Category: Impressions

My toilet paper has puppies on it…does this mean that South Africans do not like puppies?

I’ll show you mine if you show me yours. Now get your head of the gutter and think about it. That’s what tourism basically is. Places around the globe claiming they are the greatest in the world and people should come and have a look…have a long look…buy this plastic replica. It’s the only point in your life where you feel obligated to stare at something until it is permanently etched into your brain because people say it’s great. Why not stare at something you think you should stare at? I am repeatedly delighted to see a goat outside my door. I stare at goats, but not in an unhealthy sort of way. Pick your poison and stare away…enjoy and let it soak in. Put the camera away quickly as a world behind the lens makes it feel almost fake.

In the case of viewing people, in most cases, both sides are doing the staring. I think the people of Namibia are more fascinated with white people than you are of them. This makes for a lot of fun on both sides as you might catch them staring…you look away…they keep staring…they will win the staring contest.

A couple of my own personal experiences: The Eiffel Tower…it’s pretty at night…I’m not waiting in that line to go to the top…is there a crepe stand nearby that has Nutella? New York City…wow, that’s a lot of buildings…more buildings…more buildings…$6 for a beer?…ooh, pizza. Mona Lisa…where is the Mona Lisa?…culture through osmosis…I’m here…is that it?…next please. Costa Rican volcanoes…um…pass.

I’m not sure what the point of this post was, but that’s ok.

What is it about vacations that makes people want to wear clothes that make them look completely insane? Psychologically it makes sense, you’re entering a short-term “life” that is unlike your every day and why not take it one step further by wearing, for all intensive purposes, a costume to match that ‘new’ you. I probably love Halloween more than anyone around, but vacation is about relaxing, not dressing up. It’s vacation, wear your favorite t-shirt instead of that floral print. Bust out the old gym shoes you mow the grass with every Saturday. This is who you are and it’s that person that should be on vacation? Bringing yourself means that you have the opportunity to impact that life you ‘escaped’ back home. Maybe you discover something new you want to try, a possible career change or cultures you want to know more about. Vegas is not the only place that can tout, “what happens there, stays there…” I personally hate that saying. Instead, try bringing it back home as it may improve your daily life. Let me get back on track here. Clothes. Clothes, despite what you think, can really change who you are. Power suits aren’t a joke. Yes, that shirt does make you look fat and you know it. Honestly though, it’s still just you and that’s good. Be yourself on your vacations and you just might find you get a lot more out of them.

p.s. I wear t-shirts a lot. Khaki outfits make sense when on safari as they are muted colors that help avoid attracting insects and animals. Banana hammocks are not cool no matter what country you are from. Just some more thoughts.

I’m starting a light-hearted series on the dos’ and don’ts of tourism as I see it. I’m not going to start this evening, but wanted to warm it up just by saying that I’m definitely not an expert on not being a tourist. I spend my time living and working in a country that I’ll soon be leaving and knew so from the beginning. I’ve regretfully not really made the effort to learn the local language and know only a handful of people outside of work. I’m still fascinated by the daily life of people in Opuwo and the sight of a cross-eyed goat still makes me chuckle. I take pictures of the out of ordinary that only a westerner would appreciate and a Namibian ignore. It’s fun though and I’d like to pass on some thoughts and ideas. Hopefully I’ll remind some of you of times when you were in similar situations and enlighten others who have yet to enjoy them. This should be fun.

We grew up playing in it. Sometimes we even ate it…when I say we, I mean me. I made Michael Jackson Moon Pies out of the stuff. Dirt is pretty much a kid’s best friend. As we grow up we begin to move onto more meaningful and cleaner friends including Legos and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (I still have both) but we never forget our beloved dirt. End of the day though, dirt is still dirt. We tend to avoid it when we can and wash everything that comes into contact with it.

Why am I talking about dirt? Opuwo takes dirt to a whole new level. It’s in the air, on the ground, in the water, everywhere. Don’t bother having nice things here…it’ll get covered in dirt. I think my camera is almost dead due to dirt. My clothes have all taken on a brown hue despite frequent washing. My feet are dirt. My bed is dirt. You think I have a tan? Nope, it’s just dirt. All things said though you quickly learn to adjust. I can’t quite go so far as to say that I love the stuff, but it does make you feel like you’re living a simple life with bare feet all the time.

As children we grew up learning the lesson of look both ways before crossing the street. This lesson has not yet made it to Opuwo. The lesson here is just go and don’t worry about anyone else or your own well being. Every bike trip to the market is filled with danger and suspense…it’s great. I’m convinced that you put a Himba man in Cairo and he’ll get hit within 2 minutes. I believe NGOs have a new mission.

Through the magic of the Peace Corps movie network I was able to get my hands on the box office smash hit, “Snakes On A Plane.” My favorite part is where they decide to get rid of the…wait, that would be giving it away. There is a nice anaconda with at least two dozen teeth…good old Hollywood thank you for an enjoyable saturday evening. Next please.

I’ve turned over a new leaf in my life over the past couple of years and look positively on most things. Volunteering in general I’m positive about, it’s a great experience, you learn a lot and you help if you can. The last one bears a very important word…IF. If is a funny thing. If you get out of bed today you could be hurt or all of your greatest wishes will come true. If you eat that mopane worm you could become very sick or you could gain super powers and be able to listen to more than one Milli Vanilli song in a row. Now, I tend to think on the positive side and try as hard as I can to get a positive result, but one thing to remember about IF is that it’s often out of your hands. I do have to admit, I’ve been pretty frustrated lately with work. I rarely get the support I need…well…I don’t get any support to help with the projects that I have been brought here to help with. I have felt as though…you know what…it doesn’t matter. What really matters to me is that I make every day matter to me and to those around me. I might not be saving the world, but at least I’m not trying to destroy it.

If the Ministry has money then they can use it to buy beds, life saving medicines, pay doctors, provide treatment for people living on $1 a day or they could use it to pay for Internet. This is why I am happy that I don’t always get my way.

By the way…I can now listen to more than one Milli Vanilli song in a row.