Hey all,
Sorry for not posting sooner! I'm at the school which is the only place that I have internet so I haven't been able to post anything so far.
Life here is good. The people are nice, and getting used to the new person in town. On top of having really nice people the Kunene Region is BEAUTIFUL! It's amazing to wake up here everyday and look out at the view (corny but true!!)
Clinic life: I am liking the clinic, but because I am new there is not too much for me to be doing yet. We did rearrange the office and I checked nutrition levels of children who came in for a visit and that was really interesting. They use a measuring tape (pictures to follow) that goes around the upper arm and measures the circumference in CM. In the photos you'll see the tape around my fingers but for more hands on purposes a child (5 years or younger) with the arm circumference of 11cm (which is the border of malnourished and being at-risk of being malnourished is about the size of a ping pong ball and a child with 17cm (which is in the green zone) is about the size of a pool cue. That was really interesting to learn about and use. We also went on outreach to the farms around my village and that was a lot of fun too. I got to meet a lot of different people and played with the children in the nearby Himba village.
Life in general: Life here is good. I'm really enjoying my time and I have a good site mate who has been here for two years which has been nice. He's like my 'tour guide' in my village. It's getting cooler here as winter in approaching and it has been really great to be back in the colder weather!
I've been using my language here and I have been trying to learn more things and talk to people in Damara-nama where I can. I will have to pick up on some Otjiherero greetings because there are a lot of Herero people here as well. It's great cause I get these good mini lessons everywhere I go cause my friends speak mostly in damara-nama when we are together so I have to pick up on some words to know what they're talking about (still half the time I have no clue ha ha. or I will know that they are talking about a boy cause they say //ib ge ___. but I won't know what about the boy is being said or what boy for that matter.)
Below are just two more photos. One of me sitting on my counter in the kitchen where I watch media and eat meals (not at a table like a normal person). and one of the best view in my village!
I hope all is well with ya'll! I'll check in again soon. (P.S. in case you didn't know you can click on the photos to make them larger. I make them small so my posts aren't miles long)
The definition of an Odyssey is: A long and eventful journey. This blog will follow my Peace Corps experience in Namibia from 2013-2015.
Sunday, May 26, 2013
Wednesday, May 8, 2013
Swearing In!
As my PST comes to an end it is bitter sweet. I’m leaving my new Namibian family, which
includes all the PST trainers, PC staff, and (very important) my Namibian host
family who let me stay with them for the past few months. However I know that I am about to start on a
great journey and am excited to see what's next.
I was chosen by our KKG teacher JJ to do the final speech
for our swearing in. Speaking Damara is
a challenge on it’s own however earlier the morning of swearing in I found out
that the Namibian Prime Minister, who is Damara, was going to be the key note
speaker. It was such an honor to have
this very important man speak at our swearing in but an even bigger honor to be
able to give a speech in his native tongue.
Afterwards he complimented me on how well I presented my speech.
During our ceremony we had a great musical group come and
dance and sing for us and they were AMAZING!!
I am planning (internet permitting) to post the video of my speech and
this amazing musical group!
I cannot thank the people who got me to this point
enough. I’m happy that I have been able
to meet such an amazing grouping of people who have become like family to
me. They say that a photo is worth a
thousand words so here are some of the people who have been a huge help in
getting me to be an official Peace Corps Volunteer!!
“The great difference between voyages rests not with the ships, but with the people you meet on them.” – Amelia E. Barr
Rianna and I--------Nicole and I
Ti Dadab Uncle Joe----------Me and JJ!
Thenga and I
My Swearing In Speech in KKG My teacher JJ is sitting with the blue shirt and the Prime Minister is the second from the right when my friend pans over to get him laughing.
The group singing and dancing for us. They were AMAZING!
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