Here’s Katie’s third report from Namibia
I dont even know where to begin! It may sound clichéd but it does seem like only yesterday when I was writing my last report, struggling to keep going, wondering what another nine months without a partner would be like. Would I be able to stand it and cope on my own? To be honest it was quite a scary prospect. But then I realised that I chose to volunteer, fundraised so hard for it and in my heart of hearts I have always known I would never return to England until I had completed my year and completed it to the best of my ability.
There are definitely times when I do begin to lose focus, and question what was I thinking!! And then a child runs to me maam are we having netball today? I tell them yes of course and see their excitement and grin and hear their shouts as they run to remind their friends. Or hear miss Katie my favourite teacher! as a child comes to hug me. Those are the times I realise I am bringing some happiness to these children.
So you have a lot to catch up on, as it is now the Easter holidays! I was planning to write mid way through the second term, but it started off with a bang again! Three days before school started I got all of upper primary Arts lessons given to me. Suddenly I had to plan for art, drama, dance and music with just three days to go, on top of my other lessons. It turns out I am teaching almost the same as the permanent class teachers and more than the other volunteers have taught together! I was actually surprised at my reaction though; rather than panicking too much (as I would have done previously) I got straight on to planning and before long had ideas mind-mapped out everywhere. I was still extremely nervous, but realised that my host must have trusted me to teach more lessons.
Three months on and I am again in the planning stage gosh I do sound like a teacher! I have the same mixture of nerves and excitement at the prospect of another term teaching, as I have more classes, so more responsibility, but my head is buzzing with plans of lessons and after school activities.
Teaching can still be quite challenging some days you feel like nothing is working or getting through to them. Then suddenly they produce some brilliant work and I couldnt be prouder! I have also had to try and be more creative with my lessons because there arent many art supplies, sometimes we dont even have paper! I have surprised myself with ideas I have come up with the children should be able to create some great pieces of art despite the limited resources.
Recently in my grade five classes we have written letters back to an English school. It will be exciting to see if we get anything back from the children there. I still love doing the after school clubs with the children; it makes me realise how lucky we are in England to have so many after school activities and so I want to make sure the children here can enjoy a similar experience. So in addition to my Library group, netball and arts club, I have started basketball, which the boys get extremely excited about!
At the end of March my desk officer, John, came to visit my project. I have to say it was very strange hearing a Scottish accent over here! I snatched up the chance to go to Otjikondo School with him to visit the volunteers there. What an amazing place! It was so interesting to see where Hazel had volunteered after reading about it in her book. The school is very well run and resourced, the children there are very lucky to attend the school and it was lovely to be able to see it.
My holidays have been brilliant with both the volunteers and my family. I went for another trip to Etosha National Park, however as it had been raining it was harder to see any animals as they didnt need to come into the open for water. We ended up spotting bushes as elephants, plastic bags as birds and signposts as hartebeest! I think we must have been hallucinating due to our malaria tablets!!
I have spent lots of time in Swakopmund, one of my favourite places in Namibia. It is a pretty seaside town and I always feel relaxed just sitting looking out to sea. I have also toured the north of Namibia, which was interesting as the houses looked more like the ones I described on the outskirts of Omaruru; corrugated huts. Some were just made from mud and straw and they were clustered together in little communities.
We managed to reach Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe. This was one of the most amazing sights I have ever seen, I just stood with my mouth agape; the photographs just cant capture how stunning it is! The sound of thundering water surrounds you and at some points it feels as though you are in a torrential rainstorm due to how much spray flies up. We also travelled through some of Botswanna, where elephants and giraffes are common sights next to the road which was much to the annoyance of everyone else in the car, as I kept wanting to screech to a halt to take photos!
We then returned to Namibia and managed to visit Sossusvlei, which are huge sand dunes. Again it was breathtaking, we got up at four am to pack away and drive in so that we could climb a dune in time for sunrise. It was one of those perfect moments where you think; I am so lucky to be able to see this. We also climbed to the top of Sossusvlei, the biggest dune, it felt like such an achievement and the views were just incredible we were surrounded by a sea of red sand, and the feeling of running back down again was so exhilarating. My favourite moments again are the beautiful sunsets; especially those on the boat cruise on the Zambezi, across the Makgadikgadi salt pan in Botswanna and over the sea in Swakopmund.
And now as I am driving through the most amazing landscape I have ever seen, I cant help wondering would I have been here if it wasnt for taking a leap of faith and applying to teach somewhere in Africa for a year? Would I be seeing one of the seven wonders of the natural world, or climbing up the biggest dunes in the world? Would I have learnt so much about another country, helped so many different people, had such a challenge of teaching? Above all would I have learnt so much about the amount of strength and perseverance I have? No. I dont think I would and therefore I am so grateful that I have had the opportunity to come out here and have the most challenging yet insightful and inspiring experiences of my life.
Other people have felt this kind of thing before. Hazels Footprints have helped me to bring these dreams into reality. These experiences will stay with me forever. Hopefully I will be able to support and encourage others to follow in these footsteps in future. What an amazing opportunity!
