Diversity Tour and more...

Last month, I returned to Okahandja for a week to be a Resource Volunteer for Group 40. I still find it hard to believe that it has been over a year since I arrived in country and started my service in Okahandja to begin PST. As a resource volunteer, I co-facilitated some training sessions for the new CED group and I answered questions that the new trainees had about my volunteer service so far. Group 40 consists of about 50 volunteers so their group is massive. I really enjoyed getting to know most of them and I will hopefully be able to become good friends with some of them during my remaining year in country.

Following my week as a resource volunteer, I then went on to do the Diversity Tour with 6 other volunteers. I’ve mentioned the Diversity Tour in my previous two blog posts, however, the itinerary for the tour had a few last minute changes due to lack of funding from donors that we thought we had. The tour had to be cut down from 8 nights to 6 nights. 27 kids from all parts of Namibia arrived in Otjiwarongo on August 17^th and we got to know each other through various icebreakers and activities. The next day, we went to the B2Gold Otjikoto Mines where the learners got the chance to learn more about a major industry in Namibia. At B2Gold, we also did a nature walk where the kids were given lessons on sustainability and environmental conservation. The next days were spent at a campsite near Twyfelfontein, a site of ancient rock engravings from 6000 years ago in North-western Namibia. We did some camping and for many of the learners it was the first time they’ve ever done such a thing. Following the two days at Twyfeltontein, we traveled to the coast and spent one night at Swakopmund. The learners got really excited once we got to the coastline and were able to see the ocean. A lot of the learners have never seen the ocean before and had all sorts of questions about what was on the other side and how long it would take for them to swim across. We were also fortunate enough to see dolphins at the beach! We spent the final night at Windhoek where we wrapped up the tour. The tour was an overall success and given the circumstances, we made the most of it. The one complaint that we got from the kids was that the tour wasn’t longer.

After the tour, I traveled back to my site and spent the week with friends because it was still the semester break for all the Education Volunteers. The Ongwediva Trade Fair took place during that week too, which is a big event and possibly the biggest event of the year in the North. At the Trade Fair, businesses and industries from all corners of the country were able to showcase theirs products and services. Ongwediva and Oshakati were quite busy that week and it was very interesting to see.

Modelling at the mines

Ancient rock paintings at Twfelfontein

The pier at Swakopmund

The following week, I had a couple of trainees from Group 40 shadow me for a few days. Again, I can’t believe it has already been one year since I shadowed a Peace Corps volunteer in Luderitz. Unfortunately, I didn’t have a lot of work to show them while my shadowers were around and when I had work to do, it was in another town 2 hours away from my site so I didn’t want them to spend all their money traveling with me. Regardless, I was able to keep them entertained for most of the time and we even had a large together of about 30 volunteers and trainees in Ondangwa during their last day of shadowing.

Now, I am preparing to do some more traveling over the next few weeks. Tomorrow, I’ll begin heading to Rundu and then Katima to do some trainings for a pilot Elephant Energy project. Then, I’ll be heading to Windhoek for a few days to say goodbye to some close friends who are finishing their service. A week after that, I’ll have to head back to Windhoek to attend the Mid-Service Workshop. I’m looking forward to that because it will be the first time that Group 38 has been together since Reconnect, which was back in early December. There are some people who I haven’t seen since mid-December and I look forward to catching up with my whole group.

Lastly, I have recently lost my Grandma to cancer. She had been battling it over the past couple of months and she sadly passed away on August 30^th. My parents attended her funeral last weekend in Glasgow, Scotland. Sometimes, it’s hard being a volunteer because you can’t be with your family when they need you most. However, I was fortunate enough to talk to her a few times before she passed away. I know she was proud of what I’m doing here and I will miss her very much. Before she passed away, she also donated some money to cover costs of the funds for the Diversity Tour. She was always there to support me whenever I needed her and I’m lucky to have had her in my life. Thanks for everything Grandma. You’re the best! I love you and I’ll miss you very much.

First photo of Grandma and I

Last of photo of my Grandma, Chris and I. March 2013