Hello from Namibia!

November 11, 2007

Today is Sunday and I got to talk to my parents for a little bit! It was great to be able to talk to them. I do not have a cell phone yet (not sure if I will be getting one until January), but there is a pay phone at our center that they are able to call to talk. Its funny because family and friends are constantly calling the pay phone and everyone runs to it as soon as they hear it ring and then run to find the person it is for.
This morning a group of us went to a church in the location. We got there about a half an hour late, but the people were so excited to see us. The church was packed and they cleared out the first two rows of people to seat us (we felt pretty bad about that!). Church is a large part of many of the culture. Everyone dresses up (the little girls wear old First Communion shoes) and the children are so well behaved although most of them are on laps and sitting on the floor. The service is also done in three or four languages (the fourth was English for us) because there are many different languages spoken here. Khoekhoe (the clicking language I am learning) was one of the main languages spoken in the service, so it was neat to hear it spoken so fast and fluently. While I am glad that I went today (the singing was also amazing), I am not too sure how often I will be attending as we were there for almost 3 hours and we go there late and left early. I have never been so thankful for our one hour Catholic Masses!

Yesterday, we had a cultural learning day where our trainers (with a little help from us) made traditional food for each of our language groups (there are about 6 language groups I think). We (and by we I mean everyone but me) slaughtered chickens, cooked a smiley (the head of a goat or sheep), ate cow (or some animal) intestines, and cooked a lot of other very interesting animals. I was brave and tried some kind of antelope like animal (I forget the real name). It wasn’t too bad! Everything was cooked over open fire and made exactly as they traditionally (and still do) make it. I actually had the best home made whole grain bread ever!

Well, not much else is going on here. I will know where I will be living for the next two years this Friday or Saturday! Then on Saturday/Sunday I will visit the site for a week. I am very excited (and a little nervous) to find out where I will be!

I miss everyone lots and apologize for not being able to call/return calls of everyone before I left! Send me a letter or e-mail if you get the chance (letters are better because I’m not sure how much internet access I will have in the next two months) and I promise to write back! Miss and love you!!