Journey north; arrrival in Oshana district

I arrived in Ongwediva after a seven and a half hour drive along a very straight road. We did have to stop twice for petrol, once to let a family of baboons cross the road and once for our driver to buy some funghi for tea.

Apparently, they are very tasty and grow only at the base of termite mounds when the rains come. All of the countryside we passed through is bushland – it is too dry to grow anything there.

When we entered Ovamboland, things changed in more ways than one. This area is much poorer and much more like Zambia. However in addition to the rain, lots of water flows here from the Angolan Highlands to the north. In the village settlements families are therefore able to keep chickens, goats and maybe cattle – they are subsistence farmers. The land is very flat.

We eventually arrived at our house which is quite big and has a lovely garden with plenty of trees for shade.
We were very despondent when we entered, as the house hadn’t been lived in for some time and was quite dirty. Moreover there was no gas, no electricity, no equipment in the kitchen except a fridge and some spoons and no bedding. Luckily we were rescued by another volunteer who lived nearby and who took us out for a pizza!

So the next day we went shopping. First we bought electricity from the garage. Then we had to buy lots of equipment for the house and clean it from top to bottom. I am very glad that there were 3 of us and I didn’t have to do it all on my own! This is my bedroom now that I have settled in. I share it with a lizard.

HEALTH & SAFETY

Are you wondering why my bed is covered by a blue net? It is to help to stop the mosquitoes biting me at night. These insects carry a parasite which can give people a serious illness called malaria. Many people die from this disease unless they are protected.
This is a photo of some of the essential items I have to keep me safe. They include tablets to stop me from becoming ill if I am bitten, 'Doom' with which to spray my room, and something to spray my body with. The sun and heat could also cause me problems. The temperature has been above 35 degrees and the sun has been shining everyday (sorry!). I therefore need drink lots of water and use lots of suntan lotion. Why do you think I need an umbrella ? The following picture might help you to answer that question. It is of Jason (a senior educational advisor) who helped us with our shopping, talking to a friend of his. Look at the lady in the background.

Many people steal as they are so poor; we have to put metal bars across our doors at night.

I must go now and do my washing. We do not have a washing machine so I have to do it by hand in the sink outside. At least it will dry very quickly!

Make sure you all take great care of yourselves too.

Kalei po nawa.

Windhoek, the capital of Namibia

“Mwa lele po – good morning to you all! I am Mrs Bird, what is your name? How are you? How are your parents/brothers/sisters? The weather is very warm but rainy today.”

Greetings are very important in Namibia and, even when you meet several people at once, you have to shake hands (in the same way as they do in Zambia) and have a conversation like the one above with each person in turn or you are thought to be very rude and disrespectful.

I have just finished my training which, as you can see, has included learning a little of a language called Oshikwanyama. It is spoken by the people in the north of the country which is where I will be travelling tomorrow.

Everyday I have walked to the VSO office with two other volunteers. We were the only white people walking although many white people live in Windhoek. Why might that be?
This is a photo of part of my route.
Try to find out why this street might have been given the name Nelson Mandela Avenue. The following information might help you. After the 2nd World War, Namibia was ruled by South Africa who introduced the system of apartheid. All the black people had to leave Windhoek and live in a township called Katatura. After a long struggle, Namibia became independent in 1990; however, most black Namibians still live in Katatura or in the ‘informal settlements’ beyond as they still cannot afford to buy other houses.

Sunset over Windhoek. There are frequent thunderstorms.

This is the VSO office – I am sure that Mrs O’Brien will exclaim,”Look, the ………… is exactly the same as ours!”

And this is the view from the front door! At least it is not snowing which it was when I left England.







Water is a big problem in Namibia. If you look closely at a map, you will find it hard to find many rivers and they are all in the north. Most of the country has to get its water from bore holes and this is running out as there is not enough rain. On the other hand, the rains are getting much heavier in the north, there is a great deal of flooding and peoples’ clay houses are destroyed. The women then have to rebuild them by hand.

The Namibian people whom I have met are very friendly and determined to improve their lives and their country. I visited a Young Achievers’ meeting yesterday in Katatura. The young people, aged between 7 and 20 years of age, are all from very poor families but each had a vision of what they wanted to achieve. At the meetings they learn the skills they might need and support each other. One young man who is now the breadwinner for his family as well as studying to become a lawyer, said that he had been about to give up his studies but, after the meeting, knew he had to continue. They all wanted my email address so I might become very busy!

These are the other two headteachers who will be working in the Oshana region with me. We went to a supermarket to buy some food. Most things cost the same as in England or even more – like fruit and vegetables.

My first sight of Namibian wildlife.

I must now go and soak my mosquito net in insecticide as I will need it tomorrow.
Next time I will tell you about my journey to Ongwediva and my new life there.

Ka endeni po nawa ovahongifikola, ovahongwaficola. (go well teachers, learners).

Wednesday, 30 December 2009
My first message
Welcome to my blog!

I am still in Wiltshire, but I am practising my blogging skills now so that I will be able to share with you some of my experiences of living and working in Namibia. Maybe you could add this address to your favourites so that you can find it more easily next time. I hope to send you messages and photos regularly and I hope you will send me any comments or questions you have.

I want to ask you some questions first.
Above is a very simple map of Namibia. I will be based in a town called Oshakati; can you find it on a more detailed map? I will be flying to the capital city Windhoek; in which direction will I have to drive to get to Oshakati?
Which other country will I be very close to? I would love someone who is very clever at working out distances to tell me if I would be able to visit our friends in Zambia one weekend - would that be possible for me to do?
I have begun to pack my suitcase. I will need lots of summer clothes as the temperature will be between 35 and 40 degrees celsius when I arrive. Amongst the items I have bought are a wind up torch in case there is no electricity, lots of very strong sun tan lotion and a ball of string to tie up my mosquito net - I will send you a photo and explain why it is so important when I have settled in to my new house.