Casey is in 9th grade and plays netball. Netball it seems is like basketball but you can't move when you have the ball. She is one of the passengers in the van that runs between Windhoek and Swakopmund, and is returning from a school netball tournament in Windhoek. She is pretty with dark hair pulled up in a high ponytail, high full cheeks, lips and walnut brown skin. Her mother is black, her father Spanish. She tells us with a hint of annoyance, he has not been seen in some time, and is a mariner who it seems pass through Walvis Bay infrequently.
She has a surprising degree of sophistication but retains a young girls naivety and openness. Which she demonstrates by picking up on Mark's teasing wit. "Mary, he's being sarcastic, isn't he?" Her native tounge is Afrikaans but her english is quite good.
She is fascinated by Mark and I, and loves to hear us say her name in America english. And being Yanks of course assumes we are either famous or know someone who is. Casey is Namibian and a delight of the day.
The country is dry shrubby and reminiscent of east side of the state, aside from the odd road side Baboon, Warthog, or Eland.
Namibia is not Ghana. The vibrant intensity isn't there, so far it's rather colonial and if not common at least familiar. I'm not sure how I feel about that; but experiencing Africa is like the the parable of the blind men describing an elephant. One small glance or experience can't define the whole.
It was dark when we finally arrived in Swakopmund but I can feel and smell the sea. The moist tang of the air is in contrast to the dry warmth of the inland plateau and Windhoek.
We did have a lovely dinner with south African wine that was 2 dollars a glass so I guess I should just enjoy what is presented.Tomorrow is a wetland and sand dune tour to sandwich harbor.
M & M
She has a surprising degree of sophistication but retains a young girls naivety and openness. Which she demonstrates by picking up on Mark's teasing wit. "Mary, he's being sarcastic, isn't he?" Her native tounge is Afrikaans but her english is quite good.
She is fascinated by Mark and I, and loves to hear us say her name in America english. And being Yanks of course assumes we are either famous or know someone who is. Casey is Namibian and a delight of the day.
The country is dry shrubby and reminiscent of east side of the state, aside from the odd road side Baboon, Warthog, or Eland.
Namibia is not Ghana. The vibrant intensity isn't there, so far it's rather colonial and if not common at least familiar. I'm not sure how I feel about that; but experiencing Africa is like the the parable of the blind men describing an elephant. One small glance or experience can't define the whole.
It was dark when we finally arrived in Swakopmund but I can feel and smell the sea. The moist tang of the air is in contrast to the dry warmth of the inland plateau and Windhoek.
We did have a lovely dinner with south African wine that was 2 dollars a glass so I guess I should just enjoy what is presented.Tomorrow is a wetland and sand dune tour to sandwich harbor.
M & M
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