Rundu:
Boys may hold hands
It seems like there are more taxis than normal cars.
TV should always be on. At least in the evening when the soaps are the focal point for the fam.
Watch out for crocodiles when you go to the beach.
Learners = students.
Finish your food. Even the bones. I hear they are good for your teeth.
We use about 1kg sugar a day and that’s only for the tea and coffee.
“Death is coming!” means, “watch out for the car”.
I hear “why do you drink so much water?” alot.
I am in a good mood the days the sun is behind the clouds and there is rain. Opposite of my mood in Norway.
Albinos are a common sight.
Culture means cultural and traditional dancing and music. Can be used like this: “There will be culture this weekend.” or “Stine, you missed the culture.”
People often have 2 sim cards so they not only have 100 free SMS per day, but 200.
Peeing wherever you feel like is a human right.
If you say “Have a good day”, “Good night”, “See you later”, or “Thank you for the ride” the response is OK
I think it’s really cool that I can see Angola from my house.
White Toyotas are a very common sight in Namibia!
Celine Dion and Westlife are very popular for some readon…
This list will be updated :)
Monday, October 12, 2009
A wedding...
Its Friday. I am not feeling good in my stomach, and for the first time in Africa I had.. you know…stomach problems. Even though I had knocked on wood many times, I guess I cannot escape the hard truth about Africa: that everyone gets this. Though I was talking to a Dutch woman here the other day. She has been in Namibia for 11 years and even longer in Africa and she has never encountered this problem. I don’t know if I believe her…
Anyways this is not what I was going to talk about… It’s still Friday, and my host mom comes home from work, and she asks me if I want to go with her to a wedding. “Sure”, I say, “when is it?”. She tell me it’s tomorrow! I asked her if she just got the invitation today, but no she had known about this for a long time, but only got the invitation on paper today. Okidoki. So I am going to a wedding tomorrow. I just hope my stomach will handle this…
On the invitation it said the reception will start at 2pm. So I start getting ready at 1.30, and we leave the house at about 2. I am feeling nice. For the first time I am wearing a dress and makeup in Rundu, and my stomach is not bothering me. My little brother actually laughs at me when we get home. He says in Africaans to his mother, but I understand, that I am looking funny. Poor thing has never seen me in other than shorts and a t-shirt must be a funny sight yes! So we get to the venue at 2.20pm or so. There are about 7 women there… they are setting up for the wedding. About half the tables are set, the bar is not there yet, and there is no food in sight. Alright.. we are behind schedule.. no surprise actually, but no one else did the same mistake we did! I am glad to say the least that I had something to eat before we left the house. My host mom and I start helping out. Things are going very slowly. At some point the food arrives. Tubs of food! And I think great we will start soon. But no. So we continue the preparations. Setting the tables glasses, a fork and a napkin for everyone. Some will get a glass, but there is not enough, so most will use a paper cup, and paper plates are in order as well. The theme or colors for the wedding is white, and numerous different shades of maroon.
At about 6pm the bride and groom arrives the venue, and the preparations are as done as they can get. The party can start, and I am starving! By counting the tables and the chairs against the wall I came to about 250-300 guests! The servers have no place to set the cakes and muffins, so they put them on the guest tables. Big mistake… they are gone by the time the speeches are over, and the serving of the food starts. By this time two of the people at my table have also fallen asleep! A little girl about 2years and another lady.
By the time the food is served, it has been standing out for about 3 hours in 30 degrees celcius in the gym that is used as the venue and there are about 212 flies in the food area.. I am getting worried about my stomach… This is breaking about all regulations in Norway. But I are not in Norway! TIA – This is Africa. So we eat. I try to keep away from the meat. After about 30 min my host mother says. I want to leave at about 7pm. Alrighty! You know so we can get a taxi… So for me my first wedding experience in Africa ended before it started. I feel. But with a free bar, I think many guests will not feel the same way.
I never met the bride or groom. Maybe they will hear from someone that there was a white girl at their wedding, and wonder who she was…
sorry for the poor quality of the photoes... they are taken with my cell phone...
Anyways this is not what I was going to talk about… It’s still Friday, and my host mom comes home from work, and she asks me if I want to go with her to a wedding. “Sure”, I say, “when is it?”. She tell me it’s tomorrow! I asked her if she just got the invitation today, but no she had known about this for a long time, but only got the invitation on paper today. Okidoki. So I am going to a wedding tomorrow. I just hope my stomach will handle this…
On the invitation it said the reception will start at 2pm. So I start getting ready at 1.30, and we leave the house at about 2. I am feeling nice. For the first time I am wearing a dress and makeup in Rundu, and my stomach is not bothering me. My little brother actually laughs at me when we get home. He says in Africaans to his mother, but I understand, that I am looking funny. Poor thing has never seen me in other than shorts and a t-shirt must be a funny sight yes! So we get to the venue at 2.20pm or so. There are about 7 women there… they are setting up for the wedding. About half the tables are set, the bar is not there yet, and there is no food in sight. Alright.. we are behind schedule.. no surprise actually, but no one else did the same mistake we did! I am glad to say the least that I had something to eat before we left the house. My host mom and I start helping out. Things are going very slowly. At some point the food arrives. Tubs of food! And I think great we will start soon. But no. So we continue the preparations. Setting the tables glasses, a fork and a napkin for everyone. Some will get a glass, but there is not enough, so most will use a paper cup, and paper plates are in order as well. The theme or colors for the wedding is white, and numerous different shades of maroon.
At about 6pm the bride and groom arrives the venue, and the preparations are as done as they can get. The party can start, and I am starving! By counting the tables and the chairs against the wall I came to about 250-300 guests! The servers have no place to set the cakes and muffins, so they put them on the guest tables. Big mistake… they are gone by the time the speeches are over, and the serving of the food starts. By this time two of the people at my table have also fallen asleep! A little girl about 2years and another lady.
By the time the food is served, it has been standing out for about 3 hours in 30 degrees celcius in the gym that is used as the venue and there are about 212 flies in the food area.. I am getting worried about my stomach… This is breaking about all regulations in Norway. But I are not in Norway! TIA – This is Africa. So we eat. I try to keep away from the meat. After about 30 min my host mother says. I want to leave at about 7pm. Alrighty! You know so we can get a taxi… So for me my first wedding experience in Africa ended before it started. I feel. But with a free bar, I think many guests will not feel the same way.
I never met the bride or groom. Maybe they will hear from someone that there was a white girl at their wedding, and wonder who she was…
sorry for the poor quality of the photoes... they are taken with my cell phone...
A sad story
2 weeks ago I was in the kitchen washing, no not washing, Scrubbing, a pot that I had burnt rice in. I actually saw a flame when I lifted the pot off the plate. And there was smoke. Lots of smoke. Good thing there is no fire sensor in the house… Anyways I was standing there and I was halfway listening to the news on NBC (the only Namibian TV station) when I heard they say the name Noordgrens School. That is the school closest to my house here in Rundu. So I ran into the living room already knowing what the story would be…
Some weeks ago I heard news about the principal at this school resigning from his job before they had time to fire him and he would be unable to work in the school system in Namibia again. He resigned from his position as the principal because he had made a student (here they are called learners) from his school pregnant. I also heard that he gave her HIV and that he had dated her mother before, but that might just be rumors going crazy. They are also saying that he is a ladies man and that he has many girlfriends…That is what happens when you drive a nice car I guess…
He was sent to jail, but was let go on bail before his trial. So now he is being accused for statutory rape. I saw on TV that there were many people that had showed up for the trial. They even showed the principal’s face on TV. I did not get the whole story and what they were saying on TV, but I think this man will be going to jail for some time. I am happy to say. When I went back to the kitchen after the report my host mother said “why did she let this man have sex with her..?” I was like shit! She is actually saying it is the girl’s fault. I said to her that when the principal at your school forces himself on you there is not much one can do. This is not the first time I have heard express that it is the girls fault. It is a foul and disgusting case of abusing one’s power. This girl was defenseless. Even though I don’t know the details of the story, someone must have believed this girl, and this man will not go unpunished for taking advantage of his position.
today: The latest update is that they infact dated... Thats what I heard at least!
Some weeks ago I heard news about the principal at this school resigning from his job before they had time to fire him and he would be unable to work in the school system in Namibia again. He resigned from his position as the principal because he had made a student (here they are called learners) from his school pregnant. I also heard that he gave her HIV and that he had dated her mother before, but that might just be rumors going crazy. They are also saying that he is a ladies man and that he has many girlfriends…That is what happens when you drive a nice car I guess…
He was sent to jail, but was let go on bail before his trial. So now he is being accused for statutory rape. I saw on TV that there were many people that had showed up for the trial. They even showed the principal’s face on TV. I did not get the whole story and what they were saying on TV, but I think this man will be going to jail for some time. I am happy to say. When I went back to the kitchen after the report my host mother said “why did she let this man have sex with her..?” I was like shit! She is actually saying it is the girl’s fault. I said to her that when the principal at your school forces himself on you there is not much one can do. This is not the first time I have heard express that it is the girls fault. It is a foul and disgusting case of abusing one’s power. This girl was defenseless. Even though I don’t know the details of the story, someone must have believed this girl, and this man will not go unpunished for taking advantage of his position.
today: The latest update is that they infact dated... Thats what I heard at least!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)