So,
a lot has happened since my last post (sorry). Life has been hectic recently
and finding the time/internet connection to update is not always easy. So here’s
an update on my life J
Site
Visit: I visited my permanent site! I was advised not to put my precise
location on my blog so talk to me if you don’t know where I am and would like
to know more! I can say that I am in a pretty good sized town. I have a
shopping store, post office and a few restaurants easily accessible. It’s
somewhat a tourist town so it’s very pretty. I was NOT expecting to have so
many amenities this easily available. I have electricity AND hot water
available to me. Most of the streets in town are paved. Once you leave town and
go to the less lucrative parts of the area (called the location) the streets
are no longer paved and are either dirt or gravel. For my first couple of weeks
I will be living in the location with a host family. After I get to know the
community somewhat I will move in town. I have a site mate named Nicole. She is
a volunteer with Peace Corps and has been in my community for a year already.
She volunteers at the community hospital and she’s absolutely lovely. My after
school youth group meets in the location everyday around two. I will spend a
large portion of time tutoring these kids in Math and English (Yikes!). I will
also teach them about HIV/AIDS and prevention when able. While in this
community I will also pick up secondary projects. These will include working
with any community organization/group to better the community that is not my
primary assignment with the after school group.
Language: So language has been an extreme difficulty
for me. There are two other volunteers in my group learning Khoekhoegowab and I
have been having the most difficulty. My issue has been that I can read it just
fine; I simply cannot speak it, nor do I understand when it is spoken to me. I
have asked my instructor for extra lessons, but time is limited. We took a mid
Pre-Service Training (PST) Language Proficiency Interview (LPI) and I scored
Novice Medium. The levels are as follows (Novice Low, Novice Medium, Novice
High, Intermediate Low, Intermediate Medium, and Intermediate High). In order
to pass as required by Peace Corps Namibia, I need to score Intermediate Low. This
means I need to raise my score two whole levels. The interview is strictly in
your target language (Khoekhoegowab) and consists of the interviewer asking questions
about your life in America, family, life in Namibia, host family, etc. In order
to achieve Intermediate Low you must complete a role play in the target language
(eeek!). Well, I recently took the last LPI… I have no idea how this happened
but I passed! I even did the role play. I almost kissed my instructor! I was so
proud! I answered almost every question
Swearing
in: Earlier this week I was sworn in as an official Peace Corps Volunteer (PCV).
My swearing in ceremony was held in Windhoek and the Prime Minister was
invited. This means it was somewhat of a big deal. I wore a traditional Damaran
(one of the tribes that speak Khoekhoegowab) dress. My host mom in Okahandja
had the dress made especially for me to wear to swearing in. Our swearing in
was later on NBC (Namibian Broadcasting Channel)! Yup, I was singing in a
different language on the Namibian news. Jealous?
Moving
to site: On Thursday I officially moved to my permanent site. I’m so excited to
be finished with training and be an official volunteer! My first three months at
site will consist of me completing a needs assessment to determine what
precisely my community wants and/or needs from me. This means I’ll be spending
a lot of time just walking around and getting to know people and talking to
community leaders and stakeholders.
Once
again, sorry it took so long for this post! However, now that I’m at site, I
will probably be updating less. I will maybe update once a month or when
something of importance happens!
Stay
classy, readers
Me in my Traditional Damaran Dress
