! I love learning but it is challenging! I love my host family (a widow with 13 year old girl and 10 year old boy) but didn't make much progress as their English is so good and I spent most of the day at the training center. Living with a host family was challenging for me....at times there wasn't enough food and my family watched a lot of TV but overall, they were kind and took me to church and included me at meal times.
Then we spent 4 weeks at our CBT site (Community-Based Training). I was in Outjo with 5 other volunteers. We stayed with families and continued our technical, cultural and language training. We went to local schools everyday and shadowed Namibian teachers. I truly enjoyed my time in Outjo and learned a lot about the people and the educational system. I mentioned before how my family took some of us to Etosha Park! Amazing!
Then we returned to Okahandja for 2 more weeks of language and technical training until we were officially sworn in Oct 15, 2015. I left that same day to my site Gibeon in the south. It was strange not seeing the other volunteers. We had been together everyday for so long...but it was refreshing to finally be on my own! I could cook for myself and keep my place as I wanted! Now was the time to put the language skills to test!
So another 9 weeks at my site, co-teaching and learning the ropes at my school. I arrived in the final term and the grade 10 and 12 learners were no longer there as they had left to prepare for the national exam they take in November. So we helped the other grade 8, 9, 11 learners to prepare for their exams for the first week of Dec. The month of November is crazy as teachers must complete all the Continuous Assessments for all three terms, compile exams (3 papers), have them monitored and them correct them all before Dec 10. This year there were national elections so exams were moved up one week and made for even more cramming and frantic correcting by teachers. I was involved in the teaching the first 3 weeks but once exam preparation started, I occasionally helped correct exams but mostly I stayed in the library to sort it out. This will be one of my projects next year as the school library has fallen into disrepair. Learners come to play games or paint but hardly any come to read. My task is to create a reading culture and motivate the learners to come use the library and read more. I'll begin resorting the library when I return in a few days.
So I spent the month of November walking around my village, attending church, going to the public library and trying to get to know the people. My village is very small! Two stores selling only basics, 4 churches, a post office, police station, couple bars (some illegal) and a new tourist center under construction. Its anyone's guess why my town needs a tourist center. We have a small, inadequate health facility, no doctor or ambulance, no services like barber shop, hardware, drug store or coffee shops. My village is quite isolated. I haven't yet met the village leaders or council members...that will take some time. People are curious about me but not outwardly friendly...maybe its my age?! I have socialized with some teachers but they are all quite young and from the North so we chat in English. The children are always friendly and curious but keep their distance. I will be spending Xmas in my village so let's hope that will be the occasion to spread some cheer and get to know others!
Here are some photos from my site. I'd say it looks like the dry land in Arizona or Texas. We have some crazy insects, beautiful birds and a few loud donkeys!!
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