To say I’m a horrible blogger is an understatement. So it’s
been a month and goodness me I’ve no idea how to sum up what has been going on.
Pre-Service training ended on the 14th of May and it was bitter
sweet to say the least. I know I will make it a point to visit at least some of
the trainers/staff I was able to connect with before my service is over. The
beautiful thing about Namibia is that you can easily be adopted into a family….and
I may be a bit biased because let’s be honest, who wouldn’t want me in their
house? ;) I felt that the entire
training staff for PST as well as my fellow 39ers was just a massive family.
One that I hope will remain close even if there isn’t’ constant communication
throughout my service. Transition was easy because we were situated in
Okahandja that seemed to be so similar to a weird college town that I
reminisced quite a bit on my college days =) I was so comfortable with my host
family that I find myself missing them on the daily whilst adjusting to life in
Mariental. My host mother checks on me as my real mother did back in Ohio, and
it makes me feel loved. They even said they would make a trip out to Mariental
to visit me once I’m settled in. It’s difficult to believe that my family back
in Okahandja cares for me so much after only getting to know me for a mere two
months. I was welcomed into Namibia with open arms, and I know that even on my
lowest days, the positive people I met in Okahandja can lift my spirits up.
I’ve been living in Mariental for about 6 days now and I
believe I’m adjusting relatively well. Mariental is such a small town compared
to Columbus, Ohio, which is where I’ve spent the majority of my life and I
already foresee challenges of a city woman living in a small town. For now
though I am quite content with Mariental. I have an entire flat to myself with
an amazing view of Mariental from the second floor and to top it all off I have
a balcony that’s big enough to lounge with some green tea and a neat book! As
much as I want to decorate my place, I’m living off of a volunteer’s salary and
I have more important things to purchase such as food, toiletries, and more
food. I am lucky enough to have two supermarkets within walking distance and a
yarn store within walking distance. I know, what have I become….and the answer
is an old woman who can crochet the heck out of a scarf (that statement is not
true, just look at my lopsided infinity scarf). My neighbors are around my age,
which is an added bonus! The only downside is that I blew out the fuse for the
entire second floor by turning on one hotplate and now my neighbor and I are
without a working stove. It’ll take a few days to replace, but for the time
being my neighbor downstairs has been more than generous in letting me use her
stove, she is the BEST!
View of the kitchen and a fraction of the living room, pardon the mess, I just moved in.
View of a fraction of the living room/guest bed entrance to balcony
This picture doesn't do justice to the view, the farthest point is the oldest church in Mariental.
Though I have not met the communities I will be working with
yet, I am really busy getting to know my counterparts (I have three) and others
within the hospital. I was also able to have a meeting with my supervisor and I
am quite anxious for the coming events I will be a part of. I will specify more
once I have definitive information regarding my responsibilities, but let’s
just say it’s going to be a busy few months! It’s comforting to know that I
have three counterparts and one supervisor who are optimistic in their
occupations and are excited for my inclusion to their group of do-gooders.
Together we are going to expand support services throughout Mariental and I feel
quite confident in the staff I will be working with =)
