Legends from the Kavango: Things to be aware of when crossing the river in a canoe

For many residents of the Kavango regions (East and West) life is lived along the Okavango River. The miles upon miles of river bring plenty of (the most delicious) fish you could hope to catch, memes doing their laundry, kids spashing and flipping into the river, people around every curve enjoying a nice, and several watos (canoes in English) coasting through the waters.
The watos are not only useful for travel, fishing, and having fun; their beautiful hand carvings decorate the river quite nicely. However, according the legend, there can be danger riding in a wato depending on what you were up to the night before.

Also enjoying the gifts of the river are many hippos. What you may not know about the hippos are they have extra senses that can recognize if you were sleeping with someone other than your spouce the night befor. If you've been behaving the hippos will let you ride along the river in the canoe in peace. Unfortunately, if you have been a bit scandalous the hippos will provide you with your karma. Somehow the hippos are aware of what your life is like between the sheets and if you're unfaithful, and try crossing the river in a canoe a hippo will come out of no where and attack you!! If you are willing to admit the adultery to the people your with though, you can break off a piece of bamboo to place in the front of the wato. That piece of bamboo will then keep you safe from the vengeful hippos as you travel in the waters.

So next time you plan on getting in a wato to enjoy a ride, make sure you're practicing honesty... or it just may be the last thing you do before the hippos make you pay!

How to survive the rough weeks of Peace Corps

So as much as Id love to say serving, as a PCV is rainbows and sunshine every day, sometimes this gig is rough! Let’s face it; every day can’t be on fleek. (ß who says PCV’s can’t be hip with the cool words States side) These past couple weeks have been one of a few weeks that had me borderline 3-year-old tantrum, tossing myself on the floor kicking and screaming in need of someone to just hold me, say its okay, and give me a sticker and ice-cream. However, not all hopes are lost, I’ve come to find there’s a few ways to survive riding the rocky waves.

Happiness in a box – I’m pretty sure I can speak for all volunteers when I say getting mail makes your day. Come on when was the last time you wrote some snail mail? Its fun! I love reading what friends and family have to say, and I have fun drawing pictures on the letters responding.  Even if your not a PCV tell me you don’t enjoy a letter from a friend. Care packages!!! Its like Christmas morning to get to your box and see a little slip to pick up your package at the office. I pretty much skip the whole way to the post office. Seriously, I can not say thank you enough to the people who have sent me goodies, especially the ones who have sent supplies for my little monsters, wait I mean….. ummm….. classes of angels. 

Welcome to the twenty first century – Isn't technology great? There’s been a few times I had a day from h-e double hockey sticks! Then I get a notification from a friend or family saying either something encouraging or some quoting funny conversations or recapturing funny memories.  Sometimes I swear people sense it even from the other side of the globe.

Hide! – Its taboo for the culture of my host village to spend time alone, but some times its needed. Yes, integration and being active in your community is good, but sometimes its just, needed to lock yourself in your room with head phones staring at the roof. Sometimes sanity is granted by tucking away behind a back tree with a book. Just go for a walk. This job can be tough at times, sometimes the best de-stressor is a nice walk and breath of air.

I cant believe I’m about to suggest binge eating – I love chocolate and hot Cheetos. I ATTEMPT to save my hot Cheetos for rainy days, but then, well theyre hot Cheetos, especially lime, mmmmmmmmmm *starts dreaming of its loveliness*. Peace Corps has taught me the meaning of love; love is the feeling you get when you put hot lime Cheetos in your mouth. Since my hot Cheetos don’t typically last long I try to always have a chocolate bar or some other treat tucked away. Some times simply surviving the day is reason enough to celebrate and indulge in good as an award for not going [completely] bonkers.

Pack your teddy bear – Seriously! If you have one pack it. I have an elephant, her name is Cassie and she is the best. Also, before I left my friends back home gave me the best going away gift ever! They threw a surprise going away party and made me a scrap book  of collages, pictures, messages, and some extreme randomness, and I LOVE IT! Just flipping threw its pages not only makes me smile every time, its helps ease home sickness spells.

If you need to talk to someone, then talk. - We're not super heros, we're humans and with that comes emotions. You'd be surprise who you find can be the biggest support when you need it. There was literally a time I was so frustrated I cried my eyes out and a learner saw me, shocked to find out Americans cry. I'm usually a very bubbly person so she was under the impression that Americans are just happy. I didn't feel the need to explain all the issues but rather just leave it at, I'm feeling sad right now and sometimes crying helps. The next day she showed up at school with a card for me. 

And when all else fails a nice walk in with your head phones blasted is really nice way to relieve some stress and bring you back to the fact that you are living through an experience. Whether you're in America, Africa, South America, on and island, good days and bad days happen. Sometimes one of the trickiest parts of being a volunteer is learning how do dance through the rain rather than screaming at the next person to cross your path. 

I love Ellie Goulding and this song (Scream it Out) has played on repeat a few times to help me feel better, maybe it can help you too :)

https://youtu.be/RV9EKQG2ixI

Sunday Funday's (late) Pictures. Meet a few special learners!

February Learners of the Month!

 

For this Sunday’s Sunday Funday pictures (even though its Monday, sorry we had no power yesterday for me to get my blog on) I want to invite you too meet some of my learners. In my English classes every week learners have the opportunity to win “Learner of the Week.” I have been sent some fun pencils from America in care packages that learners LOVE! They are definitely in need of school supplies, but throw on scents, or pictures and that it came all the way from America and you would think I was handing over $100. It really is the little things that count. So each month there are four Learners of the Week in each one of my 3 English classes, and out of those four one is crown Learner of the Month.  Learner of the month gets a grand prize of having their picture printed and given to them (and when I happen to have some) a small candy from America. Seriously it is the littlest things that are beyond exciting to the learners. Not many of them have a picture of themselves and who isn’t excited to try a candy from another country? I’m really trying to encourage positive re-enforcements, which typically is supplied in high fives, but when I get a couple goodies in the mail it feels wrong to hog them to myself.

 

Except for Hot Cheetos and pinon, those are mine! #sorrynotsorry  ;-p

 

So this week I want to broadcast not only the ones who learned Learner of the Week, but also put the Learners of the Month in the spot light. They work hard not only in class and on their homework, but also to be a role model to their fellow classmates.

 

Grade 8

Learners of the Week

 

They are so serious in pictures, so I had to make them laugh ;)

 

 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Learner of the Month!! 

Andreas

 Andreas is one who comes off quiet in the classroom but put some pen and paper in front of her and a new being is born. She studies hard because she wants to be a teacher and someone important one day. She one tiny little thing constantly holding a sweet little smile on her face and encouraging her classmates to try hard in school as well.

 

Grade 9

Learners of the Week

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Learner of the Month! 

“Benny”

Benny has got to be one of the politest people I have ever met. With every teacher at school he is more than willing to help with passing out papers or carrying books. (Teachers rotate classes and often only have one set of subject books to be shared among all their classes.) He is not shy to offer help or ask for help from his fellow classmates. Benny plans on being a policeman someday to protect us from criminals.

 

 Learners of the Week

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Learner of the Month!

“Eddi”

Eddi, man this guy makes me laugh! He is your 9^th grade social butterfly. I’m trying to recall if I’ve ever seen him not smiling or joking around outside. He is seriously a friend with everyone! Eddi is super enthusiastic about school always being one of the first hands raised to answer questions in class. In his free time Eddi likes to write poems (a topic I haven’t even begin to teach in class).  Check out his latest poem below!

 

Poem

Thieves

 

COME TO ME

RUDE I AM

I STEAL FROM YOU

YOUR LOVE I GET

 

LOVE IS MY STYLE

ANGER IS MY SON

THIEF IS MY NAME

MONEY IS MY LOVE

 

POLICE ARE MY ENEMIES

A GUN IS MY HELPER

BUT FEAR OF JAIL

I AM FATHER OF HAIL

 

 

                   DONE BY EDDIE

 

 

 

*The learners were asked if it was okay to show their pictures and give you a little insight to who they are. They were thrilled featured!!

 

 

 

If you would like to support Learners of the Month with some candies or fun pencils/pen they absolutely LOVE it!! Goodies from America are a hot prize, especially warheads and tootsie rolls. Any goodies for learners can be sent to

 

Jamie Torres

Peace Corps Namibia

PO Box 114

Rundu Namibia 9000

 

 

From being an interpreter, to needing an interpreter: the lesson I didn’t expect to learn while serving in Peace Corps

Thanks to “Facebook memories” a funny reminisce of a status I posted 5 years ago as an American Sign Language(ASL) Interpreting student  came up saying – “The more and more I go through this interpreting program the more I question how well I actually know English.”

 

Languages are, crazy to say the least. Its like we spend our entire lives exposed and learning this thing that we don’t even realize we are learning, yet at the same time no one ever perfects it. How could we? Language is ever changing. I’ve been speaking, listening, reading, studying, and constantly exposed to English. Yet, while in my Bachelor’s I questioned if I was really was a master of English. Studying to be an interpreter requires endless hours studying another language, while challenging your skills in your own language. It took learning not just words, but meaning. Yes, textbooks help, to an extent, but not like getting out there and talking. When it came to getting a message in one language and then exporting that into another language all while not changing meaning was tough! It really made me question how well I knew how to control my use of language.

 

Now, as I’ve experienced Teaching English as a Second Language or Foreign Language, I again find myself questioning what I know. English has some silly rules. Namibia isn’t the first foreign country I teach in and one common factor I would fear is learners asking “well why do we do ___________?” “ Wait why don’t you say that letter”. Grammar is very tricky. I give people who learn English as a language other than their native language A LOT of credit. I giving anyone learning a language or languages in general a lot of credit! It is not an easy task at all. Trust me, I know!

 

After, I completed my B.A in ASL – English interpretation I found myself working as an interpreter for a few years. Working as an interpreter brings a vast variety of situations that call for you. In some situations I can admit, my rookie shoes had me at times thinking “how do I interpret this with what I know and what I’m confident I can do” , sometimes giving a summarized version of a sentence, or pausing for a moment trying to think of the best way to say what needs to be said. There were a couple times clients would get frustrated with my processing time. I don’t blame this for one-minute, it’s an awkward situation. Most of my clients knew I was new on the scene and gave me some leeway but that by no means that should have been their responsibility.

 

Now that I’m Namibia, a land of many languages I find myself taking on a new language, Rukwangali. Though we are at the 7-month anniversary of this experience, I am nowhere near fluent. I am still learning and practicing the language every day. This has placed me in a position where I find myself needing an interpreter at work meetings or clinics. However, that isn’t exactly something supplied by the Peace Corps. I mean we gotta learn somehow right? Luckily, there is usually a colleague willing to help tell me what is going on in the meeting or announcement, or whatever it may be. Keep in mind these are people are doing this to be nice, not professionally trained, simply kind hearted individuals. Since their attendance is also required distractions are easy to come by.  Sometimes I would be sitting for a few minutes of the presenter talking and then when I ask if anything has been said I get a message like “oh yeah, she is talking about the plans”…. Or something like “Its about that one boy and girl who live that side Rundu”. Very vague summaries. This is nice because it gives me some guidance, but no content. This would sometimes make me anxious, uncomfortable, or even annoyed.

 

To walk into a situation, and put what information you will get in the hands of another person takes a lot of trust. How do I know if I’m being lied to? Is this all the information I need or was that just the parts you needed? If everyone else is laughing why am I not? What’s so funny!? ….. I do have to note, English is not the first language of my colleagues helping me out. Sometimes English is even their third language. So why am I so, temperamental with their assistance? What this has really brought me to realize is: To be an interpreter, or even the person trying to help out someone is a lot of work, verbally and mentally. To be the person awaiting an interpretation or message is a lot of work, verbally and mentally. It’s a dynamic that demands a relationship. There must be trust to some extent, and empathy from all ends. Neither chair is an easy seat to sit in, but both positions deserve respect. Serving brings me humility constantly. Its good to be in a position where you are surrounded by opportunities that expand you, yet gives a closer look all at once.

Don't you miss your family and friends?

A couple questions I’ve been asked regularly are “is it hard to be away from your family?” or “Don’t you miss your friends?”. Or often I’m asked what’s the hardest part about being in Peace Corps? Well of coarse its being away from loved ones. In my short seven months of service, back on the States side I’ve had one of my longest known friends get engaged to her high school sweetheart and they have been together over 10 years! I’ve had births enter the world. My niece Savannah (who is my everything) had her very first volleyball game, where she also made the team captain, and though I once made it a priority to be at every game I possibly could, I was now on the opposite side of the world. And though it hurts, I also lost people. I’ll be honest, yeah; it is hard to be away from your family.

            Call me lucky though, because even through the nostalgia, (not to mention an ocean and vast distances of land) I don’t think I could feel any closer to people back home. Where I once went many days with out talking to family, we now make it a point to talk once a week. Don’t get me wrong, internet isn’t always reliable, but the fact that we each put in the effort is priceless. I have friends I hadn’t seen in months or years sending letters. Any volunteer can tell you, getting mail is one hella good feeling.  I’m even more beyond fortunate to have a supportive circle shooting me messages on Facebook or email saying “hey girl what can we do to help, is there anything you need”. A couple times some of my learners or host family member have been able to be featured in FaceTime and Skype calls, and boy does it turn into talk of the school for a week. Yeah, I miss my family and friends, but I’m also with my family and friends.

            See nothing can every replace friends and family from “home” but one of the greatest gifts of service is the relationships gained while serving. Today my host mom (who is a member of the school board) and toddler niece had to come by the school I’m teaching at. Well, when I walked back to the offices for my free period my host niece saw me and with a huge cheesy 4-teeth smile and wobbly steps came at me. My heart seriously melted. Some of the friendships I’ve made both in the network of volunteers and locals are relationships I could never forget.  I get eager to visit my Bunya host mom telling people, “yeah this weekend I’m going to visit my mom”. My host sister is seriously one of my best friends. Just as my sister back home is. This, this is magic. There is a certain amount of sacrifice with serving in the Peace Corps and living over seas, but the rewards that come along with service are incomparable. 

Half a year and a lifetime of lessons

Wow!! Six months! Its been six months since I boarded a plane to a whole new life; to a dream still be dreamt yet living all at once. I’ve learned several things over this bundle of months. I’ve embraced new meanings, tried things I never thought I would, took a couple chances, and learned many new things. These six months have gone by in a flash, and before I even knew it I recognize six new realities, which establish when what I knew and what I’m coming to know collided in my time here:

 

 

 

6) This country needs a talent scout! Seriously! Singing is a big part of this culture, and I don’t blame them with the voices they have. I swear some how being musically inclined is in these locals’ genetics, same with dancing.Every single week they start off school on Monday with singing songs. When I do games with learners and tell them okay dance, do you know how many typically get shy… ZERO! One of the closest friends I made here will break into song at any given moment, in any given genre, for any reason… with no warning. What this has taught me: Sing me a song about life and dance me the dream of dreams! Just, groove your freakin heart out!! Why not? Singing it out just, feels good; simple as that. I’m no singer, but I constantly find myself singing while I’m cooking, dancing while brushing my teeth, drumming random rhythms like I’m some kind of red pen star in a world built out of notebook and paper mountains…. And every single time I catch myself in these moments, I just smile.

 

5) “I love you too much”, “You’re so fat” Right of the bat this could come off as rude right? Someone, you’ve never met walks up to you and just starts telling you about how fat you are and how great it is right? But hear me out. It’s a compliment! In words it may not seem so but in context it means that it looks like you is well-fed and taken care for. Who wouldn’t enjoy such a life right? On many cases I’ve heard love confessions or comments on my fatti-ness within the first five minutes of meeting someone and youknow what that taught me: Compliment each other!! We really don’t do this enough. The world can be competitive, its human nature. Being complimented feels great, and so does complimenting. There is one learner I met when I first got to Kasote and one of the first things she told me was she “wishes she could be beautiful like me” after being taken back for a moment I told her “I wished I could be beautiful like her”. Since then when I see her I greet her by saying “Hi miss beautiful” and every time, the shy smile she gets is priceless. The bigger moment was one day when she caught a glimpse in the mirror and said “Me also, I’m beautiful right Ms. Tena”.

 

 

4) Every day from the staff room at some point or another the air is filled with the sound of adorable as can be grade 0 learners (kindergarten and pre-k students) singing at the top of their lungs the happiest of tunes. They stand tall as can be and scream to a tune more then sing, making sure their voice is heard. They are proud of their voices. When I see them on the school yard they wave with so much excitement and scream out my name. What these overwhelming moments of cuteness has taught me: Happy to see someone; care about that person’s existence? Just, say it! To let a person know what you think of them, well damn that’s a dive into a waterfall. You never know how someone will react to how you feel about them, but do it! Say what you want to say. Maybe it will go great, maybe you’ll never see each other again, maybe it will start a new friendship/relationship, maybe it will salvage and old one. If you like someone, tell them! Love them? Hell go for it, maybe they feel the same, perhaps not, but at least you know what, you were brave and you took on one of the biggest challenges known to mankind.

 

3) Nom Nom Nom! Who doesn’t love themselves some amazing gooey warm melty Mac and cheese? Well what Namibians top their pasta with is Ketchup and Mayo. I remember to a T the first time I saw my little host sister doing this after school. I serious just watched like, is that what I think it is as I continued to stir the cheese, milk and butter into my pasta. As I served my sense of comfort food from home into my bowl I caught my sister looking at me like I was nuts for doing so. We both just looked at each other pasta like why would you do that? I offered her a taste and she was not she to decline the strange mixture I had made. She offered me a bit, granted it wasn’t a special version of the dish to accommodate my 2874 food allergies (which, for once worked to my benefit) I also declined the offer. What I got from this is a new appreciation for being engulfed in a world of different. I’ve grown to look at the question “Whats new?” in a whole new light because, well, everything is new. Life is spent in constant captivation.

 

2) In [what I’ve encountered of] Namibian culture. Family is a chart-topping concept. It’s not uncommon for families to be large and growing. Living on one homestead could easily consist of 4 generations. Living on the homestead with your parents is just as accomplished as moving in with your significant other and having a family. In one writing assignment I gave my grade 8 and 9 learners with the topic “What do you want to be when you grow up” the vast majority said the reason why they wanted to become ________________________ is so they can “be someone in life” and “take care of their parents”. The past 6 months have completely shifted my definition of family. In Namibia alone I feel as if I have 3 families, all of which I completely adore and love. On the contrast, even from the other side of the world, I don’t think I could have a stronger relationship with my biological family and really look forward to our Facetime dates to tell them not only about my adventures, but to hear of theirs.

 

1) Namibia has skies that not even best quality HD could do justice for.  Waking up in the morning, it really is a brand new day. Sunsets so breath taking it reminds you how lucky you are to have lived up to this moment. And a night sky sparkling so bright you know any wish on these stars must come true. What this has taught me: Live in right now. I heard that expression dozen of times, live in the moment; focus on the present, etc. However, here is where I came to learn to be in this moment. How can something everyday as the sky be so extremely different from one day to the next? Truth is I don’t know. I couldn’t even begin to tell you or to predict, but I do know, for each chance I get to just stop and realize where I am, right now.

 

Though the changes will never stop changing, and what I know now will also some day become something I knew there is a beautiful in the evolutions of this life cycle. 27 months is really a short period of time, but the impact beyond the number of days seen in a lifetime.