New bike, jogging, and homemade breakfast tacos (11-20-2010)

This past week has been one of my better weeks here in Namibia. It also marks my third month here in Namibia (3 down, 25 to go). I am unsure if it actually feels like it has been 3 months. Part of me feels like it was just yesterday that I left, while the other part of me feels like I’ve been gone for at least a year. It strange how time no longer seems to be quite so rushed anymore. I am not sure if this is because I am no longer at University where I was always going from class to class, meeting to meeting, and completing homework assignment after homework assignment without actually thinking about what I was doing or even really having much time to breathe. Or if this is a consequence of no longer living in America (America as Namibians call it, the United States is what I typically call it, but often if you say the United States you get a confused look, and once you say America they go “oh!”) where everything seems to have to move incredibly fast and free time is uncommon, at least in my life. Either way I now have lots of free time and I no longer need to power walk to and from places but can leisurely take my time strolling and thinking. The other day was Pension Day here in Iilyateko, which means anyone who collects money from the government can come and get it, but it also means that there will be many vendors coming into the village to sell everything from machete like knives to fat cakes (and fat fish or fish cakes- fish fried in fat cake dough) to traditional beer to clothing. On the way to the field where it was being held I walked with two other teachers and they kept telling me to slow down, when I thought that I had been walking slowly to begin with. I feel like I’ve spent most of my life hearing the words “Hurry up” so when I hear “Slow down” I am not quite sure how to respond to that.
I bought a bicycle Friday, it turned out to be quite the fiasco. A teacher, my Namibian Grandmother or Kuku, took me to Okathitu Bikes, which is a part of BEN Bikes, and they are located in the village. There they had maybe 3 or 4 bikes from me to choose from however none of them were necessarily in good condition, but I chose one out and then when we asked if they had a basket/rack for the back they said no, but Okafitu bikes would, which is in Outapi, and part of the same BEN Bikes program would. So I went to Outapi with my Nambibian grandmother. When we got to Outapi the people working there were in disbelief that they could sell me a bike that wasn’t properly restored and cleaned up so I was able to test ride their bikes and ended up swapping my bike from the village for a nicer bike from the town. I do miss my bike that is at home in Texas, but this one will be a good replacement for the next two years. My bike is probably a bike from the late 90’s that is hot pink and purple and reads “Wild thing” and “Born to be Wild” on the frame and even has a bell and a rack/basket/seat over the back wheel! I am happy. I did learn yesterday that biking in Namibia isn’t quite the same as America, for one there are no paved roads in my village so I am biking over savannah sand which can be difficult. I’ve only rode my bike twice but I’ve had a number of near accidents. I am getting the hang of it though and know now to ride in the car tracks, where the sand is more compact.
This was actually my third time going to Outapi recently because I also wound up going with teachers from school. I went to a village on the way to Outapi to be measured for a traditional dress for an upcoming wedding of one of the teachers with the other teachers from school and then after getting measured we had to go and run errands and buy fabric in Outapi. It was nice to go again because they took me to a number of stores so slowly I am starting to learn my way around the city. When I say city do not think American city because it is much more like a town with only two main roads and maybe at most 10 strip malls, it is nothing like an American or European city that I’ve ever been to. Windhoek I am coming to learn is the only city that is actually like what we would classify as a city by American standards. Each time I go to Outapi I am realizing there is more and more there. I was pretty ecstatic because on this last trip I was able to get lots of fruits and veggies, including bananas, apples, oranges, carrots, cucumber, potatoes, and tomatoes. Since coming to Namibia I have not once had that many fruits and veggies accessible to me at once. My principal would laugh because for lunch and snacks at school I would pack an apple, orange, banana, carrot, and peanut butter sandwich. In Namibia you typically would have less produce than starches so my meal looked weird. On the same topic of food I am starting to get into my groove of cooking and this week made homemade lentil burgers and breakfast tacos. I also discovered that my oven actually works; previously I had thought that it was broken, so after reconnect I am going to start baking. I need to get some basics while in the city first though, like baking powder, spices, herbs, yeast, and pans.
I believe I’ve mentioned this before but being the only white person in my community means that I’m always watched and often times stared at. I am getting better at dealing with the staring because it is typically young children and once you acknowledge you see them they go running away. On the other hand I also have babies and toddlers that will cry when they see me or hide from me. It’s so weird because I don’t consider myself scary looking but I guess the unknown can be scary for a small child. I laugh because one of my co-workers daughters is terrified of me, well maybe not terrified anymore but she won’t let me hold her or be near her. When I first came she would cry every time I was around, but slowly she is getting better. It’s funny because this is payback for the way I treated a man at my church when I was little in New Hampshire. I remember there was a man with a big beard who I would not let near me and now in the village the kids are doing the same thing to me.

So this portion was written a few days later, well actually today. It’s crazy the rollercoaster ride Namibia and Peace Corps life is. One day can be amazing, while the next is incredibly challenging. Today luckily I received some packages, which made a rough day much better! Thank you to those who sent them—Nana and Gramps, Aunt Julie and Family, and Mommy and Daddy!