Edges

Whew. It’s already been 4 weeks since the start of the term. And I can say, and really appreciate, that a lot has been done, particularly in the classroom. The Grade 12s started writing their national exams, which has really affected the grade 10s and 11s. There are lots of protocols to be observed and rules to be followed, one of them being how close learners can be to each other while testing (for obvious reasons). In our classrooms, that means about 25 learners in a room while testing, when normally there are 40-50 learners per class. The Grade 12s take one or two exams per day (depending on the subject/field of study) and during the 4 weeks of testing, the exams rooms cannot be used/entered besides for those Grade 12 exams. So, multiple Grade 10 and Grade 11 classrooms have been pushed out in order to accommodate and abide by rules regarding space. Which is good for the Grade 12s, bad for my Grade 11s and the Grade 10s. Fortunately, only one of my classes is disturbed and we will hopefully get a tent to teach under next week. For now, we have a nice shady tree (but no chalkboard).

Another fortunate thing is that I’m almost done with the first year of the syllabus. After next week, I’ll just spend the rest of the term revising with my kids! The November exams are set regionally, so I haven’t seen them. But I think they’ll do better. This term has been all about edges–geometry, that is. I’ve had a lot of fun teaching them how to construct different shapes and loci using a compass, ruler, and protractor. It’s definitely a more active topic, and I can tell some of my learners are really benefitting from this type of hands-on learning! For the first time from a teaching standpoint, I also don’t feel like I’m drowning. I am excited to finish out this term and keep going with them next year.

Besides school, the highlight from the past few months was Devil’s Pool! During the dry season, Victoria Falls is still amazing, but not up to its full potential. Meaning, at a few points along the falls, you can swim all the way out to the edge, where there are some natural infinity pools. Me and two other volunteers decided to go (you have to get a guide) and it was so amazing. Since I found out I was posted to Namibia, I knew I wanted to do Devil’s Pool. And it was so surreal. I felt at the edge of the world and had (I guess, obviously) the best view of the falls I’ve seen yet. I was hoping some inspirational thought would come to my mind as I’m looking over this amazing, gorgeous, once-in-a-lifetime view. What came to mind? Absolutely nothing. What does that mean? No idea. That I won’t be a philosopher, maybe. Or maybe it’s still possible to be in complete awe and speechless from a place. I’ll go with that one…

*I didn’t bring my camera, but Kirsten brought her GoPro–sorry about the compressed WhatsApp quality!

One of the biggest reliefs in my Peace Corps experience was when I found out I’m not teaching a young grade. They have too much energy, I don’t want to teach how you add/subtract (although sometimes I am having to do this…), and it’s difficult to have in-depth convos about life, the future, dreams. The stuff I love talking to my learners about. That being said though, the little kids always make my day better. I forget what it’s like–to live so in the moment that you can find joy in the littlest thing. I live in a pretty large-sized village (~2000?) and there are lots of little children. It’s funny to reflect on the progression of their behavior towards me.

As a mukuwa (white person), I stand out from afar. And, because I love walking, I’m outside of my village, on the road, everyday. So I pass a lot of huts and lapas (courtyards), and lots of children. At first, they just stood far away screeching mukuwa mukuwa!! And when I looked at them and smiled they ran away or hid behind a tree or a parent. Then, as the days went by, they got a bit closer. Some ventured to try their English: “How are you”, and their response to my return question was always “fine”. Then not just one wanted to try their English, but all 5 or 6 in a group did too. So, imagine walking down a road, seeing a group of children playing then suddenly stop what they’re doing to yell mukuwa and take turns asking me how I am. They all expect an individual response and question back. I feel like a broken record, but it’s adorable. And they just think everything is hilarious. Usually when I’m running by myself, I’ll have headphones in. Then they scream so loud and get closer, waving and running and sometimes joining me for a bit. They’re warming up to me (simulataneously all around the village, I’m not sure how that works). A while ago they learned my name isn’t mukuwa, but Gabby. They scream that now instead. I wave. They wave. They repeat the greetings. I respond. They repeat the greeting. I wave. They continue yelling my name. They greet again. They don’t want anything, just a chance to practice English, see me laugh, see that I’m human just like them. Then a little while later they realized I know a bit of their vernacular–I greet them, trying out my Sifwe, they respond in English, trying out their English. Then some come even closer (kejye–come, I’ll call, or butuke–run) and we’ll go for a bit, them laughing and giggling and scheming over things unknown to me. They are adorable. Kids are growing on me (but I’m still glad I don’t teach them everyday). They take off some of the emotional edges I have after a tough school day, and lure me from the physical edges of the school grounds.

I have the best encounters with one boy who lives on the school grounds like me, Pohamba (the name of Namibia’s second pres). He copies how I wave, he’ll come up to me and speak to me full on in Sifwe, then in Oshindonga (a different language from the north), trying to teach me. I think he’s 4, and I learn so much from him and his antics. Like today. I saw my host dad coming back from my walk, and he gave me some sugar cane he got from his field. Pohamba, laying down staring into the sky as I passed him, completed our daily bilingual ritual with our special wave included. Then he saw the sugar cane, called me over, wordlessly took it and showed me how to pull off the hard bits and get to the good stuff. He took a bite, looked at me, gave it back, and continued staring so seriously into the sky, chewing on his reward. He knew I needed to learn how and he knew he deserved a bite after. It’s hard for me to describe this kid, but he and the others just warm me up. They remind me to take the edges off, open up, be curious like a kid again.

Yeah, where did my muscles go? My body edges are also rounding out (I bumped into my host mom from training the other day, and she beamed while telling me “Gabby Girl, you must be good. You are getting fat.” **For context, that’s a compliment here!)

I’m blaming Auxilia, who makes me chocolate cake in the microwave. How can I not get fat?

Made some baobab yogurt! (Gotta balance the cake)

*I have lots more pictures but am having some serious uploading/WiFi/data woes… hopefully I’ll be successful next time!

**In other big news, I am headed to the States in a few months! Yes, as in the grand ol’ US of A! I’ve been in the process of applying to the Foreign Service (for after Peace Corps) and a few weeks ago I was invited for an interview. It’s in person in DC, so I decided to take the opportunity and go for it. Then I’ll tail end the trip with a detour to Pagosa! I feel weird about it still, as I wasn’t expecting to go home at all during my service, but I’m quickly warming up to the idea.

Love you all, and maybe see you soon?!