My last post's title probably made little sense because I was planning on talking about my shopping in Windhoek, but couldn't get to it. The explanation is that I found a chachka shop in Windhoek... Obviously. It just seemed really random, and Annie (my Jewish friend) and I felt really at home in a store that sold traditional Oshiwambo art, bedding, cigars, suitcases, coffee, postcards, ostrich ornaments, cutlery, drapes, kids shoes, bras etc. (you get the idea)
Right now I'm sitting in Cape Town waiting for my airport shuttle to pick me up. It's weird because Alison, Annie and Michelle left this morning and all of a sudden I'm alone. May I reiterate that I haven't been this alone since May. I'm flying to Amsterdam and I'll chill there for 8 hours and then make my way to Canada. But for the meantime, I'm here sitting alone at a computer, waiting the 4 hours until I can wait 24 more hours on planes until i can get to Toronto.
Today I just meandered around the city until I found the Jewish History Museum and the Holocaust Center. I spent a good 4 hours in total at both. When I walked out of the Holocaust Center, the museum lady even told me that I had "done it right" by taking my sweet ass time. It was pretty embarrassing because I get pretty emotional in these sorts of exhibits. But crying alone in museum is weird. This mechanic guy kept walking by and every time he did I'd be in a slightly different spot along the exhibit, either sitting, crouching (my back got soar) or standing, but constantly crying. By the end he would walk by and purposefully keep his glance away from me. The last time he saw me I was sitting, crumpled, on a chair staring at the wall. (In my defense, the wall was part of the exhibit, but I think it probably looked weird and depressing to him).
When I left the exhibit I couldn't find a mirror and still haven't, so I can't tell if there's mascara running down my cheeks or not. Hope not, that would be embarrassing.
After the museums I took a different route back to Long Street (the street that my hostel is on) but landed up on this sketch road and kept thinking "I'm going to get sooooo mugged today." So, as soon as I could I got off the street. I ended up walking into this beautiful courtyard, past a security check point and onto parliament/government property. It was crazy deserted, but much less creepy than the previous street. Ooly problem was that I couldn't find a way out. At one point I thought I had, so I walked for like 10 minutes only to find that the gate I thought was open, was actually quite locked. I backtracked towards another exit that would get me back onto the sketchy street, and as I did this guy in uniform came up to me and I said, "I'm not supposed to be here am I" and he was like " Nope, you have to have a permit. The guys saw you on the camera and told me to go find you. How did you even get in?" I told him about the security guard a few blocks up and his boss had to radio him and I guess make sure he was actually at his post. I felt bad cause I totally got that guy in trouble, but whatever. The boss dude looked at me and said, "don't worry, you're not in trouble, it's not your fault," which I think means that he thought I was crying, which therefore means that I do in fact have mascara streaming down my face. Great.
I walked back to Long Street and got some food while reading a supposedly funny book. So far it hasn't been but I think that's because I'm not the intended audience. It's written by a self-proclaimed "Zulu Warrior" and it's about his qualms with people in Cape Town. Be neither a Zulu or a Cape Townian I'm pretty lost most of the time. But I look hella cool when I read it so I'm going to power through.
I have about three more hours to kill in here before the airport shuttle picks me up. I really want to take a nap but I already checked out of my room (damn you past Hannah). So, I'm going to continue to write this post for another half hour at least.
Yesterday was one of my best days this summer so far. The girls and I took the train to Kalk Bay. It's basically just Vancouver, but smaller and in Africa. We headed over to the pier and watched the boats, fishermen, seagulls and the vista while eating some hake fish and chips and sipping on some ciders. Perfection!! We walked up and down the two piers and even saw some seals. One of them stared directly into my eyes. I felt privileged. Kind of like the way Steve Martin's character wants Tina Fey's character to feel when he offers her 2 minutes of uninterrupted eye contact in "Baby Mama".
After watching an old women demonstrate how she descales and disembowels fish on the
pier (and stepping in loads of fish blood and guts), we decided to hit up some of the cute boutiques on the main strip. I got a really cute dress for Mir's wedding. I won't describe it, but I love and can't wait to remember Kalk Bay when I put it on again. After dropping mad cash we all decided an afternoon pickmeup was in order and we sat in a cafe overlooking the harbour and water and mountains and train tracks and beach (etc.)for cappuccinos and croissants. I can't really explain what was so great about sitting there with Michelle, Annie and Alison, but I think it has something to do with the fact that we were all really comfortable with each other, had lot's of stories to regale each other with and many shared memories to recount. We all agreed that this had been one of the best days this summer.
I can't believe that nearly three months has already gone by. Cliche as it sounds, I feel like I was just in Cape Town getting ready for my new internship, Namibia, and spending the summer with some great people. I'm back in the city, but I feel totally different and I can't help but smile when I think of all of the fun I've experienced. Even when I think of the days when I was exhausted, frustrated and even upset, I can't help but think how amazing this opportunity has been. I've gotten to travel, meet truly inspiring people, get passionate about things I didn't know I was passionate about, and seen how well I can persevere when my family and friends are so far away. (This is beginning to sound like the opening for "the Real world" but I mean every word of it)
I'm sad to see this summer over but I guess that all good things have to come to an end. So I just want to say goodbye to South Africa, Namibia, Oshakati, Ongwediva, Oneshila, Alison, Annie, Sol, Michelle, DEEP, Braiis, dance parties, sass at the dinner table, Harry Potter on repeat, long car rides, quad biking, sand, sun, cramped showers, hearts and eucher, stray dogs, "siliously?," supes/totes, one-eyed flansy, miladys, mista plice, tandem ninja kitty, benny's, aaron's dance moves,loud singing, challenges and recommendations, diamonds, flansy and hansy, medi-parc and stitches, lions fighting, robin hood, Game Plaza, searches for NEDBank, honking taxis, Windhoek Lager, Savanna Dry, appletisers, eis bein, and everything else, and say HELLO CANADA!!!!
see you all soon!
love Hannah
p.s. Rebecca, if you're reading this, could you email/ Facebook me to let me know if you're coming to pick me up tomorrow? If not, I have your number on me so I'll just call if I can't see you when I get in. Love you!
Sunday, August 16, 2009
Thursday, August 13, 2009
They Even Have Chachkas in Namibia!
I basically only write when I'm get inspired. Kind of like when I decide to clean my room. Both occur rarely apparently. Millions of things have happened since the last post. It's a little silly that I left this so long, because I'm sure I've forgotten some priceless moments, but I'll try and give you an idea of my life for the past 4-ish weeks. I think I'll do point form so that I can be efficient.
Aaron came up and replaced Richard as a supervisor for the interns in Oshakati. He's pretty much ballin' out of control and has been a real pleasure to live with. He's reintroduced meat into the house (previously we allowed the vegetarians to control the grocery shopping..) Taken us to Etosha National Park and rented a sweet vehicle to drive around in while there, he's also added a lot of sass to the North that has been highly appreciated.
Etosha was amazing. IN short I saw every animal I wanted to see: Lions Elephants, cheetah, leopard, giraffes etc. and had an amazing time with the entire group camping, eating and chilling at the watering hole all wrapped up in blankets to keep warm. It's amazing to see animals like that up close! I've been watching Kratz's Creatures for years now, but it's nothing compared to the real thing. I even watched two lions fight over a lioness ( and got it on video!). While we drove around we blasted some great music, rolled down the windows, and munched on chips. Unconventional, and probably totally against game park etiquette, but it was just our style.
Speaking of etiquette, we had an incident with another car full of park visitors, where we were both watching some lions chilling on the road when another car came up behind us. Trying to create good viewing for all three cars, we drove a little too close to the lions and may or may not have chased them away from the road and into the bush. While we shrugged the incident off, the second car drove past us and the passengers glared at us and one even gave us some sarcastic golf claps, which we initially mistook as genuine applause for getting such a great view of the lions. When a few of us in the car waved back at them and smiled, we soon realized, upon looking at all of their expressions, that we were not supposed to be pleased with ourselves.
Oh well.. we learned something for next time.
Back in Oshakati I just finished up a lot of work for DEEP, and, along with the other interns, I presented a summary of all of my work and observations over the past 10 weeks to all of our Namibian partners at the final forum in Oshakati.
ON my last day in Oneshila I went with Alison to drop off some stuff for DEEP and to my surprise was given a traditional Oshiwambo dress! It's gorgeous and I was really taken aback, because I didn't expect anaything from DEEP. Saying goodbye to DEEP was pretty hard and I was choking back tears (obviously) as I walked out of the neighborhood.
Also, I should mention that Napenda came back for a visit to Onehsila last monday. As I walked out of the area on my last day, I went over to Napenda to cheer myself up, because hanging out with him is pretty entertaining. He's got a lot of pzaz (Sp?)and makes some pretty exceptional facial expressions. Anyway, Alison and I played with him for a while and then began to walk out towards the main road. Unfortunately, Napenda refused to stay by his house and began to follow us out. We kept motioning for him to go back home, but he refused. BY the time we got to the main road, which is sort of like a highway, we were pretty worried to get in a taxi because we though Napenda would run onto the road or something. Fortunately, some boys noticed our predicament and decided to help us out. They began pulling Napenda from us, but he reached for Alison's legs and held on tight. He was crying as I tried to pry his hands from her. Finally of the boys ripped him from his grasp of her jeans and he began to wail. It was horrible! Both Alison and I began to tear up as we watched him kick and punch his way out of the older boy's grasp. As Alison and I hailed a taxi we just sort of looked at each other with... I can't really explain the expression, but we were both just feeling so upset and let down, that we had just made Napenda feel so horrible and that we had just tainted our last impression of the Oneshila neighborhood with a sense of sadness and frustration.
There's lots more to say but I can't write anymore cause I'm getting really antsy to walk around (I'm back in Cape Town as of 4 hours ago) I also need to do a little shopping and stuff too!
Aaron came up and replaced Richard as a supervisor for the interns in Oshakati. He's pretty much ballin' out of control and has been a real pleasure to live with. He's reintroduced meat into the house (previously we allowed the vegetarians to control the grocery shopping..) Taken us to Etosha National Park and rented a sweet vehicle to drive around in while there, he's also added a lot of sass to the North that has been highly appreciated.
Etosha was amazing. IN short I saw every animal I wanted to see: Lions Elephants, cheetah, leopard, giraffes etc. and had an amazing time with the entire group camping, eating and chilling at the watering hole all wrapped up in blankets to keep warm. It's amazing to see animals like that up close! I've been watching Kratz's Creatures for years now, but it's nothing compared to the real thing. I even watched two lions fight over a lioness ( and got it on video!). While we drove around we blasted some great music, rolled down the windows, and munched on chips. Unconventional, and probably totally against game park etiquette, but it was just our style.
Speaking of etiquette, we had an incident with another car full of park visitors, where we were both watching some lions chilling on the road when another car came up behind us. Trying to create good viewing for all three cars, we drove a little too close to the lions and may or may not have chased them away from the road and into the bush. While we shrugged the incident off, the second car drove past us and the passengers glared at us and one even gave us some sarcastic golf claps, which we initially mistook as genuine applause for getting such a great view of the lions. When a few of us in the car waved back at them and smiled, we soon realized, upon looking at all of their expressions, that we were not supposed to be pleased with ourselves.
Oh well.. we learned something for next time.
Back in Oshakati I just finished up a lot of work for DEEP, and, along with the other interns, I presented a summary of all of my work and observations over the past 10 weeks to all of our Namibian partners at the final forum in Oshakati.
ON my last day in Oneshila I went with Alison to drop off some stuff for DEEP and to my surprise was given a traditional Oshiwambo dress! It's gorgeous and I was really taken aback, because I didn't expect anaything from DEEP. Saying goodbye to DEEP was pretty hard and I was choking back tears (obviously) as I walked out of the neighborhood.
Also, I should mention that Napenda came back for a visit to Onehsila last monday. As I walked out of the area on my last day, I went over to Napenda to cheer myself up, because hanging out with him is pretty entertaining. He's got a lot of pzaz (Sp?)and makes some pretty exceptional facial expressions. Anyway, Alison and I played with him for a while and then began to walk out towards the main road. Unfortunately, Napenda refused to stay by his house and began to follow us out. We kept motioning for him to go back home, but he refused. BY the time we got to the main road, which is sort of like a highway, we were pretty worried to get in a taxi because we though Napenda would run onto the road or something. Fortunately, some boys noticed our predicament and decided to help us out. They began pulling Napenda from us, but he reached for Alison's legs and held on tight. He was crying as I tried to pry his hands from her. Finally of the boys ripped him from his grasp of her jeans and he began to wail. It was horrible! Both Alison and I began to tear up as we watched him kick and punch his way out of the older boy's grasp. As Alison and I hailed a taxi we just sort of looked at each other with... I can't really explain the expression, but we were both just feeling so upset and let down, that we had just made Napenda feel so horrible and that we had just tainted our last impression of the Oneshila neighborhood with a sense of sadness and frustration.
There's lots more to say but I can't write anymore cause I'm getting really antsy to walk around (I'm back in Cape Town as of 4 hours ago) I also need to do a little shopping and stuff too!
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)