BYU in the Bush

If you remember from the Night from Hell that happened in our little camp, Boone brought a black goat to our camp and slammed it on the ground saying, “Should I kill it right now?” The story of Stanley (who turned out to be a girl) continues on to the next day when we actually slaughtered the thing. Jason, his friend, and Hartley (our translators) were the head honchos in slaughtering our goats. I’m not gonna lie, as we tried to eat our dinner of canned beans, I lost my appetite the closer we got to slaughtering the poor beast and when they stabbed the knife into it’s neck and drained the blood into a can, I freaked. Thankfully I kept most of my chill and didn’t want to look away just so I could say that I saw them slaughter a goat in our camp. People took turns skinning it and then we pulled out the machete to hack it down the middle. Gruesome but fascinating. When they split the thing open, Jason pulled a joke and pretended to predict the forecast by looking into its entr...

As tradition follows for the BYU Namibia Field Study, all of the girls are invited over to a homestead of some women and allowed to dress up in traditional garb. For the Himba, this encompasses the red okre butter that they apply to their skin called “otjize” as well as goat skin skirts and skin head dresses. Then there are the woven belts, necklaces, and bracelets. We purchased some of the otjize rocks in Opuwo and brought them to start grinding. Marahoraguapi helped me grind it into a fine red powder. This stuff stains EVERYTHING and we wanted to get to be as close to a real native woman so we wore our bras and shorts. I was the first to get covered in the red paste and those women put it on thick—especially on my face. Not gonna lie, I looked really scary with my bright green eyes and white teeth against a shocking deep red skin. Our translators came along with us and Nicki in particular said that she couldn’t even look at me for a while because I was so freaky looking!...

So, witch craft is the driving force in this village among the Himba and Hakawona and the longer we stick around to observe these people, the more juicy the witch craft stories get. They call it "omiti". Our second week here, a Himba woman died and so we attended the week+ long festivities at their homestead. We missed the burial for that one because nobody knows how to relay details or plans because most people don't even know what day, month, or time it is. Basically there are three hours of the day: Sun rise, sun in middle of sky, and sunset. No such thing as "plans" here! Well, our third week had a Hakawona woman die. As we had learned previously, nobody just dies of natural causes here. It is always because of a curse that somebody else had put on them. Then begins the fun of finding out who the jealous witch is that killed them! (I find myself incredibly frustrated over here because innocent people are blamed and beaten over a belief that omiti is real...

So as for the title, it is very much deserved.  In fact, it was dubbed the Night from Hell by Drew, our professor's son. I know this blog post won't do the whole story justice but bear with me. When I get back to normal life, and normal wifi use, then I can really give you the good details. It starts with everyone sitting around the camp as it begins getting dark. Seriously out of nowhere, Boone shows up with a fat black goat on his shoulders and all sweaty with a crazy look in his eyes. He stumbles into light and drops the goat on the ground and says "well should we kill it right here?" UMMMM. We had no idea O Davido was buying a goat and that we would be slaughtering it so imagine our surprise. We were kind of freaking out about the possibility of a blood bath ensuing. Well that got resolved and everyone was informed about this goat that we now owned named Stanley. (Turns out Stanley was a girl). Little did we know, the guy who sold us the goat would reappea...

Saturday morning, the girls and I left the brothel, I mean hostel, and walked back over to the guest house where the men slept. We were told to be there by 6:30 so that we could get a good head start on to the bush. Well, we knocked on their door and heard a lot of shuffling and a groan to "come back in 30 minutes". Not morning people apparently! Two hours later, we were off to the big store in Windhoek and then towards Himba Land.  We only made it as far as Kamanjab by the time night fell so we pit stopped there for the night. Safe to say, it was one of the most memorable nights of my life We laid a tarp on the floor of a gas station, circled our cars around us, and slept under the African night sky. It was so hot, I felt I didn't even need a blanket. It was off and on sleeping; I think I only got 4 hours max. Between jet lag, loud 24-hour shift gas station attendants, and a crazy drunk guy doing donuts in the street, it was a rough but hilarious night. When ...

I was able to come to Opuwo for a quick second to write a blog post as part of my scholarship requirements. So, I have almost made 1 week in the bush and I am loving it. It's nothing short of easy; physically and emotionally, but it is such a crazy once-in-a-lifetime experience. Here I am, all tanned, covered in dust, and without a shower for almost 2 weeks :) Lookin' good, amiright?

So we arrived in Windhoek today after the longest travel period of my life. I wanted to jump out of the third plane! But I was able to realize just how immense this continent is. From Ethiopia to Windhoek, I thought it would take like 3 or 4 hours to fly. Nope. It was nearly 7. Beautiful scenery and a lot of huuuuuuge lakes that I thought were the ocean. Those really threw me off directionally because I knew we weren't going over an ocean and yet I couldn't see the end of it. I loved the green valleys and bushes and the bright red, dirt roads. I met up with a few people from my group in Ethiopia and then we all found eachother in Namibia. As we were getting out visas, the ladies checking us in and approving them were so rude! We were roasted over what the heck we would be doing for 2 months just as tourists. Finally she threw the papers back at me and stamped her dang approval. Checked out our hostel for the night, The Cardboard Box (aka Brothel) and it doesn't look too ...

Leg one of this escapade: Seattle to D.C. Other legs as follows: DC to Ethiopia. Then to Windhoek. When I checked my bag in at the counter (of the extremely rude United Airlines workers), it weighed 49.5 lbs. Talk about a narrow escape!!! I'm being watched over on this trip and it's only just begun :) I'm not too thrilled to have the next 36 hours consist of cramped airplane seats and stiff airports but I'm freakin going to Africa and going to LIVE THE DREAM so I'll take it. I mean, I would even swim there if I could. Looking forward to what the future holds. Made it to Washington DC and et me say one thing-- Red-eye flights are PAINFUL! Waiting to board Ethiopian Airlines headed for Addis Ababa. So pumped! I'm surprised to see as many white people waiting to go to Namibia as I see. My favorite fellow passenger is an Ethiopian priest/imam adorned in his blue robe, matching hat thing, and carrying a beautiful wooden cross at least 12 inches tall. Here g...

It might be of some interest to know what exactly I'll need to take to the bush of Namibia. Some of the things are going to be quite surprising, I'm sure! 1)  Sleeping:  Pad, blankets or sleeping bag, pillow (temps near freezing in the early morning). 2)  Folding chair:  not necessary but very nice for the bush. 3) Plastic bowl, plastic cup or water bottle, spoon, fork: essential. 4)  Towel (small), personal toiletries, some people bring baby wipes.  You may clean yourself daily but water is a scarce resource! 5)  Our water in the bush is clean but has a limestone taste: bring Crystal Lite or some flavoring if you are sensitive to taste. 6)  Clothing: Bush = old clothing on the verge of disposal.  Shorts and shirt for daytime, evenings will cool down rapidly.  A sweatshirt for evenings should be fine. Beyond the bush: Dress nicely as Namibians dress well in towns and cities.  If you look grungy you will be t...

Due to the amazing Gilman Scholarship offered to students from low-income families, I am able to participate in Brigham Young University's Namibia Field Study this April. (In 70 days actually, but who's counting!?) The culmination of events leading up to this experience has been crazy-- in the very best kind of way! Last September, I knew I wanted to take advantage of BYU's study abroad program and get some in-country experience in a developing nation. It seems like everyone here has lived overseas and the fact that I had never lived in a developing country was something I know I needed for the future. Afterall, I want to permanently work in these poor nations and with so many African study abroads, I knew it would have to happen! I worked long and hard on two essays with Brenda from the Kennedy Center and I created something that I was proud of. When I submit the essays, I don't know if I even believed I had a shot. It's a NATIONAL scholarship competition. The ...