Africa 2009 Itinerary
Two weeks of on-campus classes.
Monday, January 26 – Washington, D.C. to Johannesburg, South Africa
Fifteen hours on a plane.
Nambia
Tuesday, January 27 – Johannesburg, South Africa to Windhoek, Namibia
Flight from Joburg to Windhoek, settle in to Penduka Guest House.
Wednesday, January 28 – Windhoek
Tour of Penduka compound and TB clinic, free time at the mall, tour of Windhoek (Katatura, Herero market where we sampled dried catepillars and sorghum beer, informal settlements).
Thursday, January 29 – Windhoek
Katatura Quest activity with young guides (visted various community organizations and priced items in a grocery store to gauge cost of living), had a reflection session in Parliament Gardens, visited Megameno House for Orphans to play with the kids and do some chores, homestay prep meeting at Penduka.
Friday, January 30 – Windhoek
Meeting with Professor Kerina about his life (work petitioning the UN, starting SWAPO, coming up with the name Namibia), moved to ELCRN gift house, talk on the pilot program of the Basic Income Grant in Omitara, lecture with Dr. Ching on the myth of Western civilization, free time at the mall, pick-up by host families.
Saturday, January 31 – Windhoek
Urban homestays in pairs.
Sunday, February 1 – Windhoek
Urban homestays.
Monday, February 2 – Windhoek
Return to ELCRN guesthouse, lecture from Breaking the Silence about SWAPO abuses during the liberation struggle, free afternoon at the guesthouse and the Windhil Mall, dinner out at the mall.
Tuesday, February 3 – Windhoek
Free morning for studying, visit to Hero’s Acre monument of the liberation movement, lunch at the restaurant there, visit to Megameno to play and build a patio (even though it was raining!), dinner at the guesthouse.
Wednesday, February 4 – Windhoek
Visit to Ombetja Yehinga (“Red Ribbion” HIV education for young people through the arts group), visit to Mount Sinai (prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV through distribution of formula and a host of other community services), lunch and free time at ELCRN, visit from Neshani Andreas (author of
The Purple Violet of Oshaantu that we read for our English class), fancy dinner out with the group.
Thursday, February 5 – Windhoek
Sociology class with Dr. Maher (presentations on the health of Namibia and Global Fund, discussion of
Sickness and Wealth), meeting with three women from the International Committee of Women Living with HIV/AIDS (group that does research and lobbies the government for policy changes), afternoon at Megameno for playing, dinner at ELCRN, visit from an artist (necklaces, ceramics, bags), student-initiated Game Time of sardines in the rain.
Friday, February 6 – Windhoek
Free morning (many visited the Craft Centre and Café for brunch and shopping), afternoon visit to the National Archives (lecture on archives in general and the use of primary sources to explore white settlement in Namibia), class session with Dr. Ching on the historical narrative of Hero’s Acre and how we were dealing with seeing poverty on such a scale, dinner at ELCRN, evening at The Warehouse Theatre for live music by Big Ben and dancing.
Saturday, February 7 – Windhoek
Hike at Avis Dam, swimming and picnicking with the Megameno kids, more time at Megameno House, dinner out in Klein Windhoek
Sunday, February 8 – Windhoek to Khorixas
Five hour drive to Khorixas with a picnic lunch on the side of the road, delivery to rural homestays outside the city.
Monday, February 9 – Homesteads outside Khorixas
Rural homestay in pairs, living in clay and stick houses.
Tuesday, February 10 – Homesteads outside Khorixas
Rural homestay in pairs.
Wednesday, February 11 – Khorixas
Rural homestay in pairs, pick-ups throughout the morning, meet up at iGowati Lodge in town for showers, homestay reflection, lunch at the lodge, visit to the town hall to chat with the deputy mayor (about the town and his experiences as a teacher), visit to the State Hospital and clinic, drive through informal settlements and government-built houses, Sociology class and presentation on PEPFAR by Dez and Porche, dinner buffett at the lodge.
Thursday, February 12 – Khorixas to Swakopmund
Long drive to Swakopmund with picnic lunch on the side of the road, settled at the ELCRN guesthouse, dinner at the lighthouse.
Friday, February 13 – Swakopmund
Tour of Swakopmund, visit with Ouma Lena (the female chief of the Damara), visit at an artist’s home in the informal settlement, visit to a traditional Nama herbalist, free time in town for lunch, visit to the Medi-Clinic (learn about private health care at the place where Angelina Jolie gave birth!), free dinner and evening.
Saturday, February 14 – Swakopmund
Free day—activities included kayaking and sandboarding, history test in the evening, free evening and dinner in town, Secret Valentine’s gift exchange.
Sunday, February 15 – Swakopmund
Free day—activities included kayaking, horseback riding and time at the beach, braai for dinner at the guesthouse with a Peace Corps Volunteer who was training teachers, student initiated Game Time of Murder in the Dark.
Monday, February 16 – Swakopmund
Visit to Swakopmund Municipality (housing and public health issues), visit to Mondesa Youth Opportunities (an after-school program with academics and sports), afternoon trip to Dune 7, pizza dinner at the guesthouse, Sociology class on
Sickness and Wealth.
Tuesday, February 17 – Swakopmund to Windhoek
Drive to Rosssing Uranium Mine for a tour, lunch on the side of the road, return to ELCRN guesthouse, Sociology exam, dinner at La Marmite for Cameroonian food.
Wednesday, February 18 – Windhoek to Cape Town, South Africa
Flight from Windhoek to Cape Town, South Africa, settle at St. Paul’s Guesthouse, visit to Western Cape University for a lecture on South African politics from Professor Laurence Piper, dinner at the guesthouse, group meeting, free evening.
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