The Road to Rundu.

The week started with not having any electric; but this time is was our fault, as we had run out! I then had to walk to the shop that sells the credit for the electric metre, only to find that they couldn’t do it for me. This meant a panicky text to one of the other Heads, Shay, who came to the rescue and bought us some credit. The rest of the day was a standard working session, with meetings at both the junior and secondary school along with preparation for workshops. I took a few pictures at Mupewa, of everyday events. such as getting water and a PE lesson.

On Tuesday I had an important meeting at the circuit office in Elim, which is about twenty kilometres away from Oshikuku. I was picked up from Nuuyoma Secondary School and we drove the sandy road to Elim. Unfortunately, the road had been washed away in parts and I was really pleased that we had a ‘four by four’ to cope with the terrain. I enclose a picture of one of part of the road and a newspaper satellite picture showing the region I am working in, with all the flooding. Oshikuku is in the top left side of the picture and Elim is south of that. As you can see the rest of the road is now under water.

Wednesday was a working day in both schools and I finally got some printing done for the training certificates, as Mupewa had some ink in their one and only printer. I also set a number of dates with both Principals, for work session, up until I leave. I agreed to write a development plan for Nuuyoma and introduce it to the senior managers and the staff. In Mupewa I agreed to support the Principal in delivering training to other school Principals, and help him produce a simple website for the school.

On Wednesday evening I had a visit from a ‘Peace Corps’ Volunteer from America, who is working with a group of women in a Basket Making business. She had worked on a ‘Fund Raising’ video presentation, and wanted my opinion. I also received a phone call from VSO to say that our bid to purchase a digital projector had been successful, and the money had been deposited in my account. This is a bit late for us, but it will benefit future Heads who work in Namibia.

On Thursday I had a training session on Record Cards with Nuuyoma Secondary School, so I had to get some copies done. This time the photocopier was broken, so I had to go to Mupewa to get them done. Their copier was also broken, but they did have an old one, which after 50 miss-feeds I was able to get most of the training materials done. The actual training went well except a few young staff that I had to tell off for not taking it seriously.

In the evening I went drumming again, and this week it actually sounded OK at times. From there I went onto a ‘leaving do’ for an English volunteer, Chris, who was returning to England very soon.

On Friday, Pennie and I were off to Rundu, to meet up with a old colleague of mine, Linda Shiner, who had been an Educational Psychologist in Norfolk and had come over to Namibia to work, over two years ago. However, before we left I had work to do, including the purchase of the Digital Projector in Oshikati. Having successfully done the purchase, we set off on our 620 Kilometre journey. It sounds a lot, but with the roads so empty, and so very straight, we were there by 6.00 pm, having stopped for a short lunch break in Tsumeb.

Saturday, started with an aborted trip to a lodge by the river, as the access road to it, was completed flooded. However, we did go around the Rundu market, and had lunch off one of the food stalls. I enclose a picture to show the cooking area. The food was very tasty, and I had some locally caught river fish and a variety of different salads. In the afternoon, Linda, took me to meet one of her ‘Special Olympic’ people, Daniel, who is totally blind, but lives with his wife and baby by the Ovango river. His family live in a traditional homestead in the bush, and he took us there for a visit. Most people live like this, which must be very hard as there is no, water, electric or any services. I was made most welcome and was shown around the whole place. I attach a couple of the fantastic photos I was able to take. The only problem, I had, was that Daniel was drying fish in his house, so that the dogs wouldn’t eat them. The smell was something I cannot describe, and I have to say that I never want to smell it again.

Sunday turned out to be a wonderful day, as we joined a group of Swiss volunteers on an all-day boat trip on the Ovango River. It was also time for them to return to their own country, and they wanted to finish their time in style. It was wonderful, with brilliant scenery, excellent food and lovely company. However, I had a surreal experience as Mrs. Booth, Acting Head at Parkside, telephoned me in the middle of the river and miles into the African bush!

It was a marvellous weekend, and Linda was amazing as a host. The area of Rundu is very beautiful and the people were great, and I can see how you would fall in love with it. However, all good things must come to an end, and the long journey back was tinged with some sadness as I had spent such a short time in the Kavango region and Rundu in particular.

Best wishes to all.

Barry