June 29-July 5

My night’s sleep was horrible. The trend of awful nightmares continued. My sleep was actually physically painful. Some of my dreams involved me actually seeing animals in the room. I yelled at them  in my sleep. I was told by several pcv’s that I was yelling about wild animals and stuff. I woke up about 530am and facebooked mom. Apparently, I was using the girls restroom until I walked out of the stall and saw a female PCV there. It was kinda funny. I went to the men’s bathroom after and could tell I was in the guy’s bathroom because it smelled and was gross. I went down to the kitchen and taste tested the pancakes. However, I had to rush off with 7 others for the free boat safari on the river. The PCV whose site we were ate, knew all the lodge owners and they give him and his friends free rides and trips. It was 20 minute walk to the lodge, and then another 40 minutes as we waited for the boat to get back. The lodge was gorgeous. I really enjoyed the conversation with the other PCVs and the two World Teach Volunteers. We talked about future plans as well as our backgrounds. One of my goals of being in PC is to make international connections. My conversation with the PCVs has showed me I am meeting that goal. The group had such a rich background internationally as well as academically. The boat ride was awesome! We saw crocodiles and hippos very close to our boat. We went and explored the Popa Falls. However, by the third hour of the tour, all of us were getting really cranky and irritated. We had not had breakfast. I was so hungry that I speed walked ahead of everyone to get to the campsite. I was pretty unhappy and pissed off, which is unusual because hunger doesn’t do that to me usually. I had also wanted pancakes really badly, but they were all gone by the time I got back. It was really hard to contain my irritation. It was almost lunch time so they brought out lunch early. It was wonderful and I started to get in a better mood right away. I gorged on fruit salad, homemade pretzels, 5 nutella and peanut butter sandwhiches, chips, and salsa. Our cooks were amazing. Then, I headed off for a land safari with ten other people. The safari was amazing! It was by far the best experience I have had here in Namibia! My friend later posted pictures of the safari in an album called “I Have Lots of Ordinary Days, But Here Are a Few Awesome Days.” We sat on the top of the safar jeep and saw Springbok, Raybok, Koodoo, Monkeys, Baboons, Zebras, Warthogs, Elephants, Giraffes, and Hippos. I really wanted to see lions, but the 40 lions in the park are rarely seen. The tour guides were awesome and had wonderful accents. There are hundreds of elephants in the park. It was so awesome and surreal to see wild animals in their habitat and not in a zoo! We saw Baobab trees too We paid them only for the petrol, which saved us several hundred dollars. I took 192 pictures in two days alone! For dinner we had a braai (bbq). I had a burger, baked beans, potato salad, pie crust with sugar cookies, and Apple Pie. The apple pie was, by far, the best part. I wanted so much more! I washed dishes after that, but then went to bed to type my journal. I ended up falling asleep many hours earlier than others.

I woke up and packed my stuff the morning of the 30^th. I was surprised to find out that we were getting breakfast! I ate four pieces of peanut butter and nutella bread. I think I have become addicted. I also had some leftover peach cobbler. I decided to leave with one of my other friends to avoid trying to find a ride in a big group. My friend and I found a ride and had a good conversation with each other on the way home. I went to the PC office after we got back to Rundu, only to find the power down. I went to the store and bought chocolate and lemon crèmes. Then I met up with 3 other PCVs and had lunch with them. I paid one of the PCVs for the food for the weekend. She is amazing. The food only cost $85 Namibian for 6 or 7 meals plus snacks! That works out to about $9 USD! I walked back to the office and relaxed until the internet came on. I skyped Aaron and Mom and Dad. I also uploaded all my pictures. I smsed my ride only to find out they had ditched me. I wasn’t happy, but I perked up at the thought of another day in town. I hung out at Gio’s and watched Big Bang Theory. I went to bed early because I was so tired.

I woke up feeling a little lonely on July 1^st. Going from so many PCVs to zero is a little rough. I watched some BBC with Gio and had a good talk. Then, I walked back to PC office and stayed there until 10am. I went and bought more Raisin Bread and lemon crèmes. I also walked to a store to check out how much bike tires cost ($29). I walked back to the office and hung out. Two of my PC bosses walked in and we had a good talk. It was really nice to see them. They reminded me of something “safe”, of something close to “home” because they reminded me of training and being with my wonderful host family and PC trainees. I went to the open market to have lunch with the World Teach Volunteer. I was really worried I would get left behind again, but the driver smsed me. I had an awesome talk with one of the other passengers in the car. He was extremely intelligent and just plain cool! It was probably the best conversation I have had with a young Namibian. The ride home took several hours and I was a bit cranky. One of the main reasons is that I was very dirty. I have to get used to being dirty all the time. Also, because my hair is so long, it is really hard to get it clean in a bucket. Because of this, I don’t bathe much. It surprised many Americans, but it’s normal for PCVs because it’s such a hassle, especially when you don’t have running water. I didn’t eat much at dinner because I just wanted to be alone. I watched Big Bang Theory and then spoke with my close friend Kaitlynn on the phone for an hour. It was so wonderful to talk to her. I miss her quite a lot.

I woke up in an okay mood on the 2^nd. I weighed myself at the clinic and found that I gained 6 pounds!!! It was worth it though. I’ll lose it anyways, I bet. I walked to the school with Benhard. I greeted a person in Nyemba for the first time on the way there! I looked at the school calendar for a bit then went to tea time and talked with a few teachers. Then I went to a teacher’s  class. He was awesome. I think we may end up being friends. He said I could come hang out with him. It was so encouraging. He’s my age and he likes to watch movies and stuff! I observed his class then went to see Ms. Muronga. We had an awesome talk. She showed me year plans for Lifeskills and we planned some stuff. I’m doing two classes on Friday with Benhard. We observed her class and then went back to the clinic. I went to my office and read mail and the newspaper. I also began to go through all my photos and videos I have ever taken. It made me really really miss people and things I am accustomed to and love. I wasn’t homesick; I just missed people. I washed my hair and shaved after that, and felt a little better. The PCV who was supposed to bring the clippers forgot to bring them, so I still have really long hair. After work I went home and showed my host family pictures and videos of my life in the US, going all the way back to college. They were amazed, to say the least. I enjoyed it immensely. It made me realize how proud I am of my country and how much I love it. We ate Mahangu and a bunch of spinach plus other vegetables for dinner. Then I went to my room. I talked on the phone for a while with another PCV, but the call was disconnected. It was good to talk to her though. I went to bed right after.

I woke up really tired the next morning, the 3^rd. My weight the day before made me think I need to control my habit of eating 800 grams of peanut butter each week. I didn’t do much at the clinic today. Went home around 4pm and read. I am definitely missing America, although I’m not homesick. It’s been pretty lonely at the homestead the last few days; almost no one has been around. I went to my room around 730 and read and listened to music.

Happy 4^th of July! I’ve been so tired recently that I haven’t been praying or doing my quiet time. It was cold and windy too. I enjoyed listening to one of my favorite celtic cd’s Celtic Portraits. I went and had breakfast at my supervisor’s place. The Egyptian President was overthrown; this is important to me because I would like to possibly live there after Peace Corps. One of my friends is a protester there, apparently. I made a tentative decision to start learning Arabic. I did lesson plans for my first lifeskills class tomorrow on Abuse, Neglect, and Molestation. I couldn’t believe this huge topic has to get crushed into one 40 minute period. The planning went well though. I am also trying to get internet at the clinic. It would be amazing if we could get it. I asked Maggie to test me. It was an interesting experience. I pretended I was a real patient. Weird how, although I shouldn’t have HIV, I still got nervous and also felt stigma when people saw I got tested. Finger pricks are way worse than shots, but it doesn’t bother me too much. My two main bosses from Peace Corps showed up during lunch. I talked to them for a while and then we went to my homestead. I talked to another PCV on the phone after that for a while. After dinner, I showed my family pictures and videos from my life in America. They are always so amazed. I went into my room around 8 and read until bed time.

I like to weigh myself periodically…I gained more weight in a few days. I decided to cut out Peanut Butter for the week. I went to the school and showed my lesson plans to the lifeskills teacher. I had to change my plan abit…especially because my counterpart didn’t show up…he was supposed to translate. I had all the learners take their chairs outside. We played a game called fruit salad where everyone is given a fruit name. Then, one person stands in the middle and calls out a fruit. All the people who are that fruit must run to another chair. The last person without a chair has to stand in the middle. It was fun. The lesson went as well as could be expected, but I was happy. It is hard to know what they understand. The kids were very shy too. I did feel conflicted about the subject of child abuse because, technically, many the corporal punishments handed out in school and daily Namibian life would be considered abuse in the US. I observed another teacher’s class after that. I asked this teacher if he wanted to hang out and he said for sure! I was so excited because I really want Namibian friends. I went to tea break. During the day I also facebooked a new PCV who will be coming in Late July. My second class went much better, but we ran out of time. I walked back to the clinic and ate a late lunch. I was really happy I resisted overeating! After that I went and studied language. After work I went and showered and watched Big Bang Theory. Before bed, I listened to country music and made a friend a birthday card.