I'm far away from my family this holiday, so it doesn't feel like Christmas at all. I guess that makes it easier to be away.
What an interesting month it has been...it's difficult to find a place to start and to figure out what's worth reading about. So I'll just tell you like this:
Reconnect training was awesome seeing the rest of group 38 for a week. We were spoiled by the Peace Corps up in the mountains near the capital. We played drinking games, watched movies, did yoga, hiked, oh and we did some work too....
After that about 30 of us ventured to Swakopmund on the west coast. It was wonderful spending time next to the ocean. Here we...well...drank some more, had a clothes swapping dance party, almost faught a group of Afrikaans speaking white guys (but we're in the Peace Corps so we chose the high road out and stayed peaceful....even after waking up to the pig's head outside our front door....) jammed out on the guitar with a cool dreaded lesbian chick on the beach, met a cute guy in a music store that I'll probably never see again, filled my belly with Italian, Mexican, and sea food, and basically just relaxed.
After that I spent time in Okahandja with a handful of Volunteers and kicked it at the Reit Klub. The owner built a bonfire and I played my guitar for everyone. I got lost in the flames and remembered what it felt like for the first time in a long time to really feel the music I've written. I met beautiful new souls, especially one in particular that needed a little reminder of what's worth living for in life...not that he didn't already know, he just needed a stranger to come pass through his life briefly at the right time. The next day I found myself sitting on the bar playing my music for about 8 old white German/Afrikaans speaking men, and afterwards enjoyed my time with a beer in one hand, a cigarette in the other (sorry, mom, I like to smoke when I drink and I didn't have any cloves) while we all listened to the blues. It was one of those moments that reminded me how random my life is.
I spent the rest of the weekend with my old host family. We drank some more (wow, I'm beginning to think I shouldn't write about that so often...) and then I hiked my way back up north to my second home, Zambezi region. That was an adventure that consisted of two days, a truck driver that mumbled to himself the whole time, and a lot of baking in the sunshine. But I made it. ;)
And, man, was I ready to be home.
Namibia is a beautiful place with great people, but I'm partial to the northern regions, particularly Zambezi. I've made great friends here and there isn't as much racism as there is in the south. I experienced a lot of that for the first time during my vacation....and I kept my mouth shut for the most part because I know what this country has gone through, and I understand some wounds are still fresh.
But just because I chose when or when not to speak, that doesn't mean I don't represent equality. It's important to choose which people are willing to hear your words, otherwise it's like talking to a brick wall, and it's not my place to impose my beliefs on an old man that faught in war. Change starts in the younger generations, and I'm sure as hell not afraid to state my opinion with those closer to my age.
I don't want to go too deep into the racial issue in this blog because honestly I don't feel like killing my own vibe on Christmas Eve (now technically Christmas morning). Maybe later down the road I'll go into more depth on this subject matter.
For now, I'll continue enjoying this Amarula liqueur and talking to friends on Facebook because I actually have decent access to Internet this whole week :)
The neighbors next to my friend's house are partying hard outside. It's Christmas after all :) ...I may go join them...I'm sure that'll just add another chapter to this story book of mine...*cheers*
If you'd like to see my pictures from my few vacation weeks, follow me on Instagram @Saramanarasauce
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