I got some really good sleep except that I had diarrhea five
times. One major problem was that Gio’s water had to be switched off for the
night…imagine not being able to flush the toilet or hydrate myself (yes, too
much information, but this is my life now). I was really sad I missed the event
last night, but I knew it was good that I stayed behind. I decided to stay in
town another day after I called PC about my sickness. Later, I walked to the
hotel. I bought some small gifts of food for the girls. The rest of the night
was not my ideal hangout situation, but it was still good. The girls were tired
so we just hung out and talked. I started to feel really sick and feverish. I
went and ate dinner with them. I felt so miserable that I left at 9:30pm. I
took a taxi and paid the expensive night-rate because I felt so sick.
I slept well except that I sweated so much from the fever
that I had to wrap myself in my towels. I woke up on the morning of the 3rd
feeling great. I still had diarrhea, but little stomach pain and no fever. I
was in a really good mood. I was a bit nervous to know if I would be allowed to
attend a training in Ojtiwarongo in the coming weeks. I love trainings, but I
also want to take advantage of every chance I get to see other PCVs. We also
get to stay in lodging that has showers, running water, hot water, nice beds,
electricity, free food, and possibly internet. All of these are a cause for
celebration when you live in a hut. I walked to the PC Office and skyped Mom
and Dad. I went shopping and price checked different stores. It was awful
carrying all the groceries back to the office. Later, I received a call and was
told that I would be added to the list of attendees for the training! I felt so
good! I went to the market to meet Crystal and Alicia. We walked back to the
office, but I had to leave abruptly, forgetting my computer charger in the
process. I took a taxi to get to where my ride was waiting because I did not
want to lug all my groceries by hand. The ride back was difficult because I was
really down about something. I arrived at home and went to bed.
The morning of the 4th was quite bad for a few
hours. I woke up feeling really down. I got less down as the day went on. I
think a lot of those feelings were because I had zero energy from fighting off
my sickness, and I still had diarrhea. I went with my counterpart to the local
school and met with the head lady for 2.5 hours or so. The conversation was
very good and I know a lot more about the school and how I met work there. The
head lady said I could go with her to a parent teacher meeting at the combined
extension school in another village. Benhard and I walked back to the clinic,
but my supervisor just let me sleep the rest of the afternoon because I had no
energy. I went home with my host brother, but couldn’t eat. I did have an
extremely candid conversation with a friend that made me feel really good!
I woke up feeling really good on the 5th. I went
to the clinic. To my utter delight, my supervisor had made cake. It was sooooo
good! It tasted like cake from America, although it didn’t have frosting. I had
a really good talk with a friend about not letting your fears control you. I
never thought of it like that, but I see the sense in it. This conversation led
me to decide that I WILL skydive during my time here in Namibia, even though
I’m still quite afraid of it. I want to face that fear. If I can skydive, there
is nothing I cannot do! Anyways, the headlady decided not to go to the meeting
at the other school, but I really wanted to go. I was told by my counterpart
that the school was only 3 kilometers away…11 kilometers later, I finally got
there. Side note: Namibians are not known for being concise and accurate.
Something that is 11 kilometers away can be “just up there.” I met a really nice
guy named Joe on the way. He is a member of the Village Development Committee.
He told me that one of the committees requests was to make a community garden.
They have an excellent water source near the road, which I wish I had in my
village. It was really cool to see somewhere new. The other school is only one
class of 25, but they had a really good number of parents show up to the
meeting. I introduced myself to the teacher, board member, and parents. The
meeting started a hour late, which is pretty good, considering how meetings can
start three or four hours late often. They made me sit up front. The meeting
was about the level of fees and the cost of supplies. One note, the classroom
is in a mud hut and is in major disrepair. The desks are extremely close and
the children do not have the correct learning materials. During the meeting, I
saw a bully of a kid smash another kid’s sand castle for not good reason. The
smug look on his face was frustrating. I got some phone numbers from people, so
I can visit later. A co-worker came by with a bike so I didn’t have to walk. I
really appreciated it and thoroughly enjoyed the quick bike ride back to the
clinic. The clinic was pure crazy when I got back. It was the busiest I have
ever seen it. I did not realize it was the main day for HIV patients to see the
doctor who visits once a month. I packed pills before and after lunch. I talked
to my brother later and really enjoyed it. I ended up talking with Crystal for
most of the rest of the evening about food such as frosting, cookie dough,
brownie mix, mac and cheese, and melted ice cream. I went to bed at 7:30pm
because I was so tired.
On the 6th, I woke up in an amazing mood. I
continued my sms conversation about food with Crystal. I am sad that a letter I
sent her got lost in the mail. Two men came into the clinic, both with sever
foot injuries. One had almost lost a toe from infection and the other had the
portion of skin between his big toe and second toe severed. I did some research
for some work I plan to do. A lot of people came in at one point during the day
and I took weight and temperature. The local police force visited and it was
really good to see them. I know several of them. Meanwhile, a baby with severe
sickness came in. It almost died, but my supervisor saved it. The ambulance
came from Rundu to get them. Later, I inventoried all the educational posters
in the office. At one point, a young man came in, asking for counseling. I said
we didn’t and we he left. I decided to get his phone number and find out for
him. Then I decided to check him for suicide risk because he was distraught. I
found that he was at risk, either for suicide or hurting someone else, but not
immediately. Namibia does not have a mental healthcare system like the US, and
the young man was not even from the area. I smsed another PCV and asked her to
take care of it because he was in her region. I got him to promise not to do
anything without talking to someone first. Meanwhile, I saw something that
really messed with my sense of justice. A man ran over my friend’s fatcake
bucket, from which she sells fat cakes to support her children. Although he was
a teacher and has money, he refused to pay because it was an accident. They got
in an argument, but the man just left without paying $3.60 USD it would have
cost him. It frustrated me and made me sad. Another thing that was sad to me
was how I saw a person make fun of a single father who took his child to the
clinic. Men do not raise children here and there seems to be a stigma attached
to it. I went home at 4 and read and wrote in my planner. I also made a
pros/cons skydiving list. Here is what I came up with:
Cons Pros
Death Facing
fear
Extreme Stress on Way Up Bucket
List
Expensive Bragging
Rights
Fear I’m
Competitive
Passing Out from Stress I’ll
feel left out
I’ll
have major regret
Empowerment
(I can do anything)
I’ll
be sad if I see everyone else do it
Later that night I had a conversation with my host family
about the “N-word.” Some Namibians do not realize how bad that word is and what
it is. They thought it meant cool. I explained to them why it was not cool.
They asked why black people in America said it. I told them that the word
should not even be said by black people because it makes others think that they
are okay with being viewed as “less than equal” (as the n-word means). They
seemed to understand and I went to bed soon after.
I didn’t sleep too well last night because of the mouse and
lizard making noise in my room. I woke up for good on the 7th and
sat and relaxed for a while in my hut. I heard someone coming, but then I saw
huge horns come through the door! It was a cow that wandered into my hut! It
gave me quite a start and I chased it out! I went to Rundu to do some work.
Later, I went to shop for groceries. Then I skyped mom and dad. I met a new PCV
named Kyla. Bonnie, Denise, and Gio were there too and we had rice, peppers,
onions, and soy sauce for dinner. I ate so much. We also had kettlecorn. Then,
I went to bed.
I woke up feeling great on the morning of the 8th,
but was so hungry. I looked up skydiving videos and just watched youtube most
of the day. It’s so relaxing to do stuff like that. I forgot it was Saturday
momentarily. I got so hungry that I went out and binged on a huge, head-sized
glazed raisin bread, pretzels, raisins, and a chicken burger. I wandered around
the “mall” for a bit too. I think I was feeling a bit lonely too for some
reason. I haven’t been homesick once, but I severely miss summer in America and
the culture (which I never knew existed). I finished my book Pathfinder,
and moved onto a Ken Follett series. Dinner was absolutely amazing! Kyla is an
amazing cook! They forced me to cook and I did really well! I made scrambled
eggs, peppers, and onions. It sounds like nothing, but that was huge for me
because I am an awful cook. I don’t like eggs too much, but the peppers and
onions added so much. Kyla and Denise made pancakes and they were so good! We
had as many as we wanted. Kyla later made oatmeal chocolate chip cookies. I
have a large appetite, but she made so many cookies and I ate so much dough
that I actually stopped with many cookies to spare. It was such a good night! Side note: I have
found that when I go into town, I get extremely hungry. I crave chocolate and
massive amounts of food. I have fallen in love with Cadbury’s Top Deck Mint
Chocolate and can eat loads of it.
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