Quick Update

Hello everyone!

Quick update.  Today we got to spent some time at the Embassy this morning to get a security briefing type thing.  I felt like I was on twenty four because the guy looked like Jack Bower.

Anyways, we then went to Katatura for a tour with some students from Katatura.  It was great to speand more time in the community and eat great food!  She had us over to her house and we played with her dog!

This afternoon we did some reflecting and more!  Sorry it is so short. Classes are starting tomorrow.

Off to sleep!

Angela

History of Namibia and Day of great community building...

Hello everyone!  


So I really don't know what to call the titles of these blogs.  What I have decided is that the blogs are not just for everyone to hear about my trip, but will be a great way for me to reflect on the day and have documentation of the day or few days as I blog.  


Today was a good day, it felt like it went by sooooo slowly, we were all surprised the time that we had throughout the day. 


In the morning we had a short history lesson about the history of Namibia.  It is amazing to me as Americans how sheltered we can be to what is going on around the world, especially in non-European countries, and especially myself included.  We buy into the idea that our "history" tells the truth to what really has happened and what is important.  But every person and every group of people really have a story to tell, and when that story is left out, it can be really detrimental to the ability for progress to be made. For example, today we learned that the Holocaust was NOT the first German genocide, it actually was of the Herero and the Nama peoples of Namibia who were killed over land, control, and power. 

Just to back track, there are three main stages of the Namibian History, 
1. Pre-Colonial Namibia
2. Namibia under German Colonialization
3. Namibia under Apartheid 


With that there is the history of Christian Missionaries, racism, Independence that has a very rich and complex history.  I am obviously not doing the history justice, but it would be a lot to write out. Please research more if you are interested. 


But for me, it is really important to see the connections between the history of America and the history of Namibia.  Of course it is not exactly the same, but there is significant connection to the fact that the Native Americans existed on the land before the settlers, who took over land power and control and had a genocide of the Native Americans in the United States.  We dealt with issues of colonization but in a very different sense, it was the Europeans wanting to be free from the British.  Then the history of racism in America is all through out its history. The parallels are so apparent that there are a lot of left over problems from the period of official colonialization of power and control of resources that still goes on. 


After that we got to go to a Museum that had a large overview of a number of things such as animals in Namibia and different tribal practices, and their transitions with Western influences. 


Next, in the afternoon, we did a Team Bonding experience.  It was great to see where everyone has come from, and especially learn the life story's of the staff that work for CGE.  It is uncommon that at the beginning of an experience to really be able to get to know one another, and especially staff people.  It was great to hear a small glimpse of people got to where they were to where they are.  


Then the rest of the night was full of conversations, a braai, which is an Afrikaans word for Barbecue, and a bonfire.  This was a really a great chance get to know everyone even more, have really deep conversations and continue to grow as a group. The food was also amazing.  We had four kinds of really good meat, tasty side dishes, and bread. What was great to me is that they cooked the bread right on the grill by making little patties and flipping them.  It was the best bread I have had in a long time! Also, one of the women who makes food at the house, her Daughter came, and she was adorable.  Its always great to see people with their families, so I hope we get to do more of that at the house. 


Thank you for reading.  More to come! 
Peace from Namibia, 


Angela 

Our first day....

Hello Everyone!  I am now writing from the first time actually in Namibia. 

I have made it to the CGE house, met all the people I will be doing the program with and the staff. The two most common questions people have asked me are ... how is the food and how are the accommodations, even though this is not the most important thing, I will let you know that we have facilities and access such as a house in America, not much different.  It is very comfortable, lots of space, and lots to do, even a swimming pool. The food from what I have seen is not that far from what I am used to so far with a little bit of a twist, but I hope to try some more traditional foods as we go. 

We did a number of orientation type things today to get comfortable, but the most impactful part of the day was the tour.   The terrain of Windhoek is very mountainous, but it is mostly a circle of mountains, with a set of mountains in the middle.  We went all the way to the top of one of these mountains in the middle and was able to see the entire city.  It was very clear that one side, the oldest part of Windhoek has been settled, originally by White people, but now wealthy people.  Off to the other side of downtown there are many shanty's and tin shacks that people settle into.  People are entering into this area every day, and Windhoek as a whole grows around 100 people per day in the population.  This is mostly because people think they will be able to get a job in the city. 

Next we went all the way into the area with the smaller houses, we got to go through the mountains to see it from the other side.  But first, we stopped at a small outdoor market to shop around, try some food, and meet some people.  What we have found about the people in Namibia is they are really friendly, and not just "Minnesota Nice" type of friendly.  When people are going to be nice to you they go out of their way.   

We then drove through  with the tin shacks and small houses in the area that used to be the old townships during apartheid now called Katutura. We got to the top of the mountain and saw the view of the city from the other side of town, what a powerful contrast.  Its very difficult to describe in words, it is something you must see to understand better.  I really hope to spend more time there and learn more. 

Next we did a walking tour from downtown back to the house to become more familiar with the city and to get to know the area.  We had really great conversations with many people around.  We talked to the server about some of the perceptions of Americans at the restaurant we ate at, which was that American college students are crazy, and adults are mostly responsible.  

We talked more about our internships today, which I am very excited about, more and more.  Our classes are in the living room of our building which is quiet fun.  

So for now working on my road map to share with the group tomorrow.....

Peace,

Angela 

Blog from Airplane

Hello Again.  

I am writing this blog from 390000 feet in the air on my way from Boston to London, and my adventure is just beginning!

Last night I got to say goodbye to many people including my family and some friends over the phone.  I got some last minute advice and suggestions. that will most likely come in handy on my trip!  Rachael told me to make sure to get up at least every two hours on the flight to keep the circulation going! Ari told me all about the great spots to check out in Namibia, including a great place to get “chips” –aka really good fries.  Most importantly, my father jokingly said to look both ways before I cross the street.  I think that will come in handy. 

This morning we woke up at 3:30 to do some last minute packing and headed out at 4:00.  When getting at the airport at 5:15, we found out that I couldn’t check in till 5:45….so much for being 3 hours early.  Once I got through the gate I made my way towards the gate.  I had a really nice conversation for about an hour with a woman from Singapore who was in Nashua, NH for her brother’s wedding.

I have been on an international flight once before on my trip to Paris three years ago. I almost forgot how great you are treated on these flights!  While I was sitting in the terminal about twenty flight attendants and pilots made their way towards the aircraft, all dressed very nicely and with a strong British accent on the plane.  Once we got going on our flight, breakfast was served being served with a choice of English Breakfast or an Omelets.  Not sure what an English Breakfast was, we asked what was in it.  The attendant said in his strong British accent, “We are going to England, so you have to try it”.  The breakfast was quiet amazing for food on a plane and the service is awesome.  We even got our own tooth brush and tooth paste on the plane.  Later he was walking around asking “Would you like some tea?”.  Sometimes simple gestures make a difference.

It’s funny how I am already only partway into my journey and I am already experiencing new cultures as I go, not just in the country that I am going. 

Well a few more hours of this last flight and then off to the next.

Peace for now,

Angela

Why Namibia?

Hello Everyone, 

I thought in my last post, I may be left out a little bit of why I am going to Namibia, so I thought I would share.  When thinking about where I wanted to study abroad, I went through a number of options and ideas as my major changed.  Finally, last year I decided, so that I could go abroad, I wanted to study abroad in the summer.  I picked a place that I knew I would be less likely able to travel to later on in life.  I also had already traveled to Europe in high school, and so I was looking for something that would be a new experience.  I landed on Namibia partially because of the program connected to my school, CGE.  This made the option more accessible.  I also had a number of friends who had amazing experiences.  After looking at a number of programs in South Africa and East Africa, I ended up selecting Namibia.   Really anywhere you go you have to be open to the experience, and I think I am ready for it, even more than the last time I was supposed to go last summer.

Thanks for reading, Angela  

Before I Depart .... Details about my Trip

Hello everyone, 


Here is my first blog about my trip to Namibia.  I thought it would be helpful to post a little bit about what I will be doing and where I will be for those who are interested. I will use this blog to share my experience and pictures of while I am there. For now I am just sharing the basics, and I am sure I will have more to tell you as I go!

The program that I will be there through is the Center for Global Education (link is on the side). This program is connected to Augsburg College, which is how I found out about it.  I will be staying in a house with six other students at a house in the capital city of Namibia, Windhoek.  While there,  We will be taking one class together about the Development in Southern Africa.  We will be also doing an internship.  My internship is at the Namibian Women's Health Network where I will be teaching English with Women and doing a Human Rights class. Below is a video of the house I will be staying at and the people who work with the program. 

For those of you who don't know where Namibia is on a map, I figured I would include one.  It is in Southern Africa on the west side.  As you can tell, it is below the Equator, so it will be Winter while I am there....which means 60's and 70's during the day and 30's and 40's at night. 

On the side of my blog, I have attached a link from the US travel website about Namibia if you want to read more about it! 


I will be leaving tomorrow morning for the airport at 4am for my 8:15am flight out of Boston and will arrive at 2pm in Namibia on Sunday afternoon.  I will be flying through Boston to London to Johannesburg, South Africa to Windhoek, Namibia.  Please feel free to email, Facebook, or comment on my blog!  I will have access to the internet during my time in Namibia. 


I am very excited for my experience and grateful that I get the chance to participate in this amazing opportunity! Thanks to all that have helped me prepare for this!


Peace, 
Angela