Zambia Trip

To continue on with the May holiday adventures after Erindi Game Park my friend and I returned to the Kavango region and stayed in my village for a bit so that I can show her that village life style. I’m glad she got to experience it, but there was one MAJOR perk she got to enjoy which NEVER happens, we had Taco Tuesday!!!  As a birthday gift my family sent my friend Bea with some corn tortillas for me ;) a few friends were over so to kick off my Namixcan BirthMay celebrations we had margaritas and tacos!! It was awesome!!

After a few days in the village a group of fellow volunteers, Bea, and myself decided to jump some boarders and venture off to Zambia, just east of Namibia. This time we were riding in style and used Intercape Bus. It wasn’t anything fancy, but it was 3,792,735 times better than Kumbis. Kumbis really do make me nervous. Also, Intercape offered an overnight bus which was a nice option so that we could just sleep for the 11 hour ride and arrive in the morning so the adventures could begin right away. Early in the morning we saw some wild elephants and giraffes on the side of the road. This made me kind of giggle to my friend. Back home the animals I saw the most often were cattle and horses. Now I rarely see horses but giraffes and baboons are pretty regular thing; when I return to the states it’s going to be funny to see horses again.

Back to the fun stuff though, Zambia!! Zambia was awesome. We stayed in a pretty touristy area, Livingston so I didn’t get to see too much of the country by any means, but what I did see, I loved. We were there about 3 and half days and got to do lots of fun stuff. The first day was a bit more relaxed and we basically just walked around Livingston which was a cute town. People seemed friendly and it had a nice safe feel to it. The second day was action packed. We got to go see one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World, Victoria Falls. If you are not familiar with it Victoria Falls is the largest waterfall in the world and it is absolutely beautiful!! It costed $20USD and was completely worth it. There are many walking trails on top and on the bottom of the falls. There’s also a bridge about mid level of the falls directly in front of them where you can walk and get soaked. The mist from the falls is so strong it creates a rainforest and garden of rainbows, it was surreal to see. The other exciting point was bungee jumping!! Yes bungee jumping!!!! Ahh it was so scary yet a blast all at once. A bridge a bit down from the falls offers a thing called the Big Air package, this included bungee jumping, the bungee swing (which was similar to bungee jumping with out as much air time and you fall feet first rather than head first), and zip lining. Check out the following blog to see the video of the bungee swing and bungee jumping. Man, that was a rush. I think bungee jumping was even scarier than sky diving!

The next day we purchased a package from the hostel we stayed at (JollyBoys backpackers) which started our day with a 2 hour canoe ride where we got to see a few elephants, followed by elephant interaction where we got to feed and hang out with the elephants. You even get to sit with them and tell them about how pretty they are. Well you don’t have to tell them that but theyre beautiful so I wanted to. After the interaction we went on a small safari drive followed by lunch. After lunch we were able to relax for bit before going on a sunset cruise where dinner was provided. On the boat we met a super sweet pair of parents who were in Zambia because their son just completed his 27 month service with Peace Corps and was now marrying someone he met during service.  Those Peace Corps love stories get me every time!

Over all the trip (though brief) was one of a life time. I had great company and an amazing time. Tons of pictures were taken so I decided to collaborate them all into this fun little video. (Told you I’d make up for the missed Sunday Funday pictures.) So for your Sunday Funday there are tons of pictures between then three blog posts!

Bungee Jumping/Bungee swing at Victoria Falls

When walking to the bridge a man selling bracelets asked if we were jumping and we said yes, his response "There is life after bungee-ing"



If you are considering taking the big jump at Victoria Falls and Zambia, do it!! I'll be honest, it was scary as can be, but thrilling in a very fun way!

Erindi Game Park Namibia, Africa

One of the [many] perks of being a volunteer teacher in
Namibia means we get to have the month of May off. Now add in the fact that
you’re volunteering in a foreign country and it equals holiday spent exploring
new lands of not only your host country but also its surrounding countries!

Over holiday (as you may know) one of my best friends in the
world came to see the beauty that Namibia and Zambia have to offer. We had a
blast and I thought I would share the adventures we had together. I’m going to
break this into two posts because each one deserves its own posting. (Sorry for
those of you who are subscribed to my blog and are now getting multiple emails
of postings in a short time span, but it does make me feel uber loved that you
follow my blog so thank you mucho!) Next time you find yourself in Namibia, if
you’re a volunteer in country or visiting a volunteer I HIGHLY recommend doing
both these activities because they were super fun! The two main things we did
was camp at Erindi Game Park and went to Livingstone Zambia to see one of the
Seven Natural Wonders of the World: Victoria Falls.  For this story though we are focusing on
Erindi Game Park.

Our trip started at the spectacular Erindi Game Park for a
weekend camping trip. The most “popular” tourist game park to see in Namibia
typically is Etosha. I have not had the chance to go to Etosha yet, but from
asking other volunteers and locals which game park they enjoyed most I was told
Erindi multiple times and can see why! We decided to rent a SUV so that we can
do the Self-Guided Game drive which was $300NAD for the whole car (not even a
per person fee) for each day that you want to do the drive. To transfer that to
American currency that’s under $25! Tell me you wouldn’t jump on the
opportunity if you could. The park is HUGE! Over 100km of driving roads see a
vast variety of game, and there was plenty to see. We decided to do the
Self-Drive one day, and guided tours on another to experience both. We drove
all day and say only half the park! Between the Self-Drive, and Guided Tour we
saw giraffes, kudu, springbok, eland, wildebeest, zebras, crocodiles, baboons,
hippos, elephants, hippos, wild cats, hyenas, and even rhinos and lions!!!!
There are  tons of birds and other
animals I know I’m forgetting.

We stayed at the Camp Elephant camp sites which came with a
park space, bricked fire pit, grassed areas big enough to fit at least 2 large
tents comfortably, a fridge, a bath room and a shower with water temp control!!
It was like fancy camping. A short walk from the campsites is a water hole that
is very active with the park’s game. The first morning we were there we made
some coffee and went to enjoy the morning delight at the watering hole. It was
amazing to be sipping on coffee and see zebras come trotting from the vision
line for a drink while the wildebeest play, only to be surprised by the quiet
steps of an elephant coming to bathe and get his own morning drink. Another
part that was super cool was waking up in the middle of the night once and
hearing the lions! It was both terrifying and exciting!

I was very pleased every things we did at Erindi!  

Airports have feelings too

As you may have seen in a previous blog, the month of May is when schools go on holiday (vacation) and I had a friend visiting from the states. That’s the reason for my radio silence, I’m sorry. I even forgot about the Sunday Funday Pictures! Well now I’m back and I pinkie promise I will have an awesome Sunday Funday this upcoming week to make up for it, but for now a story on how Peace Corps has once again manged to shift me perception of things. 

I would call myself well traveled. I’ve been to and through many airports; I have been picked up and picked up others, but (as many things do through Peace Corps service) how I now look at airports has changed.

Upon arriving to the airport I saw a couple of my fellow volunteers also picking up friends and family. All of us with smiles, and I believe we were all even showered! The airport in Windhoek isn’t very big and a group of shuttle drivers had already begun standing next to the rails near the arrivals exit. I had been anticipating my friend’s arrival for weeks and with less than an hour till she walked through those gates, I was getting anxious. The other volunteers and I chatted about our plans and stops we were making with our guest, but the one consistent thing was “needing” the visit.  Like I’ve said before, volunteering can be tough, but sometimes it’s the simplest joys that can move mountains for volunteers. None of us had seen these visitors and almost a year (or more) so some time with familiar faces from home, now that’s something so great I’m not even sure how to express it.

Finally the doors to the gate began opening, and we all pretty much jumped with each person walking out hoping it was our visitor. My friend came out first, but only to ask some questions about a suitcase of donated Days for Girls kits she brought and then had to return back to customs. (**check bottom for side note about bringing donations through the airport)  Then another volunteer’s parents came in.  The smile on her face just as she opened her arms to wrap around her family, is probably one of the biggest smiles I have ever seen someone do.  The other volunteer literally squealed as her friend came through. The airport was a place happier than Disney World as we all parted our separated ways to enjoy our holiday.

Sadly, all holidays must come to an end and I found myself back at an airport but this time to say bye. This encounter much different than before.  We had a great holiday, I even tried convincing my friend to just extend her vacation for, oh you know 18 months, but she has adult-ing to do and cats to feed so that wasn’t exactly a realistic option. And so, as can be expected she got her departing ticket and made her way through security and to her plane. I made it only a handful steps before I started crying. This time I noticed a couple other teary eyed people. A place so euphoric before was now coated with tears, and not the happy kind.  Coincidentally, an arrival flight had arrived and the smiles of loved one coming in for this reason or that were filling the room.

Prior to this I knew the airport came with happy and sad feelings. I think this is the first time though that I stopped and watched it happen to people trafficking through. The highs extremely high, and the lows very low. Then there’s always the ones just passing through handling business of some sorts. After my friend left I did just sit there and watch the airport unfold. Airports, big and small, are typically so fast paced and always in motion, I never realized how many impacting moments in time happen constantly. Makes me wonder if the airport staff recognizes this too.

*** If you are visiting someone/getting a visitor and a donation is being brought you must have a letter from the person/company proving the donated good stating where the donation is going. On top of that the airport is going to charge you a nice fee, even when you try explaining its a donation for a volunteer teacher to give to the school their volunteering at, just to warn you. I thought her bringing them rather than shipping them would have been cheaper, but shipping probably would have been the better route. 

What you can do with $1.00USD to help celebrate your birthday

I have an awesome finding for what you can do with $1.00USD!

6-May: My birthday and 9 months of service. I could have had a kid by now! Weird!! I’m starting to become convinced that Peace Corps has this weird time morphing machine that warps your gage of time. I swear some days seem to never end, and then I take a short nap and suddenly it’s the end of another month! If you’ve been following my blog you already know, but the school year here starts in January and ends in the beginning of December. One perk of teaching is VACATION! In honor of my birthday all public schools shut down for vacation!! JUST KIDDING!! Schools really do close pretty much the entire month of May, but not in honor of my birthday, its winter break.  Term one is known to be the longest term for how many days are included at numeric value, but if you ask me that flew by!!! I’ve basically spent the past two weeks glued to my red pen. No one better show me a red pen in the month of May or I may throw that pen at them lol. I am super excited because one of the most awesomest people in my life is coming to visit for my birthday!! J Bea has been apart of my life since what feels like forever and is coming in to take on Namibia with me! We are going to Erindi Game Park, hiking across the country back to my site then venturing up to Victoria Falls, one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World. Bea will almost get to see Namibia from the South to the Okavango, across the Caprivi and into Zambia ( a neighboring country). She is even bringing corn tortillas to make tacos AND Hot Cheetos. Now if that’s not birthday love then I don’t know what is!

So this edition of what can you do with $1.00, well right now ratio is about $14.97NAD to $1.00USD. To get me from my village to the hike point to the capital Windhoek is $10.00. I may even be able to squeeze in a water bottle for the ride. Now the hike to Windhoek is a whole other story, but its enough to grab a taxi to begin some birthday adventures!

Life in a day of camp.... condoms and bibles and HIV, OH MY!

In a previous article I told you a bit about "Secondary Projects" which are exactly what it sounds like. Secondary Projects are the other things you do outside of the main reasons/role you were hired to do, mine being teaching English.

Well, as you know one if my "Secondary Projects" is Camp YEAH! (Which you will know more about in a blog very soon.) However, I just have to share this story now now!

Today was day 4 of camp: we've spent the past few days teaching about HIV/AIDS, safe sex, STIs, Teen Pregnancies, stereotypes, Healthy relationship... You know, that fun stuff. So let me tell you about this very day!

Woke up, started the day in a dining hall full of Namibian teens eating breakfast. After having way too much coffee and hot chocolate we began the activities for the day.

First activity: teaching the Learners how to put on male condoms. 

Second activity: Use Tupac and Justin Beiber to explain how we can use the Bible as guidance, specifically with HIV related topics.

We needed to get the work done before moving onto the TALENT SHOW!!!!



And so my day ended by being in a WWE skit as Lady Loca

Signature move: The Chola Choke-Out 

That's alllll bad nuh 

(If you're from NM you'll get it ;) 

And so that my blogging community, is how one may spend their day in the life as a PCV hosting a camp for learners.