Tomorrow will mark the second anniversary of my arrival to Arandis. In many ways, it feels like it was just yesterday.
At the same time, I feel like I’ve been here forever…
Two years have just flown by…
Author: Chris
Until 2019, I served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Namibia focused on Community Economic Development. Before that, I was a high-tech executive, small business owner, consultant and business broker.
Sharing this beautiful land…
My love made it to southern Africa over the holiday break in December, when I was able to show her why I love it here in Namibia. We started with a few days in South Africa, then flew to Namibia where we saw many of the iconic cultural and natural aspects that one should see on a first visit: wild animals (large and small), the dunes and the sea.
I hope you enjoy some of the photos we collectively took.
Continue reading “Sharing this beautiful land…”Off the grid in Namibia’s wild, wild West
My longtime best friend David recently visited Namibia, so we hired a 4×4 with a roof-mounted tent to explore a corner of the country that has attracted me since my arrival: Damaraland and Kaokoland. Lying mostly in Kunene Region, it is considered one of the most remote places on Earth and besides its fascinating scenery, flora and free-ranging wildlife, it is the traditional homeland of the Damara and Himba tribes.
Continue reading “Off the grid in Namibia’s wild, wild West”Preparing for the Peace Corps Interview: Q&As
I was recently contacted by a candidate for a volunteer position in the Community Economic Development (CED) sector at Peace Corps Namibia. She will soon have her online interview and she reached out with some good questions about my experience. I was happy to answer them and thought you might find some interest in this…
Continue reading “Preparing for the Peace Corps Interview: Q&As”
Why is the Peace Corps in Namibia?
Linda, another “seasoned” PCV from California in Group 45, recently posted this on her blog. It helps explain why the Peace Corps is here in Namibia, a country with a lot going for it but still needing help.
Day of the Namibian Child and Reading Club
When I recently lamented my neglect of this blog, a friend said: “Live your life now – write about it later…”
But I couldn’t go any longer without telling you about one of my many activities.
Continue reading “Day of the Namibian Child and Reading Club”Tov Tsumeb Orphanage visits Etosha National Park
I’ve been fortunate to work with fellow PCV Angel in supporting the Tov Orphanage in the town of Tsumeb, coaching the management team and board of directors in effective governance and operations. Our inspiration is the children – all affected in some way or another by HIV/AIDS – who organized a whole weekend’s visit to Etosha National Park, complete with a fun environmental educational program and a wonderful game drive. I hope you can feel the energy and joy that these kids exhibit!
Continue reading “Tov Tsumeb Orphanage visits Etosha National Park”Kolmanskop – a relatively new ghost town
During my visit to Lüderitz, recounted in last week’s post, I also visited the nearby ghost town of Kolmanskop (or Kolmannskuppe in the old German). First established in the late 19th Century as a diamond mining town, the last resident departed in the mid-1950s. Since then, it has been subject to the slow but steady encroachment of the Namib Desert sand. It’s a photographer’s Mecca, particularly during the early and late hours of the day, and I did the best I could during the middle of the day.
Continue reading “Kolmanskop – a relatively new ghost town”10th Annual Crayfish Festival in Lüderitz
I recently visited the remote Southern town of Lüderitz for its 10th Annual Crayfish Festival. Located on the Atlantic Coast, this quaint German town comes alive once a year to celebrate its seafood industry. Crayfish (aka “lobster”) are a major export from Namibia (particularly to Asia), but they kept more than enough for the locals and the tourists to enjoy at Festival time. Enjoy the photos!
Continue reading “10th Annual Crayfish Festival in Lüderitz”A year in Arandis…
This weekend marks the first anniversary of my arrival to Arandis. Yes, the time is flying by and I’m loving it as much as always!