I sincerely apologize for leaving my blog unattended for almost a year. This last year has flown by, and the longer I spend in country, the more difficult it is for me to put words to my experience. It has been a wild ride so far and everyday in Namibia has been an adventure. The Krissy who left America 2 years ago is a totally different woman than the person I am today, and I have had some of the greatest and most traumatic experiences of my life during my service. Overall I am very happy with the person I have become and am continuing to grow as I see where life takes me.
As some of you may have heard, I have decided to extend my service another year and am transitioning into the Health sector working on HIV prevention through the use of PrEP with an organization called ITECH and CDC in my region. Teaching has been quite the learning experience (God Bless all you educators out there), but I wasn't able to do as much health work as I wanted to with my busy teaching schedule so this extension will allow me to focus solely on health work within my community in a culture that I already understand very well. I am in the process of applying to medical school while abroad, so will be coming back to the States in the coming months for my 30 day extension leave, to be determined based on when my med school interviews are.
I've decided to start a little FAQ's emails to answer questions people have, and help inspire my writing! Please send any questions on topics about Namibia or my experience (e.g. future plans, culture, language, medical stuff, transport, school, or anything) and I will gladly answer them!
Here's the first set of FAQ's
1.WHAT?! YOU WANT TO STAY IN AFRICA ANOTHER YEAR? DON'T YOU MISS HOME?
Namibia has become my new home, and although I have missed you all very much, I have a very strong support system of volunteers and Namibian friends/family. Whatsapp, Facebook and social media have made it fairly easy for me to stay connected to America even with the physical distance. I will be back somewhere around August 2019, depending on the Med School I'm attending.
2. What is PrEP and what are you doing in your new job?
Pre-exposure prophylaxis: a drug taken by an HIV-negative person to prevent getting HIV. It is basically taking HIV medication (called ARVs) as a means of preventing the virus from surviving and replicating in the body. I will be working with ITECH, a partner of CDC, in my area to help implement PrEP as a means of prevention in the community
3. How's the puppy? Mbili Mbili?
She is almost 2 years now, although she still looks and acts like a puppy and is just about as integrated into my community as I am. Still busy chasing goats and chickens. She has a little plush soccer ball that she carries around with her everywhere, and when my kids are playing soccer she will run up and down the sideline with her ball.
4. What places have you visited?
In the past year I've been to Zambia, Botswana, South Africa, Malawi. I would have to say Malawi was by far the most beautiful place I've ever been to! For those who like kayaking, there is a 3 day trip you can do along Lake Malawi and it was one of the greatest experiences of my life.
5. Any funny story with kids?
My grade 10 class went on a class fieldtrip to the conservancy in our area and most of them saw wildlife for the first time in their lives, (even though we were only 15 minutes outside the village) They were so excited to see buffalo, zebras, elephants, eagles and impala. My favorite learner comment: "Madame, you should've brought Mbili Mbili with us! She would love chasing these impala, but she might have too much fun and then we'd have to trade her for a zebra. I think there's enough room in your house if you train it to sit nicely."
6. Who's come to visit you?
My family: my sister came to see me here then we went to Botswana and Zambia, and mom and dad met us in cape town, South Africa. Dottie (my best friend/roommate from college) also came to my village and Botswana! There's a whole another year now if anyone else wants to visit!!!
7. What is the one thing you still aren't used to?
Being a local celebrity. I thought it would die down after a little while, but the more people who know me, the more I get called out to join in at every public dancing occasion. Way too many videos have circulated of my dancing just in case anyone from the region missed an event.
8. Is there anything from home you miss?
Cheese and broccoli. Both are available, but very expensive and don't taste as good. Also 24 hour drive-thru/ food places. No 2 am Dominoes deliveries to the village unfortunately...
9. Is there anything that you don't miss about home?
The lack of greeting culture in America. It is extremely taboo to go about your day without greeting everyone you come into contact with. The whole "running into someone in Publix and pretending you didn't see them as you hide in the next aisle" thing would basically be a criminal offense. The sense of community that is ever present here just isn't the same at home. I encourage you all to try to take the little extra time to greet those around you, and incorporate more quality time with even strangers; it helps build a sense of connection with the world around you.
10. What is the best skill you've picked up in the last year?
The real answer is patience (for anyone who knows me well, you know that's not something I was good at). But I've also learned how to garden, make pap, and eavesdrop on a conversation going on in 3 different languages (my personal favorite)
