Life is beautiful

Ongaipi!

The past couple of days have been pretty busy but I enjoy taking the time to post a blog entry to document the experience and to share with everyone reading! So we ended up going into the open market place two days ago and did a treasure hunt. We were handed index cards with some words that we had to ask the sellers about. I had kopana and this meant the open places where the men sell meat after they cook (braii). I keep switching the spelling of this word but I believe it's braii.

I met some adorable little kids who sat with their mothers as they sold their food. They have things they call hot cakes here and they are delicious fried bread (kinda like fried dough). One costs 1 namibian dollar which is about 21 cents in the U.S....pretty awesome! Here are the children from the market...so adorable I can't stand it!

So after we went to the market we took a picnic to the Goreangab dam. My table of girls and myself decided that we needed to leave our mark in charcoal as others had before us so we signed the top of the picnic overhang with "World Teach 2012". Just trying to leave our mark :)

Yesterday we had a speaker come and talk to us about HIV in order to be better prepared for what we are to encounter and how to deal with different situations with our learners. For example, now we know that there is free testing in clinics to check the status of anyone who would like to know. Apparently a lot of men are apprehensive to get tested and women get tested more often.

Last night we met some other volunteers who are teaching in Zambia who came through the hostel on their way back from their vacation. It was a lot of fun to meet EVEN MORE people that are from the U.S. and teaching in Africa. Of course we sat with them and chatted and then we all played a round of Kings Cup with our African hard ciders and other fun drinks. Having things in common with other people here makes it a less lonely experience. Not only in the group that I am with but also other people just passing us along this journey.

This morning a doctor came to speak with us about precautions for different diseases and how to get healthcare if we need it. All of the Namibians I have met are SO nice and will help you out in any way that you can. I have become close to some of the people that work at the hostel. Dean is probably one of the funniest people I have ever met and he said something the other night that was very refreshing "I am having a wonderful night..I dunno I just feel that I always have those because life is such a good time". It's a great outlook to have about life. We then ended up chatting with some of my other friends I met at the hostel about Jeff Dunham and talk nonsense until about 3 in the morning. I think those are the best nights. When you really connect with people and laugh until your face hurts.

This afternoon we went to the teacher store called Edumunds and bought some supplies that we might need for our teaching practicum in 2 days and also for our own classrooms. Wandering around the store today made me so excited to teach! When I teach I feel like i'm doing what i'm meant to do and I enjoy every minute of it. Ok so I think that is a good overview of the last couple of days here.

Ka la po nawa!
Chelsea