Today is my last day at the office where I have worked at the Arandis Town Council for the past 2 1/2 years. It hasn’t always been easy – but it has always been rewarding. Above my desk, every day, I used this poem for inspiration. Attributed to the philosopher Laozi in the 6th Century BC, it encapsulates for me the primary objective of Peace Corps around the world.
Continue reading “Goodbye, Arandis! P.S. I love you!”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.
An abundance of gratitude…
This past weekend was most special! Bringing together so many of my favorite people in Namibia! Colleagues from work, clients, Namibian friends and fellow PCVs joined me Friday night to celebrate my farewell – an experience I will never forget! Some of them agreed to be caught in these photos and many others graciously made entries in my Memory Book. (I can’t bring myself to go through that one until I’m on the airplane in 10 days’ time.)
Continue reading “An abundance of gratitude…”A landscape like no other…
As I enter my final month of Peace Corps service in Namibia, I was delighted to come across these wonderful aerial photographs by Leah Kennedy showing the abstract but very real beauty of this country. (Photo Credit: Leah Kennedy. All rights reserved).
I hope you enjoy it too!
Zambezi, Chobe and Victoria Falls
Following the Game Count, I had the chance to hang out on Namibia’s Zambezi River and to visit Botswana‘s supreme Chobe National Park – home to the largest collection of elephants anywhere in the world. I also got to Victoria Falls, on the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe, one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World. It was a treat to meet other Africans and to see a bit of our neighboring countries. I hope you enjoy the images!
Continue reading “Zambezi, Chobe and Victoria Falls”Game Count in Zambezi
I recently participated in IRDNC’s wildlife census in the Zambezi Region of Namibia, the far northeast corner of the country, at the tip of the extended, thin finger of land squeezed between Zambia and Botswana. After a 3-day road journey from Arandis, hitchhiking about 8 hours a day, the transformation of terrain and population density made evident the words of the national anthem: “contrasting, beautiful Namibia.” Green, Trees, and Water – things I don’t often see in the desert!
Continue reading “Game Count in Zambezi”This happens in Namibia ALL the time!
One unanticipated advantage of living in a thinly populated country is that everyone here seems to know each other. I have met untold numbers of people I wouldn’t have thought possible to meet in the US. For example, in a recent post about Namibia’s novel approach to wildlife conservation, I highlighted pioneer Garth Owen-Smith. Well, let me tell you another Namibian small world story…
Continue reading “This happens in Namibia ALL the time!”A coastline like no other…
The Atlantic recently published this photo gallery of the Namibian coast.
I’m going to miss it so much when I have to leave soon…
A sad update to my recent post…
NPR just reported this sad news about elephant poaching in Botswana. I just returned from a week participating in a game count in Namibia, just over the river border from where this tragedy occurred. I will post more about my experience shortly, but want to share this information while it’s fresh.
Namibia’s wildlife conservation
I am excited to soon participate in a game count sponsored by IRDNC (Integrated Rural Development and Nature Conservation) in the Zambezi Region of Northeast Namibia. We’ll be conducting an annual wildlife census in the bush and it will give me a chance to see another part of this beautiful country. The links below describe important aspects of Namibia’s leading role in wildlife conservation, including one of its heroes, IRDNC co-founder Garth Owen-Smith.
Backpacking in Namibia: The Naukluft 8-Day Trail
I was treated to a very special visit by my son, Tyler, who spent several weeks in Namibia during March and April. A highlight of his visit was backpacking together along the remote, 125km-long Naukluft 8-Day Trail with 9 other American volunteers (from Peace Corps and World Teach). As always in wide open expanses of land, the photos never do it justice, but I hope just the same that you enjoy the photos taken by Tyler, PCV Sheridan and me.
Continue reading “Backpacking in Namibia: The Naukluft 8-Day Trail”