LindseyLove

Scholarship Fund

2009-11-22T01:13:00.000-08:00

Please click the link to learn more about the One Love Scholarship which I am co-founding.

http://leatoto.blogspot.com/2009/11/one-love-scholarship.html

Tangi unene!

Celebrations!

2009-11-22T00:42:00.000-08:00

As the year comes to a close, we have had an abundance of celebrations taking place. Here are some pictures for you to share in the fun:

First up, grade 5's end of the year party!

Eino

Happy looking like the drunk, desperate bridesmaid

Ms. Justy, the grade 5 class teacher

Anne-Marie with the greatest hairstyle!

Mr. Katondoka and Mr. Josef

The two Petruses: Petrus Shipindo and Petrus Enkali, looking very sharp

Tobias

Tulela and Tuyakula

Tulina

Tulina and Anne-Marie

Next up: Readathon.

Happy again - yes, the same girl who wore an evening gown to her class party

Next: Thanksgiving at another volunteer's:

Sorry it's sideways. Anyway, we all wore traditional dresses...Adam's the most memorable

And finally...Christmas!

Petrus with baby Jesus

And... Tate Christmas

(tate means father)

ANOTHER LETTER TO MY MOTHER

2009-11-06T04:54:00.000-08:00

Dear Mary Woodford:

How are you? Me I'm doing good. My name is Onno. I'm 13 years old and I'm a learner of Miss Lindsey.

Here in Namibia we are doing alright and we are happy to have Miss Lindsey at school. I almost stay with her for a day because I love her very much.

How is America? Here in Namibia is becoming cold. There was a flood in Namibia this year. When is snow falling down? How is it like?

Miss Lindsey was showing may how you do to do snowballs with little ice. She throw it to me and we start to scratch ice in the fridge and throwing it to each other. That was a lot of fun.

What's your favourite sport? Mine is football. Do you love Obama? In which town do you live in USA? Do you have pets?

I love to write to you and even it's the first time. :)

We thank you for the crayons and everything and Miss Lindsey. But I will steal Miss Lindsey. I kidding :)

Miss Lindsey is very good and give us gums and sweets. I love hot potato game.

Truly,
Onno

Thank You Letters!

2009-10-11T04:23:00.000-07:00

Some excellent friends at Adkison, Need & Allen sent great gifts for the kids, including books, sweets, and oh-my-god FOLDERS! The learners are absolutely thrilled to have folders, and I am also thrilled they have somewhere to put their fabulous English and Agriculture homework. :) Thank you so much for the donations Judi, Jack, Trinh, Hans, Dave, and Phil! I hope everyone finds these thank you letters as hysterical, sweet, and entertaining as I have.

Grade 5

- “I appreciate you as a very good friend even I never see you face to face. I was so unhappy today and hungry when I heard about the sweets you send to us I became happy. When I ate them I became satisfy by those sweet. As I a grade 5 learner I would like to say God bless you and give you a lot to replace the one you give to us. Did the sweet you send from the Wonka’s factory? I wonder. A poor girl but rich in mind. I thank you a lot.” - Tuyakula Kongolo

-“I am really proud of you keep on sending us some present, and us we will look for you something good next time. Enjoy your day but not too much. Before you read this smile a big smile for me. And send me you photo. Tell Miss Lindsey that they are going to Elise Shigwedha. I what to be you friend from today on. Enjoy the day as I said. Many kisses. From your new friend.” - Elise Shigwedha

-“The folders are so beautiful and the sweets are so sweetie/tasty. Are you the one who design them or you bought them? Because they look comfortable and beautiful. Do you sometimes visit Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory? If yes, tell me about it please. Ok, good bye, keep doing your works.” - Wilhelmina Imene

-“I am so very happy for giving me that. Last term I was worid were can I put my paper and now you bring me folds so that I can put my paper. Send my greating to your parent and friend.” - Petrus Shipindo, “KAKA” (they’re super into soccer)

-“I just want to say everything that you did to me its good. I am happy now my friends. Do not give up keep it up. I know you are the friend of Miss Lindsey. Miss Lindsey she is my teacher for English. Good bye my dears. God mas bless you guys.” - Eino Muulyao

-“I am very happy to you. Because you bring as are file I am happy that present for as are very nais and he put the pepar for English oll of the things for subject I am happy for that thing very very happy. You peop I reat you the present for because you are very very happy for you present because me I am happy.” - Samuel Johannes

-“May god bless you for brote for us this this. I hope you loves childs because you did sand for us folder, sweet but the black people will not sand for us like this thing. I just want to say thanks more than banana or more than plastic sweet and folder. The black say thank because you give me something. The white say take that I have. My God will bless you thousands time. Now I just want to give you a big hug in the paper.” - Robert Nendongo

-“I am just want to thanks you. I hope this letter you will laf a lot because this letter is too good. I cogalatulate you very much. Or I never seen you and you send me the folder. Give kind regards to your friend or to every one you love. The Namibian, Tobias David Beckham.” - Tobias Shikongo

-“I will give a lot of thank because I was very poor no were to put my papers. You make us rich. I was so hungry you give me some sweet and they was so tasty. Now I am fat because you give me sweet last time I was very thin. I will give a lot of thanks to you because of you good behavior to remember us. I thanks Miss Lindsey because she is my favourite and best teacher, and I want to be like her in future. From who don’t forget you.” - Ngeendina Mvula

-“First of all I want to great you all in the name of Jesus. Me here we are cool and fresh. I wrote to you this letter because of the love between us. Thank you for giving such things in my life. Maybe I think you don’t know me and I don’t know you, you are the luckiest people in my life. If I look at your faces in the air and dream you, all tears come running because of the love between us. I love you a lot when I saw the folders I was very happy to see them. Miss Lindsey said they came from her friends in America.” - Fiina Ashantix Newaya

Grade 6

- “We feel happy and blessed for you what you have done is good. Can you please come to Namibia in one of the day and visit us because we mis you a lot even if we don’t know you. When I open my eyes to look in my folder I start feel happy because it looks nice and it have to pocket where you put your papers and it have my green color and that good to me continue with your work.” - Eva Ananias

-“I would like to give vote of thanks to you. Because you give us sweet to eat and enjoy them. And you give us some folder to put your english’s paper. Because our paper are always get lost. Even if I do my homework it will lost. And the teacher will say you did not do it. Have a nice day, greet your president.” - Tobias Ananias

-“Dear our darlings, I want to thank for all your gifts, Miss Lindsey gave us sweets and special, beauty, and important folders that we never had before. We were glad to see them and we will no more lost our paper, we will place them in our folder. Miss Lindsey is our favourite teacher who try to help us with everything, if she was not there we could not have got those nice folders and even we could not be tasting sweets each day.” - Taamba Nuuyuni

-“First of all I just want to great you with a happy face and a happy body and the happy hart. I am going to write some song for you guys so that you will be happy with your familis and best frend too.
I love you. You love me. We are happy familis with a happy hart with a kiss of why do you love me.
This song will be a very nice song to you guys. Share the song with your best frends too. Keep up your hard working.” - Elina Nandjala

-“One day in my life I like to fly with you to come to America and visit you your family and your friends to. When you return my letter mabye one day you will come to visit Miss Lindsey and learn us some new games and read for us a story and all about Obama your president. Great your parent mom and dad, sister, brother, friend and everyone you love. I love you.” - Penehafo Lamek

-“I am happy to receive a good thing like this and I am proud of you. I cant even say thank you because my mouth is full of joy. May the star of the earth shine on you. May the God send his angel to be with wherever you go to protect you and your friend. I will never forget the thing you have done for us.” - Lupandu Nepalo

-“I hope I could come to you in America to visit you. May God bless you all to be a good and famous person in the world. I saw the other day matching Obama! Obama! Obama and that’s a great thing. I wish you all the best. People like you are good and like fun and jokes.”
- Rosina Shivute

-“Dear big hears, my heart was broken, but now it’s together, because you worked together through this. I’m on cloud nine, on top of the world, etc…I’m happy, very much, very big, very very very, I’m happy. I have a lot of word in my mouth and billion in my hand and ton on my brain. My last but not least words are: Dwell by those who demand, no pain no gain, friendship is like a diamond, difficult to crash but easy to make it shine, I’m thinking about how you look, I’m proud to have a friend like you. I really thank you very much, your reward always come from your mighty god, bye to everybody out there. My first wish was, is and will be to study and live in America, it’s like paradise and to be a white man, just like late Michael Jackson and be an American by marrying an American beauty lady. I salute you.” (they are really into “I salute you” because some woman said it on the televised Michael Jackson memorial) – Augustus Angula

Grade 7

- “I would like to thank you for the marvellous sweets and forders you have send us. Thank you keep up the good work you have done. Don’t stop doing the great job. Next time you will get a nice present from us. Just keep still you will receive it soon. Can you please give us your address so we can keep on writing to you. I wish to see you one of the day. Great all your friends.” - Hilya Ntinda

-“I thank you for the folders and the sweets are so sweety with nice jokes. If I were to kiss and hug you all in the air I will kiss you more than 1000 times.” - Asser Namene

-“I was happy when I saw the green folders, or files, because they are beautiful and good. I was also happy when I ate the most good sweat in the whole world. When we are with Miss Lindsey, we have many fun, and we play games a lot. Last but not least I just want to say great your friends, family members, town people and mr mr mr mr mr mr mr mr BARRACK OBAMA” - Namulandu Immanuel Bruno

-“Dear Darlings, boys en girls. I want to thanks you all for what you have done for us. We really appricicite thanks you guys. I feel on top of the world to receive such presents. Are you also doing your grade 7 too? If yes WOW! Now we are just like two peas in a pod!” - Hileni Nembwaya

-“I don’t know how to thank you. You guys are so helpful and nice. Please send me one photo of you all so that one day else I will send you some letters and my photo. Please tell me more about your life in USA. I love you all although I never saw your faces. Apples and bananas are cool but you are fresh!” - Tuliameni Nyanya

-“I think you will be on top of the world when reading this letter and you may think I am sharp as a needle. I would thank you for being kind and sweet to us. May the sunshine shine on you cuties. Thank you for sending us files that we like the most.” - Fenni Kagola

-“You know what your sweets almost make me vomit. That’s 100% joking! Don’t feel sad. What natural disaster destroy more in you country in is flood and drought that can kill animals too much of them. Joke are my type: you wanna be a simpa chips, we wanna be simba chips.” - Festus Enkali

-“Dear Judi, I would like to thank you for send us this file and at the end I would like to say God be with you and bless you more than 1000 000 000 year I wish you all the best in you work. Greet Trinh. From: Miss Lindsey Learner.” - Liina Kristoff (apparently she only wanted to thank the females)

-“I don’t even know if I may greet your guys because right now I’m eat the delicious and sweety sweet. I was on top of the world when I get the folders, I don’t even know how much to thank you guys. From today on you are the luckiest people to communicate with famous Professor Elago. Everyone in my school call me Professor Elago. Let me tell you something, “Elago” mean “lucky.” - Hileni Elago (Professor Elago)

Grade 5 boys with their soccer-decorated folders:

Tobias, Petrus, Robert, Samuel, Eino

Grade 5 girls: Anne-Marie, Tulina, Wilhelmina, Elise

Digging in to the candy

"Doctors" Jagongela and Onno

"Welcome to the magic paradise book"

Open Market

2009-10-11T04:11:00.000-07:00

Roughly once a month, the field behind our school turns into an open market (this is a pretty intimidating experience…I learned after one or two tries to bring a Namibian colleague as my translator/bodyguard). Basically, the entire country gets paid once a month, which makes month-end pretty unruly. Grocery stores, towns, transport, and – especially – shebeens (the countless illegal bars littering the country) are manic. This open market takes place after people get paid. Community members from surrounding villages come to set up tables, drape a piece of cloth over some poles to block the sun, and, of course, gossip (especially about the white girl with the camera, I’m sure).

They sell baskets, spices, fabric, foods, and – my favorite – raw meat. At least one cow is slaughtered, and if you get there early enough, you can watch men hold up a leg and saw away at the meat. Once it’s been cut up, the slabs are either chucked onto a table or hung over a line for your viewing pleasure. And did I mention the head? Oh yes – that’s on display for sale too.

Pooch under the truck - anything to escape this blazing sun

He said I could take a picture only if he could take me!

The most excited and enthusiastic woman I've ever met! She is a sweet old lady.

MANGETTI

2009-07-25T03:51:00.000-07:00

Mangetti is a village in the Kavango region that exists solely for the Mangetti cattle ranch: once the largest in the world, and still extremely enormous. James teaches at Mangetti Combined School, which is for the children of the cattle ranch employees. Many learners must live essentially as orphans in huts near the school, while their parents live up to 90km away on the post to which they are assigned. The people are very very poor, and the village is remote and in the bush, and thus quite underserved and much more traditional than mine. They are of a different tribe and speak a different language (Rukwangali) than mine (Oshiwambo).

Of the 353 learners at Mangetti Combined school, 80 are orphans and 86 are listed as “vulnerable,” which is a government title to show they are especially poor or at risk. In the cold winter mornings (below 50 degrees Fahrenheit!), many many many had nothing but their uniform: thin, short sleeve button-up shirt and skirt/slacks to wear. No sleeves, socks, hats, gloves…(yes, clothing drive!)

James and his learners converted an unused classroom into a library for the school, and held an opening ceremony for the community. The choir sang, the cultural teams performed, the women sold fatcakes and traditional brew, and, of COURSE, a soccer game was held. Because how else would you celebrate a library opening? :)

I love how babies are carried in Namibia!

James reading to some beautifully dusty kids who can't understand
a bit of English, but eagerly (and adorably) repeated every word.

Before I go on, I must insert a quick vocabulary review:

Afrikaaners: the German colonizers of Namibia and South Africa. Many were born here and are technically “Namibian,” but the cultures are completely divided. They even have German accents! Many Namibians and Afrikaaners do not get along, of course, because Namibia just gained independence from them 19 years ago. Thus many Namibians and Afrikaaners actually battled against one another in the war, Afrikaaners instituted apartheid, and there is still massive racism and discrimination.

Location: the collection of huts and embos which create a neighborhood.

Embo: a family’s homestead, which consists of a number of huts usually surrounded by a fence of grass or mahangu stalks. There is a kitchen hut, a tara-tara (which is essentially the living room), sometimes a guest hut, then other huts serving as bedrooms.

Mahangu: grows on an ear on a stalk, like corn, but consists of tons of teeny seeds. In America, mahangu is used as birdfeed. In Namibia, the seeds are ground into flour.

On with the story:

James spent the first term in the guest house of the cattle ranch, but, after being told by the Afrikaaners who run it that he could not have black people over (!), he chose to move into a hut in the “location” (that is the extremely short version of a sad story). He lives in his friend Thomas’ embo, which has 5 huts and one more he is helping build.

Hut life is TOUGH! There is no electricity, of course. There is a water tap to walk to, shared by the others in the community, but it only has water for a few hours each day. So you need to catch it when it’s running and fill up. And life in a hut is LOUD! Roosters do NOT wait for dawn when they cock-a-doodle-doo! There was one in particular who I glared at every day as I walked by. I could recognize his voice that he was the sucker always having parties in the middle of the night.

(view from inside the hut. Yes, the doorway is about 3.5 feet tall.)

The shower! You have to squat and use a bucket. If you stand up straight you can wave to the people walking by on the other side of the fencing!

Mangetti's electricity

James told his principal, Mr. Kalihonda, that I’d like to try a few traditional duties or activities while I spent time there, so we went to their embo and pounded mahangu. It is hard work!!! You pour the seeds into a deep, hollowed out tree trunk. Then take a tall (heavy) wooden post and slam it into seeds to mash them. Woo! It’s tough! Once you have pounded them to a powder, you sift it and then you have flour. James tried it too, which gave the ladies endless delight, they exclaimed “mpandu mitili!” (Thank you teacher!) It is not a man’s work.

Meme Kalihonda on the right

The next day Mr. Kalihonda invited us over for lunch, and we got to taste the fruits of our labor. We had oshifima – a porridge made of the mahangu flour, also a second porridge made of maize flour, mutete (a spinach-style vegetable), a chickpea dish, and they also ate chicken. It was interesting because I expected to eat with the whole family, but his wife and children sat outside while we ate in the kitchen hut. I asked after if I could help clean up (I have no idea what is appropriate behavior as a woman, but also guest, and did not want to offend). Mr. Kalihonda advised me to present an empty dish to his wife and say “mpandu.” I threw in “ezuva lye wa,” which she had taught me earlier during the mahangu pounding session. It means “have a nice day.”

OPUWO

2009-07-25T03:40:00.000-07:00

In far northwestern Namibia lies Opuwo, a very diverse land and home to the Himba, a very old and traditional tribe. They wear goatskin clothes, pile on jewelry, and stain their hair and skins red with ochre. Opuwo also has other very traditional tribes, like Thimba and Herero. Each has its own unique and individual style of dress by which they are easy to identify. It was beautiful to see. Unfortunately, the area went through a period of overexposure because of their traditions and diversity, and were inundated with photographers and documentary filmmakers. Thus they are not very fond of photos, unless you are paying. Further, the kids see a white person and hear a cash register…it was very hard to deal with the nonstop barrage of “One dolla? One dolla? Maybe later?” especially knowing that it is likely the only English these kids know…some looked only 4! You do what it takes to survive, I guess.

Several volunteers live in Opuwo, and so on a long weekend many of us went to visit and take in the culture. The scenery of northwestern Namibia is gorgeous. My region is flat and dusty and bare, so it was nice to see greenery and elevation!

Himba children - they were so sweet and happy!

Beautiful scenery

Sculpture of a Himba woman

Maybe it’s because Gesundheit is a German word! (Namibians are not fond of Germans. You know, colonialism)

2009-07-25T03:37:00.000-07:00

I was sitting in a taxi, waiting (and waiting…and waiting…) for it to fill up so the driver would go. Another taxi driver was sitting in the car chatting with us. At one point I sneezed several times. My driver said “Father.” The other man said “In Oshiwambo we say ‘tate’ when you sneeze.” (‘Tate’ is the word for ‘father.’) I had never heard this before! He explained that it had something to do with you being sick and gross and disgusting and dying. I told him that in America we say “bless you.” He asked why and I explained how a long time ago, people thought your heart stopped when you sneezed so they blessed you in case you died. He said “We have very different ways of thought on that.” No kidding. Namibians are TERRIFIED of illness; this is likely because a quarter of the population is infected with HIV. When a person dies and their family vaguely says it’s because they’re “sick,” you can be pretty sure it was from AIDS. I recently got sick for a few days, and wow were the kids upset! You can’t use the word “sick” even, you must say you are “feeling somehow.” But I got some adorable get well cards! Especially the mistakes :) Ah I love these kids.

“Do not be afraid miss, you are getting better, God will bless you.” - Robert

“Miss teach. Jas go with you” – Samuel (I’m thinking he meant Jesus.)

“I don’t have enough to say. I am so worried that you are sick. I hope you will be better soon. May God bless you. Have a pleased day!” – Fiina

“Miss we want you to be very not sick.” - Tobias

“Miss pray for your god so that he can help you to feel better in Jesus name Amen. God bless you my love! God help you baby. Love you like as my daughter.” – Happy

“I hello Miss Lindsey. I hope you are filling better just have a rest.” – Petrus

“God must be your doctor and helps you when you are laying on your bed. I will send you some Angel to protect you on your bed.” – Wilhelmina

“To the one I love. Good Blees You!” – Martha

“I want to tell you a fun massage that it will make you feel better. Look in the sky look for your beautiful and shiny star. Point it with a peter point finger to see how much do I love you.” - Ngeendina (I have no idea what a peter point is)

And, the tatekuku (granddaddy) of all get well cards:

Dear Mis Lindsey –

Yesteday it was My Bad Day. When a came at school I was happy. But when I hard that Mis Lindsey is sick I was feeling sad. At first when I came inyour room I was sad but you was not feeling good. At second when I came at your room I find a paper that say Don’t. I sit at your door and cried and I went at class.

Home.
When I went at home I went in my room and sleep on my bed and sat crieng. My mom came is my room and say what you crieng for. I say that my beutifull teacher is sick and the don’t want as to go in her room and they say is somehow. My mom say that I mas stop crieng.

I tell my mom at I want to go and sleep with Miss Lindsey to take care for her because she is sick and to be like her mom. My mom say I mas stop her will get batter.

From: Nekwa Marian

Life at Lano

2009-06-20T02:46:00.000-07:00

Some photos of life at Lano:

Here are some of the visitors to my room:

Jamoah, the grandson of our principal

she's a twin! so beautiful

a delicious mopane worm, which Namibians eat frequently

Now on to evening study:

Eva

Some daytime action:

Tulela and Tuyakula

Wilhelmina

Tobias, bundled up for the brisk winter weather

(highs in the upper 80s, lows in the 50s)

one of our security guards (yes, with weapon)

behind the classrooms: the yellow building is lower primary, the red is upper primary

some girls dancing outside their hostel (which is on the left;
the classrooms where I teach are on the right)

Debate and Agriculture

2009-06-20T02:14:00.000-07:00

In addition to teaching English, I have been handed the duties of the debate coach and the grade 6 Agriculture class. I was pretty horrified at the debate responsibility, as I have never even taken a debate class or participated in a debate; fortunately my colleague has been helping with the details. We chose 6 capable learners from grades 6 and 7 to attend the cluster debate (the cluster, if you remember, is what we call in the U.S. the school district). Eight schools were supposed to attend the competition, each with a team of 3 to debate. Luckily we brought all 6 of our kids because one school didn’t show, so we had an even number of 3-person teams to compete.

Our team: Tuli, Taamba, Beatha, Hilya, Augustus, and Tomy

Lano kids were AMAZING! We actually had to re-assemble all 8 teams because our kids were so above the other schools it just wasn’t even close. The ultimate goal of this competition was to select a team to represent the cluster in further competitions. Judges awarded points to individual speakers throughout each debate, and the top ten scores earned a spot on the team. All six of our kids made it! In fact, the top four scores were from Lano. It was super exciting.

I was really unhappy about being obliged to coach debate, but obviously got taught a lesson.

(Of course, the requisite hairbraiding while we wait for the debates to begin)

Now, for some reason, I did not feel any apprehension about agriculture, although I am just as ignorant in agriculture as I am in debate. I was pretty excited to learn about it, actually. Another teacher taught it first term, and now in second term we are scheduled to learn about poultry farming! Ah, the irony…so there I am, describing how some breeds are called “table birds” because they are fat and meaty and make good meals, while others are “layers” because of their reproductive capabilities, and did you know it is extremely healthy to feed chickens the blood of other chickens?

“But what if it is a chicken at Miss Lindsey’s table?”
“Then it is her pet!”

The fascination never ends.

"Miss, why do you have so many shirts with animals on them?"
"Because I love animals."
"But why don't you eat them?"
"Because I love animals."

A lovely drawing done by a learner entitled "How to catch the chicken!!" complete with "Don't try this if you want to catch the chicken," "how to carry more than one," and a weapon

May Holiday - Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe

2009-06-06T03:31:00.000-07:00

During the May holiday, a group of us volunteers backpacked to Botswana, Zambia, and Zimbabwe, all countries east of Namibia. We strapped on giant heavy backpacks and actually walked across each of the borders, finding rides in minibuses and bakkies in between. It’s quite an experience to go through customs to exit one country, then walk a dusty road or path until you get to the next country…a little bit heart-racing, especially to Zimbabwe! It does not feel at all legitimate.

BOTSWANA

Our first stop was Botswana. Botswana has been ranked the least corrupt country in Africa and 74% of its adults are literate (hello Detroit!), but it also has one of the highest rates of HIV/AIDS, which has led to a life expectancy of only 33 years! How HORRIFYING.

Once you cross the border from Namibia to Botswana, it is actually a wildlife reserve, so it was a bit frightening to walk through it (which is not really advised) and imagine what wildlife could hop out at any moment, especially as we walked past the giant mounds of elephant poop. We were completely overloaded with stuff, trudging uphill to hitchhike a ride, and of course it started to thunder and rain. By the time we got to the hike point and found a ride it was dark, so we spent a freezing trip in an open-air bakkie (which is the back of a pickup truck) to our campsite. What a start to the trip!

Most of our time in Botswana was spent at or near Chobe National Park. We got to take both a safari drive and a river cruise through the park. I sat there with my mouth gaping as I watched dozens of elephants drink water about twenty feet from my face and thought over and over “I can’t believe this is my life.” It was AMAZING. We saw hippos, impala, giraffes, baboons, hyenas eating an elephant (what a smell!), lizards, kudu, warthogs…

Warthogs paying us a visit at our campsite

Kudu

Impala and giant lizard!

Hyenas mowing on an elephant

Papa, Mama, Baby Hippos

See the moon?

Feel free to use as your desktop background.

not a crocodile, just a lizard

Doesn't this look like a fairy tale character?

Baboon

VICTORIA FALLS, via Zambia and Zimbabwe

Victoria Falls is one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World. It is over a mile wide and 354 feet high – that is taller than a football field is long! Victoria Falls is bordered by both Zambia and Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe’s civil unrest has led tourists to overwhelmingly choose to go to Zambia to see the falls instead. We chose to do both.

ZAMBIA

From Botswana we headed to Zambia. We took a short ferry ride across the border and got a taxi to the hostel where we were camping in Livingstone. From the ferry to customs to the money exchange to the taxi ride, locals were harassing us and trying to trick us out of money, which was extremely frustrating, especially because I had gotten sick that morning from my malaria medication and was NOT in a good mood.

The city of Livingstone is what I pictured an African city to look like, with vendors selling fruit and bread and eggs, and shops along the sides of the dusty road. It took some getting used to the harassment, but I did like the city.

The Zambian side is right on top of the falls, which means you don’t quite get the scope and size of them. Also, due to the intense rainy season this year, the levels were at the highest they’d been in 50 years, so the falls were difficult to see because of the thick clouds of mist. Regardless, they were beautiful and awesome! We first climbed down a path and over some boulders to the Boiling Pot down below, which is the whirlpool created at a bottom section in the river. After climbing back up we set across the most terrifying little footbridge over a part of the river and the falls, which I don’t have pictures of because you get DRENCHED. I’m sure the view was incredible; I wouldn’t know, since my eyes were focused in terror on my feet shuffling through the gushing water. The good news is a woman proclaimed “I’m cleansed! I’m cleansed! The water is HOLY! It is taking our sins!” and when another wave of spray pelted us, “THANK YOU JESUS!” So I got that going for me.

We had timed our trip to coincide with the full moon, as it creates a rainbow over the falls. I wish I could describe how incredible an experience that was! The rainbow is just enormous and jumps out of the falls themselves, and the moonlight creates this ghostly, magical aura. It was striking.

Down at the Melting Pot

See the footbridge?

Me getting my sins cleansed

Very poor representation of the full moon rainbow

ZIMBABWE

Oh Zimbabwe…

We, again, walked across the border from Zambia into Zimbabwe. My heart was really pounding from the moment we left Zambia customs and for the first few hours we were in Zimbabwe. I’ll save you the suspense: ultimately we had no issues or threats, and the harassment was certainly there but even less than in Zambia.

So there was no violence or crime that we saw, but it was very sad. Prices were wild, groceries were deficient, streets were desolate. It was pretty eye-opening, and I know that the villages are much worse. We talked with some locals at our hostel, which has begun renting to locals because there are just no tourists to bring in money. One guy told us about his father, who had gotten involved with the opposition party against the government, having to flee his village and hide out with his documents during the elections. We were also told that people really did get their hands severed to prevent/punish voting this past year. A South African said he was visiting while he could because pretty soon people won’t be able to go into Zimbabwe.

With all that said, the falls from the Zimbabwe side are astonishing. Picture yourself counting rainbows as you walk through them, thick mist coating the air and rocks and tropical plants and trees, millions of gallons of water per second crashing into the rocks and river below … the local language calls the falls Mosi-oa-Tunya – ‘the smoke that thunders.’

On the dirt path back from the falls to our campsite, elephants were just hanging out! The destruction they cause walking through the brush is astonishing. We took a few pictures until one elephant gave us the fake charge as a warning to back off…one of the more terrifying moments of my life, wow, was I SHAKIN'.

Ngepi Camp

2009-04-29T07:00:00.000-07:00

You swim in this cage to keep you

separated from the crocodiles and hippos!!!

Morning fog

Boiling water over the campfire to sanitize it...not very tasty at all.

Driving in the back of a pickup over flooding...eek...a little scary!

Food - per request

2009-04-29T05:57:00.000-07:00

Remaining vegetarian has been no problem at all. I eat pretty typical foods, just very simple.

Breakfast options: oatmeal; bread/peanut butter/banana; yogurt; fruit (I usually buy apples, bananas, peaches, sometimes oranges, sometimes mangos which are indescribably delicious here, wow)
Lunch/Dinner options: bread/cheese; hard-boiled egg; rice/lentils; beans; frozen veggies; pasta

There is actually a good amount of food available, but I am on a very tight budget, and limited in my transportation. One of our volunteers even has access to soy milk and veggie burgers in her town! I’m pretty sure when I go back to the U.S. I will be staying far away from oatmeal for a while…and frozen vegetables…I eat them twice a day and it’s getting OLD!

I already have a mental list of the foods I am dying to eat once I’m home. Lasagna, pierogi, falafel, saganaki, Mexican, Thai, pizza…

I’ll write about traditional foods once I note down what they’re actually called (as opposed to “that sandy bread”) and how to spell them.

Typical Day - per request

2009-04-29T05:55:00.000-07:00

6:15 – wake up, eat, get dressed in whichever colors are that day’s chosen colors for the teachers to coordinate :) It really makes things quite easy. I wear the same 5 outfits week after week.

7:15 – on Mondays and Fridays we have school-wide assembly, which consists of the kids reciting the pledge, anthem, prayers, etc, and announcements. Other days, they do it in class.

7:30(ish) – 1:30 – classes are held. I teach three English classes a day, one to each of grades 5-7.

1:30 – 3:00 – lunch and rest for the learners.

3:00 – 5:00 – afternoon study. I spend this time in my room, marking and planning and helping the kids who come with questions.

5:30 – I leave for a run. I usually have a crew of kids with me, which is super cute and fun, not to mention motivating…man, they can RUN. The sun is going down at this point so it’s the coolest time of day to go – I mean that in terms of temperature. The sunsets are so vivid. It’s completely dark by 6:30. We run through the farms and fields of the village. It’s so amazing to have a giggling crew of kids speeding through the sand paths, bare feet leaving prints beside the cow and donkey prints, memes waving as they walk to their huts with baskets on their heads, herds of animals being tended by children with tall sticks in their hands, some of whom join the running crew (the kids…not the animals), all the while the sun setting behind the palm trees and leaving the most amazing colors streaking across the sky…whew. But it is EXHAUSTING! It is HOT and running through sand is TOUGH!

6:15(ish) – return to the school, stretch while the kids either laugh or try to imitate. Then shower, eat dinner, do remaining marking and planning, read if I have time. I do NOT have much free time, I work my butt off planning. Next term will probably be a little easier.

10:00 – SLEEEEEP

End-of-term English Exams

2009-04-17T07:00:00.000-07:00

Each school in the area belongs to a cluster, which is just like American schools being part of a district. The exams are set and distributed by the cluster, but our school chose to create our own, which was a lot of work but I was happy with because the cluster tests just do not cover what I’d like them to. For the mid-term exams, I was there to help set them, and a group of teachers just sat in a room, found whatever books and newspapers were laying around, and photocopied articles from them to use in the test. Then made up a few questions for each. So it didn’t apply to the topics we cover, such as Population Education or HIV/AIDS. Thus I was happy to create my own test, using relevant articles and reading material for the learners to respond to.

Today our school received a copy of the exam the cluster made, and wooooo…here is my favorite question:

“Quote from the passage an adverb which can not the same par 6.”

Which is not to say I did the greatest job on my own. One task of the exam is to choose from a selection of topics and write an essay. One of the topics I offered was to write a letter to a pen pal in America, telling them about Lano Primary School. Some learners had asked me if they’d be getting pen pals, so I (wrongfully) assumed they all knew what a pen pal was. Two lovely essays:

Tobias: “Dear: My Frind. Firt of all I just what to great yurl.” (greet you: most Namibians say this, and most Namibians spell greet ‘great’) “Me I am very well how are you. I just what to tell you that I buy a new pen my pen is blue it use to wirte if the pen write it us to put stars in the worlds and it is very very good. I was just want to tell you thant is was very very good. Your friend. Tobias.”

Petrus: “One day I was going to school with out a pen. My mother go to Ondangwa and there is no pen and she go at Windhoek there is no pen. My mother here that the pen a only at America. In Namibia there is no pen. She go at Swakopmund and she go in the bout” (boat) “and she travery with a bout at America and the one say we are rich now gow” (go) “in America and he pal a new pen and she go in the bout and she never at home and she give me a new pen from America.”

Oops?

PHOTOS

2009-04-17T06:48:00.000-07:00

Petrus

With my Peace Corps volunteer, Brittany, and a beautiful sunset

The twins! Super cute!

DOUBLE RAINBOW, oh my goodness, it was incredible

The bug ones for my sisters...

Can you see me??? This is a baobab tree and is thousands of years old. And ENORMOUS

Hi Mom! See, I AM alive

the village of Mangetti

Getting my hair did. "So soft Miss!"

END OF TERM 1

2009-04-17T06:46:00.000-07:00

We are currently in the final days of the first term. Learners are taking their end-of-term exams, which was an INTERESTING experience the first time around. It feels great to have one term conquered; I feel much more prepared for the next two. The 29th is the teachers’ last day; from there I will spend a few days with other volunteers at one of their sites, then on to a week of camping. We’ll be at Chobe National Park in Botswana for a few days, and then Victoria Falls, which we have timed to coincide with the full moon because it creates a rainbow over the falls!

I have been learning some more phrases in Oshindonga; the kids LOVE teaching it to me and even created a little test! It’s not easy though, let me tell you, especially because I am not learning it as you’d typically learn a language, like subject/verb agreement and verb tenses and so on; I’m learning to say phrases. AND there are so many languages in this country! I go a few hours away and they speak a different language!

Oshili nawa! (Have a good day!)

Internet Access

2009-03-26T05:45:00.000-07:00

Yikes, sorry I am really bad at updating. There are a lot of things that have to go right and work together to result in my getting to this blog…there must be a ride out of the village into town; there must be a recent pause in the rain (not only because the roads are unsafe, but also because I have to walk for a ride and walk once in town); there must be power in town/at the internet cafe; and finally, if the previous requirements have all fallen into place, I must remember my stupid memory stick where I have saved my pictures and e-mails and blog posts I typed. That means I get to the internet about once or twice a month. AND it is super slow. So be patient with my updates, and be patient with my e-mails. I love to hear from you, as long as it’s understood it takes a while for me to get back! :)

Is It Good or Bad to be Different?

2009-03-26T05:40:00.000-07:00

Eino's essay on "Is it good or bad to be different?" - the complete, unabridged version:

“Miss for English is have a nice colour. To be different like Miss of English and us. But the colour that have to Miss is good. The word different is good.”

"It looked like a scorpion!" "...plane!" "...monster!"

2009-03-26T05:33:00.000-07:00

OH MY GOODNESS! A helicopter came to Onayena today! It was MADNESS! The learners ran screaming outside our classrooms when they heard it coming. Then, as it was approaching and flying quite low in order to land, they shrieked and screamed and ran back in the classrooms. I could not stop laughing.

It passed over the school and everyone – learners, teachers, principal – went tearing after it! The entire population dashed through the little gate to exit our property. Our principal shouted to me “Camera! Camera!” and she gleefully cruised by. The helicopter landed in a field about 250 yards away, and as I joined the rush I saw people POURING into the field from all directions of the village! It was so cute and exciting!

It did not stay for more than a few minutes; I wasn’t even to it yet when the whirr of the propellers intensified for it to take off again. The terror of the noise and the wind whipping sand at them triggered the swarm to reverse, and hundreds of shrieking Namibians scrambled away from this beastly machine back to their respective shelters. I was laughing SO HARD.

The kids who made it up to the helicopter before it took off again said there were four men onboard, and one took pictures of them, which of course was THRILLING. I can’t be sure but I’m guessing it was there because of the flooding: assessing/rescuing/evacuating. It was really cool to witness the excitement.

“It is rumored if it go up it make lots of air that can cause air pollution to make our air dirty and cause disease to us.” - Eva

“It was polluting the because it was black petroleum.” - Shimwe

“Some children were crying because the voice of a helicopter is very scary.” - Matheus

Well...it IS nonviolent...

2009-03-26T05:25:00.000-07:00

Grade 7 wrote essays for a national contest about their dreams for human rights in Namibia, ala Martin Luther King Jr. My favorite: the right to not be raped.

“If you want to make sex and you don’t have anyone to make with you sex you must not rape. You must masturbate (playing with you private part) instead of rape. Please people, don’t violate human rights. There’s a way that you can solve this. You must masturbate yourself instead of raping someone. You must touch and rub your private part and that will solve this just from masturbation.”

(You can guess what their HIV/AIDS and safe sex education consists of, right?)

airhead

2009-03-06T23:42:00.000-08:00

grrr.... I wrote and saved a blog post but brought the wrong flash drive to load it, so it will have to wait. Know that I am alive and kickin', getting better at managing this country and culture, and of course miss and love you!

In the meantime, here are some pictures:

Grade 6: Elina and Eva

Sunset + storm, it was INCREDIBLE

sunset/storm again. These are my classrooms!

Grade 7 on the left, 6 in the middle, 5 on the right.

Hileni and Selma

Selma and Meke

a bunch of the boys

Quality English Education

2009-03-06T23:39:00.000-08:00

In class I had the grade 5 learners write a noun, verb, and adjective for each letter of their first name. For example:

NOUN VERB ADJECTIVE
L – Lion Leap Lovely
I – Igloo Ignite Icy
N – Nerd Nibble New

…and so on. When little Petrus brought his adjectives up for me to check, I laughed so hard and so loud right in the poor kid’s face. He will never understand why:

P – Primary
E – Easy
T – Transvestite
R – Rectal
U – Ultimate
S – Schizophrenic

He obviously used a dictionary, so I calmed down, complimented him on his use of resources, and wiped the tears off my red face.

WHEW!

2009-02-07T01:18:00.000-08:00

Wilhelmina, Elise, Anne-Marie, Martha (grade 5)

Tuli, Hileni, Fenni, Hilya, Hileni, Beatha (grade 7)

Tomy, Bruno, Jagongela aka Michael Jackson

Petrus, Samuel, Herman, Tobias, Matheus

Matheus, Alfeus, Isaac

Matheus (he wrote the letter to my mom)

Jamal

Grade 5 learners looking at pictures on my computer

Grade 7

Grade 6

Outside of Lano, my new home

Grade 5

The praying mantis who welcomed me to Lano my first night

In my room with Hilkka, Hileni and Taamba

Grade 7 boys

Andreas, Jagongela, Johannes

Well, week one was really surprisingly difficult. There are so many things that you prepare yourself for and expect to deal with, but there are so many things you could never anticipate. We were trained and coached and warned, but once you are just plunked into a situation where this different, deep, traditional culture is completely surrounding you every moment from every direction… there have been several times that I pause and look around and realize…I know NOTHING, NO ONE, NO WHERE. There is not a thing that is familiar. It’s a difficult feeling to explain, and it feels very out of reality.

Week two was much better, and week three has been better still. The rollercoaster of ups and downs has slowed. I’m getting settled into a routine, and the kids make me so happy. The hardest part right now is figuring out what I should be teaching…there is nothing in place for me to follow, no textbook or lesson plans, just the competencies learners are expected to reach by the end of the year, such as “appreciate and understand poems.” Which is not an easily measurable goal. I am confident I am teaching to their actual needs, but I know there is a level they are expected to reach and skills they are expected to master by the end of their grade – it’s not just what Lindsey thinks they need.

The learners are fantastic. They started quite timid and quiet but have loosened up so much. My largest class is only 23 learners, which is incredible. Their English skills vary. Most can speak a good amount of phrases, it’s the comprehension that is minimal. Their behavior is incredible, the worst I’ve had to do is ask a few to stop talking. They have even started stopping by for visits. At one point on Sunday I counted 12 learners in my little 8x10 room. They aren’t a bother, they just want to be around. We listen to music, draw, play cards, look at pictures and play games on my laptop, take pictures with my camera…they LOVE having their picture taken.
There is also a Peace Corps Volunteer here. The kids find Brittany and me pretty fascinating. They touch our hair and skin and nails, marveling at the paleness. “It’s so smooth!” “Miss, do you use relax?” There are definitely times in the village or in town when someone just STARES, especially if the two of us are together, oh boy. Yesterday I had an older boy take a picture as we walked by! Our village has some neat little homes in the main part, and the outskirts have the homestead farms with huts. There are a few shebeens (bars) and markets. There are always herds of cows or goats plodding along. When you walk through the village, you must greet everyone, which is a process. It goes like this:

Me: Walalapo, meme/tate? (Did you sleep well, ma’am/sir?)
Person 2: Ee. (Yes.)
Me: Nawa. (Good.)
Person 2: Ee. Walalapo, meme? (Yes. Did you sleep well, ma’am?)
Me: Ee. (Yes.)
Person 2: Nawa. (Good.)
Me: Ee. (Yes.)

The initial greeting is hard for me to figure out, because you say “walalapo” until like 3 p.m. It’s something to do with the position of the sun before you begin the afternoon greeting. I said the afternoon greeting to a man around 2:00 and he corrected me, then said “Who teach you Oshindonga? You are not well.” Then there’s a greeting for night, which is not to be confused with the good night greeting, which is actually more like goodbye/sleep well.

I’m also getting used to the Namlish. It’s pretty funny when it slips out. My favorite is “Is it?” Namibians say this in place of “Really?” For example (actual conversations):

Me: “I just played soccer with the boys.”

Colleague: “Is it?”

Me: “I didn’t even know you left!”

Colleague: “Is it?”

Then there’s “Isn’t it?” which replaces “Right?”

Colleague: “We have sports this weekend, isn’t it?”

Oh, and asking for directions is HILARIOUS! The response will be someone snapping their fingers in the general direction and saying, “It’s just that side.” Seriously! That’s an honest response.

Also, Namibians tend to swap Ls and Rs. So yes, I am Rindsey. If they hear my name without seeing the spelling, they will pronounce it correctly (with an L sound), but then spell it with an R. If they see it before hearing it pronounced, they will say it with an R sound. Love it! (There are definitely certainly sounds I have trouble pronouncing so I think we’re even)

Ok, I have 9 million things to say but I think that’s enough. Hopefully it will not be another 3 weeks before I can update.

ADULT QUOTES, part 1

2009-02-07T01:16:00.000-08:00

- “Touch my blood!” -- this means “high five”

- “Oh! My ears are lying to me!” -- upon hearing that by vegetarian, I mean fish and chicken too. In Namibia there are vegetarians, but they eat fish and chicken. It is just crazy to them that I don’t eat fish and chicken.

- “No does not mean no. It is a starting point. It is first gear.” -- on the lovely world of Namibian courtship. This is actually interesting, because it goes back in history to women being inferior. As they gained rights, they were DETERMINED to exercise them. So women always so no when propositioned for their number or a date, even when they are interested, just because they CAN. It’s part of the game. Apparently, a man will not take no for an answer until about the fourth try. It is not easy to get used to.

- “You talk like Queen Elizabeth.”

KID QUOTES, part 1

2009-02-07T01:15:00.000-08:00

- “Mr. Obama said you must not eat sweets! Give them to me!”

- “Miss, can I borrow a sweet? I will just start it for you. I have very sharp teeth!”

- “You’re awesome Miss Rindsey! Thanks for your good cooperation.” (Brittany taught them the word ‘awesome’ and is quite proud)

- “You look like a princess!”

- “We like you not even a single bad idea.”

- “Keep it up with your good completion.”

- “Enjoy the day but don’t let the day enjoy you.”

A Letter to My Mother

2009-02-07T00:56:00.000-08:00

He wrote it and asked me to mail it, which would take like a month (at LEAST), so I typed it…mistakes and all:

Dear Ms Mary Woodford

My name is Matheus Ndeuyepa. I am in gr 6 at lano primary scholl I am 12 yers ord. lano primary scholl is in Namibia.

I Jast wand to sey hey to you and your fermily. Me and my family we are oll fern. At lano I am in The hostell. Ms Lindsey is my English terche and she is the exeland terchar in the houll school and evribody like he no body hert hem at awar school not inher one. Ms lindse terch as wirth understanding. I herd she is just going to be hir for 1 year. Athing you are giong to miss hem with you family

Ms Lindsey terch as English and she is orsoy responsibil for the hall wer we have t.v.d.v.d. and riedio. Ms Mary Wodford may you sernd for me toys and sweets thing you for ansaring my letter

YoursMatheus Ndeuyepa

Smilin' More Than A Donkey!

2009-01-16T01:16:00.001-08:00

I am in LOOOOOVE with Namibia!

I leave in two days for my village where I'll be living and teaching for the next year. In the meantime, we've been training like crazy. We drove through Etosha National Park and had some incredible animal sightings, including a male lion, which is a very rare sight.

We spent last week in the north doing our teaching practicum...basically we got to practice on some village kids willing to spend a few hours of their summer vacation in the classroom. That's definitely when it really hit me that this feels right and I am so happy here. I co-taught a class with learners ranging in age from 4 - 11 and some had never heard/spoken/written English in their little lives. It was incredibly hard but fun and useful and humbling and I'm really proud of how we managed. One girl told me I smile "more than a donkey." ! I started laughing really hard, but she was very serious. I asked if donkeys smile a lot. "YES." (I'm taking it as a compliment) The time we spent in the village was so incredible...learners bringing their baby siblings to school with them, creating jump ropes out of tied-together palm leaves, scrambling after us volunteers in a battle to hold our hands...or touch our arms...or even just touch another child who is touching us and get a little touch by association... :) How could I not fall in love here?

The other volunteers I am here with are just amazing, amazing people. They make me happy just to be around them. They are so sincerely kind and caring souls, I am sad to be parting ways with them when we all go off to our sites.

Some other funny tidbits for you:
- When you shake hands in Namibia, you shake with your right and place your left hand on your right arm to show you are not holding a weapon (sorry Mom)
- I have had several adults respond to finding out I'm from the U.S. with "Obama!"
- The school grounds are happily shared with cattle, donkeys, dogs, and of course bugs
- Oshindonga is a very difficult language to learn...yikes
- I don't care about "dry heat," it is HOT! The temperature is actually not bad at all, it's the sun that is INTENSE. When you're out of the sun, it's wonderful!

Here are some pictures for you...the ones from Etosha I credit to another volunteer with a super camera...thanks Aleks

This is our "classroom" at the hostel where we do training and orientation. It's so beautiful!

Dinner at the traditional Herero restaurant

The goat's head! (People really ate this...including the eyeball)

ETOSHA NATIONAL PARK:

You have no idea how happy this giraffe makes me, I love it

BEETLE!

I am so thrilled to hold this sleeping baby

Cattle at the school! Those are our classrooms in the background

The dirt soccer field

The villagers live in grouped together huts,
surrounded by wooden posts to keep the livestock out

Our group of volunteers at the Herero restaurant

Watch out Onayena!

2008-11-11T08:57:00.000-08:00

My home for 2009 will be in the village of Onayena, in the Oshikoto Region of North-Central Namibia! I will be one of nine teachers at Lano Primary School, which serves about 250 students (“learners,” as they are called in Namibia), grades K-7. Because the area is so sparse and spread out, the school is a “hostel school”, which is like a boarding school, and most of the students (and teachers) live there. I will have my own room in the hostel with a bed, fridge, and hot plate! I don’t know what my Grandma is gonna do with all those 2x3 ft. quilts she made for the “cot” she was convinced I’d be sleeping on in Africa…

Onayena (you pronounce it Oh-Nigh-Na) is a 6km walk to the nearest tar road! I get a kick out of that. Once there, it’s about 20 km (about 12.5 miles) from Ondangwa, which is a town where I’ll be able to get supplies. You can see Ondangwa at the very top/center of Namibia. I'll be close to Etosha National Park, which is a world-famous wildlife preserve. I don't know if you know this, but somebody, maybe me, probably me, kinda likes animals. A lot.

(This is actually from Etosha!)

Bowling for Africa

2008-11-04T08:41:00.000-08:00

Oh my goodness...the bowling fundraiser was fantastic, we raised $1,300 at the event, and outside donations have totaled an additional $1,500...how incredible is that?

Bowling was crazy and chaotic, I felt like a bride, my cheeks hurt from grinning so much. There are some wonderful, generous, helpful souls out there, and I cannot thank you all enough. I feel lucky and grateful every day for the support I’ve been given the last several months. My superstar assistants this time around include my mom and stepdad for doing absolutely everything I needed (whether I knew I needed it or not), Katy and Margaret for running sales, Brian for recruiting a large chunk of the attendants, everyone who found items for the raffle, and of course everyone who showed up or sent their love! I wish I could list all 86 of you… :)

Me and my endlessly giving Mom

My super helpful sister Katy

Some of my fan club sportin' Lindsey to Namibia shirts

Our oldest (Gma, above) and youngest (Emerson, below)

Bowlers from 2 to 86!

Next up: Friday, November 14th is the drawing for the current raffle. We are selling tickets at $1 each, and there are some really great prizes to be won, including Detroit Symphony Orchestra tickets, Andiamo’s gift certificates, my Grandma’s homemade quilt, and the grand prize, tickets to a Pistons game with dinner, drinks, and shuttle provided by Hoops. The drawing will be held at a pizza party at Gilbert’s Lodge in St. Clair Shores at 6 p.m.

WorldTeach-ers

2008-10-14T09:54:00.000-07:00

So it starts...I had the opportunity to meet with another WorldTeach volunteer (also from MI) this weekend, Adam. He had some valuable advice to give, based on his experience working with the community on HIV/AIDS issues, and spending time in a developing country, the Philippines. It was great talking and connecting with someone on a similar path. Our group members are so diverse and unique, but also have this important connection.

I'm a little intimidated now that I'm getting to learn about the other volunteers heading to Namibia...there is so much experience teaching and traveling and volunteering...I don't know how on earth I got accepted to join such a talented group, but I'm definitely proud and excited!

Meanwhile I'm overloaded with fundraising work. Carl Levin, Debbie Stabenow, and Carolyn Cheeks-Kilpatrick better come through!

Possum Pie

2008-09-29T18:01:00.000-07:00

After succumbing to the monsoon the weekend of Sept. 12, our rescheduled garage sale was a great success this weekend, raising $500 for my fund! The stuff people will buy…interesting. I would have to say my favorite customer was the old man who claimed to have 17 kids, spoke Polish to an orange stuffed monster, and finally called me a hillbilly, asking if I knew how to cook Possum Pie. And then left, without buying anything.

I owe endless thanks to everyone who helped/donated items/shopped, especially to Clare and Mike for hosting the festivities, Judi for sharing her merchandising skills and harassing passersby, Uncle John for delivering a giant load of stuff, and Margaret and Iain for loading up all the leftovers and hauling them to Salvation Army.

Just $4,851 to go!

Oh, also, my sister Joyce put together a site where you can buy some cool Namibia stuff to show your support and add to my fund. Check it out: http://www.cafepress.com/sunshinesurfy

Ready?

2008-09-17T21:09:00.004-07:00

Are you ready for this relationship? This is where I begin talking about me me me, for at least the next 15 months. Here we go…

So the beginning: on the morning of June 23, I received a message from a person very close to me that said “Please be careful…I had a dream about you last night. You called me and you were hysterical, but I couldn’t understand you.” Within a few hours, I was kinda hysterical, but for good reasons – I had been accepted to volunteer as a teacher in Namibia, Africa, through a great organization: WorldTeach. This was, to me, an incredible and happy omen (despite being temporarily misunderstood). I have been riding the wave ever since, and am thrilled to have the chance to teach in such an amazing environment.

Currently, a very big chunk of this experience is fundraising. This position is volunteer, and I must come up with around $6,000, which covers such things as airfare, health insurance, and cost of living expenses for the year-long commitment I’ve agreed to. Here’s how you can help:

1. Participate in my fundraising events! I am having garage sales, a bowling event, a raffle, and whatever else we can come up with. Your ideas and attendance are very useful!

2. Make a financial contribution! Donations are tax-deductible and can be made in the following ways:

a) sending a check made out to "WorldTeach" with my name in the memo line to WorldTeach c/o Center for International Development, Harvard University, 79 John F. Kennedy Street, Cambridge MA, 02138
b) calling 1-800-4-TEACH-0 (483-2240) or 617-495-5527 and mentioning my name to contribute by credit card
c) contributing online at http://www.universalgiving.org/donate/worldteach/id4947.do. Once you are on the website, click on “Donate on behalf of someone.” When inserting your donation information, you must include my name and e-mail address to ensure the donation does not go into the general fund.

3. Be my supermodel! My sister Joyce and I created some shirts, coffee mugs, magnets, and more that you can buy to show your support, PLUS a portion of your purchase goes toward my fund! Check out the goods at http://www.cafepress.com/sunshinesurfy (thank you Joyce!).

4. Keep in touch! I am quite unsure of the quantity and quality of communication I will be equipped with in Namibia, but I am sure that I’ll be anxious to receive contact from family and friends.

5. Share my story! (Don’t go hogging this blog all to yourself)

This is a very important dream for me, and I thank you for your support and encouragement! Feel free to contact me with any questions or for more information; I am happy to oblige.

Love, Lindsey :)