I don’t think I’ve done a good job of explaining what it is I do here –that’s because it can’t easily be categorized. I am a health volunteer, but since health is so much more than the mere absence of disease, my scope is quite broad.
Last week, my Peace Corps supervisor came to visit me at site and to see what I’ve been up to lately. I was VERY nervous that morning. I think I brushed my teeth 3 times and I kept rearranging the spices on the top of the fridge. I guess Beata absorbed some of my nervousness because she spent the night before meticulously cleaning the house as if my supervisor was going to walk in, run her fingers along the baseboard, look at her dusty finger and say, “unsuitable living conditions. We must remove this volunteer immediately.” It turns out we were both nervous unnecessarily. Not only did my supervisor love my "cute little house" and Beata, when I finally sat down to talk to her, I realized I am actually doing a fine job. I have been integrating really well and have already made many of the contacts I need to for future success when both my community and I are ready to take on bigger projects.
When people call or write from home, I tend to brush off the,“how’s work going?" question with a simple, “you know. Same ol’ same ol’…I mostly just sit at the office…” but that’s not really accurate.
I have compiled a list of some of the “mini- projects” that I have been busy with for the last two and a half months in Mariental:
1. Gave a motivational speech on “why we volunteer” to a group of 4H Namibia volunteers (yeah it’s based on the 4H from the USA: Hearts, Hope, Hands, Health) whose enthusiasm has been waning since the launch of their program in Mariental about a month ago.
2. Revised and edited countless speeches, letters and notices for proper English –though I always argue that if people here communicate with this so called “Namblish” who am I to say that my English is the best one?
3. Photographed and printed photos of all the staff in my office, including the cleaners who were so grateful I wonder if it’s the first picture they’ve had of themselves.
4. Was a group leader (or more like a camp councilor) at the Southern Girl’s Conference – a four-day female empowerment camp for 7th and 8th grade girls.
5. Made friends with the security guard at my office (who happens to be from the same tribe as Beata and likes to teach me Oshiwambo phrases that I bust out at opportune times to make Beata laugh. My favorite: “you smell like onions!”)
6. Continue to help Brooke, an education PCV in Mariental, run her Girl’s Club and Reading Club which I will take over when she leaves in December
7. “Fixed” my co-workers laptop (twice) –thank you help menu!
8. Revised and edited my co-worker/friend’s business plan to begin his own life-coaching program for young people. This guy is pretty amazing! He saw it on Oprah and has gone great lengths to achieve his vision in a place where meets so many obstacles.
9. Organized a movie night for the youth as a fundraiser to buy a new printer for our youth resource center.
10. Let the NGO’s and Ministries know about each other and how they can possibly work together.
11. LISTENED! Most of the time this is all I can do, but it is still important. There are a lot of problems in this country and I’ve noticed that people really appreciate having a fresh and interested pair of ears listening to them.
12. Stood in at a CORD (Coalition on Responsible Drinking) executive committee meeting for my boss and left the meeting as the newest executive member.
13. Photographed CORD’s event on National Drug Abuse Day and organized a drama group to perform for the event.
14. Started teaching my Afrikaans Language Tutor to play the guitar
15. Taught Beata how to bake “Washington Cookies” and make pizza
16. Learned how to gracefully rebuff the daily marriage proposals from both strangers and colleagues –awkward!
17. Presented an HIV presentation to a group of 8th, 9th, and 10th graders (who, by the way ALL look like they are about 12 or younger) and, for the most part, kept a straight face when fielding questions about sexual health.
“Miss Lindsay, what is masturbation?”
–cough, cough….well girls…
18. Helped my friend with her laundry when she had a very stressful day and smiled at her little brothers and sisters who laughed at the "oshilumbu"(white person) trying to hand wash with the Africans.
I float around and help people where I can -which is the best job ever! At times, what I do seems small and insignificant, but one thing really does lead to another and I am slowly gaining trust in the community. I'm not sure what project I will get involved in next or what will be my biggest challenge in the next two years, but I ready to take it on whatever it is.
