So, the kids are finally back after a long month off. It was nice to see all of their happy smiley faces in morning assembly, and I must say I have missed a lot of them.
The first day back at school when a new term begins, is usually spent organizing classrooms and giving out text books to the children. The principal Riette, therefore asked me to supervise her Grade 7 registered class all day as she had other work to attend to.
Grade 7 is the highest class in primary level and the biggest class in the school. 47 children in total, and last year when they were Grade 6, I did happen to like them a lot. However I do not like them as Grade 7's!
The first task of the day was to remove all furniture from the classroom, completed by the boys, and for the girls to go in and clean it.
Once this was done, we then moved all the tables and chairs back and started arranging them in a new seating order. A complicated task when 47 13 year olds are telling you that no the tables don't go that way and thinking that they know better than you.
Once that little squabble was over and the children and finally obeyed by my boy-girl seating arrangement; there was the lengthy process of numbering all desks, chairs and text books with the students unique number so that any damaged materials can be traced back to the student.
All was then well until a fight broke out between 2 boys in the class. Frans and Disney. The rest of the class were a BIG help. Not. All standing around and watching. And as usual with classroom fights, I had to throw myself into the middle to break them both up.
I in turn found myself struggling to separate them, especially Frans, a very large, strong boy. Luckily at that moment though the other boys seemed to awaken and come to my aid and helped me assist both boys to the principals office.
And when the drama was done. School was over. And I had the rest of the afternoon to prepare myself for when the lessons begin the following day.
About Me
- Sophie
- Finished my Alevels and now spending a year teaching in Namibia. Love it! Nursing degree when I come home.
Boeremusiek nag 25.05.12
The 25th May saw the public holiday, Africa day, where everybody spent the day off work celebrating being African. Not that much was going on in Omaruru though.
Fortunately, at the rest camp, they had arranged a boer music night for the Afrikaner locals. Something I didn't know about until the night, but had apparently been widely advertised considering over 70 people turned up, not only from Omaruru but also from Otjiwarongo, Windhoek and some other surrounding areas.
The music was the same throughout the night. The band consisted of several older men, with harmonicas, concertinas and guitars. This style is intended to sound informal and instrumental, so the same beat was played continuously.
All of the white community in Omaruru attended, including the Germans even though it isn't really their thing. But a German friend told me quote 'nothing much goes on in Omaruru, so when something does, it's an excuse to get out see everyone for once'. Everyone was very jolly, getting up and dancing after a fair few drinks and the party didn't stop until way past midnight.
I didn't spend much time at the event, due to lack of money and everybody else was getting drunk. I helped Gary braai the meat for the meals that the guests were able to purchase. And luckily at the end of the night, when everyone was eaten and drunk out, we got to get some of the unsold leftovers of sausage, steak and potato salad. Courtesy of Tante Corrie.
Fortunately, at the rest camp, they had arranged a boer music night for the Afrikaner locals. Something I didn't know about until the night, but had apparently been widely advertised considering over 70 people turned up, not only from Omaruru but also from Otjiwarongo, Windhoek and some other surrounding areas.
The music was the same throughout the night. The band consisted of several older men, with harmonicas, concertinas and guitars. This style is intended to sound informal and instrumental, so the same beat was played continuously.
All of the white community in Omaruru attended, including the Germans even though it isn't really their thing. But a German friend told me quote 'nothing much goes on in Omaruru, so when something does, it's an excuse to get out see everyone for once'. Everyone was very jolly, getting up and dancing after a fair few drinks and the party didn't stop until way past midnight.
I didn't spend much time at the event, due to lack of money and everybody else was getting drunk. I helped Gary braai the meat for the meals that the guests were able to purchase. And luckily at the end of the night, when everyone was eaten and drunk out, we got to get some of the unsold leftovers of sausage, steak and potato salad. Courtesy of Tante Corrie.
Namibian Mothers Day 13.05.12
This Sunday in Namibia was spent celebrating Mothers day with my Afrikaner boyfriend Gary's, family.
Gary, a 27 year old boer living in Omaruru, to whom I have been dating since December, was raised in Walvis baai until his mother, diagnosed from liver cancer, died when he was 13. He went from home to home, along with his 3 brothers, until his Aunt (Tante Corrie) took his 2 younger brothers under her wing and gave Gary himself a place to stay at the rest camp that she owns in Omaruru.
Tante Corrie is an amazing woman. Taking Gary's 2 youngest brothers into her care and paying to put them through school, housing them and being the mother figure that they need in their lives considering they are only just in high school.
Corrie previously has adopted 2 young black girls that were orphaned at young ages. Firstly, Rosa, who has been in the family now for many years. 23 now, she helps with work at the rest camp and is resitting her exams after failing the first time. Something Corrie has funded as well as a roof over her head and food everyday.
Secondly in Angela age 7. As a baby, Angela was brought to Corrie by her sick mother, just before her death, who begged Corrie to please look after her little girl when she is gone. Corrie did not refuse and now Angela is a happy, energetic little girl, always making everybody laugh at the rest camp.
Corrie also does a lot for charity in the community, and has made me feel extremely welcome here, allowing me to be as you may say 'a part of the family'. Her friendly and giving personality is unlike any other and I know if ever I have any problems, it is worth talking to her about.
So back to mothers day. We woke early on the Sunday and attended the church service at the New Apostolic Church that the family built and fund for the community. Corries husband, Johan, is also a district Evangelist for the Erongo region.
After church, we began preparation for the secret mothers day meal for Corrie, who at the time was in Windhoek with Johan, but they were on their way back.
I helped Rosa and some of the workers of the rest camp to set up the tables, balloons, lanterns and streamers for the meal. Whilst a big meal was being cooked.
Gary and his brothers, Andries, Pieter and all of the other men were engrossed in a go cart session outside in the rest camp grounds whilst us women were hard at work.
Finally, everything was prepared, and everyone waited for Tante Corrie to arrive back to surprise her. She was trilled and many of us sat down together and ate a wonderous meal and presents were given out to all of the mothers there and Gary's son Ethan and brothers read Afrikaans poems.
At the end of all of it, everybody went back to their places to take a long afternoon sleep and then gathered again for a buffet type meal in the evening.
It was a nice thing to be a part of and was nice to feel like part of a family when I am so far away from my own. I am so grateful for the opportunity that I had to share the day with such a big, welcoming family.
Gary, a 27 year old boer living in Omaruru, to whom I have been dating since December, was raised in Walvis baai until his mother, diagnosed from liver cancer, died when he was 13. He went from home to home, along with his 3 brothers, until his Aunt (Tante Corrie) took his 2 younger brothers under her wing and gave Gary himself a place to stay at the rest camp that she owns in Omaruru.
Tante Corrie is an amazing woman. Taking Gary's 2 youngest brothers into her care and paying to put them through school, housing them and being the mother figure that they need in their lives considering they are only just in high school.
Corrie previously has adopted 2 young black girls that were orphaned at young ages. Firstly, Rosa, who has been in the family now for many years. 23 now, she helps with work at the rest camp and is resitting her exams after failing the first time. Something Corrie has funded as well as a roof over her head and food everyday.
Secondly in Angela age 7. As a baby, Angela was brought to Corrie by her sick mother, just before her death, who begged Corrie to please look after her little girl when she is gone. Corrie did not refuse and now Angela is a happy, energetic little girl, always making everybody laugh at the rest camp.
Corrie also does a lot for charity in the community, and has made me feel extremely welcome here, allowing me to be as you may say 'a part of the family'. Her friendly and giving personality is unlike any other and I know if ever I have any problems, it is worth talking to her about.
So back to mothers day. We woke early on the Sunday and attended the church service at the New Apostolic Church that the family built and fund for the community. Corries husband, Johan, is also a district Evangelist for the Erongo region.
After church, we began preparation for the secret mothers day meal for Corrie, who at the time was in Windhoek with Johan, but they were on their way back.
I helped Rosa and some of the workers of the rest camp to set up the tables, balloons, lanterns and streamers for the meal. Whilst a big meal was being cooked.
Gary and his brothers, Andries, Pieter and all of the other men were engrossed in a go cart session outside in the rest camp grounds whilst us women were hard at work.
Finally, everything was prepared, and everyone waited for Tante Corrie to arrive back to surprise her. She was trilled and many of us sat down together and ate a wonderous meal and presents were given out to all of the mothers there and Gary's son Ethan and brothers read Afrikaans poems.
At the end of all of it, everybody went back to their places to take a long afternoon sleep and then gathered again for a buffet type meal in the evening.
It was a nice thing to be a part of and was nice to feel like part of a family when I am so far away from my own. I am so grateful for the opportunity that I had to share the day with such a big, welcoming family.
We're off on holiday! ZAMBIA 02.05.12
So, after our fails at Christmas time to get to Zambia and enjoy the falls, we decided to try again!
On the Wednesday all packed and ready I waited at the rest camp for Tyche and Simone (all the way from Luderitz) to arrive so that we could set off.
At the hitch hike point around 12 we first got a lift with a man driving all of the way to Otavi and jumped in the back of his bakkie, sleeping most of the way until we got there. 3 hours later we arrived and were then lucky to receive a lift from another guy travelling to Grootfontien and so then proceeded with him. He was very interested in England and was making casual hints of how he really wants to go but needs somebody to stay with. I DON'T THINK SO! haha.
Finally reaching Grootfontien 2 hours after, it was now around 5pm. We decided to try and get a lift to Rundu although it was almost dark and after some time of nothing, gave in and went to stay at the Pondoki rest camp there where we pitched our tent and enjoyed some nice chicken cheesy bites and chips then went to bed.
6am was an early wake up. Everything was packed up in minimal time and we walked up to the road to wait for a lift. By 9 we still hadn't got a lift, so the owner of the rest camp gave us a lift to the service station to try and were picked up straight away.
At Rundu peterol station i asked around every car for a lift but everybody wanted money. Two old guys travelling to Katima Mulilo agreed to offer a lift, but for a small sum of money. We ended up paying N$50 each, around 3pound 80pence for a 500km trip. Not to mention all three of us had very heavy luggage. It was dark when we arrived in Katima and we did debate going to the Zambia boarder but then decided against it and stayed in a complex, in our tent for the night. Dinner was a chicken burger from the fuel station, my first meal of the day and we hit the pillow at 7 ready for the early wake up again in the morning.
The boarder opened at 6 and we were there at 7am excited to be crossing into Zambia. Once in, we sat by the road for an hour trying to get a hike to Livingstone (home of the falls). We ended up getting picked up by an oak who said that he would drive us into the town of Sesheke where we would find a lift much more easier.
Another hour later in the town of Sesheke we were still waiting for a lift. Many people had stopped and many people wanted money, but we continued to wait for a free ride. A man stops and says that he will be able to give us a lift for free. However, he is going to Namibia for 2 hours to reful. We wait for 3 hours and see no sign of him. At this point we then decide that it is time to give in and pay for a lift. We all bargain with a mini bus driver and convince him to give all 3 of us a lift for N$200. We leave off for Livingstone at 12.30.
The ride from Sesheke should take around 2 hours. 3 hours later we are sat at the side of the road having been stopped by a police road block. Other stops had been made along the way to pick up various other people along the road and also because the driver wanted to buy some fish, but this stop took the longest.
This also happened to be my first physical sight of corruption in Africa.
From what we were told sat in the back of the mini bus for an hour and a half; as the car had driven by, the police had seen myself, Simone and Tyche sat in the back. 3 white girls in Zambia mean a lot of money and the police were under the impression that we had paid the driver a lot of money for him to drive us to Livingstone. They made up a false accusation that the car was not insured, not registered, the driver didn't have a license, and that the car was pirated. This however was not true, as the driver did happen to prove all of this accusations false.
The police would not budge, and continued to find fault with the people we were travelling with and demanding large sums of money. Something that happens very often in Zambia, a Zambian passenger told us, because people are so broke they abuse their authority in order to cheat people out of money, just so they can feed their families. Quite sad really.
Finally, the driver was issued a large fine and we were able to drive on. Nothing else was said.
We reached Livingstone at 4.30pm and were relieved to be welcomed in to the Jolly boys backpackers. The tent was pitched. We headed out to town to buy some food shopping and then spent the night chilling there and deciding what we wanted to do the following day. The backpackers was dead cosy, with a bar/restaurant, outdoor pool, gift and internet shop and not forgetting the amazing chill out area, filled with cushions to just spread out and relax on. Complete with a cosy tree house just above to view the vast milky way during night time.
On Saturday we awoke with many plans in mind, most of which didn't get done. In the morning we prepared our own breakfasts and then headed out on the backpackers free bus to the falls. We simply went down and checked out Simone doing her bungee jump off of the bridge between Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Afterwards there was no time to head to the falls. We had to hurry back to the backpackers in order to be picked up for mine and Tyches gorge swing experience. With half an hour to kill before the pick up, we meet a English woman, Hannah, staying at the backpackers, waiting to begin her volunteer work in Zambia. We invite her to come along with us to watch.
At the Gorge site, myself and Tyche are briefed for a short while about what we can do, go together, or go alone. Also about how to avoid whiplash and informed of the long, uphill hike we will have to endure after, to get back. In the end, we decide to go together and wait whilst we are harnessed up and chained together.
Standing at the edge, it suddenly felt real, and it was a LONG way down. My heart was pumping at twice it's normal rate, and as the man began to count down, I just wanted a moment to breathe. On one, we both rocked backwards and a sudden gust of air filled my lungs to an amount that caught my breath completely. And then it was over, and we both screamed in sync and were swinging back and forwards across the valley. It was truly beautiful, but my whole body was shaking like crazy.
10 minutes later we were hoisted down and endured the 20 minute long walk up the side of a mountain. But it was worth it.
The rest of our afternoon was spent cooking some dinner and then we decided to take a taxi, with Hannah, down to the falls to see the lunar rainbow during full moon. A spectacular sight, although the falls were not fully visible, however the rainbow caused from the moons reflection on the mist was as bright as ever. It was like nothing I have ever seen before.
The next morning we returned to the falls again. This time to see them in daylight. We went down to the boiling point, and got soaked crossing the bridge over the falls. We swam at the top of them, drank the water and sunbathed there for most of the early afternoon. The rest of the afternoon was spent at a local orphanage, with friends we had made at the backpackers, playing football with the orphans. Something that the backpackers organizes for travelers every Sunday.
Finally, we ate out in the evening at a superb Italian restaurant called Olgas. I thoroughly enjoyed my Carbonara pizza.
We spent our last day in Zambia chilling! Walked around a few of the food markets. Brought ourselves the odd souvenir and the relaxed in the pool at the backpackers. The evening was spent playing card games with friends we made and getting ready for our 2am bus back to the boarder. We didn't go to sleep.
So originally we were told that the bus back to Sesheke would leave at 2am. And were therefore there and ready at 1.30am. Big mistake! Considering it didn't arrive until 3 and didn't leave off until half an hour after that. We were starting to feel the sleepless night by this time.
When we finally departed, we were put onto a huge, cramped coach between the smelliest men I have ever smelt! Luckily we caught some Z's though and arrived the moment the boarder opened and passed through back to Namibia without any problems. By this time it is 7am.
The journey back to Omaruru was a blur, but it was also very long. I can recall being sat at the road in Katima for 6 hours waiting for a lift before we finally got one. And being harassed in Grootfontien by taxi drivers who wanted money or for us to sleep with them. A very upsetting and revolting situation to be in.
But when we did eventually get back to Om, it was such a relief. Just to be home, with friends and to not have to sleep on the floor anymore. But I really did enjoy Zambia. I am so glad that I had the opportunity to go. And I would never have had the opportunity if it wasn't for my mums generous funds. Thank you, to her and her boyfriend.
On the Wednesday all packed and ready I waited at the rest camp for Tyche and Simone (all the way from Luderitz) to arrive so that we could set off.
At the hitch hike point around 12 we first got a lift with a man driving all of the way to Otavi and jumped in the back of his bakkie, sleeping most of the way until we got there. 3 hours later we arrived and were then lucky to receive a lift from another guy travelling to Grootfontien and so then proceeded with him. He was very interested in England and was making casual hints of how he really wants to go but needs somebody to stay with. I DON'T THINK SO! haha.
Finally reaching Grootfontien 2 hours after, it was now around 5pm. We decided to try and get a lift to Rundu although it was almost dark and after some time of nothing, gave in and went to stay at the Pondoki rest camp there where we pitched our tent and enjoyed some nice chicken cheesy bites and chips then went to bed.
6am was an early wake up. Everything was packed up in minimal time and we walked up to the road to wait for a lift. By 9 we still hadn't got a lift, so the owner of the rest camp gave us a lift to the service station to try and were picked up straight away.
At Rundu peterol station i asked around every car for a lift but everybody wanted money. Two old guys travelling to Katima Mulilo agreed to offer a lift, but for a small sum of money. We ended up paying N$50 each, around 3pound 80pence for a 500km trip. Not to mention all three of us had very heavy luggage. It was dark when we arrived in Katima and we did debate going to the Zambia boarder but then decided against it and stayed in a complex, in our tent for the night. Dinner was a chicken burger from the fuel station, my first meal of the day and we hit the pillow at 7 ready for the early wake up again in the morning.
The boarder opened at 6 and we were there at 7am excited to be crossing into Zambia. Once in, we sat by the road for an hour trying to get a hike to Livingstone (home of the falls). We ended up getting picked up by an oak who said that he would drive us into the town of Sesheke where we would find a lift much more easier.
Another hour later in the town of Sesheke we were still waiting for a lift. Many people had stopped and many people wanted money, but we continued to wait for a free ride. A man stops and says that he will be able to give us a lift for free. However, he is going to Namibia for 2 hours to reful. We wait for 3 hours and see no sign of him. At this point we then decide that it is time to give in and pay for a lift. We all bargain with a mini bus driver and convince him to give all 3 of us a lift for N$200. We leave off for Livingstone at 12.30.
The ride from Sesheke should take around 2 hours. 3 hours later we are sat at the side of the road having been stopped by a police road block. Other stops had been made along the way to pick up various other people along the road and also because the driver wanted to buy some fish, but this stop took the longest.
This also happened to be my first physical sight of corruption in Africa.
From what we were told sat in the back of the mini bus for an hour and a half; as the car had driven by, the police had seen myself, Simone and Tyche sat in the back. 3 white girls in Zambia mean a lot of money and the police were under the impression that we had paid the driver a lot of money for him to drive us to Livingstone. They made up a false accusation that the car was not insured, not registered, the driver didn't have a license, and that the car was pirated. This however was not true, as the driver did happen to prove all of this accusations false.
The police would not budge, and continued to find fault with the people we were travelling with and demanding large sums of money. Something that happens very often in Zambia, a Zambian passenger told us, because people are so broke they abuse their authority in order to cheat people out of money, just so they can feed their families. Quite sad really.
Finally, the driver was issued a large fine and we were able to drive on. Nothing else was said.
We reached Livingstone at 4.30pm and were relieved to be welcomed in to the Jolly boys backpackers. The tent was pitched. We headed out to town to buy some food shopping and then spent the night chilling there and deciding what we wanted to do the following day. The backpackers was dead cosy, with a bar/restaurant, outdoor pool, gift and internet shop and not forgetting the amazing chill out area, filled with cushions to just spread out and relax on. Complete with a cosy tree house just above to view the vast milky way during night time.
On Saturday we awoke with many plans in mind, most of which didn't get done. In the morning we prepared our own breakfasts and then headed out on the backpackers free bus to the falls. We simply went down and checked out Simone doing her bungee jump off of the bridge between Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Afterwards there was no time to head to the falls. We had to hurry back to the backpackers in order to be picked up for mine and Tyches gorge swing experience. With half an hour to kill before the pick up, we meet a English woman, Hannah, staying at the backpackers, waiting to begin her volunteer work in Zambia. We invite her to come along with us to watch.
At the Gorge site, myself and Tyche are briefed for a short while about what we can do, go together, or go alone. Also about how to avoid whiplash and informed of the long, uphill hike we will have to endure after, to get back. In the end, we decide to go together and wait whilst we are harnessed up and chained together.
Standing at the edge, it suddenly felt real, and it was a LONG way down. My heart was pumping at twice it's normal rate, and as the man began to count down, I just wanted a moment to breathe. On one, we both rocked backwards and a sudden gust of air filled my lungs to an amount that caught my breath completely. And then it was over, and we both screamed in sync and were swinging back and forwards across the valley. It was truly beautiful, but my whole body was shaking like crazy.
10 minutes later we were hoisted down and endured the 20 minute long walk up the side of a mountain. But it was worth it.
The rest of our afternoon was spent cooking some dinner and then we decided to take a taxi, with Hannah, down to the falls to see the lunar rainbow during full moon. A spectacular sight, although the falls were not fully visible, however the rainbow caused from the moons reflection on the mist was as bright as ever. It was like nothing I have ever seen before.
The next morning we returned to the falls again. This time to see them in daylight. We went down to the boiling point, and got soaked crossing the bridge over the falls. We swam at the top of them, drank the water and sunbathed there for most of the early afternoon. The rest of the afternoon was spent at a local orphanage, with friends we had made at the backpackers, playing football with the orphans. Something that the backpackers organizes for travelers every Sunday.
Finally, we ate out in the evening at a superb Italian restaurant called Olgas. I thoroughly enjoyed my Carbonara pizza.
We spent our last day in Zambia chilling! Walked around a few of the food markets. Brought ourselves the odd souvenir and the relaxed in the pool at the backpackers. The evening was spent playing card games with friends we made and getting ready for our 2am bus back to the boarder. We didn't go to sleep.
So originally we were told that the bus back to Sesheke would leave at 2am. And were therefore there and ready at 1.30am. Big mistake! Considering it didn't arrive until 3 and didn't leave off until half an hour after that. We were starting to feel the sleepless night by this time.
When we finally departed, we were put onto a huge, cramped coach between the smelliest men I have ever smelt! Luckily we caught some Z's though and arrived the moment the boarder opened and passed through back to Namibia without any problems. By this time it is 7am.
The journey back to Omaruru was a blur, but it was also very long. I can recall being sat at the road in Katima for 6 hours waiting for a lift before we finally got one. And being harassed in Grootfontien by taxi drivers who wanted money or for us to sleep with them. A very upsetting and revolting situation to be in.
But when we did eventually get back to Om, it was such a relief. Just to be home, with friends and to not have to sleep on the floor anymore. But I really did enjoy Zambia. I am so glad that I had the opportunity to go. And I would never have had the opportunity if it wasn't for my mums generous funds. Thank you, to her and her boyfriend.
Last week of school and exams 16.04.12
Almost time for the school holidays and the last week is always a mad rush.
Children from all grades in Upper primary (Grades 5-7) sit exams in all subjects and the marks are put together to give them a grade for the term.
I spent the week supervising in the exams and emphasizing the importance of rules in exams to the children who are very ill disciplined in this area. In the end the only way I got the message that they could not talk through to them was by taking a students paper when he was talking and physically putting it into the bin. (I did later take it out though, and luckily he had already finished his paper)
Once exams were over, all of the students parents were outside ready to take them home for the holiday and then us teachers had the long grueling task of marking, moderating and giving marks for the exams. These marks totaled up with others for the year and were then calculated to give the students a grade.
I am happy to say that 4 people in my English class(31) received an A grade. Unfortunately 6 did also get E's meaning that if they do not improve their grade next term then they will fail the year but the rest were comfortable B's and C's.
Agriculture was not as impressive with the majority getting a C or a D grade.
Children from all grades in Upper primary (Grades 5-7) sit exams in all subjects and the marks are put together to give them a grade for the term.
I spent the week supervising in the exams and emphasizing the importance of rules in exams to the children who are very ill disciplined in this area. In the end the only way I got the message that they could not talk through to them was by taking a students paper when he was talking and physically putting it into the bin. (I did later take it out though, and luckily he had already finished his paper)
Once exams were over, all of the students parents were outside ready to take them home for the holiday and then us teachers had the long grueling task of marking, moderating and giving marks for the exams. These marks totaled up with others for the year and were then calculated to give the students a grade.
I am happy to say that 4 people in my English class(31) received an A grade. Unfortunately 6 did also get E's meaning that if they do not improve their grade next term then they will fail the year but the rest were comfortable B's and C's.
Agriculture was not as impressive with the majority getting a C or a D grade.
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