New Site!

I am so bad at posting blog entries. Sorry!

I am at a new site in Khorixas, which is in Kunene region (in Northwest Nam).

Khorixas is a small town and I really really like it! Two of my friends from Nam 27 spent there two years in Khorixas and loved it and I think it will be the same case for me!

I have a roommate who is from the new education group and is very nice. We get along really well :).

I live at the primary hostel where my roommate works. The kids are really cute but very loud. I am not used to living around such little ones, so it is a bit of an adjustment from living near the secondary school. Luckily they are adorable, so it makes up for them playing soccer outside my window at 7am on Saturday mornings!

I am still not quite sure what my primary job in Khorixas will be yet. But, while I am waiting to sort that out, I have worked with quite a few people on smaller projects. I have spent a lot of time at the secondary schools in the town (there are 2) and really love being back in the school setting. One school had me come in a teach a few English lessons, which I love. After being away from teaching for a couple of months, I have realized that I I really miss it.

I have 3 (possibly 4) girls clubs going on right now. I will have 2 at each secondary school. At one of the schools, I am working with a wonderful young female teacher and at the other school I will work with a great lady I met in the location. We are all really excited and it is fun to spend my afternoons with some fabulous girls!

I am also volunteering at a computer lab aimed at improving the math skills of learners. It is a program where the kids take an assessment exam and then the computer makes a curriculm for them based on where they are. I walk around and watch kids to see how they are doing and then help the ones that are struggling with a concept. I really enjoy workign with the struggling learners one on one.

Another project I have in the works is a young/expecting mothers support group. The idea is to support the young girls/women who are pregnant or nursing emotiionally and physically. I am collaborating with a few different ministries and organizations and really hope everything comes together. I think it could be a lot of fun and is much needed in Khorixas (we have a very high teenage pregancy rate in Nam).

Other than that, I am staying busy with a few side projects. A few people have approached me about starting a village pre-primary school and someone else about a poultry farm. So I am assisting them here and there. Even though I do not have a steady "regular" job yet, I am finding that most (but not all) days I am able to stay pretty busy. And it has been wonderful to have some time to really get to know the community.

I hope all is well in America! I miss you all a lot. I am very jealous that you get to watch the Winter Olympics and even miss the snow a bit. It is very hot here!

Oh and I have new address!

It is
PO Box 261
Khorixas
Namibia
AFRICA

Crunch!

Crunch was missing for an entire 2 weeks. Luckily on one of my many searches, I heard him crying in an abandoned room in the school where I live. He was caught behind a bunch of lockers. I am so happy to have him back!