Where There's a Wheel, There's a Tube

In Namibia, I have two primary modes of transportation... The first is my feet. The second is my bike. So when my back tire went flat on me overnight, it was a problem. Not a huge one, but moderately urgent. Lots of volunteers have bikes here, especially ones that live in towns like me. And lots of volunteers get lots of flats, thanks to all the thorns that litter the ground wherever you go (Lavins... like the ones in the OBX that you always manage to step on at least once). So I thought... All right. I need to fix the flat. I've never done it on my own before, but now's a good time to learn.

So I take it over to Rob and Martin's so Martin can watch (but NOT help... I had to do it myself, I was very ademant about that!) while I tale off the nuts, remove the kickstand, use the thingy-ma-jig to get the tire off of the wheel, and slowly and arduously remove the inner tube (this part took forever). Then I fill a washtub with water and submerge the tube to find the leak. Success! I mark it with chalk and get out the patch kit. Patch it up and reverse the whole process, finishing by pumping up the tire. A job well done, I think, and all on my own! I even e-mail my Dad about it to make him proud.

In the morning, I am about to ride it to work, when I hear that familiar squeak-squeak... Flat again! So I end up cabbing it to work and coming back to fix it again later. So it's the whole process again... Couldn't find any new holes, though the patched area looks a little weird. I put it back on and repump it, then wait to see what happens. Sure enough, I hear a Pffffft! about 10 minutes later and I run over to feel... Air is coming out of the place where you pump it (whatever that thingy is called). I start over and begin to pull out the tube... Well there's a hole in the patch and air had been leaking from there as well as the pumpy-part (lol clearly I'm a professional in bike mechanics).

After discussing it a minute with Martin, he tells me the safest thing would be to just get a new tube. Great, I think... How much are those? Oh, about N$60. Not ridiculous, but hey I'm on a budget and that's 6 chocolate bars or 3 boxes of Weet-Bix! And I probably have to wait until I'm in Windhoek to get one. Oh well, I think. I walk out to the front room to get the bike kit to remove the tube YET again, pick up the cardboard box and as I'm turning back toward the living room I trip over Martin's bike and drop the box, all of the contents spilling out on the floor. And out falls.... What?! A brand new tube?

"Is this yours?" I ask Martin. "No," he says. "Must just be an extra left behind." But now the question is... Does it fit?? 26 inches and... 26 inches! Yessss!!

Moral of the story: The Universe always gives you what you need if you just ask. ;-) this one's for you, Cathey!

So I'm back on my bike tomorrow, with a new skill under my belt :-P Cheers everybody and Happy August! It's starting to warm up over here. You could say it's "springtime" though that's not totally accurate. It's never really springtime in a desert. But summer is on its way! Woot woot!

Leaving for two weeks of Reconnect Conference in Windhoek on Sunday... Can't wait to see all of Group 35 and hug you guys!

Xoxoxo
Tash


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Location:Gobabis, Namibia

Too many Fat Cakes, ne?

So for all of you family members worrying about what I'm eating in Africa and am I wasting away... I have a story for you! I really haven't been worrying about my weight... In fact I weighed myself for the first time in Namibia just today (but we'll get to that later). However I had noticed my jeans felt a little snug... Then very snug, then I couldn't get them on, and wait it's not just my skinny jeans, it's every pair I brought?!! So I thought, okay, I've gained a couple pounds. Whatever. Flash forward to about 2 weeks ago and I run into my host Dad in the Location. Our short conversation:

Me: Moro, Chris! How are you?
Tate (Otjiherero for Father): Natasja! You are looking fat!

Okay... A little background. "Fat" in Namibia is a nice thing to say about somebody. Traditionally, it's good to look fat because it suggests you are healthy, you don't have AIDS and you have enough money to eat well. However, this idea is starting to change. Regardless, when people call you fat it is still meant as a compliment. So of course I thanked him and went on with my day. Okay, I thought... Maybe it's just this outfit? Or have I really gained some weight?

Next time I try to put on my jeans (a few days ago), I can't even pull them up all the way. That's it, I think to myself. I need a new pair. So off to Mr. Price I go for something affordable (Mr. Price is kind of like Namibia's Old Navy. Actually it's more along the lines of Charlotte Russe but has guy clothes too. Anyway!) and yay! Find a pair on sale that only costs me N$50, dark wash bootcut. I even hem them myself (thanks to Rob who taught me how to sew!) and the next day wear them to work.

So I walk in the office and greet Saraphina (my host Mom from when I was staying in the Location).

Me: Moro!
Saraphina: Ii, moro! Wa penduka?
Me: Ii, mba penduka nawa, na ove?
Saraphina: Mba penduka! Oh Natasja, I very much like those jeans on you! You are looking fat!
Me: Oh! Thank you!
Saraphina: Ii! (Realizes her American faux pas) But not bad fat! NICE fat!
Me: Oh! Thanks!
Saraphina: Yeah, but don't get any fatter. Just stay like that!
Me: Oh! Okay...

Point is... Finally weighed myself today. I've gained 14 pounds since arriving in-country. So family and friends... I am eating well! Don't waste any more energy worrying about if I'm getting enough food here. Apparently I've reached the high end of "nice fat" and need to watch what I eat at this point :-P

On a completely different note.... Group 36 landed in Namibia today!! Know what that means?? I am officially a SOPHOMORE! (as are the rest of Super-Duper Group 35... Congrats guys, love you!!) Soo exciting!! I am no longer the new kid in town, but the experienced, knowledgable Peace Corps Namibia volunteer. Can't believe how time is flying! Feels like I was just in Philly, just landing in Windhoek, just meeting my first host family in Omaruru. Dealing with sensory overload and feeling so overwhelmed! And now I'm settling in and starting on the meat and potatoes of my service (and I'm back on food again. Sigh...). I'm really excited to meet the new volunteers! Group 36 is made up of Education volunteers and SEED (I think that stands for Small Enterprise and Entrepreneurship Development) volunteers. So, odd groups are Health groups, like mine, and even are Education/SEED. You get one of each a year. Just a little background info. But yeah, I can't wait to hear and see what the newbies are like!

Anyhoo! It's past my bedtime. I'm pretty much a Granny and go to bed super early these days. Can't say I mind, really... Hope everybody is doing well back home! All my love!! Stay cool.

Xoxo
Tashie


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Location:Gobabis, Namibia

Wait, I've been a volunteer for 2 months?

So we're halfway through July and I realized, 2 months of my 24 month service are already behind me! I still feel like I just got to Gobabis... My flat is still a mess and I haven't unpacked my bedroom yet! But on July 10th I had been serving as a PCV for two months. Things are going great at the office... This first three months is known as Phase 2 (before my group gets together in Windhoek for "Reconnect" for some additional training and presenting on our Community Needs Assessments) and we are supposed to be using this time mainly to get to know our community and start forming relationships with local Namibians, especially colleagues and people we may collaborate with. We are also supposed to learn about our community's unique needs from community members (that's our CNA we're reporting on) and start brainstorming ideas for our primary project, and potential secondary projects. Right now it's looking like I'll be working on developing an after-school program for our OVCs, directed at youth ages 9-14 and 14-18. In addition I'd like to help develop the soup kitchen from being twice weekly to being daily... But of course the number one rule of Peace Corps is "It depends" and I have to remain flexible. My primary project could turn out to be entirely different! But for now I'm super excited to help out where I can with the after-school program. Hopefully we can get it started up soon after Reconnect.

Other than developing my plan for a primary project, I'm spending a lot of time and energy just integrating. I use my Otjiherero frequently but I'm working on my Afrikaans (the bridge language between all the people in Gobabis, and therefore the dominant language in my office) and my Khoekhoegowab (the one with the clicks, and the first language, and sometimes only language, of most of the population CAA serves). Afrikaans is coming a lot quicker than KKG because it's so similar to English, and besides the clicks are so tricky! I'm also quickly becoming fluent in Namlish... I'm half joking here but half serious. English in this country is so different from American English! For example, to say "I'll be back" you say "I'm coming now" and to say "over there" you say "this side" among many other interesting differences! It's interesting but also may become a problem when I try to take my GRE here next year (I'm planning on taking the computerized version in South Africa). I'll just have to study extra hard! (hint for family and friends who want to send me things but don't know what I need... GRE study materials will be greatly appreciated, Arikana nakuhepa tjinene!)

I've also been helping out on several small side projects... The secondary school choir preparing for nationals, for example (they won the first night of the competition, but lost the second night, by the way). This week was round two of NIDs (National Immunization Days), which is a public campaign put on by the Ministry of Health to eradicate polio and measles and address malnutrition in children in Namibia. I was going around Kanaan 2 with nurses and volunteers, giving kids polio drops, doing MUAC tests for malnutrition and marking tally sheets. This round went much quicker and the second day (Wednesday) was kind of slow, so my team walked over to the other Kanaan team's post to see how their side was doing (where Rob was). It was super slow and we were sitting waiting to see if anyone else would come, when someone started blaring some Namibian pop music and these three Namibian girls started dancing in the street. So Rob and I decided to go integrate and went over to ask them to teach us! They collapsed into giggles at first but then started to teach us some steps. Then they got shy again so we decided to teach them an American dance... The electric slide!! The kids loved it and they wanted to do it over and over! We'd stop and they would say, "Oh just do that one again, that one was very nice!" It was definitely my high for the day. We attracted a crowd of like 30 Namibians who were probably thinking, "What are these crazy white people doing dancing in the street in the Location?" But it was a great way to finish up round 2 of NIDs. The kids here are awesome... They just want to talk to you and play with you. They are a little bashful at first but then they are so cute and fun and outgoing and just want to make you laugh. It's definitely one of the best things about Namibia.

So... I've been getting settled in slowly. I'm still working on my routine and trying to find where in the day I can fit everything I want to do, but even in Namibia, on Africa time, there aren't enough hours in the day. I'd like to blog weekly to keep all of you updated and I'm gonna do my best to figure out a time that works! Getting a chunk of time to just sit and be quiet and reflect is a challenge at times. But I will do my best!! So stay tuned for more updates on my adventures, and I hope everyone stateside is enjoying Summer (Winter should be over soon here). Love you all and karee nawa! (Stay well!)

Xoxoxo
Tash


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Location:Gobabis, Namibia

Soup and Singing

*To my family and friends... apologies for the inexcusable lack of blog posts about my Namibian life these last couple months! I promise I am getting back into it right now! I am also going to be filling the gap with some stories taken from my journal about April and May so stay tuned! :-P

It's the end of June and I am finally starting to feel settled in my flat... Still have tons of unpacking to do but I've been so busy! I'm just taking it one day at a time. These days I wake up, have a big bowl of weet-bix with sugar, milk and banana, a little yogurt with raisins and a cup of coffee (for now, instant will have to do). Do a little reading (right now I'm trying to finish On the Road by Jack Kerouac) and get ready to start my day. I hop on my bike and take a ride to the Location to the church where the Catholic AIDS Action office is. Here's where the routine switches up a bit. Some days I help with the soup kitchen, other days I go on visits to other sites in Omaheke (Gobabis is the regional capital and so our office oversees all of the other CAA offices in Omaheke), other days I sit in in on trainings for our local volunteers. Then there are always other things to keep me busy like studying Afrikaans, helping with community events like National Immunization Days, or my latest mini-secondary project, working with the Epako Junior Secondary School Choir! (*again, apologies if some of these things don't make sense or seem like non sequitors! I am going to fill in between this blog entry and the previous ones)

This week was great. I got to help with the soup kitchen on Tuesday which is always fun and rewarding. We fed over 40 OVCs a good meal that day! OVC stands for Orphans and Vulnerable Children, and we have registered a lot of them. In many cases, our OVCs have lost at least one parent to AIDS. You also find that sometimes a child of 10 years old or younger will be head of household and have younger siblings to watch over, because both parents are gone. Community involvement and support is a big goal of CAA... Many of our volunteers provide help and guidance and even stand in as parents for these OVCs. Working the soup kitchen here in Gobabis definitely makes me grateful for everything I've had in my childhood and youth... I always knew I was lucky because so many people in the world had much, much less, but now I have experienced first hand just how much less some have, and what that difference looks like in real life. It makes me see all of the things I never really needed.

After the soup kitchen on Tuesday I walked next door to the school where the choir was rehearsing. Now this has truly been a joy! I was told last week by Martin that Freida (the choir conductor) was desperately searching for someone who could put a set of given lyrics to music. They had made it to Nationals and this was one of their tasks for the competition. I spoke with her and she asked me to arrange something that was fun and that the kids could dance to. It was the most fun I've had doing homework in a long time! I started teaching it to them this week and it's been such a pleasure. The kids are awesome... They're ages 14 to 18 and they are so funny and so cute! And they have the most lovely voices. Freida is great, too... She is an excellent conductor and actually won the award for Best Conductor at the Regional competition last week (which I attended... It was awesome!). I can't believe she asked me to help them out! It's been an honor and so much fun. They compete next Friday and I can't wait to hear how they do!

Anyhoo, I hope all is well back home!! I hear it's been warming up quite nicely. Happy beginning of summer my American friends and family! I'm smack in the middle of Namibian winter here (and in Gobabis, that means f***ing cold. As in the pipes freeze over night cold).

Love you all and talk to you soon! Xoxoxo


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Location:Gobabis, Namibia

2 weeks in and starting to adjust...

It's been 2 weeks since I got on the plane in JFK with the rest of group 35 to spend 2 full days traveling to get to the country that will be my home for the next two years. When I say starting to adjust, I place the emphasis on the word "starting," because PST (pre-service training) is just the tip of the iceberg as far as the cultural adjustment part of it goes... I know that even though I'm in Namibia, I'm really just in a little America bubble for 8 weeks with all these other volunteers, and that when I finally get my permanent site in May and I'm on my own, that will be when the real cultural adjustment begins. I'm super excited but also a little nervous, which I feel is to be expected.

For now I live with a host family. I have an 8 year old sister! She's awesome. She's already telling me she's going to miss me when I go... I tell her I just got here! She says she'll come visit me in America and write me letters and things. My host family is amazing... They are all wonderful and so welcoming. They help me with my Otjiherero (the language I'm learning) every day and I feel like I'm already learning a ton. At the 4 week point we have to pass a language test which is basically having to carry a conversation for about a half an hour with a native speaker. After only 4 weeks!! But we're so immersed in it and study it everyday that I feel we are soaking it up like sponges.

Namibia is such a beautiful country, and I say this after seeing such a small sliver of it! I can't wait to get to travel and really see its beauty. I feel very lucky to have been placed here... The country is gorgeous and the people are wonderful and kind and generous. Did you know they eat 5 times a day here? Breakfast, tea time (which really means tea with a sandwich), lunch, another tea time, and dinner. We are constantly eating! Their concept of time generalizations is also totally different. For example, when a Namibian wants to say something is happening now, they say "now now." If they just say something is happening "now", it means in a half hour, in an hour, 2 hours, basically any time but now. And if they say "just now", that's even further in the future (it's definitely not happening anytime soon). I find this hilarious and very much in line with my own natural attitudes toward time (why is everyone in the States in such a rush all the time?). I could definitely get used to Namibia-time...

The fact that I'm learning Otjiherero means I will be working with Herero people when I go to site. If you're interested, look them up on Google. They have an utterly fascinating culture and history. The women wear these traditional gowns that are taken from Victorian styles with big hats in the shape of cattle horns to represent the importance of the cattle to their people (the Hereros are cattle herders historically). They fought back against the Germans in the early 1900s when Namibia was a German colony and so played a role in the long process that was Namibia gaining its independence ultimately.

I know that everything is so exciting and new right now, so my opinion is surely biased, but I'm so excited to be doing this... Joining the Peace Corps was always a dream of mine and the fact that I'm here, living in Namibia, volunteering... It blows my mind a little bit! I always knew I wanted to do this, but even though I'm in it it feels kind of surreal. Every day here is an adventure and I'm taking full advantage of the experience.

This Saturday's traditional cooking and culture day for us and our host families. I'm super excited to see what's up, there are rumors we will get to kill our own chickens (sorry my vegetarian friends, I am a carnivore and must say that for all the times I've eaten chicken that someone else had to kill, I should do it myself at least once). Anyhoo, that's all for now! Stay tuned for updates and stay warm everybody back on the East coast (it's in the 80s during the day here, 50s in the morning).

All my love!
Tashie

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Location:Omaruru, Namibia

On My Way

We've been on the plane for about 6 hours now... 8 to go. All I can say is that yesterday and today having been this crazy, exciting blur! Yesterday we had our staging event, where we all met each other and did a basic overview of the Peace Corps... What's expected of us, what we can expect, etc... I learned some things I didn't know yet.

For example, everyone in our group (Namibia Group 35, meaning the 35th group to go to Namibia) is a Health Volunteer like me. I think that is so cool! Talking with the people of all different ages and backgrounds, I know we will all be able to bring different things to the table.

Also, I learned that all of us get bicycles at our sites to get around! I am so excited for that. From what I hear, we get pretty decent ones, too, as well as helmets.

I learned that everyone will spend the training period living with a host family, and most people will live with host families for the duration of our stay. I think that's awesome because you truly get to experience the culture that way... You live with a real Namibian familya who speaks a real Namibian language and cooks you real Namibian food. Talk about complete cultural immersion!

I found out that many volunteers take in stray dogs or puppies and take care of them during service (they take them to get their shots, of course)... Some even bring their doggies back home with them once their service is up! I've heard that the concept of a pet the way we have it in the states is not present in Namibia, but that many Namibian families keep and care for dogs as protection. Sounds like an interesting cultural point to share with a host family. "Yes, host Mom, back home the dogs are considered family members!" Ha ha can you imagine?!

Staging overall was a really wonderful experience, everyone seems really cool and super excited to be going.

Last night I slept in a comfy American bed for the last time in a loooong time, and today we woke up and checked out at 2:15 am! Got on a bus and left for JFK. We arrived SEVEN HOURS early for our flight... I guess it was just in case but it did seem a little excessive lol!

Right now were on our way to Johannesburg, it's 5:30 pm at home but it's dark here. We're over the Ocean and just barely grazing over the western edge of Africa as we cut down to the southeast, though I can't see anything out the window. According to the trip estimator on the tv screen, we have 7091 km (4405 miles) left until our destination, and we've traveled 5828 km (3622 miles). I'm more than 3000 miles away from home right now!! And more to go...

One thing that was new for me on such a long flight... They give you lots of little necessities... A sleeping mask, a blanket, a pillow, a toothbrush and toothpaste, socks (wait, socks?! Yes, socks), and multiple meals. For lunch we had lamb (I think it was curried) with rice and cooked veggies. It was pretty good! After your meal you get dessert and tea or coffee... I asked for tea and they gave it to me with sugar and lots of cream. It was really neat! Never had anything like this on a domestic flight (do they even feed you meals on those anymore?)

I've been napping for the majority of the trip, and I think I'm going to go back to that state now; the last two nights I only got 3 hours and that just does not cut it for me :-P

Anyway, signing off for now! Stay tuned for updates and feel free to share this blog with anyone who may be interested.

All my love!!!

Tash


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Location:Over the Atlantic Ocean

My Assignment

So I'm really starting to get excited/nervous... These last few weeks in the states have just been flying by! I leave for Namibia a week from Thursday and have been in a frenzy to spend as much time as possible with my friends, family and fiancé. Last Saturday was my surprise going away party... My whole family and all of my friends were there and it was just awesome!!! There were people I hadn't seen in years, people from all areas of my life and it was almost overwhelming. I could really feel the love and support for me from everybody. As I'm getting ready to depart, I'm realizing how truly blessed I am to have so many people rooting for me, wishing me luck and praying for me. I love all you guys and it meant so much having you all there showing me love!

I decided that after giving a little rundown of the place, I should give all you guys a little idea of what I'm going to be doing in Namibia. The truth is, I don't totally know! A lot has yet to be determined during training. I do know a little bit, however...

My program is called CHHAP... That stands for Community Health and HIV/AIDS. My job title is Health Extension Volunteer. I'll be in training from March 16, 2012 to May 11, 2012 and my tentative dates of service are May 12, 2012 to May 11, 2014. I'll be gone a total of 26 months.

Namibia gained their independence in 1990. That same year they asked the Peace Corps to begin sending volunteers. One of Namibia's most devastating epidemics over the years has been HIV/AIDS. Namibia has one of the highest rates of HIV infection in the world; about 15.3% of the adult population (ages 15 to 49) are HIV positive and 61% of those infected are women, according to the assignment pamphlet the Peace Corps sent me with my invitation. AIDS is one of the leading causes of death in Namibia, crippling the country both in health and economy.

My program, CHHAP, is made of three assignments. There's Community Development, Youth Development, and my assignment, Health Extension. The three assignments take different approaches but work toward the same goal of "working with communities to improve their general health practices and promote HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention" according to my assignment pamphlet.

The details of my assignment have yet to be decided and can vary greatly. I could be the first volunteer to work with a particular organization or may be continuing the work of another volunteer who has recently left, for example. I could be forming HIV/AIDS awareness clubs in schools, working on community health issues like drug and alcohol prevention, nutrition, or dental hygiene, liaising with national level officials to coordinate and implement health activities, among many other things. The specific job I receive will be determined through my training depending on my skills and interests. However it all works out, I'm super excited to begin my training and service... I know it's going to be a great adventure and learning experience.

Two years is a long time to put my life at home on hold, but I know it will be worth it. I'm hoping to learn a little something about the way the world works from another point of view, learn another culture and language, and hopefully get to help people along the way. One of the Peace Corps slogans is "For dreamers who do," and that sums up my feelings about it. This is a life dream for me, and I'm finally putting it into action. Thanks again to all my loved ones for their unconditional support in all of my endeavors, past and present. I love you all and it means everything to me!

Xoxo
Tash

Location:New York State Bicycle Route 17,Endicott,United States