I really let time get away from me this time! My last post was almost 3 months ago… oops! Don’t worry, I’m still alive– just lazy/not prioritizing my blog. I want to get a little reinspired though! It’s already fun looking back to see where my thoughts were 10 months ago, even 3 months ago, so I’ll try to gain some consistency back. I have been keeping up on my own personal tabs with my daily journal, so I’ll try to incorporate some of those thoughts here (eventually). It’s just that the more I get behind, the more starting anywhere seems so daunting (also the more pictures there are and the more I need WiFi and longer time in town). But for now, let me just leave you with something. Let’s see, what’s been going on since April 2? Here are some brief highlights (in roughly chronological order) from April to now (mid June, already!):
- New friends (Namibian, American, and others)
- Volunteer goodbye parties (three in the region finished service, we are receiving another four now now)
- Running 21 k (unofficial half marathon)
- After which has followed long periods of no running
- Finally learning to make pap on my own
- End of term 1
- Fam in Nam!!!*
- Lots of camping and shooting stars
- It is winter. (It is cold! And dark!)
- Emotional dip (temporary; currently back on the up and up)
- Start of term 2
- Planning with other Namibians and Volunteers for a youth camp (Camp GLOW) in August
- 2 months, no running water –> new skill of carrying water on my head (probably too soon to say skill, but I manage)
- Cooking over a fire
- Food parties (appetizers, taco nights, pizza, bread bowl soup party is upcoming)
- Three of my learners were selected to attend a women’s science camp (WiSci) in Windhoek
- Visiting Lusaka (capital of Zambia)
- First attempt at the FSOT (foreign service officer test)
- Walking 41k in a day
- Baking lemon bars
- Worked with a counterpart to get career/aptitude testing for some of the Grade 12 learners
- Baking fig newtons
- Books: The Shadow of the Sun, Three Cups of Tea, currently on Desert Solitaire
- “Started” my garden (so far it’s three basil sprouts)
- Crosswords: starting NYT Tuesday! (Context: New York Times crosswords get harder each day of the week; one of my personal aims during these two years is to be able to do Thursday ones)
- Day of the African Child
- 10 month mark in country!
*This one gets it’s own post. (Soon?)
I may refer back to a few others in upcoming posts, but that’s it for now!
See, still here. Treating my lovely ladies Auxilia and Kasona to coffee in town ☕️