I plucked a chicken

Last weekend I plucked a chicken but didn't kill one. That was a part of our Cross-Cultural Day which we spent with our language trainers, fellow trainees, and our host families. This was probably the biggest culture shock I've experienced so far, yet it was a lot of fun because everybody was participating. I watched one of my fellow volunteers slaughter a goat and several more do the same to a bunch of haggard lookin' chickens. Also, plucking chickens is not easy, but after you get over the initial shock its a very intensive process. You can essentially buy a live chicken here for the cost of half a rotisserie chicken that is then deep fried. I know this because I got a half-chicken for lunch the other day and now everyone knows me as that guy in the group. The half chicken was a great idea, and only cost around 2.75 USD. Which is an absurd price considering how difficult it is to kill, pluck, clean, and then cook a chicken. Oh did i mention I also cleaned the chicken I plucked but didn't kill. It felt like an interactive food science lesson.

Alright, this blog post has no focus other than the chicken theme i keep mentioning. I'm only writing this because I just happened to be at an internet cafe while I was downloading a program and figured why not.

Back to life in Namibia. Its awfully strange to think of what a short amount of time I've been here and yet how long that has felt like. I already feel very comfortable with my host family, my language trainers, my fellow trainees, and life in Namibia. Yeah, hand-washing clothes sucks already and I've only done it twice, and yes I hate bucket baths when its cold out but these aren't life altering inconveniences. These remind me of the way people would react to me back home when they found out I was moving to Africa for two years. "Woah, I could NOT do that!" Which makes me wonder, what about life here could people back home not do?

But that gets to a bigger question of what do non-Africans know about Africa. Which can be broken down into categories of poverty, oppression, death, HIV, and hunger. Yet, while those are factors here, they are factors everywhere else in the world. In some places in Africa they are magnified but here in Namibia, some are less than other countries while others are more likely. 

Anyways, someone once said, "Namibia is Africa for beginners." So there, that's my random ass blog post for the day. This country is awesome and I hope I can begin to write more about why I am beginning to love this place.

Staying with my fam and life in the Nam

Ok, so I have been in Namibia since the 24th of July and it is now the 5th of August. I apologize to everyone that I have not posted on here or informed them of what has been happening to me so far. The first week was awesome, very relaxing and full of new experiences. I'll start with the food, which is basically meat, meat, and more meat. All kinds of meat. So for example I went over to my friend Alyssa's house to hang out with her and her family, and her host dad served some Warthog meat, which was delicious. Also we played Fifa Street 2 and Grand Theft Auto San Andreas on his playstation 2.

Ok, but back to the food, Nambian's also love corn meal and rice. Those are the staples. I've had a chance to sample the local beers, so far they're all German style Lagers and Pilsners. Nothing great to talk about there. I just had a strange fruit last night, called Ekapa in Oshindonga, it was delicious but very dry. I have no idea how to descibe it. Oh yeah host family.

So I moved in last Tuesday night into the Nau-Aib neighborhood of Okahandja with Helvi Shilongo and her son Nicky. Mme Helvi (pronounced May-May Hel-vi) is so sweet and awesome. She is the same age as my mom back home and runs a Kindergarten out of the house and has a classroom/shack attached to the house, along with an outhouse for the children. She has 48 CHILDREN and only ONE helper. Just crazy, I hope my mom reads that. Nicky is 15 and in Grade 10, so he's taking a whole bunch of exams at the moment. He just friended me on facebook so if you want to find his name is King Dex. Also, he's written a rap song, has Drakes song as a ringtone, and plays soccer with his friends out front of our house.

Ok I dont have much more time. I had more to write but I'll just blurt out the rest in no coherent fashion. My language is Oshindonga, which means I'll be heading north but I dont find out my site till August 28th. Also my phone is connected. I'm going to download whatsapp so everyone who wants to contact me should use that or facebook messenger. Thats all for now. Hopefully these photo's upload.

Which they did not.