Just a short update that I had a warm welcome home from my housemate, Ester, and her son Blessing. I also met Blessing’s new nanny, Ester’s cousin, Natalia.
I will miss Martha, Blessing’s former nanny, and our frequent walks and talks. Martha found another job, closer to her family, and considers it a better fit. I’m happy for her.
She told me I was the first white person she ever really talked with. She thought she didn’t like white people and had nothing to say to them. We talked about our faith, about our values, about our families, and our dreams. We had plenty to talk about. We also enjoyed laughing at the funny things toddler Blessing would do. Laughing at kids is a universal pleasure.
Today is Epiphany, celebrated in the Episcopal, Roman Catholic, and other Christian faiths. Tradition says this 12th day after Christmas is when the Three Kings, also called the Three Wise Men, visited and claimed infant Jesus to be the Christ child. This marks the end of the Christmas season.
This day also finds me with my 92 year-old mother as she recuperates from a bad fall that happened while I was in Germany. Since I was already half-way to Florida and school doesn’t start until January 13, Peace Corps permitted me to extend my vacation. My mom fractured 2 vertebrae in her neck and broke her knee cap. These are not life-threatening injuries, but at her age they are life changing. The goal is for her to return to her apartment in a retirement community, but it will be a long recovery and she will need additional at-home care.
My mom amazes me with her resilience and her independent nature. She wants to return to her two cats, she wants to return to her bridge group, her gin-rummy group, playing Bingo, watching her great grandchildren grow. This is a set-back, especially after finally recovering from a serious fall in September which resulted in a concussion and stitches, but no broken bones. This year also included the death of her oldest child, my sister, Vickie, back in July. Such sadness and yet she always recognizes her blessings. She thanks God for the good in her life. She seeks joy.
My mom is not perfect and can drive me crazy. She has always been concerned about my Tom-boy nature and lack of ‘style’. She often wanted to curl my hair, help me with makeup, buy me frilly dresses when I just wanted to put my hair in a pony tail, lipstick was plenty, and nothing frilly for me. You would think after 62 years, she would stop trying, but no. I was meeting a couple old high school friends for dinner the other night. I was leaving mom to go get ready and she said, “Ellen, put some makeup on. Help yourself to mine – you know where it is. Also, why don’t you put on something nice to wear?” I had an epiphany, this is her love language for me.
We stayed at this artist’s airbnb and it was filled with his artwork
It is the eve of Christmas Eve and I am sitting in a studio apartment outside of Munich, Germany. Pinch me, I will celebrate Christmas with family this year! My niece, Andrea, called around Thanksgiving saying she needed to do something different this first Christmas without her mom, my sister, and she wanted to do it with me. I scrambled to meet the 3-week timeline to get permission for international travel from Peace Corps. With that secured, we planned our itinerary with my son, Sal’s help. Sal lived in Germany for 2 different tours while in the Army, so he had great ideas for our ‘last minute’ adventure.
Andrea and I rendezvoused in Frankfurt, rented a car and are now driving around Germany, staying at AirBnBs, seeing Christmas Markets, and learning much about Germany. Every day has its adventure such as learning how to start our rental car, how to purchase train tickets with all German instructions, finding and using an ATM. We rely heavily on the kindness of strangers, Google translate, and laughter. We are having a great time!
Merry Christmas!
All for now with all my love,
Ellen
Cute house built inside mountain in Kallmunz.
Christmas Market in Frankfurt
backyard at airbnb ‘Into The Green” in Markt Nordheim
I just got back from a Peace Corps sponsored Wellness Weekend. There were volunteers from groups 47, 48 (my group), 49, and 50. At any given time there are 4 groups of Peace Corps Volunteers. The odd numbered groups are in the Community Economic Development (CED) and Community Health and HIV/AIDS Program (CHHAP) sectors. The even numbered groups are in the Secondary Upper Primary Education Project (SUPEP) sector. My group 48 are now considered the ‘Juniors’ since the Freshmen group 50 swore-in in October. Hard to believe as the time flies by.
Back to Wellness Weekend, it is a time to share and learn positive coping mechanisms to improve or maintain our physical and mental health. We were at Otjikoto Game Reserve which is part of B2Gold ‘s (a mining company) corporate social responsibility plan. They develop and maintain this game reserve to provide a natural environment for animals and are planting endangered native plants to ensure their continuity. They have permanent campsites and meeting areas for school groups and some nonprofit organizations.
We had sessions for yoga, nature walks, shadow boxing, making and sampling exfoliation scrubs and facial masks, meditation, creative writing, gratitude journaling, painting, coloring, and while doing all that we developed relationships, the ultimate self-care.
One of the exercises for creative writing was to write a short poem (@5 minutes) about “what love is” using the 5 senses. Poetry is not my thing, but I gave it a try. When I think of love, I think of Steve. One way he showed his love was by making sure my car was safe and ready for me to use. I have many memories of him checking and topping off my oil, adding air to my tires, changing belts, and who knows what all. My poem went like this:
My Man
My man smells of oil and gas As he listens to my engine.
My man scrubs the grease and dirt From his hands and arms after he fixes my engine.
My man enjoys the taste of the sweet iced tea As I touch his sweaty neck.
As I shared my poem with the group, there were comments, “Oh my, my”, “uh,uh,uh” and things suggesting my poem was a little racy. I didn’t plan it, but I can see it now and it makes me smile.
It’s been a fun and somewhat productive week. One of the new volunteers in my town had asked me to teach her to bake and she especially likes chocolate. I taught her how to make brownies. Unfortunately, due to different pan sizes and oven temperature variations, they were more like ooie, gooie fudge than brownies but they were still yummy, especially with ice cream. That is the fun of baking; it is hard to have a complete fail.
I visited PCV Zach in Okakarara, about 100km from me, on Saturday and Sunday. He had one of his famous braai (i.e. BBQ) so there were other PCVs as well as some of his co-workers and neighbors. Zach is in the Community Economic Development (CED) sector of Peace Corps, so his PC experience is very different than mine. He helps individuals develop business plans, he provides business education and training, and basically does whatever he can to support and develop business in his town and region.
Many people in Okakarara are not originally from there and they go home when school is on break. Most people in this town are Herero (about 7% of total Namibia population), the people most decimated by German colonization and according to the UN Whitaker Report on Genocide, one of the first examples of genocide in the 20th century. Cattle is king in this culture, as in many Namibian ethnic groups, and many people will go to their family farm when possible. The rest of the population in Okakarara is mostly Owambo (pronounced Ovambo, accounting for 50+% Namibia population) and they will return to their homesteads in the far North. Since so many had already left for their farms and homesteads, Okakarara was quiet during my visit but I can tell from the people still here that it is very lively when everyone is back in town.
I enjoyed getting to know other PCVs on this trip, and Zach’s colleagues and friends. As one man was saying his goodbyes, he commented on how much he enjoyed our company. He said he often doesn’t talk to white people because they feel closed and not approachable. He doesn’t dislike us, but it doesn’t seem worth the effort. He said he could tell we PCVs were different. We were welcoming and open and genuinely interested in him, his friends, his culture, and he appreciated it. Obviously, that made us all feel good and even more glad that we came.
I spent a fair amount of time talking to Chris, a name given to him by a volunteer (not a PCV) teacher who could not pronounce his given name. He loves cooking and watches the food network. His English is exceptionally good, and his dream is to visit America. We talked about fresh herbs, Mexican food, baking, and other foody things. He started asking about my life here and my family in America. When I told him my first born just turned 43, he asked “How old are you?” I said 62 and he said, “No way, I thought you were mid to late 40s. You must take very good care of yourself!” How can you not like that???
Pictures: 1. Seeing donkeys, goats, sheep in town will never bore me. 2. I had to put my purse in a lock bag at the usave grocery store in Okakarara. They unlock it when you pay. In Otjiwarongo they have a place to check your bags and packages but you don’t have to check your purse. 3. matchbox nativity that I brought with me from the USA
weaver birds and nests from my walkThere is water in the river bed!Escorting Martha to her hike point, leaving on vacation
December is here, and it is the first Sunday of Advent. I had a surprise this week and it looks like I will spend Christmas with my niece, Andrea. This is my sister Vickie’s daughter. Vickie was 10 years old when I was born, and I was 10 years old when Andrea was born. The 3 of us have always has a special relationship. Andrea told me she had to do something totally different and get away for this first Christmas without her mom and she wanted to be with me. We are working it out. I am so excited to share this happy and sad holiday with her. More about that later…
I was lazy these first few days of no school. I made a list of school stuff to prepare for next year, a list of gardening projects, and a list of general household stuff to do over the break. The only thing I completed from my lists was cleaning and polishing my shoes. The Namibia dust, sand, and thorns are very harsh on shoes and they needed some love and care desperately.
Other than that, I finished reading The Storyteller, then I read “Foundation”, the first in a fantasy series by Mercedes Lacky, and now I just started “In Movement There is Peace”, about a couple’s trek on the El Camino. I spent a lot of time reading in my hammock this week! Every day, I also went for long walks and I practiced yoga using videos PCV Spencer loaded on my computer during our recent Mid-Service Training. I played with boy Blessing, girl Blessing, and little Mira. I visited with Martha and Hermine.
I did not celebrate Thanksgiving in any significant way other than talking and texting with family and friends back in the USA. Our planned PCV Thanksgiving with the volunteers in my region was cancelled since our travel restriction was still in effect. The national elections were on Wed, Nov 27. PCVs were not allowed to travel starting several days before the election until the election results were finalized. The results were delayed. This national election was highly contested with some significant shifts in power expected so Peace Corps was very cautious. No one expected violence but there could be demonstrations, road closures, and high emotions. The results were posted late last night so we can travel again, and I had 2 guests today – one is spending the night.
Maybe I will check some more things off my lists this week or maybe I will spend more time reading in my hammock.
Work colleagues before our end-of-year party. Taking kids from the primary school hostel to church.
Tomorrow is our last day of school for 2019. Teachers report
back on Monday, January 13. That is 48 days to fill productively and leisurely.
Between this fact and my recent Mid-Service Training (MST), I am reflecting on the past school year and thinking about the year to come. Looking at my learners’ marks across Term 1,2, and 3 makes me realize how much my 5-week absence in Term 2 effected their grades. This makes me sad. I left work and activities for 3 weeks, but I was gone an additional 2 weeks and they don’t have substitute teachers. Many pulled their marks back up during Term 3, but the multitude of unplanned schedule changes made us rush through the syllabus and some still struggled. Hopefully, I won’t be gone for an extended time next year and I can plan better for the craziness of Term 3.
I know my classroom management and teaching skills improved this year, but I have much room for improvement. I plan to spend time reviewing the techniques I learned at PST, MST, and from other resources so I will have a solid game plan when school starts. Part of the challenge is just figuring out what kind of classroom I want and being consistent with my expectations and consequences. This is easier said than done.
Our Peace Corps goals for the Education Sector include using,
and sharing with other teachers, learner-centered teaching techniques. I use these,
but I can’t say I have helped other teachers. We are also to include critical
thinking activities across all subjects and help other teachers do this. Again,
I can’t say I have helped other teachers do this.
My learners did not significantly improve over the year and
I did not demonstrate to other teachers better or more effective teaching
methods or ways to include critical thinking into their classes. I can admit these
“failures” and still feel like this year has been successful. My learners know
that I respect them and that I care about them. They know I want them to succeed
and I want them to develop a love of learning. My counterparts regularly ask me
to review their worksheets and tests to catch errors or an improvement in how
to ask a question. I have proof-read papers and dissertations for teachers that
are working on another degree. I feel needed, useful, and supported by my
colleagues, the administration, and other school staff.
My plan for 2020 is to improve as a teacher, grow the
relationships I have developed, make new ones, and continue serving my school as needed.
view from hike at top of Pride RockPCVs in headquarter lounge waiting for medical and dental appointments
Mid-service training (MST) was so much fun. The first 2 days we were bussed to Windhoek for medical and dental check-ups. I was never so happy to go to the dentist and to get my teeth cleaned. I got a clean bill of health and I am all set, physically and mentally, to complete my final year of service.
NOTE: As I write this, I am eating a bowl of vegetable soup with zucchini and greens from my garden and lots of grated parmesan cheese. It is a variation of an Italian vegetable soup that my first husband’s grandmother used to make. My garden is still not very productive, but I love getting a handful of produce to use.
Wednesday to Friday at MST was spent in morning and afternoon sessions where we shared best practices and things that worked for us in the classroom or in our community. I have a list of things I want to try or try again, now that I have a bit more classroom experience. We learned some practical ideas for increasing critical thinking skills among our learners and how to monitor/evaluate improvements in this area. This is major goal from the Ministry of Education. We spent time setting goals for the next year of service.
We also had a guest speaker, Dr. Ndumba, an historian and one of the original freedom fighters, to talk about the upcoming national election on Nov 27. He gave a very interesting talk about the history of Namibia, its successful fight for independence, and the not so successful reconciliation plan to unify the country after gaining independence. This plan called for political reconciliation, racial reconciliation, and economic reconciliation. The current election, with over 10 parties mostly representing individual tribes and ethnicities, reflects the continued lack of unity. The prediction is that the current party, SWAPO (South West Africa Political Organization) will maintains its power because the other parties don’t have enough power unless they join forces. All Peace Corps volunteers are on high alert status until the election is over. We cannot travel from Nov 22-30 since there are many rallies, protests, and meetings throughout the country. I am not aware of any violence, but Peace Corps is being very cautious. I can accept that.
Unlike our other trainings, Pre-Service and Reconnect, our sessions were more relaxed, and we had more free time. We filled our time going for long walks or runs, playing cards, walking to Spar for Magnum ice cream bars, milkshakes, or other treats, and just enjoying each other’s company. Friday night we had an impromptu dance party. I was hanging out with a group listening to music when I mentioned I was surprised we had never had a dance party. Before I knew it, someone said, “Ellen wants a dance party” and it happened. We had so much fun, at least I know I did!
Mid-service training (MST) is coming up for my Peace Corps Group 48. This is a week-long training where we get our teeth cleaned, dental check-up, an annual physical with urinalysis, blood work, and any necessary follow-up treatments. This is also a time where we all get to reflect on our first year of service, share our highs and lows, share things that worked for us and things that were not so successful. We will make plans for year 2 of our service. It is also a fun time of camaraderie and catching up with volunteers I have not seen since February.
On another note, I recently hosted another couple via www.warmshowers.org. Martin and Lucia are from Argentina and have been cycling together for 3 years through Latin America, Europe, and then from Egypt to South Africa. Over 2 days, we enjoyed preparing and sharing meals, visiting with other Peace Corps volunteers, and sharing cultures of Argentina, USA, and Namibia. I hope they can stay with me again when they cycle through the USA and I would love to stay with them as I cycle thru Argentina. Another thing for me to dream about….
Pictures of me with Martin and Lucia and their loaded bicycles.
Sheesh, it is Friday and I just realized that I didn’t post anything last Sunday, Monday or even Tuesday. I didn’t even think about it which is a function of how busy and distracted I’ve been.
School is winding down with all the learners taking exams. No lesson planning, no teaching, some marking but most of my learners will take exams for my subjects next week. However, I had 2 PCVs stay Friday night with me, 2 bicyclists from Argentina stayed Saturday and Sunday night, and 3 PCVs came last night for dinner (we all shopped and prepped together) and 2 of them spent the night. It’s been a busy week with learning support (ie. tutoring) on days/nights I wasn’t busy and socializing otherwise.
Today was a tough day. I was monitoring an 8th grade math exam. There are strict rules, which I communicated and reiterated, about not sharing calculators, pens, erasers, etc during the exam. If you need something, you should raise your hand and possibly the teacher can help. Before the exam started, one learner asked if he could borrow a calculator since he forgot his at home. After asking around with no success, I said no. Another learner offered to share with him and I repeated, ‘no’. I understood the desire to help but it is not allowed, period. Later, I noticed the boy without a calculator had one, as he reached to return it to the boy who had offered it. I took the calculator away and neither of them had it for the remainder of the exam – the time was about half over. The ‘helper’ boy cried off and on the remainder of the exam; fortunately he finally started working on the paper again but he wasted precious time.
The learners rely heavily on their calculators and don’t know basic arithmetic. Actually, the most difficult problem included taking a square root of 144 (12*12) but most of it was just simple addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. I felt really bad for the crying boy since he is a good, kind learner and was only trying to help. However, it was no surprise the other boy came unprepared and it is better for him to learn a hard lesson about being prepared now. Also, if this were an external exam which they will have in 9th and 12th grade, this behaviour would result in a zero for both of them because the exams would have been confiscated and not marked. It was a natural consequence of them not following my instructions but it did not make me feel good.
Where's GranEllen? 