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.

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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.