More rain (3-20)

Rain, rain, and more rain was the theme of the first half of week. After a lot of rain Tuesday night, it rained most of the day Wednesday as well. This was the first time we’ve had a lot of rain during the day. 

The lakes continue to increase in size, 

and there are many more pools of water around which the animals are enjoying. 

The mahangu has grown nicely. 

Part of the school yard is flooded, including the area where the water tap is. 

Learners have put chairs in the water and hop across them to get to the water. The rest of us are doing without until the water subsides. Everyone is very happy. Kamongwa stopped by especially to tell me about all the rain that has come since they had the special prayers for rain at the church.

Temperatures have dropped to the low to mid 80s and below 70 at night. Soon I’ll need to heat water for washing, as the water temperature, even on hot days, is at my lower limit of tolerance.

Last week we got new timetables to accommodate the changed classes when the new teacher started two weeks ago. Since the timetable was being changed, they took the opportunity to add a reading class on Friday and an extra class at the end of Thursday to replace the one taken by the reading class. During reading class, learners are to read something in their registration class/homeroom.

They also decided to change the grade 8 class designations, switching 8A to 8B and vice versa. The learners and I are still finding that confusing. We had a faculty meeting Tuesday afternoon starting at the end of the second break and lasting for an hour. Therefore, the last two classes were not held. I don’t know why the meeting was held then rather than at the end of the day when learners have study time. This is Namibia. At the meeting, the end-of-semester test schedule was announced. Tests are to be ready on March 30, the day after returning from the week-long holiday. As far as I know, I am the only one traveling; so that won’t be a problem for most of the teachers.

When they saw the girls’ photos, some of the boys decided that they, too, wanted photos. And more girls also wanted a photo. Taking photos kept me busy during breaks.

Tuesday afternoon I went to town to purchase a bus ticket. On the way back I enjoyed all the water along the road while I walked and waited for a hike. There are flowers in some of the lakes.

Thursday afternoon learners staged a rebellion and refused to go to study time after the extra class at the end of the day because they were hungry. The room where they can purchase snacks was open during the break but was then closed. Because it was then closed, they said they were hungry and would not go to their rooms to study. My involvement was because Thursday is my day to occasionally patrol the rooms while they study.

Friday, the last day before the Independence Day holiday, learners had decided to have a celebration. Teachers seemed to know but word hadn’t trickled down to me; so it was a surprise to learn about this during the Friday morning assembly. Because of the program, there were only three classes that day. Then the learners got ready for 45 minutes, which involved the girls changing to traditional pink skirts. The program started at 11:00 and lasted for an hour. 

Several groups of girls—and a few boys—from different grades drummed on plastic buckets and clapped 












while one to three girls stepped out of the line and did a fast-stepped dance. This was repeated many times. 

The boys did a couple short skits. One group did a skit about the freedom fighters that was not well-prepared. The first part went well, and then they disappeared. We laughed about the freedom fighters running away. Actually, the whole program was not well prepared. Wilhelmina said they practiced for about 15 minutes on Thursday. But it was fun to see them perform anyway.

After the program ended, we all left. I went to town with Wilhelmina to pick up my ATM card which had finally arrived. Then we went to a mall in Ongwediva that I hadn’t been to before so I could print more photos and she could have the glass on her phone replaced. While that was being done, we went to a restaurant named Spur. The theme is Native American, which seemed really out of place. I introduced Wilhelmina to quesadillas with guacamole, both of which she enjoyed as much as I did. When we finished, she dropped me off at the road so I could get a hike home. After 25 minutes, a bakkie stopped (Other vehicles had stopped but were not going to Ompundja.), and I climbed in the back with ten other women and their packages and children. The woman standing next to me pointed to another woman and said the latter is on the school board and had recognized me and told the driver he had to pick me up. The was my first hike in the back of a truck.

Saturday morning I helped cultivate for two hours again. Since the weather wasn’t as hot as the previous week, I could have done a bit more, but I needed to stop to rest before going to school to work.

The week-long holiday for Independence Day and Easter is a first. In all her years of teaching, Wilhelmina hasn’t seen this happen. The Independence Day is a two-day national holiday on Monday and Tuesday. Since Good Friday and Easter Monday are also national holidays, schools are closed on Wednesday and Thursday. No one is complaining.

Since Easter is during the holiday, I took Easter candy to the teachers on Friday. Most didn’t seem to be familiar with the concept, and I’d seen it only at the one store—Shoprite; the other grocery stores I was in didn’t have Easter candy. I guess the concept hasn’t become popular here yet. I was asked if we have Easter in America. I had purchased the Bugs Bunny package and replaced the contents with chocolate covered marshmallow eggs. The teachers were very pleased. Rebekka took the Bugs Bunny carton home and thanked me for it with a huge smile.

Sunday was Palm Sunday. I noticed that not many vehicles were at church. When I went out at 1:30, people were leaving the 10:00 service, which may be why attendance was low. I expect that many will be there next week for the Easter service.