Experiences of a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer in Namibia (2016-19) and further adventures…
After sharing it with my Namibian friends and colleagues, and (once again) discussing our electoral process, I was proud to fax in my absentee ballot today. Voter participation here and in most other new countries is much higher than in the US. We must lead by example, particularly this year!
Continue reading “Exercise your right to vote! Much of the world doesn’t have it…”
Those of you familiar with Arches NP in Utah or Joshua Tree in SoCal will recognize familiar types of geologic formations at Spitzkoppe, which I explored this past weekend. Stunning beauty as the light changed throughout the day, and each feature seemed to take on a new appearance when I barely moved my vantage point. Later, I learned that Stanley Kubrick’s Dawn of Man sequence from 2001: A Space Odyssey, was filmed here.
The beginning of Spring means that Summer is not far behind, and our comfortable temperatures won’t continue for long. A week ago, for example, we saw the cold, wet fog reach 65 km inland from the coast and only my sleeping bag kept me warm enough at night. Yesterday, on the other hand, it reached the high-90s!
Just a quick note to my Santa Cruz and Monterey Bay Area friends. Peace Corps Director Carrie Hessler-Radelet and Congressman Sam Farr will be holding a special public event to talk about “the opportunities the Peace Corps offers….” on Monday, September 19th at CSUMB in Marina. You can learn more by visiting this Event Information and Registration link. RSVP by September 15th! Continue reading “Hey, Monterey Bay Area folks: meet the PC Director!”
One of my favorite weekend activities is exploring the desert surrounding Arandis. For most recent weeks, this has been on foot–but now that I have a working bike, I’m able to cover much more ground and go further into the bush. Yesterday, while clocking about 30km off-road, I found ancient riverbeds, an endemic Quiver Tree and several herd of wandering Springbok.
Imagine a holiday that combines all the patriotic fervor of your country’s Veterans’ Day, Memorial Day and Independence Day combined, and then consider that it’s the 50th anniversary of the first shots fired in your country’s Revolutionary War. That’s what Namibia experienced last week on Heroes’ Day! Continue reading “Heroes’ Day – 50th Anniversary”
Or anywhere else, for that matter…
Another interesting article on the perceptions we form when looking at historical representations of the world:
I love maps!
With fellow PCVs Andrew and Kevin, I climbed to the top of one of the largest sand dunes in the world on Saturday. So named because it is the seventh dune after crossing the river Tsauchab, Dune 7 has been measured at over 1,256 feet – 383 meters. I hope these photos and video clips give you some idea of its scale and beauty, as well as the fact that it’s made up entirely of small grains…
Life in Arandis is racing by – I can’t believe it’s mid-August and that I’ve been here 7 weeks already! My first three months on site are designed to help me integrate with my new community and my work colleagues – that is all happening very nicely. To ensure that we maintain that focus, Peace Corps does not want us to venture too far afield or take any vacation time away. That’s not been a problem as there are plenty of things to see and do around town and within the Erongo Region. Here are some visual vignettes for you to enjoy…
Continue reading “Images of Life in Namibia”Surprises appear regularly and unexpectedly in Namibia. While hanging my laundry on the clothesline during a quiet Sunday afternoon, I heard beautiful a cappella music nearby. A 15-person choir was rehearsing in the corner of an alleyway where they enjoyed great acoustics. It’s more than 5 minutes long and I hope you enjoy it, too.
And no, the photograph has nothing to do with the music…
