Thursday, August 30, 2007
Painting Party!
I have been wanting to do something with my bathroom for the longest time. It is so plain and boring so I picked out some paint from the hardware store and thought it would be a fun project for the holiday. We had a visiting missionary for a week that wanted to help so I said go ahead and paint in the circles I had already drawn. Some of the youth kids wanted to help. I think I will rethink that option next time! The finished project was not exactly what I thought. And of course there was paint everywhere, on the walls, the floor, the toilet and the kids. The circles are all uneven and some not painted clearly. And one of the youth boys took it upon himself to paint his name above the door so you have to read it when you are using the toilet. I was a bit frusterated I can admit but now everytime I go in there I smile a little at the "effort" that was made to help decorate the bathroom... :-)
(first picture) - The initial painting group, Anna - Suisse - Bina. Don't they look fabulous!
(second picture) - Josh and Ileni working hard...obviously!
(third picture) - Bina in her work clothes.
(fourth picture) - Ileni and Suisse getting down to business.




Tuesday, August 28, 2007
Silly String Fight!
Thanks for the silly string in the package Mom! I was just teasing the kids with a little spray each when Peter eyed the second bottle and then it was a full on war. We made it around the backyard a few times and left a little mark on the hallway, living room and the kitchen as well as anyone who got in our way. I have to say, if I was to have a silly string fight with anyone it would be Peter, he definately gave it his all but I still think I came out the winner... What do you think?



Cake!
So a little farther below are more pictures but last week we had a birthday party for Suama and Peter who turned sixteen. They are twins in case you were confused! ;-) I have to admit I am quite proud of their cakes. I made both cakes and the frosting entirely from scratch. They each had their own cake and a couple presants from me, Jackie, Heather and Linda.




Birthday Party!
Suama and Peter, our neighbors who are also twins, had their sixteenth birthday last week and so of course we had to have a birthday party. It was a blast with all the youth kids over, pizza and fried rice for dinner, home-ade cake and presents. There was lots of dancing and laughing and a general great time. I think this is the first actual birthday party they have had and I was super stoked to be able to throw this party for them.
(first picture) - Me with the birthday kids, Suama and Peter.
(second picture) - Suama blowing out her birthday candles on her cake. Peter had a matching one and they blew out the candles at the same time.
(third picture) - Peter showing off his goods. We got him a t-shirt, a spiderman towel and face cloth.
(fourth picture) - Suama showing off his goods. We got her hair stuff, drawing and painting stuff, a princess face cloth and I knitted her a scarf.




"Bread Boy"
When we first met this little fella whose real name is Mak, we didn't know his name. He only spoke Afrikaans and at the time we only spoke English. As my Afrikaans improved I was able to communicate more with him. Anyway, at first he would only come to our front gate and ask for "brood" which is bread in Afrikaans. After awhile he would com to the door. Now he comes and plays in the backyard and runs up to hug Linda and I when he arrives and even talks to me in Afrikaans. I can communicate a bit with him. It is great to see him open up more and he has a great smile!

My Little Helper
I have mentioned Laticia, our youngest visitor to the house, several times before. She is turning two in December. I absolutely adore here. She has learned my name recently and loves to say it. Whenever she sees me coming home she runs down the street yelling "ekika" and comes striaght over to give me a big hug and kiss. Or if she is at my house she follows me around saying "ekika" and I have to answer "Letty." It is so cute. The other day I was baking... and Laticia was my little helper.


Peace Corp Party!
Linda and I have made friends with the two peace corp volunteers in our town who are both working with AIDS with Red Cross. Skye, one of the volunteers, had her brother and some of his friends visit and wanted to have a party and we offered to let her have it our house. It was so fun with almost all Namibian people and a traditional Namibian dinner. We had a great time and I was able to meet some new people my age. We also had a great time dancing to some Namibian music in the backyard.
(first picture) - A packed out living room. There was about 25 people total.
(second picture) - Meat! A Namibian staple food. This is some traditionally prepared lamb.
(third picture) - George! George owns the small store and bar that is a street behind our house. He plays the his music really loud all night on the weekends. He got all dressed up to come to our house. It was great to see him outside of the store.
(fourth picture) - Some of the guests enjoying the party. I ran into this woman a couple days after the party and she said she would like to come by again. I am hoping to develop some friends from the party.
(fifth picture) - This is Meme (an african term for woman or lady, used respectfully). She joined us in the back for some dancing. She is dressed in some traditional Ovambo clothing.





Wednesday, August 22, 2007
Fieldtrip!
Just outside of town there is a farm that has some interesting animals. The main attrection is a large male lion called Mufasa. It is an interesting place but a little sad to see these wild animals caged up. It was amazing to see a lion so close though.
(first picture) - Mufasa, up close and personal
(second picture) - An owl
(third picture) - Here is the cheetah, he hissed and jumped at the very weak fence when I came by. Definately wouldn't want to run into him in the wild!
(fourth picture) - No zoom here, I am that close, I even ran my fingers through his mane!
(fifth picture) - Holding hands/paws with Mufasa.....





Baking Freak Out!
I am not sure what has gotten into me lately by my housemates and the neighborhood families and teens are quite happy. I have gone into a baking frenzy! In the past week I have made lemon poppyseed muffins, chocolate chip cookies, three batches of brownies, two birthday cakes, peanut butter cookies and Washington cookies. And the coolest part is, I did it all from scratch. I have never really been into baking but I have been having a blast the last couple weeks. Check out some of my goodies below.

Saturday, August 18, 2007
The Past is still Present...
If you didn't know already, Namibia was under the same Aparthied laws as South Africa was up until 1990. The black and mixed people of Namibia were not allowed in the grocery stores, had seperate bathrooms and entrances and were discriminated against. It is very similar to how they were treated in America during the time of slavery. Namibia has been a free country for seventeen years but the past still has a strong hold here. The town I live in, Grootfontein, is one of the most segragated towns in all of Namibia. There is a very big seperation between the white Afrikaaners and Germans and the black and mixed community. There isn't a lot of open racism but it is a subtle attitude here. I see it more and more the longer I am here. The biggest thing I notice is the little things that are still here that are reminders of the past. Below is an example. There is a small library in town. It has a lot of older books, many that were purchased and used before Namibia was a free country. Sadly, many of the books still hold the "Administration for Whites" stamp in the book. It is a small thing but a constant reminder to any one who checks out the books of what life was and in many ways is still like as well as a reminder of the pain and suffering that did and still goes on. Namibia and my town inparticular is in serious need of healing. Look closely at the stamp in the book that I recently checked out.
My African Nephew
One of the youth kids that hangs out at our house, Suisse (Sissy), has a new baby brother, Brooklyn. Her mom had to have surgery and went into the hospital for a week. She asked Linda and I to watch three week old Brooklyn while she was there. It was so fun to have him at the house. He is so precious. It was hard because I could only do a little for him with my broken wrist but I managed to get as much time in with him as possible. He is a great baby and it was great to have him particularly when I can't hold and spoil my own neice and nephew.
Auntie x2
My precious nephew, Josiah Paul DuClos, was born last Friday. He is so cute! I love this picture of him holding his hands... There is also the picture of Josiah with his daddy, my brother Jason. I already adore him. I am so excited but at the same time it is hard to be so far away and know I won't be able to see him until he is one and a half. This is the second time I have become an aunt since I have been here in Namibia. I only know my neice and nephew through pictures. Anyway, the new addition to the family is beautiful!


Sleepover # ??????
We had yet another sleep over last weekend. It was so fun and I ended up staying up all night and most of the next day. We watched a ton of movies, played truth or dare and a game that Heather brought from Canada. We put on makeup and made necklaces. And of course we laughed and laughed and laughed. I love the sleepovers, they are such a blast.
(first picture) - Tea time!! So in the US, most sleepovers you have pizza and soda and maybe a midnight run to Taco Bell. We ate meat and rice and had midnight tea time with cookies.
(second picture) - Suama is laughing at something. She is a beautiful girl and I love it when she puts her hair like that!
(third picture) - More laughing...
(fourth picture) - Photo time!
(fifth picture) - Suama and Janine laughing at something.
Beading Fun!
Some friends of mine sent me a package awhile back and it were some beads and string for us to do with the youth girls at our next sleep over. Last weekend we had a sleep over and brought out the beads. The girls had such a blast making the necklaces and showing them off. Below are Suama, Janine, Hallelujah and Sippee making their necklaces.