Lessons from my first year of service

In honor of my one year in Namibia, I’ve made a list of 12 things I’ve learned in the past year, 1 for each month of my service. This list is not at all comprehensive, as many of the things I have learned have become so normal to me that I don’t even remember doing things differently, but I tried to list out some fun facts to capture my time here.

1. You can find family everywhere you go. I have gained 3 families in the last year who treat me as their own and always give me a place to call home

2. Termite mounds have many uses: provide mud for mud huts, a favorite snack for my learners, a shady spot, a place to access the best network and most importantly a playground for goats

3. A 14 hour bus ride is a piece of cake as long as you’re not sitting next to a smelly person or the bus doesn’t break down

4. How to cohabitate with bugs and learn to like them

5. When you’re late, you’re actually early. Whenever there is a meeting in the village, I know to arrive at least an hour after the start time

6. How to bucket bathe like a professional, and survive on less than 10 litres of water a day

7. You’re not drinking tea unless half the cup is full of sugar and a meal is not a meal without meat.

8. How to tie a shitenge as a skirt and keep it from falling off

9. The true meaning of the constantly used phrase “in Africa we share”: I want something from you so you should share it with me

10. Learners are happy to do anything to help out their teachers: need your clothes washed, house cleaned or water fetched? They’re eager to help

11. Chickens are a great bartering system in the absence of money

12. Patience. I have become so much more patient in handling the things I can’t control.

Things I’m still trying to learn

1. How to get rid of mice and keep them out of the house

2. The art of making the traditional “pap” made of maize meal with right consistency… a task that most children can do by the age of 6

3. Language. Although I’m getting better, I have been cursed with the American privilege of only needing to master one language in life

4. Handwashing my clothes the “proper” Namibian way. No matter how many times I’m shown or how many times I wash my clothes, I never do it “properly”. Apparently there is a specific sound that is made when washing correctly by hand… But regardless my clothes are still clean so I’m learning to accept that it may never happen

5. How to go to town to use wifi without spending all of mymoney. Restaurants have the best wifi, but also leave me without the cash that I walked in with

6. How to properly dance sinjonjo with my village cultural group

P.S. Celebrating a year in Namibia means celebrating a year of life for Mbili Mbili! My little girl is growing up so fast!  And she even made it on the national news!