tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17427699232214694302024-03-13T23:35:49.622-07:00Across the AtlanticKimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16497535681141401398noreply@blogger.comBlogger55125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1742769923221469430.post-34059672042710088482011-03-09T02:10:00.000-08:002011-03-09T02:39:01.386-08:00The Gator Nation Is EVERYWHERE!!<div>A few years ago my college started this ad campaign about the Gator Nation. The idea was every where you go in the world, every profession you can find a representative from the University of Florida. I knew coming into PC that I would be working with one <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">UF</span> grad along side me, but I never imagined in my wildest dreams we would meet someone who was born in Namibia and went to school at <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">UF</span> the SAME TIME we did! Here is the story..</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>I spent last weekend in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Katima</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Mulilo</span> and to get back to my site, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Rundu</span>, we must depend on the generosity of others to give us a lift since we are not allowed to have a car. This <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">transport</span> can come in the form of a private car or a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">combi</span> (14 passenger van). This Sunday we got lucky and got a ride in a private car. We got in a were introducing ourselves and the man asked where we were all from. When we, my fellow <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">UF</span> grad and I, told him we were from Florida he told us he studied there. When we found out he was a PhD. student at <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">UF</span> my friend and I started bombarding him with questions. His favorite place to eat? Where his classes were? Did he ever go to games? The answers in case you are wondering... <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">Zaxby's</span>, Norman Hall, and of course!! The question and answer <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">portion</span> went on for about 3 hours. He is back and working in Namibia, but still thinks fondly of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">UF</span>. We were telling him all the changes that have happened to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">Gainesville</span> since he left in 2006. There is something special about meeting someone across the world who went to the same school as you. Needless to say it was great to see the Gator Nation in Namibia! </div><div> </div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5582027383669866098" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8U2anJiUThlMpzkgNGYVmn9srMW8yAyTquWdLjx_M7t-4Fq0KL8QU5oDENUVOpq2B5CS0ntZln43J8QKI44o-EDkdcv74z9K9qxDrKaxp6YdpBppcs1z0Oi6ySaRnyYuyuqTT0aXmwUQ/s320/gators+in+namibia.jpg" border="0" /></div><br />We took a picture in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">Divundu</span> a town half-way between <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">Katima</span> and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">Rundu</span>!Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16497535681141401398noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1742769923221469430.post-32158088275922528842010-11-29T08:27:00.000-08:002010-11-29T10:06:55.219-08:00A Special Visitor<div><div>I have not had any one from America come and visit me yet, until now!! I am very excited for my new visitor who arrived on Friday the 26th. He comes all the way from Tampa, Florida. His name is Flat Stanley. My friend, Ethan, sent him to me. I am excited to show Flat Stanley around Rundu and part of Southern Africa. Since Stanley is my first visitor we wanted to share his time with everyone on my blog…<br /><br />Dear Mr. Divins’ and Mr. Decker’s 2nd grade classes,<br /><br />Flat Stanley arrived safely in Rundu (Roon-do), Namibia on Friday the 26th of November. He traveled over one month and 7902 miles just to get here. It was a long journey across the Atlantic Ocean, but there is a lot to do and see.<br /><br />Something I’m sure he noticed right away was how hot it was. Namibia is located in Southern Africa. It is surrounded by South Africa to the South, Botswana to the East, Angola and Zambia to the North and the Atlantic Ocean to the West. The seasons are opposite here than in Tampa. Right now it is summer. The days reach 42 degrees Celsius, which is 107.6 degrees Fahrenheit. We are getting into our rainy season, it only rains from November to May then we get into our winter from May to July, which is very similar to winter in Tampa, cool but not cold. Then we have our autumn July to September where it is mostly windy and hot. It is very hot and I do not have an air conditioner so Flat Stanley would be most comfortable wearing shorts, t-shirt and sandals.<br /><br />In Namibia we do a few things differently than at home in America. People drive cars on the left side of the road, we measure distance in Kilometers not Miles and we use a different type of money. For every $1 US Dollar it is equal to $7 Namibian Dollars. A liter of milk costs us about $14 Namibian dollars.<br /><br />Some other interesting facts about Namibia…<br />1. Namibia has only been an independent country for 20 years, before it was part of South Africa.<br />2. There are 13 regions in the country, Rundu in the the northeast region called Kavango.<br />3. While the National Language is English there are over 20 different languages spoken in Nambia. In Kavango the main of the language spoken is Rukwangali (roo-kwan-gaal-ee). A common greeting goes..<br />“Morokeni” (moro-ken-knee) “Hello”<br />“Ngapi?”(N-gap-ee) “How are you?”<br />“Nawa, One Ngapi?” (naa-waa, oon-ey N-gap-ee) “I’m fine, how are you?”<br />4. While the size of Namibia is 2 times the size of California they entire population is around 2 million people.<br />5. The capital of our Country is Windhoek (wind-hook)<br /><br />I know Flat Stanley is supposed to be home by the 13th of December, but since he just arrived I would like to invite him to join me on my Christmas vacation to Zambia and Tanzania. If this is OK with your class.<br /><br />I am so excited to have him here. I hope you enjoy Flat Stanley and my adventures! If you have any questions about Rundu or Flat Stanley's adventures you can post them as a comment and I will be happy to answer them all!!<br /><br />Kareni Po Nawa (care-en-knee po naa-waa) This means "stay well" in Rukwangali. </div><div></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545009716200932818" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieZZ9UB0FlWdptvhiQ8rQmgUtjVD4Albq5hfo37jTO3SJiE68CxbaQGIYGCD2K8KQ1m8ZDySIbhzrIShF3mPH86GdY4TYrJXF9N8_m1J7siTIXqqNqbSz8HI01l9kXuWeyqVXtFSkTSyM/s320/PB301428.JPG" border="0" /></div><br /><br /><p>Here is Flat Stanley along the Kavango River. It is hard to see but the river is the border between Namibia and Angola. Do you see that town in the background? That is Angola!!<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545009725836638658" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibbqe10vSp7SDgYTNeH44t9uM-_NwbVqoiefiu5bEnoc_hah0_RVbUNI_ZUg2o3r53Uf9kSHDsOP_iNekhcUTJClDQCkpqNiLeTttu-P3bI5Jfot6HeMWB5MO68EwwyuxiLG7mRh4cjgc/s320/PB301430.JPG" border="0" />Here is Flat Stanley with our Namibian Flag!!!</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545009754429655154" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE4Ql6qdpsdH62XJaHJgy8-zDvx7IVS97ZSfBZXvt-zg28PZm2AZHYpqezwnDV4A0gl8fkIHH854QTzVtT-VE3QXnmU-cYp2sGBdmGGMoXeC26H1uevSnexhOTAfXhRlAegsgDBAqMi-A/s320/PB301431.JPG" border="0" /></p>Flat Stanley and I went to go to the Regional Council, but since we just had elections last Friday no one was there. We will try again to meet the mayor!Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16497535681141401398noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1742769923221469430.post-60338260187631575582010-11-04T06:43:00.001-07:002010-11-04T06:43:28.591-07:00The Countdown...As much as I am enjoying things here the 5 month deadline that I have looming over me to get things done only seems to get closer and closer. I feel like there is a lot of wrap up to do and to prepare for my predecessor (who ever gets to do this will be one lucky person)<br />This weekend… PARK CLEAN UP DAY!! My kids actually chose to spend all day Saturday de-bushing the park so we can get town council to plant grass before the rains come so it can set in. – Pictures to be posted at a later date<br />Nov. 13th ….. Mr. & Miss Kayec and End of Year KAYEC Celebration- can you believe the school year is almost over?!?<br />Nov. 20th….. Thanksgiving- Turkey, Friends and fun celebrating my second favorite holiday… Don’t worry Aunt Gladney I am making “Kimmies Last Green Bean Casserole in Namibia”<br />Dec. 9th….. Christmas Holiday in Zanzibar, Tanzania!!!!!! Perfect end to the year!<br /><br />Then there is a bit of a gap but the BEST thing to look forward too…<br /><br />APRIL 17th…. MOM BALAGUER comes to NAMIBIA!!!!! I am so excited to show my mom around. I have already told my kids and we are working on things to do for her (Dance, Drama, etc.) It will be so much fun and I am beyond excited to have my mom over here for a couple weeks to show her my second home!Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16497535681141401398noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1742769923221469430.post-66974266139499056882010-11-04T06:30:00.002-07:002010-11-04T06:42:51.784-07:0021 Kilometeres LaterAfter a year and a half of talking about this we did it. I ran a marathon relay with my fellow Kavango 29’er. We each ran halves of the marathon. I had first half (I think he had the prettier run). The race was from Walvis Bay to Swakopmund (right in the middle of those towns is where the famous Angelina and Brad had their baby, our driver actually showed us the house and all I could think of was my sister JB). My part was mostly running through Walvis Bay then finished running on the highway between dunes and in the distance I could see the ocean. It was great! I may or may not have been the last person to cross the finish line, but my partner made up for it and hauled it to pass some people. The town of Swakopmund reminds me so much of Jacksonville… I felt like I was back in America just walking on the beach! It made me so happy to get to see the Atlantic Ocean again. In case you’re wondering, it looks and smells the same you are just sitting backwards. I knew I missed the water, but I didn’t realize I missed it so much. Now I just can’t wait to get on the beach again. The race was fun and I am glad we did it. The whole weekend was really enjoyable. There are some fabulous restaurants to celebrate the race being over we went to a nice restaurant and I got a grouper equivalent filet. The people who sponsor the race also have it worked out so kids from all over Namibia come and run. One of my schools went, they had a 4 person relay (the second to last runner was one of my KAYEC kids), they got second place for the boys relay!! The kids who went had so much fun they get medals and for most they get to see the ocean for the first time EVER!<br /> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_co64CSr3kEXoqv21GDUizJekP8Ch7l00JdNzJS2yTgm72X9l9Him5G7Bxdbwk0bn0HKm6IM6_3-0SZw9-0isGE8fciw6DevfbiuxBZmN9v3DZm0dlDnpVCqLL0es-IFgbQcbSiszAmo/s1600/IMG_3524.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5535687655649616754" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_co64CSr3kEXoqv21GDUizJekP8Ch7l00JdNzJS2yTgm72X9l9Him5G7Bxdbwk0bn0HKm6IM6_3-0SZw9-0isGE8fciw6DevfbiuxBZmN9v3DZm0dlDnpVCqLL0es-IFgbQcbSiszAmo/s320/IMG_3524.JPG" border="0" /></a> This was taken about a year and a half ago when my partner and I first started talking about running the marathon relay... this is how our training progressed (notice neither of us running)<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifwcpiLYQ4hn8NN9Y1yIn5h9msKR8r6eTlwjugI5n5SSAynkAdfWuza_0LimO3TSxm0_3CziG9ZrLNUBfGdLeSdGalkbB8IS5awaS3_4MNtWzY-uq0tGyB8bh6Q3vQ7l4T_SCK7jU02jA/s1600/Marathon.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5535687644719941986" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifwcpiLYQ4hn8NN9Y1yIn5h9msKR8r6eTlwjugI5n5SSAynkAdfWuza_0LimO3TSxm0_3CziG9ZrLNUBfGdLeSdGalkbB8IS5awaS3_4MNtWzY-uq0tGyB8bh6Q3vQ7l4T_SCK7jU02jA/s320/Marathon.jpg" border="0" /></a> This is a shot of part of the group who ran the first half... its a good thing there were no pictures after!<br /><br /><br /></div>Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16497535681141401398noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1742769923221469430.post-2234119894664131042010-11-04T06:30:00.001-07:002010-11-04T06:30:34.120-07:00It's getting HOTT in HERE!!!It’s officially summertime in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Rundu</span>; you can’t even sit in your house with out sweating. I am drinking 3-5 liters of water a day and I am still so thirsty. Obviously, when I go to bed at night I don’t drink water in my sleep and from the time I lay down to the time I wake up my lips are so dehydrated that are super chapped!! Last week we had our first rainy night and we woke up to a cool morning. We are told that the rainy season is coming early this year. We have had some rainy nights since then, but only one really good one. I love the sound of rain on a tin roof. I hope everyone is right about the rain coming early, because I think I blocked the memory of last year’s heat. All I want to do is sit in a pool or be on the beach!! The good news is cold showers feel wonderful and it saves money on electricity!!<br /><br />Hazards to look out for this summer:<br />1. I have to keep a fan pointing at my computer so it <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">doesn</span>’t catch on fire.<br />2. There might be a possibility of me melting this year.<br />3. I might get banned from the bank! I go into the bank just to cool down because they have air conditioning!! If I keep going in and not doing anything they might start to notice.<br /><br />I am actually looking forward to summers in the South with a cold glass of sweet tea and being able to run and hide in air conditioning.Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16497535681141401398noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1742769923221469430.post-38824528499519954112010-11-04T06:29:00.001-07:002010-11-04T06:29:58.185-07:00TIA...I was traveling to Rehoboth for a workshop and after too many people trying to take my bag and yelling at me to come travel in their car. I ended up in a private car (you pay the same amount as you do in the van transport, but they usually get you there faster because there are only 4 seats as opposed to 14). We were about 10 km from Grootfontein, the next closest town to Rundu heading south. All of a sudden, the driver pulls off the tar road onto the gravel shoulder. We get out of the car and looking at the flat tire the driver says “I saw the tire was low when we left Rundu (200km ago!) I should have pumped up the tire”. The driver needed to call someone to bring a spare, because he did not have a extra tire and did not think to pump up the tire before we started. Did I mention that he did not have credit to call so he had to borrow my friend’s phone! When the man with the spare tire came we had nothing to put the tire on because neither the driver nor the man with the spare tire had a JACK!! Some random guy pulled over to help us and turns out the tire the guy brought for us to use was not the right size, so the two of them left us with the car on the side of the road as they went into town. In fast Nam time about 2 hours later we were on the road again after a random man pulled over and yelled at our driver for not being prepared when driving! It was an interesting hike day for sure!Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16497535681141401398noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1742769923221469430.post-12689199910998075322010-11-04T06:28:00.000-07:002010-11-04T06:29:19.453-07:00My New Roommate, LarryI was sitting in my bedroom getting ready for bed one night and I noticed everyone else congregating in the second bedroom in my flat. I asked them what they were doing and they said they had seen some animal under my pile of sheets. They thought it was a mouse or lizard. Being a Florida girl … I WAS REALLY HOPING FOR A LIZARD!! Lizards I can handle. When the mattress on the floor was moved … there he was running into my bedroom… my new friend LARRY!!! He was such tiny mouse (did you know mice could lay flat and crawl under anything) and he would have been cute if he <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">wasn</span>’t living in my house. Needless to say that night I slept with the light on and my fly swatter! Thinking he <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">wouldn</span>’t come near me with the light on.The next day my two friends went to the store and got mouse traps to put in my house. We only saw Larry a few more times after that. Once a friend was sleeping on the mattress on the floor (where we first saw Larry) and he heard Larry under the curtains by his head. The next time I was cleaning my kitchen and when I moved an outdoor mat. He was there again hiding in the corner in my kitchen. I was home alone and I ran out the door screaming (my neighbors must have thought I was crazy). That was the last night we saw Larry alive L I have not seen any of Larry’s family and I hope I don’t have to see them ever again! From now on my house is only welcoming Lizards and Wall Spiders.Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16497535681141401398noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1742769923221469430.post-30032476574634130672010-09-09T02:24:00.001-07:002010-09-09T02:25:57.152-07:00"Only The Good Die Young"I know I am not the most eloquent when it comes to writing so I am going to do my best here because this of all my blog entries deserves it. A volunteer who was serving in the Southern African country Lesotho was killed. It is a terrible tragedy and while I did not get the honor to meet Thomas I have heard a lot about him since I have been over here. He graduated from the University of Florida in 2008 (the same year I did) and started his Peace Corps service in November 2009 (this was 8 months after I started) he was working as an education volunteer. I have read his blog and the people who know him are so proud of him that I know he was an amazing, strong, motivated, powerful, life changing person. It is a tragedy to lose such a great volunteer. I will be keeping his family and friends in my thoughts and prayers everyday. I can not imagine what the community in Lesotho and back in Florida are going through but I will pray for them to have strength to get through this.<br /><br />Hearing about this made me so sad for many reasons; while I did not know Thomas personally we were part of a very small family. He was serving as a Peace Corps Volunteer. Even though we may not all know each other we are all part of one big family. We are a small group of Americans who dedicate two years of their life to work in communities where you hope to do even the smallest amount of good. There are many volunteers who are serving or who have served, while we don’t all know each other we are all there to support each other any where around the world. Thomas was a graduate of the University of Florida. There are not many UF PCV’s nearby and when you meet one you immediately start talking about Florida Field, The Swamp, University Ave and the most important person in all our PC lives, our recruiter. When they made those commercials about the GatorNation we all laughed, but it was true. You meet someone from UF and you immediately say “Go Gators.” When I came I was in a group with one other Gator Grad. We knew we were lucky because our recruiter took the time to put us together and helped up get ready for Namibia. It is not just the fact we went to UF together it is that we have a common person in our life who takes the time to make us feel special. I know that Amy, our recruiter, took the time to get us here and she has continued to stay in touch. She has many volunteers and she is so busy, but she takes the time to make us feel like we are her only thing she has to do. It is because of her that our UF Peace Corps family is so close. I know she makes all of us around the world serving as a UF PCV feel special. I also know that Thomas was a very special person to her and that means he was a fantastic person and I wish I could have gotten to get to know him.<br /><br />I have been thinking about this tragedy all day and it has reminded me to be grateful for the time I have here and how lucky I am to get to be getting to do what I want to do. I am so deeply saddened for the loss of Thomas and in his honor I am making sure I do not take any day for granted.<br /><br />I hope that all who read this blog will also keep Thomas and his family and friends in your thoughts, prayers or whatever you do!Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16497535681141401398noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1742769923221469430.post-80150895710744416472010-09-09T02:23:00.000-07:002010-09-09T02:24:27.158-07:00Everyone Wants Acceptance 2010So I am not sure how we pulled it off. There were many hoops to jump but somehow we did it. With the help of the community, volunteers and people at home we made it happen. EWA (ehh-waaa) was a two day conference where we brought learners from Kavango and Caprivi to learn about gender equality, HIV/AIDS and leadership. It was jammed packed with sessions. Let me try to give a recap.<br /><br />Pre- Conference:<br />We had some issues since last year. The conference was supposed to happen and the PCV’s had put together it they had prepared everything for EWA 2009 and they lost the funding. So we had to tell the learners who were invited and the facilitators who were trained that it was not happening It was really sad to see all the hard work that had been put in and then for it not to happen. When the PCV’s who had organized finished their service I said I would step up and make it happen this year. The beginning of the year we had our first meeting and we had it all planned out, we had support and potential funding. Then I spent the next few months focusing on Camp GLOW and my primary job. Once GLOW was over I dedicated all my time to making EWA happen. Our first big blow came when our funders told us that they could not provide funding. I was so tired and I just wanted to give up, but another volunteer, Lee, would not let me. He kept asking “whats up with EWA?” and we worked on getting as much as we could for free. The first thing was getting a place to hold the conference. One of the local secondary schools let us use their hostel facilities free of charge!!! From there things just fell into place. It’s funny how things always seem to work out somehow here, no matter how bad it gets it works out. We had worked out everything planning the conference and before we knew it August 25th had come and it was time for the camp!!<br /><br />Day 1 : Arrival Day: This was not as bad as we thought it was going to be. This is basically a transport day. We rely on the Ministries to help us with transport. We got everything ready and all the kids arrived (except one town because of communication problems). That night we just welcomed and divided the kids. They played the animal game- the kids get the name of animals on a piece of paper and they have to act out the animals until the find other animals who are acting the same some examples are dog, elephant, monkey, etc. This was pretty funny I think the volunteers got more into it than the kids. Then we put the kids to bed. The hostel was really nice and clean and the hostel staff was beyond helpful.<br /><br />Day 2: Gender Day<br />The first day the kids were up and knocking at 5 am!! They were ready for the day to start. We started with a good discussion on the difference of sex and gender and then we talked about their views about gender. The day had some really great discussions. We had 7 facilitators, they were trained last year and volunteered to come back and work at the conference, who led the sessions. The facilitators did fantastic they really helped us get the conference to happen. The day continued we played games and did more sessions and the night ended with a HIV/AIDS intro where the kids asked some really good questions. We ended the night teaching the kids about the female and male reproductive systems, how to use a condom and other questions they had about anything.<br /><br />Day 3: Leadership Day<br />This was the day where the kids work on communication and how to be a good leader. The idea is that they will go back to their community and start a club. We also invited 6 career panelists to come and talk about how they got to where they were and just to inspire the kids. We had a pharmacist, doctor, lodge owner, accountant, procurement officer and principal. The day went well and the kids really enjoyed the people who came to talk to us.<br /><br />Day 4: Departure Day<br />While I enjoyed the camp I was ready to get the next part of my holiday going. We all worked together and cleaned the hostel, washed down the bathrooms and packed everything to go. The transport came on time (this does not happen EVER!) and we were home by lunch time!!<br /><br />It was a great camp and I am really grateful to all the people who helped. I am glad I got to be part of it and meet some new kids from different villages and regions that I would have never gotten to meet. THANK YOU TO EVERYONE (PCV’s, Facilitators, RPCV’s, family and friends in America and the people in the Rundu Community who donated time, supplies, energy) who helped make EWA 2010 happen!!<br /><br />Side note: We did not have time to write the thank you cards with the kids so I will be spending this week writing thank you cards to everyone. I apologize for the delay in y are thank you cards if you are getting one.Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16497535681141401398noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1742769923221469430.post-11435886030258326572010-07-13T03:43:00.001-07:002010-07-13T03:44:06.623-07:00Well paint my door red and call me Elizabeth Arden!<p class="MsoNormal">Over the past couple months I have really missed some special things I love about the South. Sweet Tea, the beach, anything having to do with the Gators, my friends and family…you know the normal things. It was sitting in my flat and I got the urge to watch Gone with the Wind. This is my all time favorite movie! I was telling other volunteers about it and they had never seen it. I even told my mom and Aunt that I wanted to watch that and Steel Magnolias… another one of my favs! As I said earlier I went to <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Windhoek</st1:place></st1:City> for a workshop. While I was there I went into the Peace Corps Lounge and saw the book Gone with the Wind. I was SO excited I couldn’t believe that I could finally read the book that the movie I love so much was based on! Then while I was at the workshop in each of the rooms was a TV. I didn’t really turn it on because I was so content on my new book, but one night I choose to turn it on and what movie could just be starting on one of the local Namibian channels ONE <st1:place st="on">Africa</st1:place>…STEEL MAGNOLIAS!! I was so excited that I was going to get to watch it I literally started jumping on the bed. Its amazing how when you really want to watch, do, see, eat something here in someway it works out and in its own way it happens <span style="font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="">J</span></span></p>Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16497535681141401398noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1742769923221469430.post-75797110257404979442010-07-13T03:23:00.000-07:002010-08-11T07:13:07.876-07:004th of July<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1tMTAfYIGkaueA17HrWhvXCm5Jj8CoNpip5H_eVM3QJDdmbrKRayCn9_9se32Fx1fDrjTAZX0IhVYPDVFyOZhLmQ4QffBW8B2ALXjgKRDoExBIr0c7octQd_yFNgGrk3WDhuqKvsp3aM/s1600/36402_904083671944_3322181_49844785_7215637_n.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493338397121781874" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1tMTAfYIGkaueA17HrWhvXCm5Jj8CoNpip5H_eVM3QJDdmbrKRayCn9_9se32Fx1fDrjTAZX0IhVYPDVFyOZhLmQ4QffBW8B2ALXjgKRDoExBIr0c7octQd_yFNgGrk3WDhuqKvsp3aM/s320/36402_904083671944_3322181_49844785_7215637_n.jpg" border="0" /></a>This is Nick and Stewart trying to be cool... Nick got the cowboy hat to try and be a country boy...kind of looks like Tim McGraw, right?!?<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjLL9kD1QwjObPOv81zYCW2yC3WWMLTKPT3oq28GcM8T3JfqBS2skYhFLpzZL8INHs1t_YKGDXuejQXpTG4TH5WCgmY9SYpLvnJEa4cBr9ky1pKali5behgL3llvIK4o-efhVB5xkonCo/s1600/36402_904083666954_3322181_49844784_4211712_n.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493338390245672706" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjLL9kD1QwjObPOv81zYCW2yC3WWMLTKPT3oq28GcM8T3JfqBS2skYhFLpzZL8INHs1t_YKGDXuejQXpTG4TH5WCgmY9SYpLvnJEa4cBr9ky1pKali5behgL3llvIK4o-efhVB5xkonCo/s320/36402_904083666954_3322181_49844784_4211712_n.jpg" border="0" /></a>What you can't tell is that I am in between yelling at people to play a football game :)<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVT2tpM-NtrYb81zbH6vJX17qGrUfNVxPm8txdeuLbKRpu_e7IxfDWNGIw3Mm6VpHOqGFs9S9vI8UZ47rFKcb-Q8cniZUFP_gPGFeMdCfvseSw5tyLwUu-0V8PQAIvSCEYZddm5Xw3KOo/s1600/36402_904083676934_3322181_49844786_2008988_n.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493338387755311346" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVT2tpM-NtrYb81zbH6vJX17qGrUfNVxPm8txdeuLbKRpu_e7IxfDWNGIw3Mm6VpHOqGFs9S9vI8UZ47rFKcb-Q8cniZUFP_gPGFeMdCfvseSw5tyLwUu-0V8PQAIvSCEYZddm5Xw3KOo/s320/36402_904083676934_3322181_49844786_2008988_n.jpg" border="0" /></a>This is Katie she is the other Rundu volunteer...dinners and lots of chatting go on with us<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5SwGgwBqZ8mcgdbx3_ue_a8oZbLvq8fGd4JV_T9dPR-KYVullNO2JA11-cZcqGUiEmd6icp9pEsg9ukWs5KWGdVwWhxBPyVcQVDjKIGNuLqiZdlmkmuTOK40QtXRMWFI90AMYiVpv6-I/s1600/36442_904083532224_3322181_49844774_8171567_n.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493338378179610706" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5SwGgwBqZ8mcgdbx3_ue_a8oZbLvq8fGd4JV_T9dPR-KYVullNO2JA11-cZcqGUiEmd6icp9pEsg9ukWs5KWGdVwWhxBPyVcQVDjKIGNuLqiZdlmkmuTOK40QtXRMWFI90AMYiVpv6-I/s320/36442_904083532224_3322181_49844774_8171567_n.jpg" border="0" /></a>Our Nam 29 4th of July decorations!!<br /><p class="MsoNormal">I have been trying to get my PC friends to appreciate the great holiday that is 4<sup>th</sup> of July. Normally we celebrate at House Bavaria, but Patrick was out of town at the World Cup so we did it at my house. This year they made it a joke by wearing obnoxious red white and blue…it was very Gator of them (to be as obnoxious as possible)! We celebrated 4<sup>th</sup> of July on the 3<sup>rd</sup> of July and had about 25 PCV’s in town… We had to have a football game, pasta salad, Freedom Pong and fireworks. Man I love this holiday… I was sitting in my front yard in a chair pretending I am on <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 /><st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">St. Augustine</st1:place></st1:city> beach with my family. I even had some Firefly that I had sent special to me ;) YUM! Nick and I even made some really good chicken wings with a very good sauce I must say!It was a great time we all needed a reminder of how much fun just hanging out and relaxing can be. The next big holiday is Halloween I think they will be just as good. I can’t wait until next year when I will really be back on the beach with my family and all the new little kids. I made my kids here celebrate it in their own way. They were to wake up on Sunday and yell HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">AMERICA</st1:place></st1:country-region>!! When I told them this they came back and told me <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">America</st1:place></st1:country-region> is too old to be celebrating her birthday! I told them you can never be too old to celebrate!! It’s true I will celebrate this holiday until I die!</p><p class="MsoNormal"><?xml:namespace prefix = o /><o:p></o:p></p>Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16497535681141401398noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1742769923221469430.post-11516019307305251832010-07-13T03:22:00.002-07:002010-07-13T03:23:10.759-07:00My Purpose...<p class="MsoNormal">Work is going great my kids finished cleaning their three schools (I will post pictures soon) and the schools have now implemented a program where if you are seen throwing rubbish on the ground you will get what is like a detention. Really they told the kids to slap someone and tell a teacher if they saw them throwing rubbish down, but I strongly discouraged that behavior. At least the schools are staying clean and the schools are supporting and like it clean!! We are now preparing to take 35 kids to <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Windhoek</st1:place></st1:City> for a Sports Tournament consisting of Volleyball, Netball, Soccer and Chess. We are going to be spending the next few weeks training and preparing them. My job is to be the cheerleader and teach them stuff I learned in middle school. I have no idea how to play any of the games so I am just moral support! If you know any cheers please send them my way!! </p> <p class="MsoNormal">I just got back from <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Windhoek</st1:place></st1:City> for a PC workshop on planning trainings. I have never written/updated/edited so many learning objectives in my life, but it was done to improve training and I think the new groups will have a better more organized training then I did. It was nice to get to hang out with the staff I really enjoy the Namibians that work in the office, I wish I got to spend more time with them. It was a good reason to get out of Rundu even though I don’t really want to leave….I complained the whole way down. We are still trying to get funding for EWA this week I am working on figuring out how to make it as cheap as possible… fingers crossed something works out!!</p>Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16497535681141401398noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1742769923221469430.post-90663488225982831182010-07-13T03:22:00.001-07:002010-07-13T03:22:44.242-07:00Sweatshirts in July?!<p class="MsoNormal">It is winter time here, imagine a Thanksgiving in FL warm during the day and cold at night, and my toes are constantly cold! I have worn my sweater almost everyday. I am appreciating the winter since I know in summer I will be dying for some cold weather. I even sculpted my dinner to fit the season. Last week I made Lentil Chili… took some lentils, tomato puree and cumin and it was fabulous!! Then my attempt to make chicken soup was a success!! So for a whole week I would have lentil chili for lunch and chicken soup for dinner! I usually just make one or two dinners for the whole week and live off of that until I need to cook something else. This week is peppers, tomatoes and onions over a bit of pasta. I made a ranch dipping sauce. Did you know you could take a ranch flavor packet and add it to plain fat-free yoghurt and it tastes just like the bottle?? Healthy and inexpensive! I am back on my chicken soup dinners. Its so easy and really warms you up. There is nothing like sitting inside after work with a warm cup of soup and a good book. (I am reading Gone with the Wind)</p>Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16497535681141401398noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1742769923221469430.post-64230674267756628062010-07-13T03:20:00.001-07:002010-07-13T03:20:52.202-07:00No More Vuzuvelas?!? YEAH RIGHT<p class="MsoNormal">Let’s see so the last time I wrote the world cup was just starting…everyone is still watching every game…well they were I am not lucky enough to have a TV in my office where I can just leave and watch work so I have only seen a couple of the matches. I have talked to some people who asked why I was not going. I know I talked about it a long time ago but when it came time to buy tickets I didn’t think I would have the vacation time and money. So I made the choice not to go. I am now planning to go to the 2014 World Cup in <st1:place st="on"><st1:country-region st="on">Brazil</st1:country-region></st1:place>…any one down?!? It was a disappointing loss for the <st1:country-region st="on">US</st1:country-region> after a deja-vu loss to <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Ghana</st1:place></st1:country-region>…I don’t think that was a good weekend for us. Everyone keeps telling me I need to switch to the African team now since that’s my home. It’s a good thing I gave up after the Americans got out otherwise <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Spain</st1:place></st1:country-region> may have never won! That’s right the Spanish are World Cup Champions!!I found this out last night as I sit in my bed trying to go to sleep and all of a sudden my entire house was surrounded by honking Vuzuvelas!! When it is just one it does not carry that buzzing noise, but this honking noise I can not get out of my head. It took a few hours but people around me settled down and I got to sleep. So now that the World Cup is over I am interested to see what people will do for entertainment…there are always more football matches to been seen.</p>Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16497535681141401398noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1742769923221469430.post-39163569091045857012010-05-27T01:26:00.001-07:002010-05-27T01:26:58.720-07:00Good with Faces. Bad with NamesI have come to the realization that I SUCK WITH NAMES!! There are so many times I have been greeted and I have NO IDEA how I know this person who is so kindly taking the time to ask me how my day is going. I was walking past the post and a friend of mine, Katiku, was talking to a man. So I went up and greeted her and the man. Then he told me “you owe me something, do you not remember” I just stood there because I had not a clue what he was talking about. Finally after what felt like 10 minutes I said “I am sorry can you please help me I do not remember”. Turns out he is a teacher at one of the schools I work with. I felt so dumb I borrowed a dance outfit a month ago! Katiku thought it was hilarious but I was mortified. I have been here a year and I still do not know too many peoples names. I need to come up with a better system!! ANY IDEAS?!?!Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16497535681141401398noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1742769923221469430.post-2621948288283973232010-05-27T01:25:00.002-07:002010-05-27T01:26:35.184-07:00GLOW is GONE :(So camp GLOW went off successfully. It was a fun, challenging week that I will always remember. You can read about it and see pictures at <a href="http://glownamibia.blogspot.com/">http://glownamibia.blogspot.com</a>Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16497535681141401398noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1742769923221469430.post-55742171916963572582010-05-27T01:25:00.001-07:002010-05-27T01:25:55.767-07:00Some New Digs...About a month ago we moved my office. I am now in a three bedroom house. It’s nice! The kids painted the rooms... it definitely looks like kids painted it! I think it gives it charm. Melanie, my counterpart, and I share an office, she stays in the master bedroom, one room for our supplies and games and the living room where the kids meet and play. Since school starts today I am excited for most of them to come back in and see the new place. We don’t have phone or internet but I like it. There is a big yard with squash and mutete (wild spinach) growing in the back so we are going to make a little garden. <br /><br />We are going to start our community clean up project as soon as we get town council approval. We are going to clean up the local park and make it a place so people will actually use it instead of just passing through it. I am kind of excited to get back and work in the yard pulling weeds and picking up rubbish. It will remind me of home and all the Saturdays we used to spend working in the yard.<br /><br /> We are also putting together our sports teams for a big KAYEC competition at the end of July. A team from each town (Rehoboth, Rundu, Otjiwarongo, Ondangwa and Windhoek) will compete in a tournament of soccer and netball. I have faith that my kids will do OK. We just need to start training so they can live up to all the crap I have been talking to all the other Youth Officers around the countryKimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16497535681141401398noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1742769923221469430.post-78065791863581548622010-05-27T01:24:00.000-07:002010-05-27T01:25:24.649-07:00It's Fall-ish!!!The rainy season is over and the sand is beginning to get looser and tougher to walk through. Like the sand on the Tampa Beaches EVERYWHERE!! The only thing that makes this OK is that the weather is PERFECT!! We are slowly coming into winter, not really looking forward to winter because I have to wear socks around the office. Right now I am enjoying the weather as much as I can. There are many benefits to it cooling off outside! I don’t use my fan anymore when I sleep and if I sleep with the windows open I get too cold. I don’t sweat walking around town as much which means my clothes stay cleaner longer so less laundry days! Walking around town is enjoyable and since I am not miserable I am nicer to the men who try to hit on me just because they think they will get a free ride back to America. I think this change in weather really benefits everyone. I will say that with the weather the way it is I keep thinking that it is September not May so I keep thinking I can go to ESPN. com and read the football scores, that disappoints me every time!Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16497535681141401398noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1742769923221469430.post-81077163702029215702010-05-27T01:23:00.000-07:002010-05-27T01:24:25.433-07:00May is the NEW holidaysMay is a good month full of holidays!! Every week I have had at least a 4 day week because of national holidays that close my office. I blame that to my excessive laziness when it comes to working. It is hard to stay motivated when I know I can go home and read a book or watch the latest episode of Glee! This month we celebrated:<br />Cassinga Day on the 4th<br />Ascension Day on the 13th – it was very hard for people to get that at home we don’t get off for the day Jesus went to heaven after rising from the dead!<br />Africa Day on the 25th – we should have a North American Day!! <br />The best part is they all fell on Tuesday’s or Thursday’s so the office gave off the day before or after to make it a long weekend! I am getting back into work and staying in my office more and more. I have had a lot of errands around town for other PCV’s or the things I am planning so it may seem that I am leaving the office at 2 but really I am walking all over town until 6!!Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16497535681141401398noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1742769923221469430.post-40865683564023755912010-04-16T02:40:00.000-07:002010-04-16T03:00:17.024-07:00Namibia Turns 20!!!On March 21st 2010 Namibia celebrated 20 years of independence!! I was celebrating at the GLOW facilitators training. It really was a great way to celebrate.The country has so much promise in the youth who are motivated and passionate to make a change for the better. At the training they learned about gender balance, HIV/AIDS, team building and leadership. They had some amazing things to say about the challenges people here face and how to help them combat the challenges. I was sitting with a wise old volunteer who made the observation... With people like this leading Namibia into the future it can only get better! Even being here for only a year, such a short time, I can see the development and growth that is taking place. Namibia is such a great, rich country full of culture, history and friendly faces!!<br /><br />If you have not read up about Namibia since I have been here here are some websites that may help you understand more what a great country this place is ...<br /><br />Just a simple profile of Namibia -<br /><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Namibia">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Namibia</a><a href="http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/5472.htm"></a><br /><br />One of our popular newspapers -<br /><a href="http://www.namibian.com.na/">http://www.namibian.com.na/</a>Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16497535681141401398noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1742769923221469430.post-84245175092547517792010-04-16T01:54:00.000-07:002010-04-16T02:27:46.371-07:00An Easter to RememberThis is the first time in my entire life I have not been in a Church on Easter Sunday. I honestly feel I spent it in a place that was so breathtaking and beautiful some would describe it as heavenly. On Good <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Friday I</span> headed to the South to a place called <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Sossusvlei</span>. It is home to the worlds largest sand dunes. I went with 4 other Americans. The dunes are STUNNING in person. If anyone comes to visit (hint, hint) I would love to see it again! It should be something everyone gets to see because my pictures can not capture it. We climbed a dune called "Big Daddy". We only got to climb half because the whole thing would have taken 2 hours and it was getting late for us. When we got to the top point we overlooked an area called <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Deadvlei</span>- I will explain it later- The dunes are such a <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">bright</span> orange <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">because</span> the sand was carried through the Orange River from the Kalahari! It is amazing to think of how much sand had to be moved to make the dunes. When we climbed down "Big Daddy" (too much fun!!) we literally walked into <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Deadvlei</span>. I loved it and I loved it even more when I learned about it. The trees in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Deadvlei</span> lived for over 200 years and have been dead for over 900!! They have not decomposed because there is no way for things to <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">survive</span> so its like a petrified forest! It was beautiful!<br /><br /><div><div><div><div><div><div>We also had some amazing food while we were down in Windhoek. One night we ate at a fellow <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">PCV's</span> host sisters restaurant, Fusion, its a fusion of food from all over Africa. Again, if someone comes (hint, hint!) we will eat there. We had our Easter dinner at a place called Ocean Basket where I got a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">Publix</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">equivalent</span> sushi roll and a green salad. It was Nam-good for sure! All in all the weekend was very enjoyable and memorable I am SO glad I got the chance to go down there!!</div><div></div><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460661094292353074" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKqMa_X0saCb5C810CwMkR3NoDIFsjst996Fy62npSqaNzVk5YLyJn2h82ajTrbid9qkh7pIcOAOp-BeNTGXhA4YSCMn3-6bBPshMky-9j7e1CtAPiQR2S_HvtKeRSJXpYHr6J594Arzs/s320/P4030001.JPG" border="0" /></div></div></div></div></div></div><div align="center"><span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">That's</span> right we crossed the Tropic of Cancer!! Next stop Equator than Topic of Cancer... I will work my way up!<br /><br /><br /></div><p align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460661108048619810" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHGhmSs9qV7jfpyzLE4fRBhjn4r3waJYUWarRrcYoBVS_Tbi6hkBvylD1wFfUXUKSpBv3KK_zrphjsjwq2GGKMBSmLZv_mhyphenhyphenWLGBu4b0sHwNEh_tcZphawxi9Q777G6tMKXBjPwLG15aE/s320/P4030009.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460661114678571858" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHztfHKpz4wJs7Z6to1I-KtEtZ_xMTu4Dae5u-WxOKfcT2hk-pc1hZpo-bUTvZ25X13We1BGzaVH0bvqcTIh1QDFBpU6mIDGwJaJ0nFuK7yGjNaY2nMx_vOShHhWsgezXnj8xhv-OJQf0/s320/P4030049.JPG" border="0" /></p><div align="center"><br />We arrived at the lodge just in time to watch the sunset in the mountains... gorgeous!<br /><br /></div><p align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460661134048352146" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2KRkWcKk7ljfTTYgLQ1-NzqCz2d_FsZuBTm5aFSyE-gIhv6npecS1cV6401apxUg47FYT8HcEJzdl7xGDhrCO4Pfh3ROVysrVBhZMwW03_SotKw5LUxfiTVzx-eX4VtskPRmGf6t4HDA/s320/P4040069.JPG" border="0" /></p><p align="center">These are <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">Oryx</span> and the one facing the picture is albino. Who knew they had albino <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">Oryx</span>!</p><div><br /></div><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460661140761736866" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiucMHJ2sbiIATUTzoYqEzcBcYoLrXshyeWGVm3yvvoiEfR41CDOUPjsgpyr4i5OE2GrrcukbvEW0-lmk4FBCJCoHa2fUpNvXKL35pUAUCaT0vtYJi_WOUk211kXFs54V45KmF4h0V_OFI/s320/P4040093.JPG" border="0" /></p><div align="center">The dunes were huge and it is really hard to capture it in a picture.</div><div align="center"> </div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460663382058186066" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWOnA5Jrj5sWKi85WdR5P9qNAm7wqgVRdGTZExGEUZCT8val4MhYspB9MCdFUSMb6WD4WnG_-_lb1TFKTJTJz3tD0F3gCNrW2ubD7bdpamUd4j8PTxeeHlLpUh9f-hu2IEQMC72k4Fdpk/s320/P4040113.JPG" border="0" /><br /><p align="center">This was where we walked up to. The white pan to the right is <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">Deadvlei</span>!</p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460663394284816770" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPBIoHSsXqIeDz_JRk_nMOWthzKCPkV4x7bezGKjeJkXamcKSF9CYIamnAXQT3mkYPCnpgFIYPLfVnq9o7o92V3Ir4GCwoeBeD7Tk30da3gyCDnor6PVnjF4oEDpuIKE_TbZKDljmi9Rc/s320/P4040122.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center">The trees in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">Deadvlei</span> were so magical. <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460663395359514834" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDnODKbKqMKmnjRFKTzjxyUWDrYep5w634HRD9Uziv3c-YKlCbR4kwRTeUU_7ft9D_6Ad1skq80qvLSAb9GoiVV8QhSsg1H1Rpu5n1Xe790kSDPLTeg7aZ-uPKoisM0p_jnuZ6PWZVsCw/s320/P4040124.JPG" border="0" /></p><p align="center">It was really cool to see the moon out over the dunes. </p>Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16497535681141401398noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1742769923221469430.post-27986708103289401102010-04-16T01:43:00.000-07:002010-04-16T01:54:36.727-07:00Day by DayLife in Namibia is going well. Nam feels more like home everyday, I may never come home! (lets see who actually reads this), but in reality some days suck! When that happens I do a few things depending on the day. I will either a) watch a TV show- I am really into <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">SYTYCD</span> and Friends- or b) read a book or c) sit down and really try to picture what I would be doing at home right now- <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">every time</span> I try I just can't picture myself at home which reminds me that no matter how crappy the day this is where I am supposed to be and it usually makes it better. or I just go to sleep and wake up on a new day!<br /><br />I am still going to my job everyday - sometimes it really feels like EVERYDAY! There are about 40-50 kids who attend everyday. It is different groups of kids usually. It is exam time so we are just relaxing, playing games/sports, and watching movies. A lot of times my job can get really stressful, but like with anything you can't appreciate the good if you don't go through the bad.<br /><br />There is a new health group (group 31) swearing in as I write this update. I am excited for them. We have 6 newbies coming up to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Kavango</span>. It will be a nice addition. Some of them have shown an interest in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">EWA</span> so I am excited to get to work - an pass on this job - to one of them! With 5 of the people coming up being girls I <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">foresee</span> a good chance that my <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Friday</span> wine days might be coming back :)<br /><br />Sunday I start my April travel for two weeks away from site. I will be going to the capital and the first week getting first aid training and a general work meeting. The second week is GLOW!!!<br /><br />Saturday is a friends birthday, We are going to do a whole day of celebrating and relaxing it should be a fun time!<br /><br />I am getting better at my cooking skills... last night I made some banging <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">guac</span> (it is <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">avo</span> season here!) with <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Mexican</span> beans for dinner - basically I made burrito less burritos!<br /><br />I have <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">unofficially</span> started training for the half in October. So any motivational words would be greatly appreciated!<br /><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">Kareni</span> Po <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">Nawa</span>!! (Stay Well)Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16497535681141401398noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1742769923221469430.post-4458039444115704422010-03-09T06:15:00.000-08:002010-03-09T06:23:02.342-08:00I never should have said never...At home, I never used to get sick. Once a year I would get a bad cold and it would go away in a few days. Since my visit home I have had to go to the doctor twice, change my iron meds, and visit the dentist twice.<br /><br />Dental:<br />I cracked my tooth on a dorito, yes a dorito. So I have been dealing with that mess since I got back. I finally had my appointment to get my crown put on. I had cracked the temporary filling and it was very sensistive. The doctor gave me two shots and somehow at the very last thing it wore off and instead of getting another shot he asked me if I could stand the pain. I said "yes" like an idiot... it was a TERRIBLE, HORRIBLE, NO GOOD, VERY BAD EXPERIENCE!!<br /><br />Doctor:<br />During this whole dental mess. I developed a rash on my hands. It did not spread and went from swollen and paining to itchy and blistering. I went to the doctor (who is very handsome I might add!) and he said it might be a fungus so I am taking meds for that , but right now it just looks like I am really tan/sunburned on my hands.<br /><br />I can just hear my mom now, "TMI, Kimmie!" sorry just thought I would give you the whole experience rash and all!!Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16497535681141401398noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1742769923221469430.post-86974536921753208012010-03-09T05:57:00.000-08:002010-03-09T06:15:55.379-08:00The Small Things<div><div>A few weeks ago I got a couch for my house...ITS AWESOME I sit on it everyday! I will take pictures of my house soon now that it is decorated and lived in :)</div><br /><div></div><div>I made a dinner with Kathy. Found my Cuban roots. It was like <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">noche</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">de</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">buena</span> in Feb. When I went home at Christmas I found a dry <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Mojo</span> at <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Publix</span> -man I love that store!-. So I made pork, black beans and rice! We have talked about doing a Easter/Passover holiday at my house and we are talking about making pork again. </div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY6AAwSdnRWXCcq88wMk-XQo3l9EcNzgUnYOUcpybDgU0PcLeaLAgYNrQ8e-ytWzz61VTs1z7uwKbosvTDZxmdbV35WzZklSmDnrXCd5VuQP8LE8oWFrE_MX7j-FPS3LVviccFfYOUbbY/s1600-h/P2211817.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5446636616484744930" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY6AAwSdnRWXCcq88wMk-XQo3l9EcNzgUnYOUcpybDgU0PcLeaLAgYNrQ8e-ytWzz61VTs1z7uwKbosvTDZxmdbV35WzZklSmDnrXCd5VuQP8LE8oWFrE_MX7j-FPS3LVviccFfYOUbbY/s320/P2211817.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div>I have actually become a good cook (somewhat!) over this side. I made cookies for my friends. It has been hard <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">because</span> the brown sugar is not like at home. So I have had to practice over the past year and I found that if you <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">substitute</span> 2 Tablespoons honey it works just as well!! I have also made Key Lime Pie and this weekend I made Lima Bean Soup. Man I am a domestic queen!!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit0AqXBZfDngRER1rvCiClo38sjeq3lkj2K3vyjCjMa7yrX4d9wjVKfuiiTGKbr4sFhfpUbTLbF8fViUUjkcb_24l70K1OtSZoEooH6pju7zp3zuQqBTrWqkr-j3c5pBL5JdLWxFbxIow/s1600-h/P1311789.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5446634546045919138" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit0AqXBZfDngRER1rvCiClo38sjeq3lkj2K3vyjCjMa7yrX4d9wjVKfuiiTGKbr4sFhfpUbTLbF8fViUUjkcb_24l70K1OtSZoEooH6pju7zp3zuQqBTrWqkr-j3c5pBL5JdLWxFbxIow/s320/P1311789.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div>This is a picture of my neighbor. SHE IS ADORABLE!! She just walks by and asks me questions "Where is your TV?" "Why don't you have one?" "What are you doing?" "Where are your friends?" She is very sharp and can sing to me her alphabet. She even will try to share her sweets. She just makes me smile. There is a little boy, her cousin who lives on the other side of me, and together they are a pair. </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div></div>Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16497535681141401398noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1742769923221469430.post-56889807538024107172010-03-09T05:47:00.000-08:002010-03-09T05:57:23.144-08:00I could die a happy womanIt is the start of the new school year (our school year is Jan-Dec) and with the start of the new year comes the annual parents meeting. I went to one of my schools parents meeting. I was supposed to speak in front of all these parents, about 300, about my program and the new intake. I stood up and spoke made a joke in Rukwangali, it really wasn't a joke it was me saying "Edina lyange Kim, Ame mulizambeli koPeace Corps, Ame na hara mutete no mahangu" translated its : My name is Kim, I am a Peace Corps Volunteer, I like wild spinach and porridge! They seemed to find me very entertaining. Point is I did my speech and waited around until the end of the meeting for parents questions.<br /><br />The last part of the program was a chance for the parents to stand up and ask questions. There was a woman who stood up, honestly I was not paying attention until she turned and pointed to me and said Kayec. I was told after that she was thanking me for changing her daughters(or son, the child changed each time someone told me about it) life. When the child started the program she did not speak good English and being in the program has brought up her grades and brought her out of her shell. The mother said that every parent there should enroll their child in the program and that it was one of the best things that could have ever happened to this school and child.<br /><br />It was great to hear from a parent of the child. I know I can see a change in my kids, but to hear it from a parent was just the best year anniversary present I could have gotten.Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16497535681141401398noreply@blogger.com0