They'll be the first to let you know when something is wrong. And if you're a naturally self-conscious person....take a few lessons on confidence before coming to this country. I, personally, am comfortable in my own skin, so when a Namibian points out a "flaw" of mine, I don't get all butt hurt about it (they always balance it out anyway with compliments on my nose, my eyes, or my ass). But I do, however, find it funny the things that they make sure to ask me about:
1. "Sara, you're sweating *wipes sweat off my cheek with their thumb*....why are you sweating?"
Um....why am I sweating....? Hmmmm....maybe because we live in a place hotter than hell itself, and we just walked all the way across town in the scorching hot sun. Of course I'm f****** sweating! The real question is, why aren't YOU sweating?
2. The above issue results in a lot of us Americans breaking out frequently. Our skin just isnt used to going through the whole day with constant heat and no relief with air conditioning....not to mention the ginormous clouds of dirt and sand swirling around us every where we go. So we get a few pimples here and there. You'd think a Namibian has never seen a zit before in their entire life, and they're here to express their deep concern about it every time they see you.....and if you forget it's there in an hour or so, don't worry, they'll remind you.
3. People here go to the doctor for eeeeeveryyyyythiiiiiiiing...(I'm always advised to pay a visit even when just a pimple decides to pop up)....I've taken for granted what I thought was common knowledge of self-medication. In the states, everyone knows what ibuprofen is for and when to take it and how much....or NyQuil...or Advil....or midol....etc. And namibians do have over the counter medication. But they never use it. When a friend sees my Peace Corps medical kit, their minds are always blown, and then I better be ready to answer a million questions of what's-this-for and that.
4. Namibians, especially your friends, will be the first to tell you when you've gained or lost weight. Remember that phrase from Bambi, "if you have nothing nice to say, then don't say anything at all"? Well, I don't think they've seen Bambi.....
I'll tell you what though. Namibians may not have a filter, but that can also be a good thing, too. Nobody in the street is too shy to tell you that your hair is beautiful...or your tattoos. In fact, they love em so much they want the same exact thing on their arm for the rest of their life. Women are quick to compliment the boobs-hips-booty ratio (if you have that hourglass figure) and men will let you know in five minutes that they're in love....sweaty pimply face or not. I also have more confidence playing my music here in front of people because they all tell me I need to try to make a living with my guitar. I think that's just because it's something different, and there isn't much competition here in that field.
The ups and downs of daily conversation represent the ups and downs of every day life as a Peace Corps volunteer in Namibia. Every day is full of dynamism. The highest of highs and lowest of lows. It's a constant roller coaster ride that I'm glad I passed the height requirement bar for. Each day is an adventure, and I never know what's in store. Maybe I'll hike to Windhoek with a stranger, break down in the middle of nowhere, kick it with some villagers while waiting for a tow truck for 6 hours because it got lost, fix everything in Rundu and then hop back on track with the arrival destination being waaaaaay past the travel rules for PCVs (shhhhh, don't say anything). Or maybe I'll just hang out in Katima with some local friends, drink some whiskey, and kick all their asses at Call of Duty (the guys were upset about it at first, but now they're getting used to it). Or maybe I'll go to the village and figure out the perfect method to cook this frozen pizza without an oven and wash my clothes outside just to get monsoon-rained on in the middle of it. Or maybe I'll enjoy quiet time in my hut with candles lit and a book in my hands. The simplest things are so nice because they balance out the crazy days, but the crazy days are entertaining because it's always an adventure.
Speaking of village....I should update you on my old roommate situation. Before I left the village for holiday, I had to resort to sadistic measures....
I laid down rat poison.
I know, I know, there may have been an alternative resolution. But he really pissed me off. As I locked up my hut and walked away, I felt a pang of guilt in my chest. But it was his decision to cross enemy lines in the first place.
I came home nearly a month later. All of the poison pellets had been eaten. I imagine after Protex ate the pellets he realized something was wrong and that the end was near. He accepted his inevitable death but made the decision to get back at the bitch who poisoned him. So, in a frenzy, he chewed a hole through the mosquito net that the little princess had tucked ever so nicely around the mattress, and chose to take his last gasping breath underneath her only pillow.
That was a week ago, and I'm still upset about it. But I guess I deserved it.
Oh! It had been over a month since I'd seen Kamama since I'd been traveling. She found us today (the first day of school for teachers...now it's the 13 of January while I'm typing this) and I noticed she's had puppies. I don't know where they are, but she's definitely a real Kamama (little mama) now. I'll post pictures as soon as they start wondering my way :)
A precious pic of a friend's dog and her puppies.
I was taking a piss in my fancy pit latrine, and I noticed this cool little wire house halfway buried in the sand by my feet. I never noticed it before, so I think someone made it and left it as a strange surprise. I'm all right with it, so I hung it up...I'll probably attach some of my pictures from home to it somehow. I love how Africa teaches one to be effectively resourceful....
Rise and shine bright and early in the village! Goodbye, all.
Read every word..so's to let you know how important words become, as they create in my mind an imaginary picture, of you, your adventure and your friends! (mouse included). Think that bitch could wean those pups...they look huge for suckling! Bitches milk is 14% fat and you can see where here body has gone, but have to think that there might not been much to begin with?
ReplyDeleteNow beginning my 4th yr. of Ca Rx. New Rx is bi monthly IV of Monoclonal Antibodies processed from a Rat. (It works better than human). So far think have made some progress. Feb will get scan and that will tell the story!
Grma had a Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA). This happened after she had purchased my Xams gift and place it in the trunk and she draped herself over the trunk. A passerby recognized the peculiar position and called 911. Contrast studies of her arteries shows that she has bockage of her subclavian artery on the left, on offshoot of the carotid. This denies blood to her arm sometimes and then this sends more blood up her carotid which in turn gives her brain more blood on one side than the other. This result in the sensation of imbalance or dizziness. She is scheduled to get stint the second week of Feb...... in the meantime sex is not a likely occurrence! I get morose with the thought that she would not be healthy!
Enuf for now! Love you and take care! Grpa K
I like this...:-)
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