Oh Wendy! I love the photos. Makes me feel like I am there--except for the heat. You are so brave. even dry, I could not handle that kind of heat. I love the traditional dresses. Do you think it is worth getting the TEFL certificate? How do you plan to use it? what is your next adventure?! We are looking forward to having you home, too, but I know you will miss Namibia when you are gone. You a new person now. HHN is going to have a booth at the 26th Annual Holiday Food and Gift Festival at the Dena'ina Center Nov. 9-10. All donations will go towards the HHN Medical Emergency Endowment. I hope it goes well... CARTA meeting this Sat.; we always think of you. Really enjoy your posts. Love, Jay
THE HEAT Hi Wendy. When I was in So. Africa in the heat at night, we wet a towel and put it right on us as we went to bed. The evaporation cooled us nicely. Try it. We, on the other hand, are having cooler weather, but beautiful Fall golds and reds. Four days without rain last week was delightful--wish it could last for a month! Look forward to seeing you when you return. Best wishes--Nancy
Response to photos Hi Wendy, The area has much less vegetation than I imagined. Book ideas, things like the Oz books, Jules Vern, Raul Dahl, even Harry Potter? Love reading your blogs! They are so fortunate to have you on their team. What a grand adventure. In Anchorage we have had our first dusting of snow--IN SEPTEMBER! The leaves are still turning so don't expect Fall to give up so easily. I've been promising myself to Skype but haven't gotten organized to do it yet. Did you get word that Rev. Connie died the end of August? CARTA is looking forward to your report in Feb. I believe. Think I may be in Tanzania just at that moment. I'll see the animals, but you are really getting to know the people. You exude enthusiasm for what you are doing--what a great decision to teach there a year. If you extend I'll understand--you are really doing something that makes a difference.
Love, Nancy
Sustained Silent Reading Hi Wendy! So enjoy your posts--keep them coming! Nice to hear of students who enjoy reading and devour books. Appreciated the CARTA comment; good to know the money is well used. Thanks.
Remember when we had SSR (Sustained Silent Reading) at BHS? I loved that and so did my students. The ones who did not like it in the beginning, learned to like it as time went on. The whole school stopped all activity and everyone--including the principal--read for 20 minutes (no homework--just reading for pleasure). It was great! At least you could try planting that seed.
You are having quite an adventure. I really admire you!
As for me...I/HHN attended two international conferences in June in Lisbon. One was a World Water Summit. Learned tons about water, sanitation, and toilets; HHN is doing more in these areas. Second was the Rotary International Convention where I got to meet Jane Goodall and heard Il Divo in concert. The people who make fortified peanut butter (to fight child malnutrition) had a booth there. It has an 80% success rate. Nepal needs this so I will look into starting a factory to make this product when I return in January.
Take care, dear Wendy, and keep educating us through your posts. Love, Jay
Problem solver extraordinaire What an experience you're having. I think your ability to be flexible and figure it out as you go is phenomenal. Stay away from the snakes!!!
You must have read Idries Shah way back when. Of the little I know of Islam, Sufism is the most intriguing. I wonder if it's of any interest in the school. As I recall, Doris Lessing was also a student of it. And surely the UN would know or help find suitable affordable international health insurance, or do you have to join the Peace Corps or the Foreign Service?
. . . .not that this is all that helpful:
http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1470.html/
Come visit Whidbey, not all that many snakes in the grass
Namastatcha
Dear Wendy - such great blogs and pictures. I am going to miss them! You seem to have done a great job of entering into life there and embracing it in all its complexities and frustrations as well as its wonders. Good luck in your transition back to Anchorage. I was there for Connie's service (it was glorious despite our sadness - and standing room only.). I saw Tennie and we both commented on how happy we are for you. Hope the breezes or rains come soon. Do you still have a refrigerator!? Love, Paneen
The Simple Life Your description of making coleslaw with your VERY basic kitchen is impressive. It reminded me of when I got home from India and Afghanistan 40 years ago to always remember how luxurious it is
to have clean water, a roof over my head and 3 meals a day--and a refrigerator! I love reading your blog and will love hearing about your trip face to face when you get home. Reading to your class sounds so fun. I love the pictures too! Starting to cool off a bit here. Love.
It's a mild surprise to think of you coming home since each time we hear from you the air is filled with news, weather, anthropology, personal reflections, geography, etc. so much that you seem altogether at home already. Or can it be Earth entire is now your happy province? So be it -- so long as we get the news and weather on a regular basis. Here on Whidbey is still later summer but autumn burnishes the edges. Yesterday we visited a local guild display of woodcraft that was really stunningly good, then dinner with a friend recently moved deep into the woods. Tomorrow my culture-hero grandson Milo is two; and the semester has begun for my online course with Antioch U Midwest in Transformative Learning. All is well, and all manner of things shall be well. . .Go W!
Lovely photos & story! I'm so enjoying the story and photos of your adventure! Keep reading aloud to your students, it will pay off on the end! I did that with my English 9 kids and it did help even when I didn't think so! Later some of them told me! It's planting seeds you may not see bear fruit, but still worthwhile.
Love, Dorena
Guten Tag Frau Baker/Warren es hat mir glied das taglich ich ein anderes geschichte fon meine lieblich halb schwester gelesen kann. Du bis immer so getanklich das zu schreiben. It is so nice Wendy, to know you and to be a part of your adventure! John Crittenden
Your Travels Hi Wendy,
Greetings from Deer Lake. Labrador & Newfoundland is a wonderful province. I'm sorry that Nicki couldn't join me. Traveling solo isn't such a big deal once you get over the initial fear ... Although sometimes I do get anxious. Sounds like you are doing great and your Facebook photo looks great. I'm enjoying your blog entries. Cheerio, Sally
...Not much chance that we will forget you!!! You are SO FUNNY!!! We miss you and think about you and check to see if there is a new post... and are rewarded! I am so pleased you are having such a great time there -- they are so lucky to have you!
I'm tempted to blackmail you with "yes, we will forget you if you don't write more frequently" because I enjoy your entries so much and wish there were more. But, write when you can. The ladies who read and I will miss you at the selections meeting next week.
You're wonderful! Thanks for the post Wendy -- I find them wonderfully delightful and interesting to read! We could never forget you. When you get back we should gather and you can tell us more than we've heard in the post. Take care and God Bless, Deborah
No one is going to forget you
Meantime, as you settle into summer we're settling into our new home on Whidbey, and it's been a delight. Weeks of sunny and clement and not too hot.
Over the weekend we visited the County Fair and at one point I was suddenly moved to tears among all the different domestic animals -- farm, barn and living room people -- and the fact that so much of our lives the past centuries is lived far apart from them. And here they were in all their furred, feathered and unpretending beauty. We were so glad to see Stella, our cat, back at home we celebrated all over again.
Today Rainy here the first time in 3 weeks, and I am admiring heroic slugs who without any protection make their way across wet asphalt looking for snail grails, the larger ones raising up their fronts and antennae looking for all the world like unarmored walruses and seals.
Looking for my rainjacket I uncovered yet another trove of unsorted stuff that needs closeting, stowing, or giving away -- but the down parka with the fur ruff I got at Pinska's the year we met, I cannot part with. there's no knowing when there'll be another crossing of paths with Sgt. Preston or Larry Allen Beck "bard of Alaska"
I give you an A plus You write so well that I feel I had been there. You will have to write a book. You will be glad for these blogs when you are 90 as I am and can't remember any more!
Great photos Loved hearing about your travels and seeing the wonderful animal shots. You've inspired me--heading to Tanzania in February on Safari. The church bell tower is basically finished--you'll love it! The sound will definitely carry from that high. We are having the best summer in YEARS! 18 days straight above 70! More another day--love reading your blog! Nancy
I am a retired teacher of Russian, Latin, and history. I have two children and a beautiful daughter-in-law and granddaughter.
I am about to embark on a year-long adventure teaching in Namibia.... full info
Jay Jackson
non-member comment
Oh Wendy! I love the photos. Makes me feel like I am there--except for the heat. You are so brave. even dry, I could not handle that kind of heat. I love the traditional dresses. Do you think it is worth getting the TEFL certificate? How do you plan to use it? what is your next adventure?! We are looking forward to having you home, too, but I know you will miss Namibia when you are gone. You a new person now. HHN is going to have a booth at the 26th Annual Holiday Food and Gift Festival at the Dena'ina Center Nov. 9-10. All donations will go towards the HHN Medical Emergency Endowment. I hope it goes well... CARTA meeting this Sat.; we always think of you. Really enjoy your posts. Love, Jay