Reid and I went down to the Peace Corps offices today in Windhoek and met with one of the APCDs (educ. program director). We had met her at Andrew Harris' dinner party. She had indicated that she might be helpful in hooking us up with a language trainer so that we might learn one of the local tribal languages called Oshiwambo. She was very helpful. We learned that there are seven dialects of the language. We're hoping that we can at least learn a few expressions and greetings in only one of the dialects so that when we travel about the country we won't be seen completely as tourists.
Selma also showed us around the offices and introduced us to various members of the staff. Among the people working there, we came across a certain LeJeune Lockett. LeJeune works as the health director. Well of course with a name like that we knew there must be a Louisiana connection. LeJeune's dad works at Southern and her family lives in Baton Rouge. Although, she hasn't actually lived in Louisiana, she owns a house in Port Allen. Go figure! Her dad is originally from Jeannerette just a couple of miles from my hometown of St. Martinville. We had a wonderful conversation with her and are still in awe over how small the world really is.
Emma had show and tell today at school and took a "tin" of Tony Chachere's to show her classmates. Her teacher was in awe that she spoke so much since she had been quiet as a mouse being the new kid on the block. She told all of her friends about gumbo and crawfish. She said that when you eat gumbo you want to go for more because it's so good, but you can't because you're too full. She also mentioned to her entire class that Reid and I argued in Wal-Mart about bringing Tony's in the luggage. She quoted her father, "Just how much of this stuff do we really need anyway?" Of course, I insisted and managed to bring two industrial size cans. Given that we don't really know what we're eating half the time--meat-wise, I think we're all grateful for the Tony's!
Friday, January 30, 2009
Thursday, January 29, 2009
To get around and see this diverse and beautiful country we bought a used Land Rover. It's a 4-wheel drive, 4 cylinder diesel that purrs like a kitten but handles like a truck. She's a gem. We will be putting a different roof rack on, one that has a roll-out awning and will sport a roof-top tent for camping. We have already tried her out on the rough roads of a nearby game park and she handled them like a champ. My colleagues at the university only say, "Prof, you are driving this big machine?" I'm an American. It's expected.
The world according to Reid.....
The world according to Reid.....
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Call for children's books
We've been meeting a lot of interesting people already in our short stay in Namibia. Andrew Harris, a British national, has been helping Reid get connected with individuals who can help him get his research component jump started is one of many. He is married to Priscilla, a Namibian national, and they have a magnificent house out in the countryside in the environs of Windhoek. He invited the family to a dinner party where we met lots of other interesting people who work for various aid agencies, the ministries, or as consultants. We toured his solar powered house, had great conversation and enjoyed a wonderful dinner. Getting to and back from his house in our rented Kia on what were essentially paths was an adventure in and of itself, especially at night.
In the course of our evening, I learned from Priscilla that she teaches primary school and is in grave need of children's books. I indicated that I might be of help. Books are terribly expensive here and it is typical that courses are taught without the children/students being issued a text. This is the case for Reid's classes as well--no texts. I thought that I could possibly trouble my friends in Louisiana, especially my educator friends, to send over those books that they haven't got use for anymore. Priscilla is especially interested in gently used and new primary/elementary level leisure reading books with which she could create a classroom library. I intend to leave the entire box that we had shipped over for our kids through the Fulbright program, but in the interim if your children are looking for a good deed to do or a project, we'd be glad to pass them on to Priscilla if you send them to our post box. Softcovers that can easily fit into a large manilla envelope would be best. Our postal address is: P.O. Box 27396, Windhoek, Namibia. Priscilla would truly be delighted.
In the course of our evening, I learned from Priscilla that she teaches primary school and is in grave need of children's books. I indicated that I might be of help. Books are terribly expensive here and it is typical that courses are taught without the children/students being issued a text. This is the case for Reid's classes as well--no texts. I thought that I could possibly trouble my friends in Louisiana, especially my educator friends, to send over those books that they haven't got use for anymore. Priscilla is especially interested in gently used and new primary/elementary level leisure reading books with which she could create a classroom library. I intend to leave the entire box that we had shipped over for our kids through the Fulbright program, but in the interim if your children are looking for a good deed to do or a project, we'd be glad to pass them on to Priscilla if you send them to our post box. Softcovers that can easily fit into a large manilla envelope would be best. Our postal address is: P.O. Box 27396, Windhoek, Namibia. Priscilla would truly be delighted.
Monday, January 26, 2009
We visited Daan Viljoen Game Park this past weekend in our newly purchased LandRover. It's new to us, that is. It's actually a 1995 model, but it's got a diesel engine that we figure will last forever. It's complete with bull bar in the front. Somewhat like driving a tank. I'm not sure that I'll ever get the hang of it especially with this right hand drive. We saw all that the park has to offer: zebras, giraffes, baboons, wildebeests, cutie baby warthogs, etc. It was good to get out of the city and see the wildlife in the wild.
The park has a dam where a number of ducks and birds roost. It was a bird watcher's paradise. Many of the thorn trees are in blossom so the butterflies were out in full force as well. Augustus and I wil attempt to create a slide show and post his pictures for your viewing pleasure.
The park has a dam where a number of ducks and birds roost. It was a bird watcher's paradise. Many of the thorn trees are in blossom so the butterflies were out in full force as well. Augustus and I wil attempt to create a slide show and post his pictures for your viewing pleasure.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Settling In
We're slowly settling in here in our "flat" in Windhoek. It's somewhat small, but adequate. Windhoek is a city, so coming to Africa to live in a city is taking a bit of adjustment. The kids are somewhat hardpressed to find things to entertain themselves. Our "garden" i.e. backyard is about as big as our living room back home. The kids are also a bit put out with us because we have refused to subscribe to satellite t.v. There are only 2 Namibian channels, so virtually everyone who can afford it subscribes to satellite. The system is all set up in our appartment and all we've got to do is take the card down to the place and have them "recharge" it. The card has a computer chip on it and then all one has to do is insert the card into the receiver device and he/she is all set to go. We told the kids that we didn't have satellite t.v. at home and we were certainly not going to have it here. Of course so much of the programming is American: Spongebob, Jimmy Newtron, etc. They're making up for their "loss" every time we visit the other Fulbright families here by parking themselves in front of the t.v. for hours.
The weather here has changed a bit since our arrival. Initially, it was very hot and dry. It's still hot, but the rains have come helping to ease the dryness. This morning the rains came very early in the a.m. When we took off for school there was the most magnificent rainbow any of us had ever seen. It was as if we could touch it. Unfortunately, none of us had the camera handy.
The kids are attending the international school of Windhoek. It's a marvelous place where children of all nationalities attend. When I step on campus to pick up the kids in the afternoon, I easily hear ten different languages walking from one classroom to the next as parents greet their children. It's truly amazing that despite all of their differences, the kids get along and are content to be kids whatever their nationality.
School starts at 7:20 in the morning and dismisses at 1:30 p.m. It's tough getting the young ones up and at 'em but it's the best way to handle things in this climate. Sports and other extra-curricular activities are usually held from 1:45-2:45, so we're easily home by 3:00 p.m. most days. Augustus has signed up for track and field and "football" (soccer here). The girls will do tennis. There's a variety of things to sign up for as well not just sports--crafts, yearbook, musical, extra tutoring, computers, etc. It's a refreshing change from all of that emphasis on sports back home.
There's a good deal of German spoken around here as Namibia was once under German influence. Most of the streets end in the ubiquitous ....strasse (German for street). There are a number of German supermarkets and I was even addressed as Frau the other day. So many of the products are labeled in German that we hardly know what we're purchasing sometimes. We've been eating things like "wienerschnitzle" and boerwoers. I'm even contemplating learning some German even though that is anathema to my Romance languages background. German is just not a very pretty sounding language!
We've purchased a vehicle, finally! It's a 1995 LandRover Discovery--diesel. It's got what they refer to as a bull bar in the front. Apparently, driving outside of the city can be pretty hazardous because of all of the wildlife. It is especially so at night. Many a vehicle has been on the losing side with an oryx. We shall nonetheless be prepared. We're going to outfit it with a roof top tent as well. Don't want the lions taking us in our sleep. So, if we can ever get out of the city, we'll be well equipped.
Reid's classes were scheduled to start yesterday. He showed up all eager to get things underway, but none of his students did. He returned again today for a different course and still no students. One of his colleagues said that the students won't arrive until after pay day so that they will have the money for fees. That's at the end of the month. The International Univesity of Management, where Reid is teaching, is located above and behind the DVD King on Bohnhofstasse. It's got an enrollment of about 1,000 students. Big change from LSU for the old Doc, but he's looking forward nonetheless to his teaching duties.
Hope to post pictures as soon as I figure out how to do so. I'm really having to go up the technology learning curve here. Cell phones, wireless internet devices, blogs--who knew!
The weather here has changed a bit since our arrival. Initially, it was very hot and dry. It's still hot, but the rains have come helping to ease the dryness. This morning the rains came very early in the a.m. When we took off for school there was the most magnificent rainbow any of us had ever seen. It was as if we could touch it. Unfortunately, none of us had the camera handy.
The kids are attending the international school of Windhoek. It's a marvelous place where children of all nationalities attend. When I step on campus to pick up the kids in the afternoon, I easily hear ten different languages walking from one classroom to the next as parents greet their children. It's truly amazing that despite all of their differences, the kids get along and are content to be kids whatever their nationality.
School starts at 7:20 in the morning and dismisses at 1:30 p.m. It's tough getting the young ones up and at 'em but it's the best way to handle things in this climate. Sports and other extra-curricular activities are usually held from 1:45-2:45, so we're easily home by 3:00 p.m. most days. Augustus has signed up for track and field and "football" (soccer here). The girls will do tennis. There's a variety of things to sign up for as well not just sports--crafts, yearbook, musical, extra tutoring, computers, etc. It's a refreshing change from all of that emphasis on sports back home.
There's a good deal of German spoken around here as Namibia was once under German influence. Most of the streets end in the ubiquitous ....strasse (German for street). There are a number of German supermarkets and I was even addressed as Frau the other day. So many of the products are labeled in German that we hardly know what we're purchasing sometimes. We've been eating things like "wienerschnitzle" and boerwoers. I'm even contemplating learning some German even though that is anathema to my Romance languages background. German is just not a very pretty sounding language!
We've purchased a vehicle, finally! It's a 1995 LandRover Discovery--diesel. It's got what they refer to as a bull bar in the front. Apparently, driving outside of the city can be pretty hazardous because of all of the wildlife. It is especially so at night. Many a vehicle has been on the losing side with an oryx. We shall nonetheless be prepared. We're going to outfit it with a roof top tent as well. Don't want the lions taking us in our sleep. So, if we can ever get out of the city, we'll be well equipped.
Reid's classes were scheduled to start yesterday. He showed up all eager to get things underway, but none of his students did. He returned again today for a different course and still no students. One of his colleagues said that the students won't arrive until after pay day so that they will have the money for fees. That's at the end of the month. The International Univesity of Management, where Reid is teaching, is located above and behind the DVD King on Bohnhofstasse. It's got an enrollment of about 1,000 students. Big change from LSU for the old Doc, but he's looking forward nonetheless to his teaching duties.
Hope to post pictures as soon as I figure out how to do so. I'm really having to go up the technology learning curve here. Cell phones, wireless internet devices, blogs--who knew!
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