The tale and tone of those visitors from the ministry of whatever sounds like something direct from the days of the British Raj. It must have taken a good deal of tongue-biting on your part. But you seem to roll with all the punches and find the delights in all the corners -- though scorpions would be a reach! And an animal reserve would always be a treat!
I\'ve never set up a student newsletter or other publication, but I know from teaching online recently how much of a positive difference it makes for learners to be able to read one another\'s writing; and probably so much more if they could read aloud to one another. In our case, they just post comments throughout the week, but there are a few assignments where they are invited to post completed essays. Either way, they tend to develop one another\'s ideas, affirm mutual efforts, and occasionally offer an alternative interpretation of whatever the topic or theme was. Direct challenges are fewer--they seem to share basic orientations.
Meanwhile the days grow palpably longer and brighter, and as the skies clear a little, the night peoples itself with all the stars familiar to northern eyes
Namastatcha!
Experiencing Life This two weeks alone is a novel! How varied your experiences, from teacher experts to scorpions to wildebeests and warthogs--love how they run with their tails straight up! Thank you for sharing this grand life experience!
Admiration Wendy. I so admire you for what you are doing. Lots of adjustments and roadblocks seem to be your normal. I'd heard that ministry people were like that but I'm guessing its hard to take. Cultural stuff is interesting but also hard at times. Hang in there. You are a great teacher and they will figure that out. The scorpion is something else!!! Be careful. Do they spray for that? Envy all the other animals you've seen.
Fairbanksan from Namibia Hi Wendy
I just learned today that a student I know at a school here was born in Windhoek, Namibia. I have sent her the site for your blog, then later realized you actually had put in a photo of a street in her birth town! Not saying more because I have NO IDEA how public these blog responses are but your sister has my email if it's not showing for you. Such a wonderful adventure you're having!! Your blog is my first blog experience.
Terry
The pictures worked! Wonderful to see them. Windhoek looks like a bigger city than I imagined. Thanks for keeping up the blog, I am enjoying it immensely!
Anne
Greetings Wendy, I love reading your blog entries and I know that other CCE folks are reading them, too, because we often talk about your latest adventure. Take care, and know that you are in our thoughts and prayers.
Elusive Frig The frig is becoming a recurring comic theme... Spring has sprung here at home. So interesting to hear about pregnancy through the lens of another culture. Looking forward to hearing about the President's visit...
From AK to Namibia Sorry to hear about the loss of a good education minister. ASD's latest superintendent, Jim Browder, has Announced that he will not finish his contract. Has applied for jobs elsewhere. Quite a debate going on about that!
Cows & Moose You saw your first galloping cows and I saw my first galloping moose. He galloped along a fence next to my parked car that I was in -- kinda scary! So glad I found all your blogs. They paint such a real picture of a place I've never been except through the words of Wendy the Beautiful. I'm going to read them all again. Looking forward to hearing about wild animals when you go to Wild Game Park.
Wendy Found I ran out of room in the previous box but have some catching up to do. Does it seem like a higher percentage of children have asthma there? I 've never thought of mine being caused by a witch! Another way to explain misfortune. I love your blogs. What do you wear in that intense heat. I think I would stick my head in that refrigerator that hopefully has arrived my now!!
Wendy Blog found Just caught up with your Blogs. The are so interesting...sounds like you are just surrounded with humanity..so much interaction with others. I hope you get this. Having never blogged before I thought I would see some kind of notification when you blogged--like an email, so I started worrying about not hearing from you and the DUH I realized that I needed to go to the blog. So forgive me for not keeping in touch
The Exorcism "Well, my dear," I'm so glad you figured out that the Exorcism entry didn't get posted at first! I was so anxious to read "The Rest of the Story!" WOW. What a tale to tell. It is really fascinating to read, not just this way-out-of-our-own-experience story, but all of the things you are discovering that you must learn from scratch when you are living in a brand new culture! You seem to be thinking quickly on your feet and that ability will always be there for you when you need it. Best wishes as the days go on.
Comments from Bainbridge Island Just got my e-mail set up so caught up on three blogs at once. I'm staying near Seattle until May 1. What a lot of asthma. Is the air quality poor? Lots of dust?Love hearing about the actual teaching and students. Loved the poem experience, and the exorcism! I'm attending a book group here--just read Running the Rift--heart wrenching story of genocide in Rowanda. Joined Island Fitness for classes and exercise and have my painting easel set up. It feels good to be doing something new!
You are a great story teller--really enjoying your blog!!! Love, Nancy
"It was a huge line and people kept coming in and finding friends further up. So I quit and went to the lovely cafe we found and had a coffee milkshake."
Sounds like adventure enough, in fact maybe the keys to the kingdom.
Meanwhile, I hear the Iditarod is going full bore. And yesterday was the first kind of warm-and-bright-enough day for neighbors to colloquy on the sidewalk amid early lawn mowing and dog frolicing.
I remember when we were in China one day we figured out the public bus system -- getting across town all on our own without relying on our regular 'driver' -- and stunned the people at the University with our accomplishment, all in rudimentary Chinese. Then we blossomed to buying fish in the free market and planting corn...
Namaste
your Blog Hi Wendy,
It sounds like you are settling into your new place. What an adventure. We've missed you at Pilates. Judith and Toni have been in Hawaii, so it has been just Barbara and me for a while. Judith is now back. It was fun to hear about her trip at Pilates today.....and we actually did some Pilates while chatting! I look forward to reading your next installment.
Kay
Every day a new adventure! I'm so happy when you have time to add another post! Amazing experiences, Wendy. And you are giving your students new experiences, as well; that is lovely for you and for them, too! I will be pulling for your refrigerator to show up soon. We do take our appliances for granted here, even if we try not to. I hope for you many lovely days to follow. . . .
waiting for your fridge.... good heavens, you're a good sport. i love your notes and thank you for taking the time to write as much as you do. i can see and hear you in my mind as you describe your classroom activities. i wish i was there. john, upon hearing that you were living at the school, asked for photos and then wondered where we would stay when we come to visit you. i think your local resort sounds good. meanwhile, short of sending you a fridge (which is what i really want to do), how can we support your work? can we send you stuff? can we write to you/your students? or shall i just beg you to stay up nights and write me all about your amazing days. i'm so glad you're in namibia. take a deep breath and savor that desert smell for me. ah, i miss it. appertaining to nothing but africa in general, we saw a nature film last night, which turns out to have been about an elephant i 'met' in kenya years ago. now she has passed on. i think of you there in africa all the time. be well,my friend. keep writing! love, m
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
Guy
non-member comment
The tale and tone of those visitors from the ministry of whatever sounds like something direct from the days of the British Raj. It must have taken a good deal of tongue-biting on your part. But you seem to roll with all the punches and find the delights in all the corners -- though scorpions would be a reach! And an animal reserve would always be a treat! I\'ve never set up a student newsletter or other publication, but I know from teaching online recently how much of a positive difference it makes for learners to be able to read one another\'s writing; and probably so much more if they could read aloud to one another. In our case, they just post comments throughout the week, but there are a few assignments where they are invited to post completed essays. Either way, they tend to develop one another\'s ideas, affirm mutual efforts, and occasionally offer an alternative interpretation of whatever the topic or theme was. Direct challenges are fewer--they seem to share basic orientations. Meanwhile the days grow palpably longer and brighter, and as the skies clear a little, the night peoples itself with all the stars familiar to northern eyes Namastatcha!