It really is all about the little things...

Sometimes in the land of cheap and plentiful (America) one can lose track of the little things that make life so sweet.  I know I am guilty of that.  In America, I usually have a screen blaring at me most of my waking hours.  Unfortunately, it comes as part and parcel of being a social media coordinator.  I would even go so far as saying it is part of 21st Century American culture.

Since I've been here in Namibia, I've fallen in love with this continent all over again.  Namibia is quite different from Mozambique, which will always be my terra africana, but there are hidden gems woven into Namibian culture that I am learning to appreciate every day.

My first example just happened to me.  I am here in downtown Windhoek having a beer and doing some internet work.  Some guy walks by me and speaks to me in Afrikaans.  I answered in Afrikaans, saying it's not my mother language but I can understand.  We procede to talk (in Afrikaans) and of course he is selling something.  But he was selling the marulla nut pendants that I've only seen in Namibia.  We got talking further and he wanted N$50 per pendant.  I told him he is gek (crazy) and he started laughing that an American would know a word like that.  I had some fried on my table so I offered him some fries and now I have both pendants with Adam and my names carved into them for N$50.

The other wonderful thing - dare I say miraculous - happened earlier.  I went to a book store in Windhoek that I've passed on a regular basis.  The rainbow flag is outside, so I knew I had to check it out.  I went in and started talking with the owner.  He is a middle aged German-Namibian and offered me tea.  I took it and spent the afternoon chatting with him and some of his friends in German.  I was looking for an old book about Windhoek, which he had for only N$58.  I paid N$50.  While I was helping him shut down the shop, I chanced across some plays from around the world.  I noticed some Shakespeare so I looked for Twelfth Night.  AND I FOUND IT!    The price tage was N$50 and he gave it to me for free.

Now I am off home, because the Germans are coming to pick me up in an hour for a Braai (Southern African BBQ) at their house.

More soon,

Ian

Last Days in America....

I haven't written a post like this in awhile.  But tonight is my last day in Vermont before I head to the airport (JFK) to fly to Namibia.

This is the flag of the country which has been independent since 1990.  I'm very excited because independence day is March 21st (1990) and I will be there for the 23rd anniversary of independence.  I know this is a fanciful comparison, but I wonder what America was like in 1799 - 23 years after our independence from Britain.


I know the answer to part of this question.  I'm also not trying to compare Namibia to America or vice versa.  I'm just trying to process that I WILL BE GOING BACK TO AFRICA after an absence of 4 years.  It's going to be a different experience because I'll be living in the "best" neighborhood of Windhoek.  For those of you that may know Windhoek, I'll be staying in provided housing in the Klein Windhoek or Ludwigsdorf section of the city - depending on who you talk too.  I've also heard, that Klein Windhoek is the original settlement, i.e. the entire eastern section of the modern city and then Ludwigsdorf is the actual neighborhood.  Ahhhh Africa!  I'll let you know when I get there.


Some things I'm looking forward to the most about Africa:

-Heat , especially last night after sliding back down to the railroad parking lot by the river.  Man it was cold and slipper.
-Color
-Spicy smells
-Smell after it rains It'll be the dry season. :(
-Cheap, fresh food
-Music
and lastly, MOST important

GETTING ADAM CHRISTOPHE TO AFRICA!!!!!

My next post will be coming from Windhoek.  I love the fact that I am going from weather that's in the 30's Fahrenheit to 30's Celsius.

More soon.

It could only happen to me...

So, I'm back and America. It's been about 72 hours and it's cold. I went to the cafe around the corner from my sister's house and tried to "meet people." Truthfully I was just bored in the apartment and wanted some sort of tolerable stimulation. Anyway, I worked up the nerve to speak "coffeeese" and tried to order a hot drink. Luckily the barista was patient and I got my task accomplished. However, the guy next to me was having some trouble. He was asked whether he would like a small, medium or large. So, he retorted with "well, it depends how large the American large is." Think supersize me people. I laughed outloud and he and his girlfriend came to sit at my table. (Which by the way had a picture of Felix on it.) So the first new people I meet in America and become friends with are two Estonians named Peeter and Lissie. Is that a sign?