Well we’ve been here 5 months now – nearly a quarter of our total time here – and it feels strange. In some ways it feels like a long time since we left home and we are missing friends and family, especially as it’s getting close to Christmas. On the other hand the time has gone quickly, and I’m not sure from a work perspective what we’ve actually achieved. The ‘settling in’ period has surely got to end some time soon?!
We’ve moved into our little clay house in Otjiwarongo with its long drop toilet and outdoor shower (proper African) and have made it look homely. It’s set in an NGO compound where they make clay tiles and bricks amongst other things to build affordable and insulated housing for people on low incomes. We have a lovely outdoor garden area and are eating outdoors most evenings when there’s not a thunderstorm - the lightening is absolutely amazing! It’s pretty hot, ranging from 35-40 degrees most days – can’t believe how much snow you’ve had at home. In the absence of such festive weather I’ve been baking Mince Pies to get myself in the mood. They do have some Christmas lights up in town, but I’m not convinced the locals even know what a snowman or holly are!!
As Ant mentioned before, although we are in Otjiwarongo we don’t have an office or anywhere to base ourselves yet. However, we have managed to attend our first regional management team meeting, the purpose of which was for members to feedback highlights in their activities in the past month and communicate their plans for the following month. It was quite enlightening as several activities could have involved us, however, as per usual, poor communication meant that nobody had thought to tell us! The meeting was helpful to find out where transport can be shared and we have volunteered ourselves to contribute to some management training on basic communication, leadership and team working skills in one of the districts so hopefully that might materialise early next year.
I stayed out in one of the settlements, Coblenz, last week to help facilitate the International Day of People with Disabilities. It was last minute planning by the CBR committee who were writing the agenda the night before the event. Surprisingly the event only started an hour late, which isn’t bad by Namibian standards and there was a reasonable turnout of about 70 people including many with disabilities. The purpose was awareness raising in the community, ensuring people are aware of their rights and what support is available. I had wanted to do a training session with the committee, but this could not take place as I was reliant on a lift from a colleague who instead of getting us to Coblenz by lunchtime, made several social stops on the way, stopped for food, gave various people lifts and generally faffed around so got us there by 4.30pm…grr
We went up to Epupa Falls and Opuwo a couple of weekends ago which was our first trip to ‘Himba Land’. For those of you not familiar with Himbas, I will upload some photos. The Himbas continue to wear their traditional dress amongst others in the town wearing western clothes. They have spiritual beliefs based on contacting ancestors and a reliance on traditional medicine and witchcraft. The hospital and most other public buildings are painted ochre up to head height as whenever a Himba comes in contact with the walls they deposit some of their colour! Epupa falls was very pretty, set amongst mountain ranges on the border of Angola. Not as dramatic as Victoria Falls, but worth a visit as we were in that neck of the woods.
Ant’s been down to Windhoek for a few netball sessions leading up to the big trip to Singapore. He’s away until the 14th December and then we go on our Christmas trip to Malawi and Mozambique on the 17th – bearly worth going back to work! I’m out all week in a district called Grootfontein with the Chief Social Worker and another colleague. It should be a good opportunity to familiarise myself with the CBR committees there and make a plan for next year. I’m taking some training material with me just in case I get the opportunity as who knows when I’ll be able to get transport to the district next.
I can’t wait for our trip away over Christmas. The vague plan is to spend Christmas at Lake Malawi and then New Year on the northern coast of Mozambique, with a number of places in between. I’ve been preparing the car for the adventure – spade, extra spare tyre, extra fuel can…the list goes on…don’t want to get stuck in the wilderness. Expect some dramatic photography from our adventure in the next blog instalment!
So have a Very Happy Christmas! Enjoy all the celebrations and wishing you all the best for 2011. Miss you all! Julia xxxxxxxxxx
