To fully appreciate the “Namibianess” (yes I’m making up words) of my 26th birthday, I must tell of all the events leading up to this weekend, all the good, the bad and the ugly.
My first plans months ago were to travel up north to Rundu to spend the weekend with the Kavango volunteers on the Kavango River looking at hippos and what not. Peace Corps had planned a committee meeting in Windhoek for the 5th and the 6th (my birthday) so I sadly canceled my plans and surrendered to the idea of being in the capital (not a big fan) with other PCVs sitting in a meeting. On the Wednesday just before, I was told via sms that the meeting had indeed been canceled and since it was too late to turn in a request for vacation time I decided staying in my flat laundry, watching movies and cleaning would be my birthday weekend, not much different from any other weekend.
When the VSO heard that I would be in Outjo she decided that we must go somewhere (she has a car). I love stupid touristy type things so I began listing all the places near Outjo I wanted to go but never could since I don’t have a car. I finally decided on Twyfelontein and the Petrified Forest. This is a collection of really old trees and the largest display of African rock art, another benefit is they are less than 200km away so it could easily be done in a day trip! Well the VSO invited some of our co-workers whom we are close with and everyone agreed to go where the birthday girl wanted, Twyf. Over the next few days my Namibian co-workers began talking and decided they wanted to go to Walvis Bay to see our old hospital driver. They began to put the pressure on me and the VSO to change our plans. To settle the dispute fairly I decided to flip a coin, we were going to Twyf.
Friday, September 5th four of us headed to the Craft Show in Outjo, which was hilarious. Many of the locals had booths to display their crafts or treats. The highlight in my opinion was the Afrikaaner men who are about my age. You see most Afrikaaner men wear really really short shorts but today I was lucky enough to not only have that view but many decided to go shirtless, what a birthday present!!!! Also on Friday, Thea (another PCV in Caprivi) was passing through on her way to Etosha with her mom and they stopped by the hospital to chat and to deliver a piece of birthday cake for me, thanks Thea and Thea’s mom, it was delicious and super sweet of you guys to do.
Around 7:15am on Saturday we picked up everyone to head to Walvis Bay : p (somehow the VSO and I just gave in Friday afternoon). By the time we left Otjiwarongo my co-workers were sipping/downing Windhoek Lager (beer) and I chewed on Mopane worms (Kunene classic), it was only 8:30am. The car ride was a mix of listening to American soft rock from the ‘80s and before. Highlights of course were the conversations, the family of baboons (seriously like 50) we almost hit outside of Kalkveld and getting beer splashed on me from time to time. I’m thinking this day can only get better.
When we finally arrived in Swakop I wanted to eat but my co-workers wanted to shop so we split up and I enjoyed a delicious lunch (seriously it was great) with a fellow PCV in Swakop and the VSO. Later we all went to the Swakop Aquarium (the Snake Park was sadly closed) which needless to say is no Monterey Aquarium. The main (only) tank was smaller than my backyard pool but there was tunnel underneath. We went during feeding time which was great to watch since the scuba diver was fighting a turtle who just never got enough to eat. At one point the turtle got the strap of his mask and snapped it off, the diver spent the next 15 minutes pushing/shoving the turtle away from him. This cute little German boy came up to me and asked if I would help him see in the tank so I spent about 10 minutes holding this little stranger on my knee has we shared the diver-turtle fight sequence together.
After the aquarium we went to the house of my co-worker’s aunt who was so sweet and offered a braai or a trip to the farm at a later time but we settled on some juice (I’m totally taking her up on her braai on the top of the mountain at her farm next year for sure). It was nice to see the Swakop location which is AMAZING compared to Outjo’s. My co-workers then decided it was time to get plastered (drunk) in the Walvis Bay location. Um, not really my idea of fun at all so I choose to stay over in Swakop at a fellow PCV’s house rather than traveling to Walvis and not being able to escape my invitation to a drunken night of entertainment.
In Swakop alone, I took advantage of a fast high speed wireless internet (almost forgot what that was like, wow) café where I could use my own computer. At 8 o’clock, when they closed I headed to the Lighthouse Pub and Restaurant for some pizza. The hostess gave me a table by myself and I happily sat there alone answering the many birthday smses I had received throughout the day. A few minutes later the hostess brought over a couple and sat them at my table with me, um awkward. They were obviously on a date and I was for sure a third wheel and interrupting the mood. I couldn’t help but laugh (on the inside) the entire time as all three of us sat in silence. It was really a weird date (well what I observed) the man (white) ordered food and beer and ate a bunch while the woman (black) sat there, didn’t say anything or eat or drink anything. I was more uncomfortable for them than I was for my party of one.
After the lighthouse I walked home to the PCV’s house and enjoyed a hot shower (a special treat for me) and watched the office as my cell phone died. Although I loved my conversations with my family, Nikki and a super long chat with Toni I realized that with a dead phone I now had no way to let the VSO know where I was so she can pick me up the next day. I sent out a sms that said “my phone is dead, I’m at the internet place tomorrow” and went to bed praying the message went through before the phone totally died.
Luckily, they found me and the hour time change was not agreeing with their hangovers. Since everyone was so hungover my co-workers slept and I seized the opportunity to put my shuffle in and finally listen to my music (so I had an amazing car ride back in my own world). The VSO was a great sport doing all the driving, and I thank her for the idea of celebrating my birthday. Eventually we made it back to Outjo, everyone sick and tired (combination of drinking, the temperature changes, and the ride itself) including me but definitely a classic Namibian birthday worth remembering.
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