General reflections

Transportation
Walking, driving, riding....it is all nuts! I very quickly learned that pedestrians have absolutely no right away, even when there is a walk signal at the traffic light. Of course I am still trying to figure out from what direction I need to look for traffic (they drive on the left side of the road over here). The cars also have little respect for traffic lights and other cars on the road -- well maybe it's just the taxis. I have been watching them stop in the middle of the road talking to potential passengers when a taxi from behind them pulls into the lane of traffic going the other direction just to get around. As a passenger it makes for a very tedious car ride. The loud techno and dance music playing in the taxi does not help. Taxi drivers also do not know street names here. So, I, the foreigner, find myself giving them directions to the guest house. At first I thought they were trying to pull one over on me but then I learned that no one in Windhoek knows street names. Watching the taxi queues is also quite interesting. They really work to get passengers in their cars, sometimes even rearranging passengers. I have frequently heard "Sista, sista -- do you need a ride?" Here is a picture of the taxi queue at UNAM. They are not allowed on campus so they all wait outside the gates, juggling for customers to fill their cars.

UNAM
I met Evaline this morning at UNAM. We met in front of the library. I don't think she had a hard time picking me out as she quickly stated that not only was I the only white person but also the only one not wearing a jersey. Why would I wear a jersey? It's about 75 degrees farenheit and sunny. Perfect weather! UNAM is unlike any campus I have seen. It is out on the edge of town. To get in and out of campus you must pass a guard at the gate. He doesn't ask any questions, he just lifts the gate. Campus was quiet as the students are in examinations. However, I did get to meet a couple of second and fourth year social work students. One of them I will be visiting at the organization where she is interning-it is an organization that works with battered women. I am very interested to see what the cultural attitude and beliefs are here around domestic violence. Evaline was very lovely and I am excited to show her family around Minneapolis/St. Paul when the come for Evaline's PhD program in August.


Aerobics
That's right. I've gone to two aerobics classes now! Wow, they are a hoot. I am comforted by the fact that some of the choreography is similar to aerobics choreography in the U.S. But my fellow aerobics classmates are hysterical. When no one can figure out what is going on they basically start dancing and making up their own moves. They have been very welcoming of Amanda and me. They even played a joke on us pretending that the class was only taught in German. We were about to hightail it out of there when they said that!


Mt. Sinai Centre
I tagged along with Christa to a meeting at Catholic AIDS Action this morning at 8:30. We waited an hour and only three people (Christ and I included) of 30 showed up. The meeting facilitator kept saying "Africa time, Africa time." Christa wasn't having it -- we left. But I got to meet a couple of staff people from the Catholic AIDS Action. Here is a picture of a poster they have promoting HIV/AIDS testing and a mural on their property. After this "meeting" we stopped by a garden at a youth center around the corner. A lovely woman named Mariana gave us a tour and talked about how their gardening practices. I think Christa and I got some good ideas, including building a table and putting soil, plastic tubing for draining, etc. for plants. They also did some hydroponic gardening. I was reassured by their practices and believe that this may be a good alternative for Mt. Sinai Centre. Christa is keen on this as well but we are still trying to get a soil analysis. Here is a picture of Mt. Sinai Centre and my boss and co-worker, Tusu.