Following My Heart

Zambia

2008-07-24T10:13:00.004+02:00

Today I fly to Zambia to give a presentation about how to use databases for managing information on orphans and vulnerable children. I may also be talking about how databases can be used to support services around the distribution of ARVs (Antiretroviral treatment for HIV).

I will return from Zambia on Saturday.

Waiting

2008-07-03T13:13:00.001+02:00

It is just about time to get no the plane to South Africa. :-)

Flying to Windhoek

2008-07-03T06:35:00.001+02:00

Here is the plane that brought me to Windhoek yesterday. Today I leave for South Africa.

Running!

2008-07-01T11:20:00.001+02:00

We short-circuitde the security system, pushed started the car, and are now back no the road. :-)

Broke Down

2008-07-01T10:17:00.001+02:00

We stopped the car to pick up some more people, and now it won't start. It could be because of a faulty security system.

Leaving Opuwo

2008-07-01T09:27:00.001+02:00

I am just now hiking from Opuwo. I nice man helped me get a part-way there hike.

On The Way To Opuwo

2008-06-28T12:51:00.001+02:00

I'm just now in a combi on the way to Opuwo.

A Little Hectic

2008-06-27T13:03:00.002+02:00

Stuff is going on again:

Today teach in Okashandja to OVC girls.

Saturday travel to Opuwo.

Sunday, Monday, Tuesday: Fix computers for a youth centre.

July 1: travel to Ondangwa.

July 2: travel to Windhoek.

July 3: travel to Johannesburg, South Africa.

July 4: give a presentation on the OVC database.

July 5: travel to Windhoek.

:-)

Fish for Supper

2008-06-26T20:28:00.002+02:00

This evening a friend gave me two fresh fish. :-)

I fried them up nicely with some spicy chicken wing batter my mom had sent me.

When I gave a fillet to my Kuku, she took one bite and said: "nantago", which means "again". She liked it so much she wanted another fillet. :-)

Sarafina!

2008-06-19T18:59:00.003+02:00

Today I provided three showings of the movie Sarafina! to a school near my house.

The film was part of special activities at the school in remembrance of June 16th, 1976.

On that day many children rose up and protested against apartheid.

Child-Headed Households

2008-06-12T16:56:00.003+02:00

I just came back from a half-day tour of 5 child-headed households.

Imagine groups of children living together without running water, electricity, or parents.

It can be easy to forget the suffering of others while sitting at home watching reality television and eating home delivery pizza.

A Picture from the trip.

My Place

2008-06-09T14:21:00.004+02:00

I am starting to understand my place in the world.

Many times, when I am present and calm and attentive I can help people heal.

Now, I will find ways to do it more often... :-)

Things

2008-06-02T16:16:00.000+02:00

"The best things in life are not things."

Art Buchwald

Shaky But Standing

2008-06-02T16:14:00.001+02:00

I am a little shaky, but I am standing.

For me, I am always jumping in head first.

But, I would not have it any other way. :-)

Off-Roading

2008-05-27T23:06:00.001+02:00

Following your heart does not always mean doing what makes sense...following your heart is more like off-roading through life.

Repaired

2008-05-26T12:49:00.008+02:00

My heart was utterly broken, and my love was laid out for her to see, and in the end it was enough.

And she stopped her day for me. And my friends stopped their day for me. And they helped repair my heart.

Now my heart is glued together with the love of others.

Broken

2008-05-24T12:47:00.000+02:00

I thought it would be enough to fill my heart with love.

I thought my full heart would convince her I was the right man, but my full heart was not enough, and then it broke, and she saw my weakness.

Now, I am even alone in my dreams.

My First Present to Myself

2008-05-23T20:59:00.003+02:00

I just remembered that when I am feeling really sad, it is most likely that I have a bunch of emotions that I have not yet shared with right person, and that finally sharing them can make a big, positive difference in how I feel.

Cake

2008-05-23T16:08:00.002+02:00

Here is a picture of the cake that my friends got for me on my birthday!

Following My Heart

2008-05-23T09:38:00.003+02:00

I was just making some updates to my blog format, and I happened to re-read its title "Following My Heart".

I realized, it is very easy to know where my heart points -- I only need to think about something, and then be quiet and still. My heart is getting used to speaking up for itself, but it still needs me to give it a little room to announce how it feels.

As a birthday present to my heart, I am going to listen to it as much as I can today!

Birthday

2008-05-23T09:28:00.003+02:00

Today is my birthday. I am happy to be experiencing yet another one. :-)

I am just now waiting for a ride. I am going to teach for a couple of hours on HIV/AIDS related topics to a small group of my Namibian friends. I am excited for this class, because it will be with friends, and I like giving the presentation that I will be showing them.

I am hoping that later today a friend will come over and we can cook a nice birthday meal together, while listening to music and then watch a nice movie while we eat our freshly cooked food.

Presents

2008-05-22T09:49:00.004+02:00

Tomorrow is my birthday. I have been thinking about what I want for a long time. I realized that I have everything I need right now, except one thing...a partner. I thought by now, I would have found the special woman that is out in the world waiting for me.

I go back-and-forth between:

Being OK with being alone and rationalizing that I must first learn to completely enjoy being alone before being able to full be with another person.
Feeling a starving hunger for a woman who I can be (as people in the North Namibia say) one person with. (Its a saying that just means to be in a relationship with another person)

Still In The Hoek

2008-05-20T09:38:00.002+02:00

I am still in Windhoek. I have been creating a database for the Peace Corp to use. The database will help Namibia's Peace Corps administration track the activities reported by their volunteers.

I think I will be going back home this weekend. Next week, I will be helping with a gender norms workshop in the north.

Back Online

2008-05-12T12:36:00.003+02:00

Well, my attempt to document my hike from Ondangwa to Windhoek in real-time failed, because I lost my phone along the way. :-(

I left my phone in the vehicle that dropped me near Windhoek. It feel a little sad, because the phone was still working very good. I was able to buy a new phone using money left over from the sale of my motorcycle. Its kinda like my motorcycle has been reincarnated as my phone.

The new phone has a great feature for photo blogging. I can take a picture with the phone, and then have it sent directly to my blog. I will be experimenting with it soon. :-)

This week I am in Windhoek to conduct a workshop on the OVC database that another volunteer and I created. It should be a fun time.

First lift

2008-05-03T10:31:00.000+02:00

Just got my first lift all the way to Windhoek.

----  Sent using a Sony Ericsson mobile phone