On the Farm (again)

As I mentioned a few posts back, I decided to stay an extra week with my host family, the Geisebs. I was really enjoying all the kids in the family and interacting with all the relatives that would come over multiple times day. In Katatura, everyone lives in such close community with one another, and family is no exception. The Geiseb's entire immediate family and much of their extended family all lived within just a few blocks from them, and they all depended on one another on a daily basis to watch the kids, cook meals, pick up groceries and any number of other things. We're learning about the philosophy and practice of Ubuntu in our classes here, and I really got a sense of it in action during my home stay. Ubuntu is the idea that "I am because you are", or that an individual requires interaction and mutual dependence on those around him/her in order to exist and flourish. It's a really prominent philosophy here and is very apparent in those that I've met. 

   Anyway, during my last weekend with the Geiseb's, we went to their farm again, but this time we spent the night there. We left Saturday afternoon and took two carloads of people (mostly children), 3 Americans (I got to bring two friends along), food, blankets, supplies and 4 piglets. The Geiseb's were adding the piglets to their livestock on their farm, so it was both an exciting and pungent endeavor! While on the farm, we cleaned and cooked and hiked around with the kids and got very familiar with mother nature (no plumbing on this farm)! We had a barbecue (called a braai here) and made s'mores and watched the stars come out. It was a tremendous night, and I felt so lucky to have been paired with such a nice host family. 

    My home stay is over now, but I already have plans with the Geiseb's for dinner so I'll be sure to see them again during the remainder of the semester!