Thursday in Katutura

Good Morning!
Today is already Friday... time is flying. My first sunburn has already peeled into a decent tan line and my legs are adjusted to riding a bike all over Windhoek.
Yesterday at the BNC I took another group of 10 kids to the tennis courts and they all did so well. Edelsine has proved to be a big help and, despite her tiny size, is one of the best players- she is great at volleying and even hit a ball past me. (She is the one in the pink on the right side of the photo and there is also one, I think, from the earlier blog) The kids are all fast learners and play in their barefeet or sandals on the scorching hot pavement with rackets that are almost as big as they are. (The other two pictures are of Miraldi and little Ruru, Edelsine's brother.)
As I was about to ride away from the center, a fight broke out between Jennifer and Daniel, two kids who are about 14. Fortunately for Daniel I pulled them apart before Jennifer could inflict any more damage to him aside from a bloody lip. It is hard to break these kids of the habits they have about retalition, revenge, and anger. They can step on broken shards of glass in their bare feet on the way to tennis and just rub some dirt in it and keep going as if nothing happened, but if another child swears them they suddenly become the most sensitive kids in the world.
Hope all is well with you... thank you for the emails!

Teaching

Good Morning,
I just got word that I have been moved on to the interview stage for the NYC Teaching Fellows. That is definitely very exciting but the problem is that they want to interview me in the next 3 weeks. We shall see what happens. Truthfully, I am not sure where I will be next year- either Teaching, in Law School, in Namibia, or in my mother's basement. All are viable options.
Yesterday was a nice day. We made 100 peanut butter sandwiches for the kids and cut up watermelon. I brought 15 of the kids to the tennis courts to play. This week is nice because no one is in Windhoek and the kids are on holiday so things are more laid back. After the BNC, MB and I played tennis at her club for about 2 hours which was a lot of fun. She can still kick my butt, but we had a lot of good volleys and it was a great workout.
Hope all is well for you...

Back in Namibia

Good Morning, Everyone....
Well, I landed safely & now i am back in Windhoek. It looks like I will be staying three months this time around. Let me give you a quick rundown of what has been going on since i arrived. The flight from NY was a breeze and I encountered no problems with luggage or delays. When I was in Munich I took the train into downtown and walked around the city for a few hours. It was a sunny day and very exciting to be in a new city. I poked around in some shops, ate bratwurst, admired the germen women, and went to a Beerhouse for a few drinks.
The next morning I was landing in Windhoek and MB was there at the aiport waiting with Rodney, Lovely Rita, Edelsine, Hilde and SALOME! We piled into the little Mercedes Coupe and went back to the house to change then directly to the BNC for soccer. It was great seeing all the kids again!
Sunday was pool day. We brought about 150 kids to the pool- the number would have been a lot higher but many children are away for the holiday. Still, it was loads of fun being in the water and seeing the joy in everyone's eyes. They all got along and were so well behaved. As we were walking to the pool, Romaschel was telling me a story of why the Namibians are so black- he said it was because God put people in the oven to bake them but he fell asleep baking the Namibians and as a result they got burnt black. Out of curiosity, I asked him why I was so white and he said, "Scooter, God took you right out of the refigerator and served you!"
At the pool it was fun helping the kids swim and giving them confidence in the water. Salome came to the deep end with me and within 15 minutes she was keeping herself afloat and soon was swimming. ( I am so proud of her... not only is she a remarkably loving soul, but she is now learning to read so well!)
After the pool, we came home and at night Kenny, (an 18 year old volunteer from Hawaii) and Sarah, (a 34? year old from England) and I went to a local restaurant and had dinner. They are here living at the house only during the holidays and then they are returning home. Both are extremely friendly.
Christmas morning we went to Mass where Fr. Rick (MB's friend and CEO of Catholic Aids Action) was giving Mass. The music was beautiful. From there we drove into Katutura just to stop by Romaschel's house and Salome's house to wish them a Merry Christmas. In the afternoon we were invited to a braai at the house of one of MB's friend's sons. It was a nice time and the house was amazing! As the party wrapped up around 5pm, Alden, the son, suggested we go to the cardboard box, a backpacker's lodge, for drinks. Well, what started out as a few rounds turned into a few more and by midnight, Kenny and I were stumbling our way home.
This week at the BNC will be quiet because many of the kids are away, but we have been giving out food and sweets and enjoying the time.
It is so nice to be back- the five hours a day with the kids is the reason I came back and I am very greatful for it. MB continues to inspire me and her enthusiasm and talent is second to none. I am looking forward to the next few months and the growing experiences to come. Hope all is well wherever you may be.... Merry Christmas.