Sidewalks...we hardly have those

This morning I looked around from inside the car and noticed that there aren't sidewalks in the town I stay.

While from Namibia, I haven't travelled around the country much. Sure, the towns to which I have paid, often brief, visits also seemed to lack sidewalks. Given the short length of these visits it can be taken with some scepticism.

The lack of sidewalks is also present in some cities in South Africa. There, however, it is very rare. In fact, Pretoria where I stayed for a while, had areas of the city where you could comfortably walk on the sidewalk for several kilometers.

Sidewalks are important. It segregates cars and pedestrians. Given how little respect many drivers have for cars, a mutual disrespect between these parties, it is safer for everyone to have their designated space. Hope where you are you have an easier time navigating the city on a sidewalk separate from where cars drive...

Conversations during a morning commute, Namibian summer and winter

Today me and my flatmate undertook the 10 minute commute from our residence to respective places of work. We left home, in Windhoek, at around 7.20 a.m., our usual drive time. As is our habit we listen to the National Radio during the commute. One headline was on euthanasia in New Zealand, and how a man was arrested for 'murdering' a relative.

Shortly after the weather report was briefly shared, and it predicts a sunset at 8 minutes to 20h00 in the evening. My flatmate; "You know during summer the sun sets late, and it is very hot too. Last night I excited the gym at around 19h20, and the sun shone right into my eyes on my drive back (to our flat)." I nod in agreement.

Then we briefly consider how powerfully this opposes winter sun times. Barely after 17h00 during winter the sun usually has not only set, but it is pitch black outside. And we continue saying how its fairly reasonable to work later during summer than it is during winter. The unspoken consensus being that working whilst it's dark out is unpleasant, diplomatically speaking. Northern hemisphere folk might find it strange that we are willing to not only work, but also work late during summer.

That is how we do. The one thing which is really difficult to do though during summer is sleep. Having the sun shine, at immense temperatures, for around fourteen hours (6h00 to 20h00) daily makes for incredibly hot nights. During these nights I often crave death, I am 'melting' away in the insufferable heat. Yet I keep, and so too does the tiredness which I can't satiate during evenings.

Immense heat is however not always a cause of suffering toward an in-dignified death, so I can't request to be euthanized come the days when my tiredness has me make unreasonable request. Or leaves the believe that death is better than the state of constant sleeplessness.

I will gladly sacrifice the hot Namibian climate for a colder one, especially if the place with a colder climate allows summer holiday. There is not enough reason in expecting someone to be stuck indoors whilst the sun is pleasantly, albeit hotly, shining outside. It just messes with productivity, mine at least.

Regardless, there are some joys to the Namibian summer. Incredibly long days, with very clear skies. The only downer being that sleep is a luxury due to especially heat and a lack of dark time hours.

Mom, bounty hunter or at least sort of

"Mother hunts down son's alleged killer" reads the headline in several national newspaper publications.

Further into the article the alleged murderer of Sopia Eichas's son was finally nabbed by the police a few hundred kilometers from the original town the crime was committed. Ivan Thabang Swelo allegedly stabbed Eichas's son in Swakopmund and fled to the south of the country from the coastal town.

Persistent and guided by "The police always tell us to assist them in fighting crime and bringing suspects to book." Eichas set out to hurry the capture of Swelo. Finally, six months after the crime, the suspect was caught by Karasburg police, said capture which was spurred on by Eichas's tip off. How far will a mother go to do things for her child?

Tip of the hat to Eichas who put herself out there to help the criminals face their time...

There are promises of rain

About a month ago a post was made celebrating the rain received, particularly in Windhoek. Now a month later there is a mere promise of additional rain. Many meteorologists, I think many, mentioned that during the week rain bearing clouds will move from the northern areas of the country to the central areas.

We're at Thursday now and while there are some heavy clouds above Windhoek, it is not certain that it will rain. The desire for rain is certain, however. Particular because, in Windhoek at least, 10% of the year's budgeted water supply has already been used. The rain is needed to replenish the water in our dams. Thankfully, in their predictions, meteorologists predicted thundershowers which would keep for days. Those usually bring a fair rising in the dam levels. And with a cm. rise, I think, the water volumes may be several thousand of liters.

I honestly can't wait for the rain to come, it really lulls one to sleep so gently. Or it does me, some people get way too stressed to sleep when the thunderstorms are crashing outside.

It rained last night...

The month is December, and during this time the rainy season starts to almost peak. The heaviest rains usually fall between December and February. It will look absolutely amazing in a matter of weeks when the rain has seeped into the ground and stimulated the growth of often sparse greenery.

Rains here are usually accompanied by thunderstorms, and when the thunder sounds it sends vibrations through the landscape. This can usually be felt as it is often really loud and rumbling. The oscillations and vibrations caused by the thunder are brilliant source of calm for me personally. Other quiver at the sound of the raging storm, are stunned when they sight the long flashes of lightning.

While I type away here I think to myself; the word descriptions here do not capture the beauty of the sounds and sights. Instead of working it'd have been brilliant to capture the rain on camera during this season. One thing is for certain, I will now pay somewhat more attention to the dark heavy clouds weighing heavily above, the sound of thunder crashing as these break into a loud yet lulling rain. One thing is certain, the corrugated iron roofs so abundant in the country add to a marvelous crescendo of rain drops clattering to the Namibian landscape.

It rained last night - heavily - and this will continue for at least a few more weeks. Our beautiful Namibia will be even more graceful and hypnotically pleasing to all the senses for the rain. The reprieve from the often sweltering heat will be one incredibly welcome reprieve.

Introduction Post

Herein I would like to express the perception and experience from living in such a juxtaposed country.

There are several different aspects to take into consideration. In some places it is a picturesque country, with breathtaking sights and in others appears to be the face of mother earth in a mourning weep. Several cultures exist within a tiny population, with very staunch conservatism in some groups with more fluid and liberal, almost identity-less  convictions in others.

The socioeconomic environment is also quite varied, and interesting. There are easily instances where people from either extremes on the socioeconomic plain meet directly with one another.

To the best of my narrative ability I will try to converse about Namibia.