Slight State of Emergency...where you at Black America?!

Wat Up?! So, a short update of my goings on...

Town: I arrived in town at about 9am on March5th, a friday. I was dropped of at the Ministry of Education so that I could drop off some documents to Nikki and get some forms I needed for my teaching files. Then I went on the main strip to withdraw money...woohoo! Money. I walked across the street to my barber Mendos. He was already cutting someone's hair so I'm just chillin out front for a min. There usually aren't women around this area so, of course, I am a big spectacle there. I walk inside and sit down to avoid any further attention. After about 10mins he's done with the other guys hair, but tells me to wait for the clippers to cool down. So now the waiting time has turned into a photo shoot with me and him. And all these annoying men are coming up to the shop trying to see me and talk to me. Mendos and I have an unspoken agreement that he keeps the dogs at bay when I'm in his shop. This usually gives him the ok to tell them that I'm with him, much to his amusement, of course. Unfortunately, today, it wasn't working. Persistence doesn't even describe what was going on. Most of the Hereros attended the school where I work so they all know where I live and usually tell me that they will 'make a turn' at my place when they're in the area. Great. Then this guy comes in, who is relatively normal. He starts asking me about America. He says he wants to go, but he's scared of all the ghettos. His entire impression of the states, at least the places he wants to visit (L.A., N.Y.), comes directly from Black rappers. So he kept saying “shit, nigga” with his arms tilted in an attempt to be 'hip hop.' Now since I live in LA I must know Ice Cube and Snoop Dogg. Also, ALL of Black America speaks, dresses, walks, and acts like these rappers. To which I had to quickly correct, using myself as an example. I tried to liken our 'ghettos' to their 'locations' so he could understand that its not everywhere, and thats not everyone. It kinda broke my heart because seriously, this was his impression of Black America. I had to tell him to stop sayin 'nigga' so much. It made me think about the images that we put out into the world. I mean sure, Snoop makes music for the ears of the West Coast, but he's worldwide, and therefore so is his image to be interpreted by whomever. I don't hold him responsible; he's just being himself. So then who is responsible?

On the contrary... I had a discussion with the principal from the secondary school at the next village about Black America. He thinks that Black America doesn't have any culture, that we're “just like the other white people.” I always get really defensive about this because their definition of culture is tradition. So since they can trace their tradition back to some village with some language and practices, thats culture to them. So therefore, we, Black Americans that is, have no culture. I always wanna say “if we're lacking soooo much, then why the fuck you tryin to be like US soooo bad?!?!?!?” But I don't. I attempt to explain that culture is always changing, evolving. But it doesn't work. We are as cultureless as ever. Then I attempt to explain the difference between nationality and ethnicity and the effect that can have on ones culture and what traditional values they follow. It usually a lost cause, but I always feel the need to make my point.

The following wednesday we, 2 teachers and I, were assigned to the regional athletics (track) meet. We almost didn't make it because there wasn't transportation and the ministry was running out of cars to get the kids with. There are no school buses, btw. Finally around 4 or so a small truck pulls up. He is expected to take 2 teachers and all 15 kids. No correction, 9 kids cuz the other 6 didn't have birth certificates present. We all pile in, and of course I 'm stuffed in front, in the middle, ass usual. We arrive at one of the teachers houses in Gobabis. We just hang out on the front porch for a while. Then the other teacher comes and he and I start walking around the location, then we went into town. We went to Spar to get some food. I hadn't eaten food in almost a week, just bread last thursday when I had to take my malaria pill. I bought: a polony( thats how they spell it here), cheese and tomato sandwich, an Italian salad (lettuce, tomato, kalamata olives, Italian dressing), chips (fries), pack of cheese, a coke and a powerade. I ate all of it except the cheese, I was too full. That was alot to eat, but having access to all that good stuff was slightly overwhelming and quickly brought back my desire to eat food again.
It s getting dark so we decide to start heading back. As we pass the gas station he sees someone he knows and tells me to sit and wait cuz this guy can possible give us a ride back to the location. This is really weird and intrusive as far as I'm concerned, but of course here, its normal. The guy comes out, they talk for a min, we get in and head back to the location. In a semi-lame attempt to show my gratitude for the life I greet him in Herero, much to his surprise. Score! He's impressed and thankful for recognizing and using his mother tongue. When we get back to the house everyone, including all 9 kids, are glued to the tv watching the new soapie: Shades of Sin. I just sat outside with my colleagues husband and the other teacher I was with. We were out in the dark talking for a while. Then the kids came out and started listening to music and dancing. By about 22h00 (10pm) I was ready to go to bed and I knew we had to be at the school the next morning by 6h30 for some meeting about the meet. At about 23h00 the teacher walks in the room and tells me to eat. I told her that I was already full from the food at Spar, plus it was too late to eat. Then she said she would feel bad because now I'm gonna report to the principal that I wasn't fed at her house. So I sat up and gratefully took the bowl. It was minced (ground) beef with potatoes and onions. It was really good and filling, a bit much for my stomach but I ate it all anyway.

I slept on a mattress (aka rectangular piece of foam) on the floor with the teachers sister and a 3 month old baby. Awesome, how am I gonna sleep with this new baby?!?!? My alarm went off at 5h30 and I realized that this baby didn't make a peep all night, not even the little baby grunts, she was quiet all night. I knew she was up but she wasn't making noise. I suppose she was just playing with her imaginary toy or friend. I made a point to thank her mom when she woke up later just to tell her that she had such a good baby. So of course no one was up and they were just getting up by the time I was ready. We are definitely not making this meeting. We made the kids a big pot of oats and we ate sausage and cheese. A teacher and I walked to the school where the meeting was to take place, only to find it was long over and everyone was at the stadium. We got a taxi to the stadium. Its about 7h30 now and the meet is supposed to start like, now. Nothing is together, they are still setting things up. I see another volunteer from Norway that I recognize so we end up hangin for a little while. I'm officially assigned as the time keeper for 2nd place. So I spent a bulk of the day at the finish line and walking around back to report my time. It was a pretty easy going day. It was hot and long, but ok and tolerable I suppose. The day wouldn't have been complete if I wasn't being harassed by SOMEONE. So there was this guy who wouldn't stop asking me for my autograph so that he could tell all his friends that he met someone who lives in Los Angeles. This was so crazy to me. Then he was like, “can I just have your American phone number to put into my phone so I can phone you when you get back.” Ummm, no. So between him and a few others arguing over who was going to sit next to me, the day was not completely boring. My acting supervisor for the day was a teacher at a local school, we're about the same age and clicked pretty well so I guess I can say I have native friends in town now. Cool.

We concluded at about 14h30, and thats after canceling the relay due to lack of teams.
The other teacher and I went into town to get some last minute things before we were to head back to the village. I got some candy for my classes and a bunch of different types of juice and soda for when my learners stop by. Then back to the village we go.

When we pulled up I told our driver to drive into the school campus so the athletes can be greeted by their peers. When we drove up he was honking and all the kids rushed to the car like MJ was inside. They have a lot of pride in their athletes. So we opened the bakkie for them to get out and all the kids were clapping and cheering for them. Then we turned the radio up real loud and the kids started dancing and singing and high fiving the participants. It was great. A welcomed return for our kids. They were like movie stars.

So I'm not sure what happened but I didn't hear my alarm go off the next morning so not only did I miss the morning meeting (yea, bummer :/) but I also missed 1st period. Really no explanation, guess I was just really exhausted from the previous day. The rest of my Friday went smoothly, I suppose.

The following week there was an advisory committee coming to assess our school, identify problems, and recommend positive changes. I was excited about their visit. I knew that I could learn from them and get much needed guidance that I can't get at my school. For example, I am the English Department Subject Head...I have no idea what that means, but I'm that person. I'm also the librarian, by default because I teach a library themed course twice a week. So as a result of their visit, the other teachers spent the whole weekend in their classrooms tying to make sure all their academic files were up to par and up to date. Judging how long they stayed in their classes, I would say they had a lot to catch up on. I mean, they had small boys bringing them food throughout the day so they wouldn't have to leave.

The team arrived on monday evening. The Ministry of Education didn't arrange for housing so they are basically on their own to find a place to stay. I told a few of the female staff that I had an extra room available if they wanted to stay with me. So 2 did. I was observed the next day. All the other teachers were frantic about being observed and evaluated. I wasn't, I was excited about working with someone who could actually answer all my questions. After class I spoke with her about my teaching. She asked why I wasn't using the cross curricular themes. I told her that I wasn't aware that I should be using them. She showed me exactly what I should be teaching and how I can make it learner-centered education. It was awesome. So now the themes I teach will all fall under: Environmental Education, Information Technology, HIV/AIDS, Communication, and 2 others I can't think of right now. She told me that I wasn't confined to the English text book, which I hate, so I was happy about that, Actually, she recommended that I use the text book from the social science, natural science, and agriculture disciplines. She said I should be supplementing the other classes and use English was a way to explore applicable topics that are relevant across the curriculum. I'm excited about it. She told me that she wouldn't evaluate me until I changed my lesson that incorporated the cross curricular themes. So by the next day I created a group project themed after HIV/AIDS that will cover various English and various requirements in the syllabus.

So this past weekend marks the 20th year of independence for Namibia. I went down south to Mariental to visit a bunch of Dirty Thirty's and attend a meeting for the Souther Girls Conference (SGC). SGC is a 4 day camp for girls that focuses on self esteem, future goals, and just loving the fact that you are a women. So as of now I'm signed up to give courses on Appropriate Relationships and am the creative movement dance instructor, this is basically on some jazzercise or sweatin to the oldies type stuff. The conference is in August.

The rest of the weekend was fun filled, just hangin out with the crew. We basically sat around, played drinking games, watched some American shows on the projector and just kicked back. It was a nice break from it all. Monday morning we went to the gas station at the highway to get back. We waited about 5 hours to get a ride. Once I got to Windhoek, I immediately went to the hotel. Peace Coprs is making it mandatory for all the volunteers to get swine flu vaccines. If you refuse, you WILL be sent home...yea, the states. So I told them I could come in on Monday to get the shop, but since that was a holiday, I had to come in on tuesday. Subsequently, I got put up in a super sweet hotel for the night. This place looked like one of those time share places. I had a living room, tv, stereo system, a balcony, double bed, full kitchen with everything in it, and a decent mini bar. It was sweet...and free for me. :)

I stretched the 11h00 check out by watching tv, taking another shower, and cooking eggs that I purchased the previous night. When I left I went to tthe Peace Corps medical office for my shot, then I went to the volunteer lounge which is around the corner from the medical office. I got some free magazines and used the internet to upload those pics that are below. I left there around 1 and got a taxi to my hike point for Gobabis. So a hike point is where the cars are that are going to your town. They are designated at various gas stations all over town. The taxi driver dropped me at the wrong spot so the gas station attendant took my bags and walked me to the correct place, then he found me a taxi that was going to Gobabis, AND assured me safety with this driver. Pays to be pretty...sometimes.

Now I'm back in town but its too late to get a car back to the village so I'll be in town for the night (tuesday 3/23). Tomorrow I will go into town and buy electricity, some good seasoned chips, a mirror for my room, some vegetables, and a box of wine.

Random:

 Weight: I now weigh 169, I was 195 when I arrived. I think my weight is sustained, I've been this weight for a while now. Another volunteer gave me a work out plan so I should be starting that soon.
 Food: I'm eating, but not that much. I eat oatmeal for breakfast every morning. I add vanilla extract, brown sugar, and cinnamon. Then I'll only eat one other meal, usually a dinner-portioned lunch. If I'm hungry during dinner time I'll eat a carrot or tomato.
 Friends: I'm not walking as consistently cuz things have been crazy at school, but I will get back on track. And people know me every where I go, I make friends every where. Its sweet, it makes everything slightly more bearable when there is someone my age around, whether its in the village or town, or anywhere in Namibia for that matter.
 Book: So I finished New Moon, the second book to Twilight. So Edwards vampire family had a little incident in the house with Bella's blood and it scared the shit out of him. He thought the best idea was for him and his family to move away. He leaves. Bella is beyond heart broken, she's......dead, in many ways. She would rather die than feel the pain of life without Edward. Edwards sister Alice has premonitions and foresaw Bella killing herself by jumping off a cliff. Word gets back to Edward that she did this and through a series of miscommunication he believes Bella is dead. He then flies to Italy to piss off this large group of vampires, to provoke them to kill him. Alice takes Bella to Italy to prove to Edward that she's still alive. They do and they all go home. He tells her how difficult it was to be away from her for such a long time and that he's not strong enough to stay away from her anymore. Happy Ending! I've started book 3, Eclipse, its good so far.
 Cape Town, South Africa: So far we have booked accommodation and a ride back to Namibia. The hotel for 8 nights will be $1260R=$168USD, and the bus ride back is N$560=$75USD. This doesn't include food and tourist stuff we will be doing. I've already started the water diet again, to avoid buying food, to pay for this. I'm super determined to go and have the best time I can! We'll be there from May 15-22.
 Mail: If you are planning on sending me a package just send it to the PO BOX 1022 Gobabis, Namibia, Africa address. School will be out in a month and I don't want to have to wait for the break to be over to get it. So if you send it to the PO Box I can just pick it up in town on my own. Thanx!

Thats all. It brings you to date. Enjoy the rest of your week!!!