Six Months in Namibia!

Friday marked six months since Group 48 arrived in Namibia. My service is almost ¼ complete. I still have to pinch myself to believe I am actually here as a Peace Corps Volunteer.  This day, this hour, life is good.

When I returned from Reconnect, there was a new timetable waiting for me. I knew this might happen while I was away, but I did not receive it until I returned. I had no idea what classes I would teach on Monday, my first day back. Teaching in Namibia is not recommended for anyone who needs to be in control and know everything ahead of time. Hopefully this will be the last change to the timetable, but I am quite certain there will be one-time schedule changes. For example, 4^th period and 6^th period may flipflop on a day or the morning assembly may go long so classes start at 7:45 instead of 7:37 and each of the 8 periods ends a minute earlier. I can handle it but not without some confusion. My learners find my confusion funny and I laugh with them.

I was kind of dreading my return, but the learners were happy to see me, and it felt good. I was also pleasantly surprised to find that they actually completed the work I left for them.

A couple girls in my Math 11 class tested me with talking and disruptive behavior. These girls are funny and liked by their peers, I like them too but not that day. I put them both in a classroom ‘timeout’, making them sit on hard stools in opposite corners of the classroom. They were insulted and upset but they were good the rest of the week. One entered the room the next day saying “Miss, I will be quiet today”. A small victory!

Unfortunately, I have not slept well this week. I fall asleep easily but wake up at 3 or 4 and struggle to fall back asleep. I am most vulnerable at these times. My mind races with insecurity about teaching, I miss Steve and wonder if I will ever be as happy as I was with him, I miss my family and friends. I stopped taking my siesta after school and I take a long walk in hopes that will break the cycle. When it happens, I use my mindful breathing, meditation techniques, prayer and reading to fall back to sleep. Last night was better. I woke up at 4 but I quickly fell back to sleep until 7:30 which is sleeping-in for me.

All for now with all my love