Shebeen Scene

I apologize for not updating my blog for quite some time. I could tell you that I didn’t have good Internet or was busy but then I would be lying. After a month in Africa, which is hard to believe, Windhoek is starting to feel more comfortable and I’m actually growing quite fond of the place. It is small, yet extremely diverse and there is a lot to do. I spent ten days at an urban home-stay in Dorado Park, which is a good, not great, neighborhood in Windhoek. My little sister, Ndeshi, and I spent lots of time with each other and got a long very well. My host mother and father were gone for the entire 10 days, so Ndeshi and I essentially just made meals and watched the US Open on commercial breaks of her MTV shows. Nadal!! My older brother Victor was a wonderful guy, but was unfortunately only around for a day and half. We spent most of one day preparing for a braai (BBQ), where we enjoyed some wonderful spiced beef as well as some shrimp, which I prepared and no one had ever had before. The “prawns” were a hit. We ate the meal as we watched TV with their Oshivambo grandmother, from very rural northern Namibia, who was convinced that the people on TV could see her. Aside from her connection with the Namibian soap opera stars, she was quite disappointed that I did not speak Oshivambo and that I never brought her beer. She did although make me try her home brew of beer, which sat in a bucket in the kitchen bubbling at room temperature. Surprisingly it wasn’t terrible and was quite strong. There was a never a doubt in my mind that grandma could drink me under the table.

Victor, 23, owns a shebeen jukebox in one of the informal settlements of Katatura. He also owns his own shebeen (corrugated tin shack bar), but its doors have been locked due to a bad business partner. Most importantly, it was time to collect the money from his Juxebok, so he brought me along. We headed out in our tiny car (visualize my knees touching my chest), fully loaded with zebra print seat covers and home made cheetos on the dash. Immediately upon arrival to the shebeen and absurdly large bottle of Windhoek Larger was placed in my hand, it was cold and I had no problem with the excessive volume. Victor greeted the owner and proceeded to open the juxebox and grab the colossal amount of single Namibian dollar pieces. We took the box of change into the back room, someone’s home and bed, and counted out $874 Namibian dollars. No talking, all business, and then we left. Victor is a public prosecutor, seriously.

Classes are in full swing and are all quite interesting. That said, they are each four hours and without fail get boring towards the end. Class structure itself is very discussion based and it is rare if we don’t have at least one speaker each class. We also visit many sites and museums during class, which helps break it up.

My internship at PAY remains a source of joy and excitement. Not to mention getting out of the CGE house!! I am both enjoying and struggling through tutoring students at PAY. Most kids are eager to learn but aren’t always focused and are often more interested in joking with friends. It is not uncommon for me to have a number of students between grades 8 and 10 who cannot read. Each sports coordinator or volunteer at PAY has their own team which plays both soccer and basketball games. I am happy to report that I am undefeated as a coach and pulled out a tough victory against my rival coach Big Mike, who is the Namibian College MVP basketball player.

Today most of the group got in the van and drove out to this beautiful Lake Oanob Resort, about an hour away from Windhoek, and spent the day swimming and hanging out by the beach. No complaints…