p.s. i rocked my lpi

Hello people from my former life…
Shannon here. I’m writing this update on the 22nd of September, though I cannot currently comment on when this will actually appear online…
Today was sad because our group of 33 is now just 32. One of the volunteers decided to go home. It was the best decision for her, but we will miss her terribly! (if you are out there, here’s my shout out). I guess group 30 won’t be the first group to have 100% of our group survive through the end. Oh well.
I’m in my room at my homestay and being treated to beautiful music in the background. My ouma (grandma) is hosting the church choir practice in the other room. Why is everyone in Namibia the most amazing singer ever? It doesn’t make sense. I need to tell ouma she can host practice whenever she so desires. I love it. It’s like my own private show. This house is so happening. Everytime I turn around there is something else going down. Sometimes it’s just the kids having to go to the hospital because they fell off the motorbike, but whatever.
We’re essentially spending this whole week debriefing from our permanent site visits. The more I think about it, the most anxious and worried I become about various things in Bethanie. There are just a lot of immediately evident remnants of apartheid, and I was only there for a week, so I imagine things go a lot deeper than I am currently aware. It’s going to be challenging, but I think I’m up for it. The people of bethanie are GREAT, especially the learners. So obviously this excites me. Also, did I tell you they have a public library in bethanie?! I was very very happy to find out this fact.
One of my favorite things about Namibians is this: they always say “I’m coming right now” or “I come now” instead of “I’m coming right back.” It’s so funny. Now that I write it though, it doesn’t seem so funny. But take my word for it.
We are having what they call “mid-LPI” interviews on Friday, which is the peace corps’ way of determining how we are doing with our language training. I am really nervous, because even though I feel like I have a pretty good grasp of Afrikaans right now, in talking with my language trainer, hamata, about the pseudo-exam, I will be very lost. We’ll see how it goes. I want to impress them!
I’m now going to post some pictures. These will mostly be of bethanie/my classroom . Please notice that we have an overhead projector in my classroom, and don’t get jealous. Get so excited!!!!!!!!!!! Because I am.

update: i'm going to post the pictures later. it will cost me a lot less money. love you all. stay tuned.

p.s. from this point on, you should probably start sending mail to bethanie, because I’ll be moving there in less than 4 weeks. Ahh!!! I can’t wait

love you all

hello from keetmanshoop

greetings. this blog update is brought to you from keetmanshoop, a town about 140 kms from my permanent site in bethanie. i will be representing the dirty south of namibia for the next 2 years, and i'm pretty excited about it. i guess i'm kind of used to representing the south. in the most bad ass way possible.

we are taking an overnight train tonight from keetmans to windhoek (12 hours) and they just informed us there is no sleeper car available. should be interesting. it's also apparently freezing. we'll see how that goes.

i just finished up at my site for one week. i was observing classes and meeting people and just trying to get used to my surroundings. i really think i'm going to like bethanie. it's quiet and small and a little weird, but i think it'll be fun. i hope i don't turn into a crazy person because i will never be interacting with americans. yikes.

when i get back to okahandja i will make it a priority to post some pictures. i have some exciting ones of my future flat and classroom, so it should entertain you all.

also, today is the one month anniversary of me being in the peace corps. haha. it feels like it has been forever and no time at all. i guess that is life.

i am having a blast though so don't you worry about me. i can't wait to start teaching. the kids at the school are GREAT and when i left a girl came up to me and gave me a letter she wrote. it said "you are my best friend". wow.

i love you alllllllllll write to me plus send me your real addresses if i don't have them. i'm serious.

ek is shannon

hello all. writing to you from okahandja. this will be short. everything is still great. we've moved in with our host families. my family is pretty awesome. they like to drink beer, which is funny. also, they have two little 4 year old twin boys who are funny and help me A LOT with afrikaans. they are also very dirty because they pretty much only roll around in the dirt outside the house. maybe i'll never have kids. um, the house i'm living in has a pool. yeah. is this the peace corps? i'm not sure.

i'm pretty good at afrikaans (mostly because it's easy) and i've even made friends. i was afraid no one would like me. i'm kind of weird and annoying sometimes.

okay, this has not been informative.

one more thing: all they do is eat meat and eggs and stuff with butter. for example: peanut butter sandwiches plus butter is their attempt at making american food. i think i'll die of a heart attack.

I LOVE YOU ALL PLUS I LOVE NAMIBIA BYE