We took a cultural field trip to Windhoek this past Saturday; it was our first time leaving Okahandja since arriving and I think a lot of us were getting cabin fever. To be honest, I was a little hesitant about visiting Windhoek after all of our safety and security sessions, which warned us of the likelihood of robbery there. Peace Corps provided us with mitigation tactics such as not bringing/displaying valuables, being aware of our surroundings (RADAR), etc. They also taught us that if we fail to mitigate the problem and get held up, we should not fight back and just give them our stuff. I was pretty bummed about that because I took an intensive self-defense class for a PE credit my freshman year and can dish out a mean hammer punch while firmly telling my attacker, “NO!” I’ve also watched Miss Congeniality quite a few times and have Sandra Bullock’s “SING” move down. Luckily, however, the trip went without incident and there was no need for me to suppress my killer self-defense instincts. We started the day at Heroes’ Acre, the memorial to the fallen heroes and heroines of the fight for Namibian Independence. It was established on August 26, 2002 and lies about 10km south of Windhoek’s city center. Kevin, our Country Director, joined us and we all walked up about a thousand steps to a beautiful lookout above the memorial where we sang Okana Kameme (the group favorite song from morning assemblies… see the video posted on my Facebook).
By the end of the tour, most of us were famished #DidntGetTeaBreak and we made our way over to the mall for lunch. Pizza. Just thinking about it as I write this post a week later makes my mouth water. Most of my meals since getting to Namibia have consisted of pap (traditional porridge), pasta, and some kind of vegetable (normally a mixture of beans, cabbage, and onions), so pizza was a welcomed bite of home.
The day ended at a local open-air market where I, as a vegetarian, was given quite the shock. Meat everywhere. We couldn’t bring our cameras so I wasn’t able to get pictures, but whole animals were everywhere just being chopped up and cooked in front of us. The meat they were grilling is called Kapana (cow? chicken? pork? I don't know) and people would just stand around the Kapana grill pulling the sliced meat off and dipping it in spices at the head of the grill. There were also Mopane worms that a few people tried, I am going to post more about them in a few days when I discuss Traditional Cooking Day. Lets just say that both in Windhoek and at TCD, I stuck with the fat cakes. Windhoek wore me out but the weekend was not done yet, Sunday was my first Namibian church experience and boy, was it a good one. As a Bryant daughter, I am accustomed to getting to church about 15 minutes after it has started, catching the sermon and last two songs, and leaving promptly at noon. That tradition will not continue here in Namibia. Church starts at 9:30 and we arrived right on the dot. Five minutes passed and I started looking around the room, fifteen minutes and I patiently began to flip through my Bible, trying to be productive, and thirty minutes later I called it and decided “Well, I guess this is Namibian church – everyone reading their Bible together.” Around 10:05 I was reminded that Africa time is a real thing and the service started… it was very much the opposite of everyone quietly reading their Bible. Let’s rewind a little bit back to what I am accustomed to as a Bryant who attended First Presbyterian. 1. We arrive late 2. We sit in the back 3. We sing hymns read out of the hymnal 4. We never sing so loud as to attract attention to our lack of talent 5. We NEVER get out of the pew and dance. My world was turned upside down in my little Namibian church. My eardrums were nearly burst out of my ears as the music blared and the pastor shouted out the lyrics for the conjugation to follow. I was frequently told to “sing louder,” and I frequently responded, “You really don’t want me to do that.” People danced in the aisle, women screamed the “ayayayay” sound that I love, it was loud, it was hectic, and it was lovely. At one point the pastor asked people who were having suicidal thoughts to come to the front of the church, this was probably the most shocking part of the service for me. About ten people went up to undergo what I can only describe as some sort of exorcism – the pastor began to command the Devil to leave their thoughts as the ushers held their heads and then pushed the evil thoughts away. The service was split between praying to God for blessings and commanding the Devil to get out of the way of those blessings. It was incredibly different than anything I had ever experienced, and I realized that my church experience in America rarely discussed Satan let alone commanded him to do anything. Despite the many differences and occasional shock throughout the service, I was brought to tears a few times by the one binding similarity – the love for/of Jesus. It was almost surreal standing 7,500 miles away from home, trying to dance to a gospel song sung in Otjiiherero, thinking that in 3 hours my family would be sneaking into First Presbyterian to worship the same God in such a different way. I don’t fully know how to put all of these emotions and thoughts into words, but there is something so beautiful and so comforting about a group of believers gathering together to worship... I have two years to find a more eloquent way to describe it. Anyways, the service ended about three and a half hours later at 1PM, the last few songs were punctuated with the sound of my grumbling stomach. Next time I go, I’m bringing a snack.
15 Comments
Weeza
9/11/2017 07:22:03 am
The light of my day is to find a post from you, I know that when you return home your next adventure will be to become a bestseller writer!! From now on I will always think of you in church when I enter my very traditional church service. I might even be inspired to jump out of the choir loft and break out in song and dance! Be safe and enjoy each day of your new experience
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Maggie Mahony
9/11/2017 10:08:40 am
What lovely commentary of your Peace Corps adventures! I anxiously look forward to seeing your mom's posts of the next installment on your blog...
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9/11/2017 03:04:40 pm
Love reading of your adventures!! Especially loved hearing about church service and how lively it was! I was trying to find your video of "Okana Kameme" but no luck. Would love to hear that!!
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Honey
9/11/2017 05:38:26 pm
Love reading this and can just see you experiencing all these wonders
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jeanie connell
9/11/2017 05:53:38 pm
I spent 6 weeks in Namibia in 2002 and your blog brought back many good memories. The people were kind, open to healing prayer, church was as you described except my first with the tin roof: we had rain and the sound of the rain joined in with the exuberant worship and dance.
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Stacy
9/11/2017 07:08:38 pm
Loved reading this. So funny how we worship in different ways. Can't wait to read your next post.
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Bob
9/11/2017 08:07:22 pm
Oh, Peyton, you are into a real adventure. It is so much fun to read about your reactions to the sights and events around you. You inspire others to be aware of the wonders of the world. You make the world a brighter place. Keep it coming. You've got a following now. Bob and Rosie
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Jennifer Royall
9/11/2017 08:54:05 pm
I'm headed to Namibia to meet up with the TTS group. I so hope to connect. First headed to Etosha then CCF & definitely nearby where you're training.
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Dad
9/20/2017 03:07:17 pm
Dear daughter;
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Dee hodges
10/6/2017 10:46:15 am
The spirit realm is a reality.
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12/21/2022 01:32:18 am
İnstagram takipçi satın almak istiyorsan tıkla.
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1/8/2023 06:10:14 am
100 tl deneme bonusu veren siteleri öğrenmek istiyorsan tıkla.
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6/30/2023 05:33:40 am
En iyi amasya ilan sitesi burada. https://amasya.escorthun.com/
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February 2018
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