Just don't hit the goats, or the cows, or the donkey!!

There are not a lot of words that I have to describe what I have experienced the last couple of days. I never thought that this year, 2010, would unfold the way that it has so far. For those of you that haven’t heard, my Uncle Greg passed away this past Tuesday. It seems almost unreal to me that the two relatives I am closest to have passed away in the last four weeks. I am continually grateful that I was able to visit home over the Christmas Holiday.

There was something really unique about my Uncle Greg. He was the kind of person who “dealt” with challenges in life by making the best out of every situation. My Uncle had an accident over 33 years ago and spent the last 33 years in a wheel chair, he overcame bladder cancer and a couple different shoulder surgeries. The amazing thing about him was, he never complained about any of it, not the wheel chair or what his limitations were.

He was also a very loving; husband, father, brother, uncle and most importantly Grandpa. I don’t think I have ever met someone who was more proud to be a grandpa. He would always send me updates and pictures of his trips to Seattle to see my cousin and her 2 boys. These emails always seemed to come at a good time, and helped me with whatever stress I was under. He also loved to send me pictures from his father/son camping trip with my cousin. He did so much with the limitations that he had. I will always wonder what this world would be like if half of us had his determination. Think about how much more we could get done or what differences we could make.

This past week has been really hard, but I took my uncles determination for life and made the best of my situation. I took Wednesday off to be by myself and Thursday we did site visits all over one of the regions in Northern Namibia. I had no idea that it would take 12 hours to visit 8 different sites. I really enjoyed getting to know the coaches and realized what great people there are here in Northern Namibia. It was amazing to hear how passionate these coaches are about teaching the HIV/AIDS curriculum to the kids in the community. George told me that a majority of the coaches have been affected by HIV- where one out of every three huts in the rural area’s “the bush” ,has either a person laying in a bed about to die from AIDS or has a is carrying for a member of their family that is that sick from AIDS.

It continues to amaze me how many people are affected by the HIV virus. Death from this disease is a way of life around here, and it breaks my heart. We took pictures with all of the coaches and sites along the way. They are all so special and each one of them was excited about the upcoming trainings we are doing in a week. I think those two weeks are going to be good for me, it is great to be around people that are passionate and hopeful in this fight against HIV/AIDS. The last two trainings that I have been a part of have helped me to gain a little perspective on life; I expect nothing less from these next two.

The other important thing about these site visits was we had someone from Arrandis with us, to show them how the project works on the ground. This is the project that we are thinking of starting in the small mining town right by the coast, about an 8 hour drive from where I am now. The day went very well, I had a meeting with them this morning and in the upcoming weeks we are creating a program plan that will help create a sustainable program in Arandis.

Very few interns get the opportunity to start a project from scratch in the field. It is a huge responsibility and gives me another opportunity to learn more about sport for development. The really unique part about this is it makes me feel like I am really making a difference; creating new opportunities to teach the kids there about HIV/AID. This is one of those things that I think both my Uncle and my Grandma would be so proud and excited about. That is what I will remember in the days that come when I am very sad or trying to understand how and why everything has happened back home.

I feel as though I am in the calm before the storm. I have so much work in the next few months, and I am on the very edge of it, getting ready to jump in. I am very blessed for my opportunity here and hope that I can get everything achieved to the best that I can, with no regrets. I am trying to use that determination and appreciation of life that my uncle had in all of these projects I am working on.

The main reason for these site visits was to tell the coaches to select 2 girls from their community to attend our week long tournament in April in Cape Town. “Girlz got Skillz” is what we are calling it. I felt like Ed McMan, going from door to door bringing good news. We went from site to site telling the coaches to select girls from their community to be come to Cape Town for a week, learn about HIV/AIDS, play soccer and site-see, and it is all paid for. I only met one of the girls that we are going to take. She was so excited; I cannot even explain it to you. This girl lived on a farm, which is common up in the north.

These farms are amazing, they normally have a main house and then smaller huts all around them. The whole family then lives on the farm. Also, there is a common room (still outside) where they entertain guests, and where the men sit and wait for dinner every night. That is what a lot of the women do, work on the farm during the day-I saw a lot of them plowing the field with a donkey and a old fashion plow and at night-prepare meals for the rest of the family at night.

The girl whose farm we visited was so excited about going to Cape Town. It is really fun to start bringing good news to people, for them this is a chance of a life time. Next week we are spending two days speaking with parents about the trip, getting permission slips signed. Can anyone think of a better thing to do!!

This week in Cape Town is going to be such a unique experience. It is all funded by Johnson and Johnson. The US State Department is flying over 2 professional players from the US. We have 10 girls from the US confirmed, 21 from South Africa, and 21 from Namibia. Every time I turn around there is something new and exciting about this week. I think it is really going to turn into something great. One of the things I am working on is delegation -not one of my stronger qualities. I just hope everything goes well and is planned accordingly, I think it will be a truly unique event.

A couple of unique things about driving through this area, is the amazing landscape and clear skies. There is little to no pollution, so it is some of the clearest skies I have ever seen. Also, there is a lot of live stock just walking along side of the road, crossing the street whenever they want to. This includes cows, steers, goats, and donkeys. There is a song called “If I had a million dollars”, in it they say, Haven’t you always wanted a Monkey, and on this drive I couldn't help but say, “Haven’t you always wanted a Donkey”. I hope you enjoy the views.




With Love,

Sarah

You can take the girl out of the Honky Tonk, but you can’t take the Honky Tonk Out of the Girl – Brooks and Dunn

This past week has been full of new and exciting adventures! One of the funniest things this week was how I was driving through Namibia, listening to country music!! Most people here have never even heard of country music, and where I was driving were areas with not very many people.

It was kind of sad packing up all of my stuff in Cape Town last Sunday. I was very excited and ready to head to Namibia, but there was a part of me that was sad about it. I have made a few good friends, found a good church and there is something comforting about being in the GRS office that one doesn’t have in other parts of Africa. However, last Saturday my roommates, my boss and I went on a bike ride through wine country. It was absolutely beautiful and we cycled on a gravel road uphill for about 30 minutes. It was a great work out and I realized how much I miss riding bikes.

On Monday, my roommate Amy took me to the airport around 6:30 in the morning and I was a little nervous about the trip. I have driven across the US by myself however; driving through Africa is a little different. I believe it was more a fear of the unknown than anything else. My fears were settled when the plane landed in Windhoek. It was green, there was grass and trees. The last time I was there it was all dirt and dust, no grass or green anywhere, but it had taken a complete transformation. For me, there is a sense of home or calming when I see things that are green. It reminded me so much of Tennessee when I first went in May of 2006 or Oregon in the winter/spring. It was a Drastic Change from when I was there only 4 months ago.

After I got the rental car, I headed straight to Home Affairs. Even though my VISA had been approved and paid for, I still did not have it. Immigration at the airport gave me until Friday the fifth to get it resolved.

Home Affairs goes on lunch between 1-2, so the person at the counter who was suppose to help me got back at 2:45 (this is what we call African time, where no one is ever late).The first girl who helped me, just kept sending me in circles. My best description of her would be that checker at the store that smacks her gum and is not very efficient with her or your time while you are in line. I was really frustrated because, I knew that there was someone who could help me, I just didn’t know how to get to them.

A guy overheard me trying to explain my situation for the 3^rd time to the same person and said that he might be able to help me out. He had a friend that worked in immigration in the secure part of the building. He snuck me pass the security guard into the immigration office area. I happen to run into the director of immigration and amazingly after 3 hours of waiting I had a Multiple Entry Visa to Namibia, that’s good until November of 2010. I am so thankful; this is a huge weight that can be lifted off of my shoulders.

After that,I was pretty much walking on air, I was so excited and was ready to head on my adventure. I just had a few things to do on Tuesday and I had dinner plans with the girls from Special Olympics Namibia. I was so excited, having fun and enjoyed playing the song Chicken Fry as loud as it could be played while I was driving. But somehow feelings like that don’t always last. On Tuesday while I was at the Internet Café, my wallet was stolen out of my backpack. Luckily, I didn’t lose a lot of my stuff. I never carry all of my debit or credit cards with me. However, there is something unsettling when something is stolen out of your backpack that is right next to your legs.

At first I couldn’t understand how it had happened, but then I remembered this guy came up and started talking to me. I couldn’t understand what he wanted to the point where I asked him if I was doing something wrong. The only wrong thing I was doing was not looking to the other side of me where there was another guy taking my wallet out of my backpack. It just dumbfounds me. I was so upset with myself for letting my guard down that much- where someone could steal something literally from right under me. Needless to say, it could have been a lot worse!!

One thing that is tough about being in Africa is that your friends and family are not just a phone call away. I can send a text but sometimes you just want to talk to your close friends or family. However, one thing I am learning to do is deal with tough situations by myself. I think there is something positive about that. I also think that I needed the reminder of where I was in the World and to not get to comfortable with my surroundings. I don’t feel like I am a huge risk taker when it comes to my safety here and if I ever get that uncomfortable feeling I run away from it (literally). But on Tuesday, I was so into the work I was doing and responding to emails that I didn’t even take the time to really notice what was going on. I think this made me a lot more cautious when I was traveling this past week and sometimes we need those little reminders.

So Wednesday, I headed to Arandis, Namibia. Arandis is a town that was built around a diamond mine close to Swakupmond (the beach city). The drive was absolutely beautiful there was green from trees and then area’s that were just desert. Luckily all of the roads I drove on were paved and they were like two lane highways, so to pass you had to cross into oncoming traffic. I normally don’t like passing that way however, I would still be driving if I didn’t. One thing about the passing that made me nervous a few times, was the signs that tell people not to pass on an uphill. You would hope the drivers had enough common sense to not pass going up a hill because you can’t see the oncoming traffic. That was a little unsettling, but I was just very careful and I found that most other drivers were as well.

When I got to Arandis, I was surprised how small and self sufficient it was. Until 1992 the City was run by the Mining Company, so people were taken care of, everything including rent was paid for. But when the mine wasn’t as profitable as it use to be they handed everything to the town council. Therefore, the towns people had to start paying for things on their own and start taking care of themselves. For the most part the town has responded to this well.

The town wants to start a Grassroot Soccer program so they can have educational sport for development program. I got a tour of the town and met with a teacher who runs the kids soccer leagues. He has them practice every day of the week and then play tournaments on Friday and Saturday. He said that as long as the kids are tired from Soccer they can’t go get drunk. Alcohol abuse is a HUGE problem throughout Namibia and it is a key influencer in the spread of HIV/AIDS. This teacher told me that if the kids come to practice drunk, then they have to pay a fine. I was so inspired by the work of this man, who took his passion for soccer and used it to try and better the community for kids.

I also spoke with another girl who volunteers to coach soccer. She has 5 teams that practice from 3:00-8:00. She is also trying to attract more female players as many of the girls do not play. I left this town feeling inspired and really wanting to find the right way to make this project work.

I left Arandis and headed to Swakupmond for the night. As soon as I got to the guesthouse I went for a run down to the beach. It was so great to put my feet in the water. Additionally, there were dolphins about 10 ft from shore swimming around. It was beautiful. I don’t think I have ever seen a dolphin that close to the shore. However, I know that were lots of dolphins are there are sharks!! So I didn’t get in too far, but it was a great end to the day. (no pictures, sorry, I was running)

I got up and left the guesthouse at about 7:30 am. I drove until 4:30 that day through the different area’s of Namibia. It was a really easy drive and I had some great tunes to listen to; so I really had a blast. It did however, start a little rough. About 20 minutes out of Swakupmond, there was some really dense fog. I tried to take a picture of it on the mountains. It got to a point where I was really sad I was driving through it, I could only see about 10 ft in front of me. But when the other cars drove by me and I realized they were going just as slow as I was, it made me a little more comfortable.

After I was out of the fog, I drove behind the Namibia Military Police. There were about 12 tank looking things driving down the road, at about 1/3 of the speed limit. I drove behind them for I while, but then decided I would pass them. It was really bizarre, I tried to take a picture, but it didn’t really work. I just kept thinking, if I was in the US and someone tried to drive in-between the tanks, well I just don’t think they would appreciate it.

Aside from those two things, the drive was just AWESOME. I would stop and take pictures as often as I could and I would take some out the side of my car window. The only thing about this drive that was funny was the watch out for Warthogs signs. They just looked funny and I thought how hitting a Wart Hog would do some pretty serious damage. On one stretch of the drive, I think I saw 15 other cars in about 3 hours. There was literally no one around, and then all of sudden there would be someone walking down the road. Made me thankful I was in a car and not walking.

As I got closer to the Northern part where I am staying the scenery changed. There was white sand on the side of the road and farms. The neat thing about the farms would be the circle of huts. It was like you see in the movies. I was awestruck!! It made me realize how lucky I am and how thankful I am that I was able to and had the support to complete this internship.

There were also a lot of livestock and they just walk out on the highway when they feel like it. I really had to be paying attention but I loved every second of it. There were a lot more people walking down the side of the road at this point. I didn’t want to get out of the car and take pictures because there were so many people around, but I tried to take pictures and drive.

Once I got to Ongwediva, George, the project manager met me at a petrol station and took me to the bed and breakfast I am staying at. I feel like I live in a college dorm. I have two twin beds, a closet, a small fridge, and a bathroom. It is a simple place, but it should be fine. Luckily I won’t be here a lot during the day. One of our offices is at the college and from 4:30 until about 8:00 there is training for sports. So the last two days I have played volleyball and basketball, its like having gym class everyday after work.

Driving up here was amazing, its truly a once in a lifetime experience. Oh and its really HOT here. I mean HOT!!

Love ya,

Sarah