The last week of term has been absolutely crazy and we have been ridiculously busy but it has also been great fun although, I could do with a long lie in to recuperate!
The rainy season has now become in earnest and the last few days I have had to wear my raincoat all day. When it rains in Namibia Cape Town
Three month anniversary resulted in me having my face painted as a reindeer and Chelcie as a Christmas tree. I was very pleased with my Christmas tree but Chelcie didn’t like it – I actually thought it was really good! Sara said it looked like a misshaped butterfly but that was when Chelcie was wearing her glasses over the top. All the children thought the Christmas tree was much better than the reindeer – they thought I looked like an old man and told me I looked ugly. I do love their brute honesty!
On Friday we had prefect elections – we had to choose five girls and five boys. Everyone in Grades 5-7 voted plus all the staff, although, our votes were worth five points so it didn’t turn into a popularity contest. After everyone had voted and posted their votes into a ballot box, one for the learners and one for the staff, I helped Sara count up all the votes. It was very interesting to see how people voted – from how they voted for the boys you could tell which tribe the learner from as one would vote for a certain group and another for a different group of boys. The results were: Head Boy – Mario, Deputy Head – Brenden, Sports Captain – Tjirondwauvi, Prefect 1 – Tomas, Prefect 2 – Paulus (I voted for Brenden, Tjirondwauvi, Tomas, Diodores and Mario), Head Girl – Kenisha, Deputy Head - Sevelina, Sports Captain – Diina, Prefect 1 – Xunta- I and Prefect 2 – Joyce (I voted for Kensiha, Sevelina, Joyce, Xunta-I and Asada). Everyone was happy with the outcome; Kenisha had a total landslide with every single person voting for her which was amazing. I was really sad that Diodores missed out and only by two points – I blame Chelcie who didn’t vote for him!!
On Saturday morning we had a baptism service for four babies from Otjikondo including Helena (Paul and Sara’s youngest). The Swakop choir sung From a Distance again (looking very smart in black tops and white skirts although Chelcie and I were in white tops and blue jeans!) and it was a lovely service although it went on for hours! In the middle Chelcie and I got the giggles during one of the hymns which was really strange. We couldn’t stop and we were both shaking – it was even worse as were sat right in front of the Stommels but luckily I don’t think they saw as we were kneeling in front of chairs. I nearly bit a hole in my lip because I was biting it so hard trying to stop laughing! When it got to communion Olivia Stommel kept on asking very loudly “What is it?” about the wafer and Gilly answered “the body of Christ” which gave me and Chelcie the giggles again as Olivia is only two and a half! In the afternoon after a last Nativity rehearsal we gatecrashed the Prefect Party at Gilly’s house which was great fun. They were already swimming when we arrived and I joined them straight away. Chelcie sat in t-shirt and shorts with her feet dipped in until I told Goddie to push her in! There were a couple of water guns and some floats and we had a lot of fun. After a large slice of chocolate cake and a glass of “cool drink” we returned to the flat for a quick change before doing TV. We were watching “ The Spiderwick Chronicles” which was actually quite scary at points and I was sitting with some little girls so they wouldn’t be scared but, let’s be honest, I was more scared of the giant snake than they were! Erich (head boy) who was sitting behind me ended up pulling his chair very close to mine and resting his head on my shoulder which was very sweet.
On Sunday morning we showed the Grade 7’s a compilation of photos of them that we had made them and carried on writing the newsletter. On Sunday afternoon we had the first performance of the Nativity – our audience were Grades Threes and Fours from St Michael’s. Technically this was our proper dress rehearsal but we treated it as a proper performance. While I was waiting for it to start I felt physically sick I was so nervous but I was telling the cast that they shouldn’t be nervous and they would be great! We asked them to remember three things: firstly to speak clearly, secondly to have lots of energy and thirdly to smile! I so wanted this to go well as we had all put so much work and effort into it. In the end it all went really well with no obvious errors all though they sang two of the carols at break neck speed! The lights also went off momentarily twice but luckily came back on and they carried on as if nothing had happened. Gilly rated it 99% perfect so we were all very happy, I nearly cried twice as I was so proud of them and the solos were very moving, at the end Gilly had tears in her eyes!
After the Nativity we set off in the Combi with the rest of the teachers to Mrs Vermaak’s house for the teacher party. We had a really fun time: all the teachers did Secret Santa for each other. These are drawn early on in the year as they put a lot of thought and effort into what they buy for each other! They gave things like a braai, a foot massage bath thing, an electric frying pan...Mrs Vermaak gave me and Chelcie a nice packet of biscuits each which was lovely. We played charades with Pictionary cards which was great fun and very funny but meant that at times you would be trying to act cucumber or prawn! We had great difficulty getting back to Otjikondo as its cross country the whole way and there was incredibly heavy rains all evening. It was definitely a case of three steps forwards, two steps back as the Combi kept on getting stuck in the mud so we would have to reverse. At one point we had to get out and push – as we were all in unsuitable shoes this meant taking them off and rolling up the jeans. You would sink into the mud or into a puddle which wasn’t very nice but quite funny and of course we got soaked because of the heavy rain. Ken was wearing white leather boots which he was petrified about ruining so before we left Mrs Vermaak’s house he put on two plastic bags over each shoe so he would be “mud proof” – this was a very funny sight!
On Monday and Tuesday we cleaned all day and sorted the newsletter. We were responsible for having the art room, library, games room, music room, sports room and birthday cupboard spotless ready for inspection by Gilly. We also had to sort out all the art work for all the learners ready to hand out – this took FOREVER! Monday evening was the proper performance of the Nativity in front of all the staff and learners at Otjikondo. I was even more nervous as this was the performance that really counted and I really wanted them to do themselves proud – which they did. It was a very different performance due to an audience that responded much more to the play, lots of laughter. The cast were very good at remembering not to talk and wait for the laughter to stop. There was a very funny moment when the Kings walk down the centre aisle to enter and Savannah Labrador followed them and nearly joined them on stage! Everyone really enjoyed it and our hard work definitely paid off. We had a cast party afterwards with lots of ice cream, biscuits and “cool drink” (this is what they call a fizzy drink such as coke).
After the cast party we headed to Tabs’ house for her birthday party which was great fun. We took a birthday card and a chocolate cornflake cake that I had made her. Stanley, Calistha, Ken, Festus, Elia, Chicken and another guy whose name I can’t pronounce let alone write were there and it was a really fun party. Much later on our way back to the flat, (head torch firmly in place – thanks to Tom Archer!) we saw a snake! It was a thin, long black snake, apparently a black mamba, and it was crossing the path. This was pretty scary (they can kill you) but it didn’t really sink in until the next day. I have now seen my first alive snake and I have no wish to see another one – one was definitely plenty!
Tuesday morning we had the last Church service which was very emotional as it was a “Goodbye service” to all the Grade Sevens. By the end they were all crying, as was I! There was lots of music as usual and the Grade 7 girls sang by themselves. All of the Grade 7s wrote on a piece of paper a wish and a dream which is then kept in the church for ever so that they know that whatever happens their wishes and dreams are kept safe at Otjikondo. I think this is a really lovely idea.
On Tuesday evening we had a concert and prizes for the cleanest room and classroom. At 5:30 (the concert was at 7) we went to check with Faustinas that he had enough things for the concert and to say that we would sing with the Swakup girls 3 songs, however, he hadn’t realised he had to prepare things so suddenly we had a concert to organise! We found 12 randomers and taught them the 12 days of Christmas which was hilarious – actions included! Faustinas made me go get the clarinet so I could perform – Evita and Hey Jude (amazing sight reading skills!) The Grade One girls sang “Joy to the World” which was incredibly painful and the three violin players played a piece from the Lion King together. We sang Silent Night, O Come All Ye Faithful and Any Dream Will Do from Joseph. We managed to pull off another very impromptu concert! In the middle of a song, Father Christmas arrived! Chelcie and I were quickly donned his helpers and we gave out all the presents to the children.
Girls Boys
Grade One: Dolls Cars
Grade Two: Dolls Trucks
Grade Three/Wings: Sunglasses, purses and hair ties/clips Water guns
Grade Four: Animal umbrellas Rucksacks
Grade Five: Wash bags and toiletries Giant tennis balls
Grade Six: Craft boxes Footballs
Grade Seven: Fleece blankets Football shorts
The children were all very excited and some were even a little scared but they all loved their presents. One very funny moment when he stood up and his trousers fell down.....also he talked to each child and Abraham said he had been a King in the Nativity and Father Christmas said “Oh yes, I saw....” luckily Abraham didn’t pick up on it! We got back to the flat at about absolutely exhausted but we still had to fold 200 Newsletters before the morning which involves folding two bits of A4 paper and slotting them together!
Wednesday – last day of term. We had an early start so that we could hand out all the art work at breakfast. This was incredibly stressful and next term we will organise it earlier so that we can give them out during the last art lesson. We then had prize giving: in each class there were prizes for the best student, the most improved and the best behaved. There were also diplomas handed out for activities and for a student who has an average of over 80% in a subject. Next term we will be much harder markers – there were lots of diplomas for Art and PT! There were also prizes for sports, music and drama as well as home ecology and agriculture. The old prefects were given Otjikondo caps and t-shirts and the new ones were announced. Also the scholarships were announced which was incredibly emotional – Grade 7’s and I were crying again! Anyone in G7 with an average of above 65% in the exams is awarded an Otjikondo scholarship. For the next five years they are given $350 per term for school fees. It was absolutely incredible to see how much it meant to the people who got them and you could see how some of them actually needed it. Gilly nearly got knocked over as one person rushed at her so quickly to give her a hug when she was awarded the scholarship. I had chills all over my body. This is something that really shows how special Otjikondo is – they are the only primary school in the whole country that has anything like this. At the end all of the staff lined up and as the children left we shook hands with every single one or gave them a hug. This made me cry again (December might have a high total!) as this would be the last time that we would see some of these children and some of them are so special and I will miss them lots.
I really can’t believe that I have got to the end of the first term here. If I am being totally honest when I set off from the airport on the 31st of August I really wasn’t convinced that I would last this long. I had serious doubts that this was going to be the right thing for me and I couldn’t have been more wrong. I have had the most unbelievably amazing term, done some of the most incredible things and seen some wonderful sights. I found the beginning of the second month hard but otherwise I have been really, really happy here and I couldn’t actually think of anything that I would rather be doing on my Gap Year. The people here are so lovely and some of these children are really, truly special. We find out things about their home lives which can be really difficult to hear but it makes you marvel at how well adjusted they are and how some of them have to be old before their years. Otjikondo is an incredibly special place and all the learners are so lucky to be able to go to school here. For many of them it’s not just a school but a home where they have so much love and some fantastic opportunities which they wouldn’t receive elsewhere.
Anyway, enough raving about life here as I will make you all jealous; tomorrow will be a day of cleaning the flat, finishing writing letters home, and packing for the holidays. We leave at for Swakupmund on Friday and rehearsals start at that afternoon! After talking to Faustinus about the orchestra I am rather apprehensive as it is much smaller than I imagined – there could be a possibility that I might be the only first clarinet in which case I think I might have to lie and say I learnt the second part! Hopefully I should have more access to internet during part of the holidays so I will be able to keep you all updated on the next chapters of my adventure!
Lots of love to everyone,
Ottilie xxx
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