End of Week Two: Living and Working in Okahandja (Friday 18th Sept 2009)
on Susan Somers (Namibia), 20/Sep/2009 19:14, 34 days ago
Last Friday afternoon I left Windhoek for my new home. We headed north, passing through the industrial area on the edge of the city (power station, brewery, maize factory among others) but within a few minutes we were driving (on a nice tar road) across the dry scrub land that surrounds the city. The soil seems to be just stones and sand although it’s covered in dry brown grasses, with some thorny bushes and the odd tree. There were very few houses or settlements until we reached Okahandja.I was brought straight to the NIED campus on the edge of town where I will work and live for next 12 months or so. After a brief visit to the offices, a meeting with my new boss, I was brought to my house (House One) just inside the main gate.The house is far beyond anything I would have expected– for starters its huge! There are 5 bedrooms (one ensuite – now mine – and one I’ve ‘converted’ into an office!) a decent sized kitchen attached to a large dining\sitting room. It has everything from a washing machine and dryer to microwave and toaster (although it missing some essentials like a kettle and a iron) It also has a garden (although its just dry earth and few trees) and a garage!NIED is on the outskirts of town of Okahandja, on the main road to Otjiwarango. Its opposite the railway tracks, with a riding club/stables, a few guest houses and homes separating it from the town itself. It takes 10/15 minutes from my house to the edge of the town (a petrol station and some traditional woodcarving markets), a further 5 or 10 minutes brings me to the nearest supermarkets (Pick and Pay and U$ave) and onto the main street which has banks, municipal buildings and a variety of shops (selling everything from furniture and clothes to hardware and books) Another 5 minutes or so brings me to far side of town (where the‘best’ supermarket is – Spar) There are a few coffee shops and bars (also called Gambling Houses) but look pretty roughI spent most of the evening unpacking and arranging everything to my satisfaction (which all took about 2 hours!) and spent a lazy weekend, pottering about, reading, watching DVDs and generally enjoying the peace and quiet of my new home.Work started on Monday and it was a really strange morning where I spent about 3 hours being introduced to people and then promptly forgetting their names and what they do. Everyone is very friendly and keep telling me how great it is to have me here and that they can't wait to work with me! Expectations are high soI hope I have the expertise they're looking for!Tuesday to Thursday were pretty quiet as my immediate bosses were away so I spent the time reading the NIED handbook and the Lower Primary Namibian Curriculum, but a lot of time surfing the web (very slowly– cos either the computer or internet connection are very slow) It’s nice to have a settling in period, I suppose, and it’s probably just bad timing that my arrival coincided with them both being away, but I actually like having something constructive to do, rather than trying to look busy.On Tuesday I also open a bank account– which was an experience. I went to the bank on Monday to get the forms needed (they gave me a letter to type up on NIED headed paper) and returned first thing on Tuesday, I was there for almost 2 hours! It wasn’t that there was any hassle, or they were slow or particularly long queues, it’sjust everything took so long. The first lady had to photocopy everything 3 times and fill in lots of forms (which I had to sign) and fill in lots of stuff on the computer – she also had to ask for help and confirmation a lot – but finally after about 40 mins, I had opened a bank account. Then Iwanted to lodge some travelers cheques into my account (who knows when I’ll be paid!) This took another 40 min, I really think the guy had never done this before or they have the most complicated computer system ever!!! Then, after queuing up to get my card, I had to wait another 20 mins for the driver to come back. I was in no rush so I didn’t really mind but it gives a good indication of why business matters take so long – bureaucracy, antiquated systems, poorly trained staff to name but a few – and why I am definitely going to learn patience here!On Firday my boss/colleague Alina was back and we had a meeting to discuss my job description and talk about what I’ll be doing. I’m still not completely sure what exactly I’ll be doing but I’m starting to get an idea – basically anything and everything to help the lower primary and broad curriculum department. So what do they do? A far as I can figure, they seem to work with teacher trainers (called inspectors and advisory teachers ) in how best to deliver the curriculum and also advise/ train the teachers in their areas how to do this. They are also involved in constantly reviewing the curriculum and text books/programmes, researching and improving the standard of teaching in Namibia and writing manuals for pre- and in-service teacher training. The closest thing we have would be the PCSP. How exactly I fit into this I don’t know but I’m starting to get an idea.Today Alina showed me a syllabus manual they are putting together (it will be divided grade and will replace one that is divided by subject) We had a chat about it and at this stage my involvement seems to be to help simplify long winded explanations, make it more user friendly (for teachers to use) both in language and layout/organisation!After work it’s pretty quite around here. Alot of the staff live in Windhoek and get a bus back straight after work. I spend the evenings doing domestic stuff (trying to cook or clean) but mostly reading or watching movies (I have about 400 gigs of movies with me on an external harddrive!) It’s actually a bit of a novelty to have absolutely nothing to do. At home there is always something I should or could be doing so it nice to have nothing – no project, no planning, no organising, no work! I’m sure I’d get bored of this quickly and I’m equally sure it won’t last once I start work in earnest. Till then.... bliss!