Settling In

Its amazing how when you are in a routine, a week can go by unnoticed. But when you are in a new job, place whatever, a week can be forever. So, there is lots to report since last week. But first, huge apologies. I took some pictures and brought my camera today to post them, but my batteries are dead! I promise to figure out a way to charge them and to post pictures soon.

My most exciting news is that I got a place to live! I’m renting a room in a 3 bedroom house. I share the bathroom and kitchen and there is also a lovely porch type area. It’s all furnished. I looked at a lot of apartments and just got so overwhelmed by their emptiness. They don’t even come with fridges and stoves here. The thought of having to buy EVERYTHING overwhelmed me. I have cool flat mates too. One is the landlord’s daughter. She is about my age or a bit younger and seems really nice. Although the first night that I was there she talked the whole night about her plans to buy a Hummer. Apparently they manufacture them in South Africa now. My other flat mate is a guy from Swaziland who is probably also about my age or a bit younger. He’s a hilarious combination of a born-again Christian, Rastafarian and Pan-Africanist. He makes for great dinnertime conversation. Last night he gave me a long monologue about how he supports polygamy and doesn’t like it when people criticize the King of Swaziland, but he thinks polygamy ruined his own life (his father had multiple wives) but yet he definitely wants only one wife. The owner of the house is an African-American woman who happens to be visiting right now. I haven’t quite figured out how she is African-American, lives in the States but has a Namibian daughter. I’ve tried to be conversational and ask her, but she seems to not like me much and isn’t too conversational. Oh, well, she is leaving soon anyway. There are also two furnished flats attached to the house that will be opening up within the next few months. If I decide I want more privacy, less socialness and to pay more money, then I’ll have the option to move into one of those when they open up.

I also just wanted to clarify from my last blog post, when I say that I wonder what I’m doing here, that doesn’t mean I’m regretting my decision or thinking about leaving. I’m just wondering what the heck I’m doing here sometimes. I think its perfectly normal. Another interesting thought that I had recently was about my nieces. I’ve always thought of myself as a deadbeat Aunty for living far away from my nieces and nephews all the time. I always sort of assume that they see me as some random woman who pops in once in a blue moon. I keep thinking that I would be a more responsible and effective Aunty if I lived closer to them. The other day it occurred to me that maybe I’m a better Aunty doing what I’m doing. None of my nieces and nephews are lacking in the being surrounded by people that adore them department. One more Aunty won’t make a big difference. But maybe having an Aunty that demonstrates that work doesn’t have to equal boring (as one of them said recently) makes me a good Aunty. (I’m not implying that everyone who lives near them has boring jobs, just that if I lived near them, I would probably have to find a boring job in order to do that.) Maybe I’m rationalizing my decision, but maybe I’m demonstrating to them that a job can also be a way to live out your life’s passions. As Bo Lozoff said about that ultimate child that generation after generation was working super hard for so that their children wouldn’t have to work super hard, maybe I’m being that ultimate child, and letting my nieces and nephews know that that’s an option too. (If you don’t understand the ultimate child reference, I don’t feel like getting into it here, but I think its in “Deep and Simple”)

Anyway, other little exciting things. I started attending yoga classes. I asked all over and could only find the two yoga instructors that I had previously, so I’m taking classes from both of them again, at least for a bit. I was hoping yoga classes would be a way to develop a social life, but so far it seems that only the highest class people attend classes. They all sort of gave me a look down their nose when I asked if anyone could give me a lift home afterwards. I just discovered a meditation center down the street from my house! Its affiliated with one I used to go to sometimes in Boston, so I’m fairly excited about that. I’m hoping by virtue of their more central location and “donations only” policy that they will attract a more diverse crowd than my yoga classes.

I drove a Kombi! That’s one of those 15 passenger mini-bus thingies. I knew I was going to have to drive one eventually but I was hoping to put it off for longer. Anyway, it was fun. The stick was on the steering while, like where you would expect the PRNDL to be, except its manual. The steering wheel was almost horizontal like a bus. Anyway, I made it, I stayed on the left, and feel more confident for the next time I need to drive it.

I’ve started running into people that I knew! The first was an old Peace Corps language instructor (Baby). I almost hugged him I was so excited to finally run into someone. I don’t think he understood my excitement. Much more excitingly, on Saturday I saw my old RACE supervisor (Ms. Nangolo) at a store. She had moved to Otjiwarongo last time I heard, and hadn’t responded to my letters, so I wasn’t sure how I was going to get in touch with her. It was great to just bump into her. Unfortunately for me though, she’s leaving soon for the UK for a Master’s Degree. But the funniest bumping into people experience was my pillow shopping experience. I’m quite particular about my pillows so even though my room came with one, I wanted a big fluffy one. So, I was at this department store, testing the pillows. When I test pillows, I lie on the floor and test them, cause you really don’t know if you just squish it with your hands. So, I’m there trying different pillows when this sales guy walks up to ask if I need any help. He looked a ton like one of my former students but I wasn’t sure. I’ve been wondering whether or not I would even recognize my former students cause its been 6 years and you can change a lot from 13 to 19. I smiled at him and he sort of shyly smiled back and then I asked him if he went to C. Heuva and he burst into a big grin and said, “Miss Linda!” I was so excited! It was so funny I really wanted to chat, but there wasn’t much to say, (and unfortunately his English had not improved much). He’s working at this department store, he failed grade 12, not much more to say. I asked how everyone else is doing but he didn’t really know. Then another sales guy walked by and he called to him. Holy Moly it was another one of my students and this one was one of my favorites. I was so excited! How could Kandange have claimed that he didn’t know how anyone else is doing when he works with Pineas! I mentioned to Pineas that I had talked with Mbanjanda and he said, “Mr Katuamba? You have his number? Can you give it to me?” So I gave him his number all the while thinking, “What the heck? You want Mr. Katuamba’s number but not Miss Linda’s?” But then he came to his senses and asked for my number also. He later told me, “Miss, the face was familiar, but you have become so fat, I wasn’t sure if it was you.” Amazing how quickly someone can go from being one of your favorite learners to being one of your least favorite. Anyway, I was shopping again today and at one of the stores I went to the cashier was another one of my former students. She also gave me that funny, “I think its Miss Linda, but I’m not going to say anything” look. I guess its been awhile. But when I recognized her she was happy to see me. I’m starting to feel like I am back in Namibia. As soon as I get settled I plan to take a weekend and hire a car and run out to Tallismanis. Its driving me nuts. Although Mbanjanda told me that most of the teachers that were there when I was there are no longer there. So I would basically be visiting Mbanjanda, but alas, I still really need to go.

Okay, that’s all I’ve got on my notes for today. Have a great week. See you when you see me!