March 13, 2009
To: Miss Randle
Good morning. I want to say thanks for the shoes you gave me for my happy birthday. I am proud and happy of you. Because you are a good teacher. Next week I will buy for you nice things. Thanks for teaching me.
From: Ngunondjamo
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Puffing Away
March 12, 2009
Me: Today in Life Skills grade 6 we talked about ‘I’m ashamed when…’ and one of them said, ‘I’m ashamed when I puff.’ LOL! The entire class cracked up- it was great. You are the first one who told me about puffing. Lol.
Grace: Ahahahaha. That’s awesome! I think the word ‘puffing’ may be the funniest word ever.
*puffing= farting
Me: Today in Life Skills grade 6 we talked about ‘I’m ashamed when…’ and one of them said, ‘I’m ashamed when I puff.’ LOL! The entire class cracked up- it was great. You are the first one who told me about puffing. Lol.
Grace: Ahahahaha. That’s awesome! I think the word ‘puffing’ may be the funniest word ever.
*puffing= farting
Not Me
March 8, 2009
I just found out I’m supposed to be on the Educative Tour Committee. Excuse me? Who? What when were…I’m so flabbergasted I can’t even put question marks! I vehemently protest my appointment to this project. Yall just keep trying to make me do things I don’t want to do. Let someone volunteer (cuz I already am). Assign someone who believes in this project, cuz it aint me babe no no no it aint me babe it aint me you’re lookin for, babe.
I’m not opposed to the tour, I just don’t want to be a part of it. I’ve heard too many horror stories from other volunteers. They need to do their own fundraising within Nam and have Namibian teachers working on it so it doesn’t start and end with a PCV, like it does at most schools.
Besides, I’ve got a full plate with reading groups, netball courts, ISP, and other things. Thank you but I’d rather not.
I just found out I’m supposed to be on the Educative Tour Committee. Excuse me? Who? What when were…I’m so flabbergasted I can’t even put question marks! I vehemently protest my appointment to this project. Yall just keep trying to make me do things I don’t want to do. Let someone volunteer (cuz I already am). Assign someone who believes in this project, cuz it aint me babe no no no it aint me babe it aint me you’re lookin for, babe.
I’m not opposed to the tour, I just don’t want to be a part of it. I’ve heard too many horror stories from other volunteers. They need to do their own fundraising within Nam and have Namibian teachers working on it so it doesn’t start and end with a PCV, like it does at most schools.
Besides, I’ve got a full plate with reading groups, netball courts, ISP, and other things. Thank you but I’d rather not.
Who's In Charge?
March 6, 2009
The Ministry of Education monitors the schools, the principals, and the teachers in their region. They make sure things are running smoothly and that everyone is doing their job. Guess who works at the Min of Edu? The people who couldn’t do their job. The failed teachers and principals go to work in the Min of Edu and monitor the schools of our region. Those who couldn’t principal now make sure the principals are up to par. Make sense? Just like everything else in this place.
The Ministry of Education monitors the schools, the principals, and the teachers in their region. They make sure things are running smoothly and that everyone is doing their job. Guess who works at the Min of Edu? The people who couldn’t do their job. The failed teachers and principals go to work in the Min of Edu and monitor the schools of our region. Those who couldn’t principal now make sure the principals are up to par. Make sense? Just like everything else in this place.
The Usual Unknown Feelings
March 5, 2009
Me: Hey honey, you going to Windhooek this weekend? Thea left some stuff in my PC box, if it’s not too much will you grab it for me? Thank you.
AM: Hi. How are you? Yeah I’ll grab the stuffs and try not to run away from here :)
Me: Oh as long as you don’t run away without me :)
I’m good and not so good and trying to work through my issues (of which there are enough). How are you?
AM: Even me Miss. Seem to be struggling but feel like less struggle than last month…good then who knows then bed then alright then rocky. I don’t know anymore :)
Me: Oh you know I don’t know…up and down and all around %-)
AM: Yep and all the time. Permanently %-) hahahahahahaha
Me: Shallow pool of insanity ;-)
AM: Hahahahaaa…someone please tell me I’m going to have or least feel like I have more control over my life when this is all over?!
Me: Yes, you’ll have the illusion of control but once you’ve been in the matrix…
AM: But I thought this was going to make me stronger and now I feel it’s having a reverse affect. Sorry…heavy stuff %-)
Me: Hah stuff is heavy for me right now too. I thought this would build the character of Christ, which it may…when I stop feeling like a jerk. It’s all topsy turvy at the moment :-P
AM: Hehe I don’t know, we’ll see I guess. I’m trying so hard to stay positive. Or something like that. Hmmmm. Breather and remind myself that I’m not lost. And pray too
Me: Learning to find balance in this crazy life and coming out (somewhat) sane on the other side will make us stronger. Until that glorious day we can breather deeply, pray often, and try to focus on the good things and bring ourselves back to a place of thankfulness when we realize we’ve drifted into the darkness. I’m thankful that you’re my friend
AM: You’re so right, with everything. And I am so thankful for you too. That sms is a keeper. This place makes me struggle with everything. Even being a good friend %-)
Me: Hey honey, you going to Windhooek this weekend? Thea left some stuff in my PC box, if it’s not too much will you grab it for me? Thank you.
AM: Hi. How are you? Yeah I’ll grab the stuffs and try not to run away from here :)
Me: Oh as long as you don’t run away without me :)
I’m good and not so good and trying to work through my issues (of which there are enough). How are you?
AM: Even me Miss. Seem to be struggling but feel like less struggle than last month…good then who knows then bed then alright then rocky. I don’t know anymore :)
Me: Oh you know I don’t know…up and down and all around %-)
AM: Yep and all the time. Permanently %-) hahahahahahaha
Me: Shallow pool of insanity ;-)
AM: Hahahahaaa…someone please tell me I’m going to have or least feel like I have more control over my life when this is all over?!
Me: Yes, you’ll have the illusion of control but once you’ve been in the matrix…
AM: But I thought this was going to make me stronger and now I feel it’s having a reverse affect. Sorry…heavy stuff %-)
Me: Hah stuff is heavy for me right now too. I thought this would build the character of Christ, which it may…when I stop feeling like a jerk. It’s all topsy turvy at the moment :-P
AM: Hehe I don’t know, we’ll see I guess. I’m trying so hard to stay positive. Or something like that. Hmmmm. Breather and remind myself that I’m not lost. And pray too
Me: Learning to find balance in this crazy life and coming out (somewhat) sane on the other side will make us stronger. Until that glorious day we can breather deeply, pray often, and try to focus on the good things and bring ourselves back to a place of thankfulness when we realize we’ve drifted into the darkness. I’m thankful that you’re my friend
AM: You’re so right, with everything. And I am so thankful for you too. That sms is a keeper. This place makes me struggle with everything. Even being a good friend %-)
Sunday, February 22, 2009
February 19, 2009
C: Hey Julie, what’s the name of the cockroach bomb and what does the bottle look like?
J: Hey Catherine! It’s great to hear from you. Yeah it’s Doom fogger in a red can.
C: Thanks. So how’s it down your way?
J: Uhm…how many days/weeks/months do we have left? Things are moving along. How are you?
C: Ha ha, I’m with you. I’m reading ‘Three Cups of Tea’ about building schools in Pakistan- the guy has so much passion. I used to be described as a passionate person. Where did it all go?? I haven’t started counting days until COS (close of service) but I’ve been dreaming about the trip (^_^).
J: Oh good! I’ve heard it’s a good book. Yeah, that whole idealistic change the world crap pretty much has been beaten out of me.
C: Yeah, this place’ll beat a lotta things outta ya. Hang in there, it’s more than ½ way over!
J: Yay! Lekker slap and enjoy tomorrow.
J: Hey Catherine! It’s great to hear from you. Yeah it’s Doom fogger in a red can.
C: Thanks. So how’s it down your way?
J: Uhm…how many days/weeks/months do we have left? Things are moving along. How are you?
C: Ha ha, I’m with you. I’m reading ‘Three Cups of Tea’ about building schools in Pakistan- the guy has so much passion. I used to be described as a passionate person. Where did it all go?? I haven’t started counting days until COS (close of service) but I’ve been dreaming about the trip (^_^).
J: Oh good! I’ve heard it’s a good book. Yeah, that whole idealistic change the world crap pretty much has been beaten out of me.
C: Yeah, this place’ll beat a lotta things outta ya. Hang in there, it’s more than ½ way over!
J: Yay! Lekker slap and enjoy tomorrow.
Na ru ho do...I see!
February 11, 2009
I was hanging out with my host mom at the finish line of the track. As we waited for our events to begin we chatted. She turns to me and asks, “In your country, is it common for a husband to take a girlfriend?”
C: “Uhm, no. People cheat on their spouses but it’s not a cultural norm- not something to be expected. If you did it, you’d be trying to hide it. It’s something to be ashamed of, breaking your marriage vows.”
HM: “That woman over there in the red shirt is the girlfriend of Mrs. Jackson’s husband. They have two kids together and one of them is here in the 1st grade.”
C: “No way!” I said as I turned to look and saw that all the girlfriend and wife and the small group of spectators were all chatting together.
HM: “Yes, men here will openly take a girlfriend. I blame the men. A woman would never approach a man and try to start a relationship with him. He always approaches her. And if he tells her to it is okay to call him, then she will. If he tells her not to call because he is with his wife, then she won’t. If the wife acts jealous then people talk badly about her and say that she should be ashamed of herself.”
C: “Seriously? If this was America and the wife and girlfriend would not be hanging out together. There would be a fight. People’s friends would not accept the girlfriend. The man would not openly flaunt this.”
HM: “In America if the wife acts jealous then maybe it means that she loves her man. Here she must just live with the situation.”
Aaaaaaah, now I see. That’s one of the main reasons these women are so wary of outside females. Their husbands may very well be attracted and pursue these new ladies with little respect for their wives. They are circling the wagons, and won’t let me in. But what they don’t know is, I have absolutely no interest in any of their men. I won’t even expand on that, I’ll just say that I have no desire to stay in Namibia and will not be getting into a romantic relationship with anyone. No exceptions.
I was hanging out with my host mom at the finish line of the track. As we waited for our events to begin we chatted. She turns to me and asks, “In your country, is it common for a husband to take a girlfriend?”
C: “Uhm, no. People cheat on their spouses but it’s not a cultural norm- not something to be expected. If you did it, you’d be trying to hide it. It’s something to be ashamed of, breaking your marriage vows.”
HM: “That woman over there in the red shirt is the girlfriend of Mrs. Jackson’s husband. They have two kids together and one of them is here in the 1st grade.”
C: “No way!” I said as I turned to look and saw that all the girlfriend and wife and the small group of spectators were all chatting together.
HM: “Yes, men here will openly take a girlfriend. I blame the men. A woman would never approach a man and try to start a relationship with him. He always approaches her. And if he tells her to it is okay to call him, then she will. If he tells her not to call because he is with his wife, then she won’t. If the wife acts jealous then people talk badly about her and say that she should be ashamed of herself.”
C: “Seriously? If this was America and the wife and girlfriend would not be hanging out together. There would be a fight. People’s friends would not accept the girlfriend. The man would not openly flaunt this.”
HM: “In America if the wife acts jealous then maybe it means that she loves her man. Here she must just live with the situation.”
Aaaaaaah, now I see. That’s one of the main reasons these women are so wary of outside females. Their husbands may very well be attracted and pursue these new ladies with little respect for their wives. They are circling the wagons, and won’t let me in. But what they don’t know is, I have absolutely no interest in any of their men. I won’t even expand on that, I’ll just say that I have no desire to stay in Namibia and will not be getting into a romantic relationship with anyone. No exceptions.
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