Life as I know it...

Created on 10/6/2014

On Thursday September 25^th, along with 47 others, I officially swore in as a Peace Corps Volunteer (PCV).  The next day I left the comfortable confines of my host family’s house in Okahandja in route for my new home for the next two years.  I desired a traditional African lifestyle when I boarded the plane for Namibia but PST in Okahandja spoiled me and shook my focus for a moment.  Culture shock is real and it took me a few days to come to terms with where I was and what my life would be like for the next two years.  It has been a lot of work to get to where I am today and in many ways it’s just the beginning.  I’m excited to finally settle in, get in a routine, and begin my service as a PCV. 

The village I now call home is located in the Oshana region of Namibia near Ongwediva.  I cannot disclose the name of my village for safety reasons but you wouldn’t find more than a sentence on Wikipedia about it anyway.  I may actually write the wiki page on my village if I get ambitious.  I live on a traditional homestead with my Meme and two of her grandchildren (Meme = Madam/Ms/Mother and is pronounced may–may).  Pictures as said to be worth a thousand words but I will provide some context when appropriate.    

My Homestead…  You will notice two small Wambo girls in most of the pictures.  They wouldn’t let me take a picture without them in it.  And they also had to review every picture I took. 

Hilen

 

Hilen…  She is very quick for a 6 year old as you can tell she has no problems catching chickens.  Hilen is a natural and could teach Rocky a thing or two. (If you don’t get the reference, I suggest you watch the training scene in Rocky where Micky has Rocky catch chickens to improve his foot speed)

Tequila

Tequila…  Yes, her name is Tequila.  She is 4 years old and already has an entrepreneurial prowess.  I believe those flip-flops that she made for herself are cardboard souls with plastic bag straps.  Whatever it takes to protect your feet from thorns! 

My hut

My Hut…  I have my own hut (circular cement building on the right side of the picture) within the homestead.  The door faces North and I have a window on each side of the building that allows me to directly see both the sunrise and sunset!  The windows are also useful for when Hilen and Tequila want to get my attention.  They pull themselves up into the windows, one in each window, and say “Tate Daniel… Tate Daniel” until I give them my attention (Tate = Sir/Mr/Father and is pronounced ta–tay).  They speak no English so communication is difficult.  Closing my windows and playing possum is usually the only way I can get them to leave me alone when I have stuff to do.  When it comes down to it, I wouldn’t have it any other way.   

Inside my hut

Inside My Hut…  I’m still in the process of settling in and I haven’t had time to decorate yet.  Tony and Jen, I hope you are putting my wall hangings to good use because they sure would spice this place up.  On the plus side, I have a solar powered light in my hut that is a game changer!

My bucket

My Bucket…  AKA my dishwasher, clothes washer, and body washer.  Arguably my most useful possession!

Catching chickens

 Catching Dinner…  Exhibit A.

Plucking chickens

Dinner Caught…  Even African children play with their food!

My throne

My Throne…  Within the chaos that is goat herding, you will notice a small white tin building.  Inside you will find my throne and usually a few spiders.  Don’t worry; I have already become desensitized to such things. 

Baby goat herders

Baby Goat Herders…  Business as usual; my nephew, Drake, would fit right in.

Life as I know it is different.  It is much more difficult in many ways but also more simple in others.  I am the only oshilumbu (white person) in my village so I’m hard to miss.  My English is not always understood and my Oshikwanyama is a work in progress.  As I said, I have a solar light in my hut but no electricity.  There is electricity at my school, which allows me to charge electronics during the day but I can only get internet access when I go to town on the weekends to buy food.  I have a gas powered refrigerator and stove in my homestead along with two outdoor water taps.  The water is drinking quality, which was my number one wish when joining the Peace Corps (I’m a water snob).  The days are hot and getting hotter so being able to consume clean and cold drinking water is wonderful!  Summer is coming, as they say. 

I hope everyone is intrigued and ready to visit! 

Congrats Pats

Created on 9/21/2014

I would like to congratulate Kaan, JP, and the New England Patriots on their victory over my Minnesota Vikings on Sunday.  Actually, this is an obligatory blog post stemming from a poorly executed bet on my part. 

Kaan and JP pointing to their site for the next 2 years (Swakopmund)

Here is how things went down.  After the Vikings routed the Rams in week 1, I received multiple emails from my friends back home expressing their excitement for the purple this year.  Without any hesitation, I drank every last drop of purple cool aid I could find.  I was high on the Vikings and man it felt good.  Early in the week, I confidently made a bet on the Vikings vs. Patriots game with Kaan and JP.  Kaan and JP are east coasters with a passion for Tom Brady and the always-exciting Patriots, something I can respect.  The bet I made with each was for 10 Namibian dollars and a congratulatory blog post to the winner(s).

This is not a mandatory detail of the bet but I would like to reference everyone to Kaan and JP’s blogs.  They both have entertaining insights about what we have been going through during PST that you may enjoy. 

Kaan’s Blog:  http://kaaninnamibia.blogspot.com

JP’s Blog:  http://jpinnamibia.blogspot.com

This may be a good time to make everyone aware of the exchange rate between Namibian and American dollars.  $10 Namibian exchanges to roughly $1 American… So the $2 American I lost on the bet doesn’t seem like much but in terms of a percentage of our daily living allowance it is.  Without saying, my perception of monetary value has drastically changed during my time in Namibia. 

Communication from my biased friends and family in Minnesota is my only source of Vikings news and I wouldn’t have it any other way.  However, my sources were either reluctant to tell me that Adrian Peterson would not play vs. the Patriots or they simply could not relay the message across international borders in time.  Either way, I’m out 20 Nam dollars and the valuable moments of my life spent typing this post. 

In closing, I would like to make a few things clear.  If the Vikings had to get beat by any team in the NFL, I would want it to be the Patriots as they own a soft spot in my heart.  I have already consumed the purple cool aid this season and I can’t take it back nor would I want to.  I have learned my lesson and will refrain from betting on events that take place on a different continent.  At least until I have consistent internet access and can stream KFAN on demand.  Which will probably never happen.  Until then, please keep me updated on the status of MVPeterson. 

Last but not least, I want to congratulate Trent and Brianna on their wedding yesterday!  I am sure everyone had a fabulous time and I wish I could have been there.  When I return home it will be their 2-year anniversary and I will have their wedding gift in hand!  #BeautyAndTheBigDog

Cheers to Mr. & Mrs. Conroy!    
 

 

Disclaimer: The content of this website is mine alone and does not necessarily reflect the views of the U.S. Government, the Peace Corps, or the Namibian Government. 

The Orphan Lottery

Created on 7/29/2014

Monday night we were scheduled to meet our host families before moving in with them the next night.  It was like an orphan lottery as 49 host families and 49 volunteers gathered in the same room on Monday night to meet a stranger they would live with for the next 9 weeks.  Every volunteer looking around not knowing what family they would live with and vice versa.  It was extremely intimidating and exciting.  So one by one, volunteers would pathetically try to read the name of their host mom and then scramble to the strangers who cheered for them.  It was actually very entertaining.  When my turn came I called out “Evangeline Gurirab” but nobody claimed me!  The room stayed silent until it was obvious that nobody wanted me.  Everyone then sighed as Benna (Training Manager) ran to me and informed me that my host mom wouldn’t be able to make it tonight but would pick me up tomorrow evening.  I wanted to say to Benna “Thanks for the news but you could have told me before I stood up in front of over 100 people and butchered the name of my absent host mom!” but I refrained.  There were a few others who ended up in the same situation so we joked about our orphan status and threw one hell of a pity party. 

Anyways, fast forward to the next night.  We all hauled our luggage out front of the Kukuri Center and were picked up by our new families one at a time.  I waited and watched others slowly disappear as they left for their new home with their host family.  I was starting to get a bit nervous, thinking that I would be stood up for the second night in a row.  Eventually my host mom came to get me.  After she identified me, she cried out “My Son! My Son! I’m so sorry! My Son!” and gave me a big welcoming hug.  All was forgiven at that point.

Photo Gallery

Disclaimer: The content of this website is mine alone and does not necessarily reflect the views of the U.S. Government, the Peace Corps, or the Namibian Government. 

Site Preferences…

Created on 8/30/2014

Before I begin to tell about my language assignment, host family, and my site location; I must give some context to what goes on in the Peace Corps process.  I have a few stories that I hope to post in the coming weeks but I need to share some background information with you before these stories can be fully understood.  This post in meant to set the tone for future posts rather than to entertain you but hopefully I can achieve both.  

After arriving in Okahandja for training, Namibia Group 40 spent the first few nights at the Kurkuri center.  In total we spent 6 nights together before we moved in with our host families for the remainder of our 9 weeks of training.  During the initial days of training we were given details about our possible site placements.  For education volunteers, the site details included the subject and grades we would teach; the number of teachers and learners at the school; the distance from a major shopping town and other volunteers; and the style of housing we would live in.  The only known information that we weren’t given was the location of the site.  If you care to learn about the geography and diversity of Namibia, you will find that there are many different cultures and environments within the country.  Think of it as if you were applying to a job in the States and had all of the job details in front of you except for the location.  On top of that, whatever job you were given you had to take!  

Somewhat stressful but we were all required to take this information and develop our preferences for what type of volunteer experience we would be interested in.  This was an extremely difficult task for us, at the time, as we had very little knowledge about the country and the education system.  Our site preferences would be a key factor for the staff when determining where to place us and what host family in Okahandja we would stay with during PST.  Our site placement would determine what language we would learn during Pre Service Training (PST) and therefore affect if we stayed with a host family that speaks the same language.  We all interviewed with education program coordinators to express our preferences and voice any concerns we had about our site placements.  This all took place during our first week in country and would have a large impact on the next two years of our lives…

Photo Gallery

Disclaimer: The content of this website is mine alone and does not necessarily reflect the views of the U.S. Government, the Peace Corps, or the Namibian Government. 

The Baboon

Created on 8/10/2014

I went on a sunrise hike this morning with about 8 other volunteers.  We left town (Okahandja) just before 5am and planned to get to the top of the mountain before the sun came over the horizon.  It was a dark and cold morning before the sun showed up to warm the day. 

Below is a view of the mountain from town.  We have named the mountain “Pride Rock” for obvious reasons. 

Pride Rock

It was really dark when we started up the mountain so everyone had headlamps or flashlights to lead the way.  We followed a road out of town toward our destination.  As the road turned into a narrow path, we searched for the trailhead marked by a rock with white spray paint on it.  When our search for the trailhead failed, we decided bushwhacking was our best option.  This decision got us started up the mountain and we eventually found the trail.  Even on the trail, thorn bushes are difficult to avoid and always catch your clothes.  It’s rough terrain especially in the dark.

About half way up the mountain, we heard a loud noise that sounded like a baboon. It was a loud and deep holler.  It was from nearby and scared the shit out of all of us.  In a complete panic, we started moving up the mountain as fast as we could.  After our initial fear settled, we heard something moving through the bushes behind us and once again increased our pace.  It was still dark and we had no clue what to think.  Not long after, I heard fast paced movement coming up behind me.  Scared out of my mind, I reached for my pocketknife as I turned around and pointed my flashlight towards the noise.  I turned to see Oskar, a fellow volunteer, sprinting toward me through the bush.  I was extremely relieved to find out it was him the whole time.  I still cannot recreate the baboon noise he made but it remains my only reference for what a baboon sounds like.  Turns out, Oskar started following us as we left town but nobody was aware of it.  He quietly followed from behind and patiently planned his prank.  Naturally, Oskar thought he was pretty cool for freaking us out.  What he didn’t realize is that he was only a few moments away from having my pocketknife in his neck.  I wonder what noise he would have made if that had been the outcome?

Disclaimer: The content of this website is mine alone and does not necessarily reflect the views of the U.S. Government, the Peace Corps, or the Namibian Government.

How it feels to hit the restart button…

Created on: 7/25/2014

In real life, not many people get the chance to tip forward out of their Nintendo chair and hit the restart button.  Nintendo allowed us that option; whether it is to erase an embarrassing defeat in Tecmo, try once more to master the original Mario Bros at a faster clip, or just simply begin a new game of RBI.  On July 21st, without intending to, I hit the restart button on real life.  Yes, this is a Nintendo metaphor so get on board.

It wasn’t something that I saw coming but rather blind-sided me, as I successfully developed zero expectations about this experience just like Peace Corps instructed.  I committed to taking my life in a different direction than most when I accepted an invitation from PC to spend 27 months in the country of Namibia.  I wanted to volunteer my time to improve the lives of others and my own, as I am selfishly aware of.  What I wasn’t aware of was the fact that I was starting over.  As I arrived in Okahandja on the night of July 23^rd, I was with 48 other volunteers that I met the day before. We were being welcomed by a community of Namibians who are committed to providing us with all the game genie cheat codes needed to successfully pass the next 27 months of our lives.  All of my previous successes and failures have been erased and I stand at a moment in my life where I have the power to reinvent myself.

How do I describe this feeling?  People don’t have any past reference of who you are.  They don’t know a thing about you and you don’t know a thing about them.  They take you for what you are in that exact moment and you do the same.  At least until time passes and expectations begin to develop.  The one thing that can be assumed about the people around you is that you share a common interest, purpose, or calling.  All you can hope is for that bond to develop into a multiplayer game of Contra, where someone always has your back. 

Back home, I have a group of people that always have my back.  I consider my family and friends to be my greatest asset but how do they help me now and how do I help them?  It is a new game I’m playing in Namibia and all the people I love have disappeared since I hit restart.  I suppose now they can help me in different ways.  They can be the person in player chair #2 providing me with game strategy.  They can be my past experience that I look back on to help me through the new.  They can be that extra life that I may need in a moment of desperation.  And as I think ‘they can be’ I realize they already are.

Disclaimer: The content of this website is mine alone and does not necessarily reflect the views of the U.S. Government, the Peace Corps, or the Namibian Government. 

Welcome to Namibia!

When I submitted my Peace Corps application in June of 2013, I wasn’t sure how my life would change over the coming years.  I didn’t know what to expect and every time I looked at my map I wondered where in the World I would end up.  The unknown intrigued me.  Now, as a volunteer in Namibia, I know my approximate geographical location for the next 27 months but my curiosity has been amplified rather than satisfied.  Everyday is new, which can be exciting or terrifying depending on how you look at it.  It is for this reason that I decided to enter the blogosphere.  I hope this can be a medium of exchange for me to share my experiences and the culture of Namibia with all of you.  I will consider my blog a success if it can bring a smile to your face, a tear to your eye, or inspire you to do something for another.  This blog will allow me to reflect on my days and share stories with my family and friends that I wish could be apart of each day.  I also encourage everyone to comment on my posts and/or email me with feedback, stories, and updates on your life.  I will miss babies being born, children growing tall, and friends getting married so keep me updated. 

As part of my first blog post I want to give some background information for those in need.  I am a Peace Corps Volunteer (PCV) in the country of Namibia.  On July 23^rd, 2014 I arrived in Okahandja along with 48 other volunteers from the United States.  Each of us will be staying with a local host family in Okahandja for the duration of our training.  We now total 50 volunteers in training after acquiring a PCV who was evacuated from Kenya and reassigned to Namibia.  Peace Corps Namibia Group 40 consists of 1 health, 17 business, and 32 education volunteers.  We all look to be officially sworn in as PCVs on September 25^th.  At that time we will depart to our permanent site locations for our 24 months of service.  

Namibia is an extremely diverse country.  English has been the official language since independence in 1990 but a variety of native languages remain extremely relevant throughout the country.  Young learners are still educated in their native tongue to a certain age and the older generations still primarily rely on their native language to communicate.  Peace Corps Namibia trains volunteers in one of seven languages depending on the region in which they will serve.  I will go into more depth about my program, assigned language, and host family in future posts.

Yes, the name of my blog is “An Appel A Day” but that does not mean I will post on a daily basis or even close to that.  It is simply a saying that I hope you all understand.  Expect maybe two posts per month and hopefully I can over deliver.  In other words, have high aspirations and low expectations (first KFAN reference – check).  Also, I have never blogged before so this will be a learning process for me.  Keep your criticism constructive and your comments common.  That’s all for today but the blog has clearance, Clarence. Rodger, Rodger.

Dan

Created on: 8/6/14

Photo Gallery

Disclaimer: The content of this website is mine alone and does not necessarily reflect the views of the U.S. Government, the Peace Corps, or the Namibian Government.