writing amharic

hiv/aids unit: notes

hiv/aids unit: immune system game

hiv/aids unit: matching game

hiv/aids unit: agree/disagree/not sure game

art class

art club library banner

omufitu’s netball team

omufitu’s under-15 netball team

my nearest shopping town – outapi

outapi’s open market

outapi

omufitu village

himba village

Swakopmund

Road to nowhere

Looks like a Toyota advertisement

Skeleton coast shipwreck. John, thanks for not swimming out to it!

What an appropriate sign

A smelly colony of seals

Absolutely fascinating San art. Can you see the animal in the tiger’s mouth?

The weird and wonderful welwitschia: ‘ The strangest tree in the world, the Welwitschia, is found in Northwest Namibia. Like many drought resistant plants, it endures by growing at a tremendously slow rate, producing only two leaves in its lifetime.’

John and Irina about to climb a big rock somewhere between Sesfontein and Opuwo

Desert oasis

Where the river is not

A desert elephant in Puros.

Flat tire #2 of 3

Stuck in the sand…took two hours to dig it out…thanks Irina for running 5k to get help – you’re amazing!

Nikki, brad and I after two hours of digging. Brad, you look nice with a nice thick beard of dirt!

The skeleton coast was quite the journey! Good thing we came prepared!

Host sisters, Agatha and Foibe, greeting me after a long day at school

Bathroom

My new little home

View from my new little home

The kitchen. I hung the shelves myself! Are you proud dad?

You know you’re home when you finally hang your Namibia map!

Gas powered

The bedroom is too small to photograph. This will do

John had just found “the hottest spot in all of Namibia”

Omufitu North Combine School

Omufitu cuca shops (conveniently located right next to the school)

Omufitu North CS learners

Art Club

Step one: Find mopane worms

Step two: Collect them

Step three: Clean and cook them

Step four: Enjoy them! They taste like chicken

Snake #6

Found this little guy in my kitchen

A huge centipede

Mix between honeydew and watermelon

Ungracefully eating oshithima (porridge) at my going away get-together

Awww, they don’t want the only other female staff member under the age of forty to leave

Nakaheke CS

grade 8B

Grade 7A
Top row: Rehabeam, Johannes, Alfeus, David, Aina, Ndapanda, Hertha, Maria, Helmi, Beata, Elise, Maria, Rebbekka
Bottom row: Ananias, Lisias, Suama, Selma, Kristofina

Busy as can be fixing computers!

Mr Shea, my Nakaheke counterpart, also looking quite busy!

Movie! (The Brave Little Toaster)

School goats. Yup, they eat homework

Can you see the snake?

There it is!

Mahangu field

Art?

View from a plateau in Opuwo

No mom, those are not my hairy legs

Oshakati’s open market on a beautiful Saturday morning

About to dye Aimee’s traditional necklace. Aimee, are you ok if it’s made out of pink?

PC Group 30 Reconnect – Harmony Centre

armony Centre scenery

Harmony Centre

Twins!

Yoga. Almost got it Niilonga and Nuugwanga!

Toyota. The Namibian brand of choice

Clouds

Opuwo is enough!

Opuwo – Himbas

Opuwo!

Cute

Meme Netatu.

Do you like the cow tail?

Meme Ndeyapo and I wearing traditional Oshiwambo dresses. Yes
Holly, it’s made out of pink.

A few rowdy Owambos trying to get me to dance.

Check out the woman in the middle with the harmonica.

Blue skies and umbrellas.

Gift giving

Before leaving each wedding event the bride and groom give you a big
slab of meat. Yum. I’ve now tried cow liver, stomach, and
tongue. All three are delicious as long as you can look past the fact
that you’re eating cow liver, stomach, and tongue.

Cluster ’09! Spent four day during the presidential election with a
handful of Volunteers in a luxurious home equipped with
air-conditioning, a microwave, and a flush toilet!

Downtown Nakaheke

Beautiful

Clouds over Okahao

My favorite place to read.

In the Afternoon on Sunday November 11th David Iileka, Meme’s
Father-in-law and the town headman, graced us with his presence. He
speaks little English but we were able to communicate via meme. Upon his
request I sat and ate a meal with him. Apparently he really just
wanted to see the American drink oshikundu and eat oshithima with her
hands.

Traditional Beer. Holly, look closely, you can see dead bugs floating
in it. Yup, I drank it.

I have been warmly welcomed the community. I’ve attended church and
community meetings and have had the pleasure of meeting, greeting. and
shaking hands with just about everyone. Two community members, David
Iileka and Meme Emilia, gave me chickens as gifts to show their
respect and to welcome me to Onakaheke. Meme Lahja slaughtered the
rooster a few weeks ago, leaving the hen to produce eggs. It was
delicious.

What are you doing Meme Lahja?

Garbage disposal

Dog

Cow

Weary goats. They were not happy to have me disturb their evening graze.

Cozy.

Sleeping under a mosquito net is quite bizarre, but I like it. You feel like you’re sleeping in a cloud. Also, due to the dull grey color of my hut walls, I decided to buy a pink flowery duvet. I love it. Mom, you are right, a beautiful and comfortable bed is one of the most important parts of a hut.

There is nothing more beautiful and surreal than baking in a hut. I’ve successfully made chocolate chip cookies and have now deemed Thursdays my cookie baking days. Next week snickerdoodles! Also, I’ve decided to try to bake all my bread. My first attempt was a failure – flat, doughy, soapy tasting. I have two years to figure it out, hope that’s enough time. I’m pretty sure I used too much water, didn’t let it rise enough, and I cooked it at too low a temperature. What else could I have done wrong? It can only get better. It tasted like soap because I accidentally, while staying with meme Iileka, stored the flour with the laundry detergent. Who would have though the detergent would flavor the flour?

Kakuni and Shaine. Little Kakuni likes to spend all her time with me. Not sure if she likes me or just wants sweets. Either way I enjoy her company. She speaks no English, which is helping my Oshindonga quite a bit. Unfortunately, the only new phrases I’m learning are centered around a young child; careful, don’t touch, that’s hot, I’m sorry I don’t have any sweets. Shaine is my little helper. He’s considerate and is willing to guide me through the simplest of tasks with a smile. Last Thursday I let him crush the chocolate for the cookies. He’s also easy to amuse.

Kakuni

For those of you who know…terrifying.

Pit latrine and sunset, what more could you want?

One evening the family discovered my yoga matt and guitar. I explained what yoga or joga (Namibian accent) was and then convinced everyone to try a few poses. Later we played Memory (notice the playing cards on coffee table) and then everyone sang along with me to a few depressing songs (I need to learn happier ones) on my guitar. I believe I played Poor Girl and Old-fashioned Morphine. A lovely evening.

Albertina, Eriel, and I.

Nakaheke consists of a school, clinic, church, cemetery, and a few shebeens all within close proximity of one another. Beyond the school area you’ll find scattered homesteads, sand, huge ant mounds, an array of identical trees and the occasional goat or donkey. Meme Iileka lives about a 15-minute drive always the school. One day on the way back to her homestead she asked me, “which way?” I politely responded, “Well ummm, turn right?” She laughed confused over my inability to find my way. Give me just one sign or even a large tree and I promise I’ll find my way! Well actually, probably not.

They are everywhere.

A few patterns from meme Iileka’s home. They will eventually make it into paintings.

And Fold.

beauty

Last dinner together in Okahandja at Café Spitze. Nam good burgers, pizza, and fries.

Blog post: Swear in – A few faces:

Sarah

Julie and Michael

Meme Selma and I. Do you like my oshiwambo dress? A gift from meme.

Meme and Tate

I had no idea Missourians were so wonderful.

Shannon

Caitlin and I. So patriotic. Do I look pregnant?

Ashley