Back to Africa...

Today was a fairytale…..aaah Taylor Swift…your music is relevant no matter what continent you’re on!  hahaha

Okay seriously, We assembled out first Library today. It’s so nice to have 3 librarians on this trip with us….It speeds things up and maintains efficiency and accuracy!
During the kids recess we went out and played soccer with them and participated in some of their other games. They loved the “hokey pokey” and then “simon says.”
The head master of the school prepared a delicious lunch for us. While several of the students performed Ugandan dance and songs for us. The people here are so thankful, generous and kind.

OMG!! The kids are sooo cute! I don’t know what it is, but these kids have the cutest little faces on the planet.  We had the opportunity to go visit a few of the classrooms after we finished the library. Each class sang a song for us, and we gave them the opportunity to ask us a few questions. The most common question asked was…What’s your name? and Where are you from? They loved those of us from Texas. They all seem to know about Texas:) Each class had about 55-60 students per classroom and all very well behaved…all the ages! They come to school from 8-5!! I know!!! And lunch is provided by the school. Academically, they seem to be on track with the US in their respective ages. They are very focused and disciplined while in the classroom, they know a lot about american pop culture and follow the European soccer teams very closely.

After we finished at Bat Valley Primary School, we went on a tour of one of the most elite schools in the country,Kings Road. It’s extremely competitive, you must be in the top 10% of your class and have the means to pay for a private boarding school education. Around 6000 students apply per year for only 120 positions. However, probably the future leaders of this country are attending this school.  Libraries of Love put a library in 3 years ago. The teachers live on campus as well as the students and the clergy.  Originally, this school was run by British Headmasters, so the campus looks a lot like cambridge. They intentionally structured for that reason. Incidentely, the education system in Uganda is also modeled after cambridge.

I’m hoping to a get a full night sleep this evening, I was up from 1-4am and then had to be up and ready to leave by 7;30:( I’m making myself stay up, so that at 10:00pm I can hopefully sleep for the full night. Or some of you can expect some text messages:) haha

I would say Day 2 was a success and made me more excited for the upcoming days. This weekend we will be going to Murchison Falls for a safari, camping and hiking up the waterfall. I know, those of you that know me well,know “Anna doesn’t camp” Unfortunately, I don’t have a choice. it’s sink or swim time! I’ll keep you posted!

xoxo
Anna

Hi Friends!

I have arrived in Uganda!!! The flights over couldn’t have been easier. With the exception of the length of the flights, they were smooth, the people were kind and the food on British Airways was surprisingly delicious! I only slept for about 7 hours total the last 3 days, so I’m expecting a great nights sleep tonight:)

We had a 12 hour layover in London…during the Queen’s diamond Jubilee! It was really exciting to be around all the energy and celebrations:) Apparently, we missed Prince Charles and Kate by 30 minutes at Piccadilly Circus. Nonetheless, it was a fun stopover and allowed us to stretch our legs before the next 9 hour flight.

I arrived in Uganda at 7:30am this morning…it was around 70 degrees and sunny. Uganda seems very similar to Mexico and South America in climate and foliage. It;s quite humid!! Thank goodness for the Keritan treatment on my hair or I would been Mufasa from the lion King for the next 3 weeks hahaha.

Today was just showering and resting and getting ready for our first Library tomorrow. Most of you know I am vegetarian when home in the US, but I started re-introducing meat into my diet about 2 moths ago in preparation for my summer. Meat is privilege here and I would never want to be rude by refusing a meal someone had prepared for me. I can say the meat here is amazing!! We had some beef skewer for dinner at it was delicious! With that said, fatigue and the added effort for my body to digest the protein, I am a sleepy girl:) I will post tomorrow (pictures too!) and fill you in on all the adventures tomorrow has in store for me:)

Have a great day! As always, Thank you for your continued support!

XO

Anna

Hi All,

The day is almost here! I am packed, boarding pass in hand and so ready to embark on another great adventure!

I will continue to update this blog every one/two days. As always, I am so thankful for my amazing support group here in the US! Your kind thoughts, wishes and blessings give me the peace and strength to continue on this amazing journey!

I sincerely hope that all of you have a wonderful summer and look forward to seeing you when I return!!

xoxo

Anna

Hi Friends and Family,

Here I am on the cusp of another summer readying to leave for Africa. I am so excited….

This year I will leave on June 2 for Uganda. I will be traveling with a local non-profit organization, Libraries of Love. We will be building libraries in Kampala and Entebbe. We have spent the past year gathering, labeling and packing over 40,000 books that arrived in Uganda just last week:) I will be in Uganda for 3 weeks.

Then I will fly to Namibia and spend another 4 weeks in Rehoboth with my “family” from last summer:) Even better, Jay will be joining me there for 10 days!! I am really looking forward to all the faces I have missed so dearly over the past year:) I have an international drivers permit and will be renting a car:0 This should be interesting! haha

Packing has been very interesting…Uganda will be in the mid to high 80’s and in Namibia it will be winter…I am already so challenged in packing to begin with, so this has been a month long process and I’m still not done. I’m sure I’m over packed as always, but what can I do?

I am looking forward to keeping another Blog and all the debauchery that accompanies most of my experiences:) As always, Thank you all for your support and hope that you too will have a wonderful summer!

xoxoxo

Anna

I know!! I know!! I thought I was finished….guess not. I just have one more entry I feel compelled to make, thank you for indulging me!

I arrived back in the states yesterday, and as I struggle to explain, with due justice, my experience over the past 3 months.I have come across an interesting observation I want to share with you guys.

I realized when I was preparing for this trip I had made several references to “teaching in a developing country.”  Now that I am back, I’m not sure that word correctly describes Namibia, in my opinion. I want to preface the following statements with….these are my opinions and perspectives based on my experiences over the past 3 months.

I think as a westerner, it’s easy to attach the word “developing” to any country not as advanced as the United States. Advanced by who’s standards? In many ways, Namibia has more commonalities than differences to the US. For example, they were colonized by Germany in the same way that we colonized the America’s. Their culture and history is very much influenced by Germany and the Dutch. Namibian’s listen to US music as well as there own local and South African house music. They have water purification plants, in addition to alternative energy plants. Their cars are the same, all the same companies are represented….Toyota, Honda, Gmc, Ford, and Volkswagon and many more. They have malls, salons, grocery stores, computers, real estate development, gas stations (albeit full service..it’s awesome, I haven’t seen those in the us in years!), modern medicine, hospitals, clinics, universities…the lists go on and on.

I find it interesting that we still call them a developing country. In my opinion, i think a more appropriate word is “country in transition.” I say this because of the development of the government. Namibia gained it’s independence on March 21 1990. They have been a fully functioning, growing and adapting country for decades. Like any other newly independent country, with the independence comes a newly formed government , governing body. This is where I find the country to be “transitional”. It’s an amazing country with a hardworking and dedicated government. But it is new! With that, you don’t find the established governmental programs that we have in the west. For example, currently there are not programs established to accommodate the homeless, the hungry or the emotionally or physically disadvantaged. That’s not to say these things aren’t coming, they just need the time and the money to work it all out. Kids go to school from 7am to 1pm. The government is not in a position to provide lunches for the children, so they must go home for lunch.

Many of the social programs we are use to in the states, do not yet exist in Namibia. I know that in time they will. I have so much respect and admiration for the people in this country. They are truly a citizen based democracy. They take a good hard look at what the people in their country need and address it the best they know how. They spend a lot of time preserving the different cultures that exist, while perpetuating education and advancement that will give them the edge they so desperately need to compete with the western cultures. 

Their culture is definitely one that I have fallen in love with! For all that I have just said about transition, the one thing I hope they never lose is their culture and tradition. I’ve spent 3 months talking about all the different parts of their culture that I love, and how much of it I hope to apply to my own life. We westerners have a lot  in terms of technology, education and infra-structure…but we lack a cohesive sense of community and unity as a nation (unless, we are faced with adversity). That’s something the western world could stand to learn from Namibia. 

I hope that this final entry has in no way offended anyone in the US or Namibia. It was not my intention. As i said previously, it’s simply my opinion based on my short, but life changing experiences in Namibia.I love my country and I am so thankful to be raised in a country that has given me so many opportunities, including the one that allowed me to find my second home, in Namibia. There are great people everywhere you go, you only need to open your eyes and your heart to find them.

Thank you again for indulging me in one last Blog entry!

love,

Anna

Hi Friends and Family,

Well guys!!! Here it goes….my last Blog. I have spent two weeks writing this Blog. I wanted it to be sum up my experience in Namibia, and leave you all at home, and my new friends in Namibia with a lasting impression of who I have become while living in this AMAZING country.

I would like to begin by thanking all of you for your support this summer! I could have never had this experience without all of your sweet e-mails and comments!  It’s so nice to know I have such great people to come home to. It’s not easy for me to be leaving Namibia. But it’s easy for me to come home to you! I can’t wait to see each of your sweet faces and give you a hug, the way Namibian’s hug!! It’s the most reassuring measure of fondness I have experienced. Hopefully, I get it right, so that you feel the same way! I am also planning a Namibian Braai for all of you. You too can experience all the new things I have learned while in Africa!

I truly cannot express in words what this summer has meant to me! The people I have met and the experiences I have had. I am forever changed! I left the US knowing that I wanted to find a career that allowed me to help people, and contribute to the world in a positive way. I am now leaving Namibia knowing exactly what I will do with the rest of my life. I have learned how to serve people apposed to “help” people. I have learned life skills that I never thought I would need, and most of all I have learned how to love people the right way!

The best part of this country is the people! I know I have spent a lot of time on my blog talking about them, but I really can’t say enough about how wonderful they are! They live life to the fullest and love everyone along the way! I know I will be leaving this country with so many life lessons and I feel confident I will be able to apply them to all of you, the people I love so much! Thank you all so so much!!!<3

Most of what I have learned is from Naomi and Frans. They have been the single most influential people I have ever met. They have wisdom and love far beyond their years. They have managed to raise INCREDIBLE children. If I didn’t want children before I left, I definitely don’t want them now. I could never hope to raise a child half as brilliant as their kids. They continue to give to their community and beyond. Through their example, handwork and education.
I cannot thank them enough for what they have given me this summer. I know there is a special place in heaven waiting for them!
( I know most of you were expecting my usual…”there’s a special place in hell waiting for…) haha I guess not as much of me has changed as I had hoped! haha

I will see you all very soon!!! Much love to you all!!!
xoxo
anna

“This is a new nation,based on a mighty continent, of boundless possibilities”
    -Theodore Roosevelt