Nelson Mandela

I have lived nothing short of a privileged life. I come from a loving family. I was given a free education. I was riding a bike - that was mine - by the time I was 6 years old. I was driving a car - that I owned - by the time I was 17. I was given the right to vote, and the opportunity to work and earn a living. My country allows me to live where I want and basically do what I want to do. In my 32 years I’ve never known anything but freedom.

Nelson Mandela spent the first 72 years of his life without many of the basic freedoms I know… and he spent most of that time trying to get them, not only for himself, but for everyone in South Africa. His speeches and writings inspired millions to stand up against the European government and its system of apartheid. By 1964 the ruling white party realised the only way to thwart the African National Congress (ANC) movement for equality was to throw as many of them into jail as possible... and that’s where Mandela stayed for the next 27 years. Nelson Mandela was a moving speaker and an even better writer from what I can tell. I just finished a book called ‘Nelson Mandela: The Struggle is My Life’. It’s a collection of his speeches and writings. I was astonished by his command of the English language. It’s no wonder so many people rallied around him. At the age of 34, after graduating with a law degree, he became Deputy President of the ANC. The ANC fought against the apartheid government, mostly through non-violent protest, until South Africa finally gained its freedom in 1994. Nelson Mandela was accused of sabotage and sentenced to life imprisonment in 1964. Imagine being told you would spend the rest of your life behind bars because you sought equality among people. Mandela was a major threat to the ruling racist government. That’s essentially what it boils down to and why he was imprisoned. He was released in 1990, and eventually became the free country’s first president. The thing I suppose I’m most impressed with is his composure, and ability to suppress his anger. Those who were close to him in prison say you didn’t see him get angry, or rant about the wrongs done to him. He just kept talking and planning over what their next move should be. And after 27 years in prison for committing no real crime he wanted no revenge. He didn’t want the leaders of the former government rounded up and jailed. He just wanted a new beginning. This is a man who suffered for the betterment of his people and sought no recognition. He sought only justice and peace.

What is suffering? What does it feel like? Will someone of my background ever really know? I want to understand what people who suffer go through. What was it like to be a Jew in Germany during World War II? What was it like to be hunted by your own countrymen in a genocidal war like that of Rwanda? What’s it like to be stripped of basic human rights based on the colour of your skin? Part of me feels like I’ve missed something by not suffering. I think we learn a great deal through our most painful times. If I had suffered I think I would have more wisdom, more passion, and more empathy. I guess I feel I would have more to offer had I suffered.

A Wonderful Weekend

Last weekend was one of my best experiences to date in Namibia. I spent the weekend in Owamboland, about 2 hours north of Tsumeb. I stayed in a village just outside Ondangwa with a friend. By the end of the weekend I didn't want to leave.
The trip began a little ominously as we sat in the back of a taxi watching modest homes being taken over by flood waters. This is the second straight year Northern Namibia has experienced dangerous flooding. Many people have had to vacate their homes leaving furniture and other ruined valuables. Even a few Peace Corps volunteers were evacuated for precautionary measures. The village I stayed in, while impacted by the flood, did not pose any real danger. Still, to reach the homestead where I stayed we did have to cross an oshana with water at a depth of about 2 feet. Oshanas are like small valleys where the water collects. The water surrounded the property, taking over a piece of the farmland where healthy mahangu (like millet) had been growing. You can see the water and the mahangu field in this picture, as well as my friend Aune. She is one of nine living on the homestead. The family consists of Meme, Tate, children, grandchildren and cousins... a normal mix for a village family in the Owambo culture.
After crossing the oshana we arrived at the homestead and I was soon greeted by the Meme, a super kind woman... I don't speak her language, but sometimes you can just tell. Then I met Tate. He does speak some english. In fact he speaks a lot of it, broken but spirited. I managed to understand him most of the time. He would probably say the same about me. Then I quickly met some cousins who came flying in holding the fresh fish they just caught in the flood waters. We ate them the next day, although I had only a small piece of fish for worry it could make me sick. Luckily that didn't happen. As evening set in that Friday night I remembered I'd be spending the weekend with a million friendly mosquitoes and without electricity. I also remembered there was no toilet or shower. Imagine that, I got to spend one weekend roughing it like a real Peace Corps Volunteer. The only real problem were the mosquitoes... thank God for a mosquito net. I don't know how I could've slept without one.
On Saturday I got to work in the field hoeing down weeds. Then I got to pound
Mahangu, as shown in the second picture. This is the process of turning the mahangu seeds into flour. This is traditionally a woman's job but they allowed me to give it a try. I wasn't very good at it. The girls proved to be much more efficient. After a little work I helped prepare lunch. This is also usually a woman's task but they understood I was one of those crazy new age Americans and humoured me. In the afternoon the girls were back to pounding the mahangu. They had to make a batch of extra fine flour to prepare a special sweet bread called Oshikwida (sp?). I spent a couple of hours just watching them pound. I was completely entertained. It's amazing how much work they put into pounding. As the sun was going down I grabbed a bucket and filled it with water to bathe. It was one of the best baths I've ever taken. The mens' bathing area was at the corner of the homestead looking west. I peered out over the mahangu fields and palm trees watching the sun come down... while bathing. When's the last time you can say you did that?
On Sunday we went to their church. It's about a 30 minute walk from the homestead. I knew we'd have to cross the oshana again. How was I going to wear church appropriate attire and do that? Well I carried most of it. I walked across in my dress shirt, shorts and sandals. The ladies had to hike up their dresses. Really it was fun. If I had to do it every weekend it would probably grow tiresome. The service was all in Oshiwambo... except when the pastor spoke english to personally greet me in front of the congregation. That was really nice. The whole thing was enjoyable. I just kind of sat in my own world appreciating all the joys the Lord had given me that weekend. I was supposed to leave right after church but I didn't want to. I stuck around for
lunch, a couple more conversations with Tate, and some time under the shade tree. When I finally reached Tsumeb it was already dusk, but I'm pretty sure people could still see me smiling as I walked to the house. Some experiences just leave you giddy inside. I can't wait to go back.
This last picture is of one of the many huts as well as some of the squash growing on the homestead walls. While mahangu is their main crop they also have mango trees, guava trees, and pumpkins growing on the premises. In the corrals they had about 20 goats, maybe 10 chickens and 4 donkeys for plowing.

Just a little update

Well our support group is under way. We had seven attendees for the first meeting, all ladies. They don't speak any English. In fact, they are all Oshiwambo speaking. It's nice to have counterparts who speak the language. I went through the agenda in English while my counterparts translated. It's a funny feeling speaking to a group when you know they don't understand you. I had to do it so my colleagues had something to translate, but I felt really awkward. It's like speaking just to hear yourself talk. Anyway the first meeting went well. We discussed our plans for the group and requested feedback from them. We are still waiting for our sewing equipment and materials to come in and there isn't much work to be done on the garden right now. One of the ladies suggested we start with a bead project where we can make different types of jewelry from beads. That should be underway in the next couple weeks.

I just returned to Tsumeb yesterday. I spent last week in Okahandja with another new group of volunteers. It was myself and two other current volunteers there to answer questions, and my lord did they have them! I felt like a search engine being surfed all day. It was tiring, but also rewarding. I hope I gave them a good picture of Peace Corps Namibia. I guess that's all I have to say. I promise a more interesting blog next time. I'm reading a book on Nelson Mandela, one of my heroes, and would like to write something about him. Ta ta for now.

New Happenings

Tomorrow is a big day. It's our first support group meeting. We announced it on the radio, posted flyers, handed out invitations, called people... if they don't show up it will be quite the disappointment. I think we'll get some turnout. We're not so much worried about quantity as we are quality. If five people come who are really interested in learning to sew, or help garden, I'll be ecstatic! We found a sewing teacher and even convinced the government to pay her from their annual HIV/AIDS action plan budget. It wasn't so hard considering the end of their fiscal year is March and they haven't even spent half their budget. We've ordered the sewing machines and some additional gardening equipment. On Friday, Jacob (Red Cross Volunteer-lives at Meameno Centre) and I planted carrots and red beets. Over the weekend the neighbor dog crapped on them. I guess that tells you what he thinks of our gardening abilities. It's also a good reminder that we must get our fence repaired. Anyway, wish us luck.

On another topic, the Tsumeb Women & Child Abuse Centre is looking at merging with us at Meameno. My Tate and Honourable Councillor Mr. Tobias suggested the idea to them last year. The reason for the merge is 1) We have no money and 2) They have no building. They are currently renting a space just down the road from us. Basically, if they agree to pay the utilities and make improvements on the grounds then we're going to invite them to move in. I'm excited to work together with them, but I am worried about our lack of space. It's going to be difficult to run both our programs out of the current building. They are drawing up plans now to build an additional building at the back of the premises. I don't foresee that being finished anytime soon meaning we'll be packed in like sardines for a while. We'll make the best of it.

The Cape Town pictures I promised...

Happiness

I'm back in Tsumeb. Last week was my first week back to work. Anybody else get 6 weeks vacation this holiday season? I love Peace Corps :-) Going home was wonderful. Seeing friends and family was priceless, and all the snow and good food... it was great. But being back here is maybe just as good. I've really become comfortable here.

So the big goal for this year is our support group for HIV infected and affected people. The big goal is getting people to show up. Really, that's what I want. God just send some people through our front door. I think we can handle it from there. I hope so anyway. I'm beginning to question my colleagues commitment to this project. I guess I can't blame them. They are hardly being paid for their work. Anyway, we'll be buying our sewing and gardening materials in the next couple weeks with the grant money we received from the American Embassy. Wish us luck. Oh, and we don't have anybody that knows how to sew which I think is a key ingredient to a sewing project. I'm praying we find somebody.

Sorry I can't seem to load pictures. I promise some next time from our trip to Capetown. It was a blast!

Makalani Nuts

Hello Everyone. I am bringing home a little taste of Namibia.

These are Makalani nuts. They come from the local palm trees. They are small, like large marble size... mostly used as key chains. Artists carve beautiful images on them. The ones I'm bringing home all say Namibia on them as well. I'm selling them on behalf of another Peace Corps Volunteer trying to raise money to make improvements to her school classrooms in Namibia. If you are interested they are $8 each. I will have plenty available. They are only costing her $1-$2 each so $6-$7 goes directly to the improvement fund for each one. I know that doesn't sound like much but you would be surprised what we can do with that over here. Let me know if you're interested and I'll try to get them to you while I'm home. E-mail or comment here. Thanks!

The end of a year

I know. It's been a long time since the last post. Life has been great here in Namibia. I experienced Copper Festival right here in Tsumeb... wait til you hear what I won. I got to greet 20 new Peace Corps Volunteers at the airport and spend a weekend with them. And the best news, the rain has returned and the garden is still kicking.

Every year the Copper Festival is held at the end of October in Tsumeb, my hometown. The town was built on copper mining and it's the biggest party of the year here. It reminded me of the festivals in Wheeler Park, only four times bigger. We have a big beautiful park here in Tsumeb called United Nations Park. The whole festival was there. Most of the festival is just people sitting, talking, eating and drinking heavily. I guess that's what most festivals are though, neh? Anyway, I was invited to play basketball in the Copper Games the previous weekend. Our team won the Gold Medal! I was so thrilled to be part of the team. They are a talented group of players and they really made me feel welcome, even though I only scored one basket the entire tournament. One of the guys said, "You're not a full player, but you got a lot of heart." I was touched. The next weekend at Copper Festival we were awarded our medals. Here's a picture of our team plus some additional guys... people always jump into pictures randomly here.

On November 7th I was at Hosea Kutako International Airport to greet 20 new Peace Corps Volunteers. Just look at these poor suckers... deer in headlights. We were only three volunteers to greet the new group. I was honoured to be invited. Two of us got to spend the whole weekend with them as part of Volunteer Support Network (I joined that back in April). They had lots of questions and we had lots of funny stories for them. On Saturday we took them hiking up the mountain in Okahandja, just like the last group did for us. We're such a fraternity. I hope they feel welcomed.

The rain is back. It was six months since I'd seen a drop. Jesse (brother), Udi (friend) and I ran around barefoot in the rain yelling like school boys. It's been good for the garden too. It seems like when we water the garden the plants kind of shrug their shoulders. When it rains, they stand up and sing praise to the heavens. I guess that's similar to the way we reacted running around in it. Here's some of our squash. It's been hard to sell them. Nobody knows what squash is until they see it... and ours aren't all that attractive. Oh well. I bought some and I think they tasted great.

This is probably my last post until January. I'm going home for Christmas in a few weeks. I can't wait!