Namibia weblog

In September 2004, Michael and Rosanne Hodin left their teaching jobs in Cornwall and went out to Namibia for two years' Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO).

Their job is to introduce a new Foundation Course at the University of Namibia, at Oshakati.

Michael and Rosanne wanted to share their experiences with people back at home, so we are hosting their weblog. Some of their reports are about the course, and living in Namibia, but much is about their travels around Africa.

This is an extract from their despatch of October 2004, which describes their week of induction training:

We spent a night in a traditional homestead which is has an outer high circular fence made of stout timbers seven or eight feet high, with a maze of paths leading to a kraal, place for livestock, or lots of huts under a thatched roof and stick sides.

Each hut is allocated to girls or boys or butter-making or the chief wife or guests or millet storage. It was really exciting arriving there as the shadows lengthened and wandering around and choosing a hut to sleep in on a simple mattress and a fresh cotton sheet and fat pillow decorated with leopards..." Find out more

In October 2005 they wrote

What a strange feeling: one year passed, another to go, and so much done and a void ahead.

This time last year we were alarmed and bewildered newcomers, wondering how we could ever start and deliver a course at the University with just nine working weeks to do it in. And now our students are almost ready to take their final exam, having been subjected to a battery of assessments and many different modules. Last week we gave them the entry test as a repeat to see how much progress they had made and we were delighted....

Now we wait with bated breath to see if the next thing really does happen - will they go on to the Main Campus into the first year of their degree course in a chosen but mostly scientific field? They have all applied for assorted loans and bursaries, but have heard nothing yet. So for them it is a perilous tightrope, will they get through the exams? Will they get on they course they want? Will they get funding next year? Find out more.

Read Michael and Rosanne's : latest letter home.

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