This past week has been crazy here in the village. On Thursday I had to go to a funeral for a 5th grade learner at our school. He was having liver problems and his family brought him to the hospital one night and the doctors said there wasn’t anything they could do and he passed away. We closed school that day and a bunch of the teachers and learners and me got in the back of a truck and rode to the funeral in the morning. The funeral took place at the homestead where the boy had lived. We sat underneath one of the huts in the homestead and listened to the family talk in Oshiwambo and we all sang. And by we I mean the school teachers and learners that came because I don’t know any songs in Oshiwambo. I wish I did but it was beautiful to hear the community singing in their native language.
As they were singing the men in the community carried the casket into the middle of the homestead where they opened it and put out a donation bin. We then filed into a line to give money to the family. After this we walked into the field and arrived at the burial grounds for the homestead. There was a hole that had already been dug for the boy and we stood around the hole as some of the men finished digging. There was more singing and then the casket was lowered by hand into the hole and covered in the soil. One of the men then brought the sign that had the boy’s name and date of birth and death and stuck it in front of the hole.
After the burial we then proceeded to walk back to the homestead where the family had prepared meat and potatoes for all of us to eat and we sat around and talked. I was greeted by one of the ku kus (older women) in Oshiwambo. I am proud to say that I did the greeting correctly. All of my colleagues thought it was funny that I was speaking in their language. I also heard one of the teachers say oshilumbu which means white person in Oshikwanyama so I felt uneasy for a while knowing that they were talking about me. This happens quite often during the day. The people here assume I don’t know what it means but I’m learning fast some of the key words in their language.
At first it was a strange feeling to be the only white person around but I’ve gotten used to it. I think it may take some time for the people in the community to get used to the fact that I’m here and I want to be a part of their community. The other white people in Namibia as I’ve said are Africaaners. They speak Africaans. A lot of people assume I am one of them as well. Once they learn that I am American they feel a lot better. Apparently there have been some quarrels between some of the Namibians and some of the Africaaners.
I spent the weekend at Benny’s again with five of the other volunteers from WorldTeach. It’s always nice to see people that I know and get a nice hot shower. I think that seeing them on the weekends gives me comfort that I’m not alone in this. It’s hard sometimes to live in the bush and have no contact with any of the other volunteers. It’s relaxing to swap stories and support each other with anything that is going on.
I am starting to meet a lot of the people in the Onambutu village and introduce myself. Last night one of the other teachers brought me over to some of the village elders and introduced me. I sat and socialized with them for a while and Kawana was saying that they were happy that I’m here and teaching the learners and also happy that I had taken the time to introduce myself and become a part of the community. They are all excited for later in the year when I can communicate better in Oshikwanyama and they can learn some English from me. The official language of Namibia is English, however, a lot of the elders don’t speak it. Most of the younger generations know at least some English.
I’m going to lesson plan now but I hope everyone is well and happy. I’m on a countdown until I get Hunter (the puppy)…only 6 more days!
Peace and Love,
Chelsea
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