- One of my kids, Mathias has been going to my flat every single day and watering “our” (all I did was buy the seeds for him) garden. And now look at it! During the first term, Mathias was the biggest trouble maker in my class, I constantly kicked him out and sent him to the principal’s office. Now he is my second in command in the class. (As my family tells me at home, just one… just one) Maybe this is it?
(We have grown collard greens, cabbage and apparently tomatoes are on their way – hurray!)
2. Loretta. Still amazing.
3. Alyssa, PeaceCorp volunteer is no longer in Uis – sadly. Apparently due to violence in the area the PeaceCorp decided to remove her because of her safety. Sad but true. While I was away I heard that the China shop was robbed and the owner got beaten up pretty badly. Additionally, according to some of my colleagues, a sexual offender that was being held at the local prison in Uis, (population: 300) is now out and about. Excellent.
4. New Principal! I have a new principal and she is wonderful. I returned around 9pm on Wednesday evening and of course hadn’t slept in over 40 hours by that time and the following morning attempted to teach all of my classes. Around 10am, I was beat and went during the break to lie down and by lie down I mean sleep. I tried to get up but literally couldn’t and so I had Loretha tell the principal that I needed to rest. Apparently, she nearly finished Loretha’s sentence and said, “that sweet girl she must be exhausted.” Love her already.
- The kids. My favorite kids ran up to me when I arrived and hugged me until I think I turned blue. It was a nice way to arrive. Loretha did nearly the same thing and couldn’t stop smiling saying, “Oh Cummings! You didn’t get as fat as I thought you would.” At least you know Namibians tell you how they really feel.
- 5:45am wake up with Loretha – hmmff.. still hard for me.
- Uis is still so dry and sort of brown. There isn’t much green because the weather yesterday and today has been hitting nearly 95 degrees. You really can’t do much but stay indoors and read or go for a walk fully covered. However, I do have some green in my backyard – hurray!
- Esther, my senior who I adore, while I was at school came into my flat and reorganized and cleaned my whole flat. She used to do this last term sort of unexpectedly and on Thursday while I was at school did the same thing. Even if I am in the flat and perhaps sleeping and she walks in, she will run in and give me a kiss on the cheek. She is as sweet as ever.
- Spiders here are still big.
DEAR STEPH :
I HAVE NEVER BEEN SO PROUD OF YOU. I LOVE READING YOUR COMMENTS ABOUT YOUR TRANSITIONS HOME AND BACK TO AFRICA. I HAVE HAD YOU IN MY PRAYERS, FRIGHTENED FOR YOUR SAFTEY FOR SURE. YOU MADE SUCH A DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF EVERYONE YOU MET IN AFRICA.
YOU ARE AN AMAZING YOUNG WOMAN AND GAVE SO MUCH. IT MUST HAVE BEEN HORRIBLE TO SAY GOODBYE TO YOUR STUDENTS AND FRIENDS. YOU COULD RIGHT A BOOK WITH ALL THE EXPERIENCES YOU HAVE HAD OVER THE PAST10 MONTHS. I CAN’T WAIT TO SEE YOU, YOU ARE SUCH A RAY OF SUNSHINE AND ALWAYS HAVE BEEN. I AM SO GLAD YOUR COMING HOME. I HAVE TOLD EVERYONE I MEET ABOUT MY NEICE STEPHANIE AND HOW COURAGEOUS YOU ARE AND HOW WORRIED I HAVE BEEN AT THE SAME TIME. SAFE TRAVELS..
LOVE YOU
AUNTY LINDA