Happy Thanksgiving!

Well, tomorrow that is...

Apologies for the lack of recent blogging. My internet time has been nonexistent, hence the lack of an update. However, I do have some updates, so check it.

I now have a car. A 95 Toyota RAV4 with about 200,000 miles. Two days after I bought it, it broke down. A tube for the power steering broke, and I couldn't turn the wheel. Since it's an import, they said the part would take over two weeks and in turn, would be quite expensive. Seeing as how I just bought the car, I opted to have one of the CDC drivers finagle something with parts from another car. Probably just a band-aid fix, but it appears the fluid is no longer leaking. Sadly, the driver checked out my car again yesterday and informed me the oil is now leaking. I guess I was at a dangerously low level? And... when driving around some friends last weekend I was told my transmission was bad and the car likely has other problems. Essentially, I bought a bad car. Not a good situation... I am hoping to have someone look at it to see what can be fixed for a relatively low price. I hate cars.

Other news is that I moved into my new flat exactly one week ago! I spent my first night unpacking every duffel bag and suitcase. It was ridiculously thrilling. I am happy to do the dishes, because it means I have a sink! I was also quite happy going to the grocery store and stocking up on perishable items - I now have vegetables, cheese, milk, fruit and yogurt in my fridge. There does appear to one problem with the place... cockroaches. I've been killing about 10+/day. I think that means there are secretly 1,000,000+ lurking in my cupboards. I talked to my landlord and I think she is going to have someone spray for them. I don't mind bugs, but to me, cockroaches are like miniature flying rats. Die cockroaches.

This past weekend I went to a Thanksgiving celebration. My friend Meghan, who is a Presidential Management Fellow, left with her boyfriend Todd for 3 weeks of travel through Zimbabwe, Zambia and Botswana. Since they wouldn't be around for Thanksgiving, Meghan decided to have one early and make everything herself. It was amazing. From scratch, she made the turkey, green bean casserole (meaning, she had to fry the onions herself), sweet potatoes (sweet potatoes are green here), mashed potatoes, and stuffing. She also made cheesecake, apple pie, apple crumb pie, and pumpkin pie (read, made from a pumpkin, not can, who does that?). It was fantastic. There "may" have been a photo taken of my dessert plate. In my defense, I wanted to try all the different pie... isn't that the nice thing to do?

I'll have another Thanksgiving celebration tomorrow with CDC people. There will be about 15 of us, and then my co-workers kids, which I think there are about 7 or so. I am going to try and make some vegetable side dishes and then attempt to make the pumpkin pie that Meghan made. I have a feeling it will end in disaster seeing as how I can't cook, and I am even worse at baking.

Work has been going well. This week I've been managing some data extraction at an area hospital in their ART clinic. One of the Sisters (Nurses) at the hospital told me I should try milking one of her cows over the holidays. I told her I would do it since I have milked cows before - dairy farm family.

Today I'm going to an elementary school to read books to the kids there. It's a program through the Embassy and I've heard good things about it. The next two weeks I'll be traveling to the coast (Swakopmund and Walvis Bay) to work on a Prevention with Positives research study that is taking place in Namibia, Tanzania and Kenya. Other work projects continue to include the SMS project (text messaging) and national prevention strategy writing. I'm hoping to get involved in some various research projects (TB needs assessment, MARPS). There is a lot going on in Namibia - which is great news for a Fellow.

People have asked me about the weather. It's starting to get pretty hot during the day (maybe in the high 80's / low 90's). My place doesn't have air conditioning, but at night it cools off somewhat. I've been told the rainy season will start sometime in January. Supposedly it was already to have started - I guess it's been a pretty dry Spring.

This Friday and Saturday are the Presidential and Parliamentary elections in Namibia. I think the current ruling party will be in place for another 5 years. (SWAPO)

I am surprised by the amount of Christmas decorations. Garland, lights, trees, and santas are everywhere. Christmas music is already being played. I do not associate warm weather with the holidays, so everything seems out of place and out of context. I am confused.

Luke is coming December 14th for about 4 weeks. I'm hoping to jet off to Mozambique for New Years. Have to wait and see what the flights are looking like and what the deal is with my quickly deteriorating car.

I think that's about all my news for now. I hope everyone is doing well. Happy Thanksgiving!!

Lots of Love,
Krysta

p.s. I'll post some pictures soon.