March update from Namibia

Greetings to all from flooded Namibia!

Hope this finds everyone well & thriving in whatever field in which you labour.

Our field is flooded, and we are facing some of the challenges that our poor neighbours face frequently. Jim has just left to get some bread & we are hoping that he is able to get out of the school yard. This rainy season is more what I had imagined, but I failed to imagine the complications that it presents. We still have many sunny days, but like Illinois, it can change very quickly. The rains are driving (it doesn‘t just fall, it‘s as if it is being slammed) & have been lasting anywhere from 15 minutes to hours when it lets up a bit, then drives with a greater vengeance. Not to be totally disgusting, but our septic tank is full and the truck that empties it cannot get to it with all the water--it would most likely get stuck in the mud & they are unwilling to risk it. Fortunately, we are not too far from the school toilets & they are on a different septic tank. Please, God, don’t let that one get full!! We will have to use our big laundry buckets for ‘bathing’. We are able to divert the kitchen sink drain to the yard, and that is a blessing. The smell of sulphur permeates the air. When the wind blows just right, the kids start covering their noses & groaning & generally acting up!

I have learned that it is not smart to offer suggestions for anything, because then you become totally responsible for it. We had an Independence Day celebration yesterday (Friday). It was not brought up until 3 days prior--did anyone have any ideas as to what we should do? Well, since they pass up so many opportunities to teach outside the classroom, I thought it would be great if each class had to research a person who was instrumental in fighting colonialism under the Germans, and later, rule under the South Africans. Sure, great, yes, everyone would help their class to do something then, each class would present to the rest of the school in our Hall--very nice large building where all can gather. The kids did a fantastic job--without any teacher support. Well, pre-grade & a couple Lower Primary classes had teacher input. I asked for teacher presence & support during the presentations--I had to drag several of them to the hall & then they stood in back, talking---loudly! Have you ever tried to control 450 kids confined in a hot, humid hall with all of them talking & generally ignoring the presentations? Mr. Principal was to give opening remarks. I stalled for awhile, as we were already running late, made some general comments regarding the seriousness of the day & the expected behaviour of everyone, introduced the 1st presentation, then Mr. P strolled in and talked for 20 minutes, when he had given us 1hr 15min for the program. We had 11 presentations prepared…..We released the kids (after they missed 4 classes) just in time for their break. Classes resumed & then we found out at 12:45 that Mr. P. told someone (who?) that we could leave at noon. I was teacher in charge this week--was I the one he told???

We have been having some interesting conversations in the staff room. We have 3 strikes against us: we are white, American and old. These young pups feel that they have to explain to us that change takes a very long time. REALLY????? So let’s throw up our arms & not even get started!

Yes, this is a very negative blog. We love the people & have found many Namibians who are just as frustrated as we are. And the kids are so great. Some try so hard, and they are succeeding! Some are so far behind they just give up. I love it when they come to me and say, “Miss, I didn’t do my homework,” and the smile on their face makes it very hard for me to be stern. And how very grateful I am that they feel comfortable enough to actually approach me & say it--up front, no lying, no making up excuses. To admit that, to another teacher, would mean hard labour (and just exactly what is the connection between digging in the garden & doing homework?) or no break (and that is the only time they have to eat). I swear that I will not give them any more chances, but I do!

We are looking forward, with great anticipation, to May 9 when Maureen, Dane, & Bobby arrive for a 10-day whirlwind tour of Namibia. I started to make plans for the trip, but am overwhelmed, so trying to contact an agency to plan it all out.

This is a 3-day weekend (Independence Day is Monday), but with end-of-term rapidly approaching, and flooded roads all over, we are staying home & knocking out some work. This morning I was finding performances of Chopin, Liszt, Schubert…to play for Grade 8 English so they can hear the sounds that a text is describing. Their writing is getting better, but are struggling in using creative language to describe--anything. I love it when they respond to a piece of poetry.

Usually have a hard time getting them settled for class, so for English 7 & 8, I am reading each one a book. I walk in, open the book, & start reading for 5 minutes. They are SILENT within 10 seconds. They actually do not want to miss anything. They are not easy books, either, but they are getting the gist & working out the figures of speech & vocab. Yea, it’s exciting!!!!!!

Had our first incident with theft (which is rampant here). We were in Windhoek (only large city, capital, 225,000 pop), Jim bought a pair of shoes, re-parked the car & when we got back to it, the back passenger door was open a few inches. They reached over the back seat to grab his shoes, some chip dip (THAT made me mad!), and some sticky stuff to hang posters. Someone told us that there is a way for someone who is watching you to “intercept” your keyless locking device while you are locking your car & they then have access. We cannot remember if Jim ‘unlocked’ the doors as we were approaching the car or not. The store where we purchased the shoes had closed, so we found the same pair at another place--for N$100 more! So, he got 1 pair for the price of 2 ½!!

Yesterday he went to a doctor to have a strange growth on his arm checked out. His birth-family had a lot of skin cancer, he had one minor incident a few years ago, he is in the sun a lot, so I threw a fit & he went. It is a wart! On his forearm! Doctor said that she treats kids all the time, but usually on feet or hands. She is concerned that the stuff she gave him would burn his skin (it’s the WHITE thing, again!) but it’s been fine--you know, he’s so tuff!! I may have had one on my wrist, actually. A bump appeared shortly after we had visited the Himbas the first time, & almost disappeared while we were home--that was nearly a year.

Okay, this is way too long, but I have enjoyed rambling. My resolve was to write at least 1/month…

‘til next time, stay safe, healthy, & know that you are missed
God bless each & every one of you, and your loved ones.

sharon