The Home Stretch

 In exactly one week, we will be boarding the plane that will whisk us away from Windhoek, Namibia and on to Cape Town, South Africa. Just yesterday, we finished our final week of classes, and all that remains for us is to complete and present our wrap-up projects. Also, we're all looking forward to cooking our own Thanksgiving for ourselves and the CGE staff/professors, though it will certainly be bittersweet to miss out on celebrating with our families. 

   Since I posted last, there have been some memorable experiences to share. About 3 weeks ago, we traveled to Southern Namibia to learn about the tourism industry in Namibia. Each night, we camped at a different campsite, owned and run by the government, a community-based group, or a private company, respectively. We learned about the difficulties of community-based tourism, the development that affects these communities, and the troubles with remaining a sustainable, eco-friendly business.  In addition to learning, we also got to spend some time with an HIV/AIDS awareness club at a local primary school, and hike to the top of a dormant volcano near one of our campsites.

    In the past week, I also finished up my internship at The Big Issue Namibia. I had a really good experience working there, though it was certainly a challenge that I will never forget. While I never really got to do the arts and crafts focus that I was told I would be able to do, I still managed to make the most of my time there and do my best to get The Big Issue some funding in order to make those arts and crafts for street women a reality in the near future! The kindness and committed spirit of social responsibility the people at the Big Issue certainly inspired me to live a life set by their example to care and advocate for others whenever possible-- even if it means receiving no salary for 5 months! 

     Just yesterday, our group visited Penduka, the most successful women's craft cooperative in Namibia. It was an amazing place, where women with disabilites and sicknesses like TB or AIDS are trained and hired to make embroidery, batik, pottery, beads and dolls to sell for profit at various Craft markets in Namibia. I fell in love with the place, and I now want so badly to go back there and learn how their organization works so that I might be able to start up such a successful and beneficial organization one day...

     Well, that's about it for now. I'm off to the farmer's market with a few friends to peruse the homemade cheeses and tzatziki sauces and German breads...This may well be my last post until I return home to Denver, as I won't have much internet access in Cape Town. Cheers!

    

An Election from Abroad

  Hello! It's been an exciting week here in Namibia-- the two main events being the election and a trip to Southern Namibia. But first, the election: All of us here were biting our nails and hanging on to every news tidbit and wishing that we were back in the homeland for the momentous occasion. However, it has been an exciting and interesting experience to witness such a historical event as an American overseas. 

    We all stayed up into the wee hours of the morning watching CNN until 6am here, when they announced Obama as the winner. We all sat and watched both candidate's amazing speeches and cried and cheered together! Regardless of who I thought should have won, I feel compelled to share with you the reaction here in Namibia, as it has been incredible. It's as if in a matter of hours, our reception an Americans has gone from both friendly and somewhat wary, to absolute acceptance and enthusiasm. Namibian's I've talked to have seemed genuinely proud of Americans in their decision to elect an African American to be the leader of our country, despite its history of divisiveness and racial tension. It has given Namibians hope for their own country that they too can overcome their own issues along the race and power divide. 

   There has been many stories from students of post-election receptions by Namibians. Some students received free newspapers on election morning from happy street sellers. One girl had a woman stop her in the street and kiss her on each cheek, telling her how happy and proud she was of America. While buying ice cream on the 5th, the girl behind the counter told me how excited she was to have a black man as the leader of America and how much hope gave her for Africa. It has certainly been difficult to be away on such an important occasion, but nonetheless rewarding to experience it from another vantage point as another kind of experience.