Greetings from Swakopmund

Just a quick note of greetings from Swakupmond, a German influenced resort
town on the coast of Namibia. We arrived this afternoon after a full days
drive from Khorixas where the students were having their rural homestays.
It was a hot drive through the Namib desert but we have arrived safely.

The students enjoyed their rural homestays. They spent 3 days and nights in traditional mud and dung huts out in very remote rural homesteads. Most were in quite rustic conditions with no running water, toilet, electricity, etc. For some it
was their first experience in conditions like this and all seemed to manage (although a few are worried a bit about our extended camping coming
up in Botswana... but most of the time there we will have access to
running water and toilets...most of the time anyway). Some got to milk
cows or goats. Others went on donkey rides to run errands. Most helped prepare their food over the fire. One pair participated in the killing of a chicken and goat for their dinner! Most of them were shocked by how many hours there are in the day there are when you your life isn't run by your day planner.

We will spend the next 5 nights in Swakupmond. We've got a tour of the city
tomorrow and visits scheduled to both their public hospital and a private
clinic. Should be an interesting contrast for the students as we talk
about global health issues. Paul comes in Friday night for the weekend (after a 13 hour drive from Maun) and we've set asidethe weekend for a little R&R for the students (sandwiched between a history exam on Friday and a Sociology exam on Tuesday). Several of them have elected to partake in some of the local activities -
"boarding" on the sand dunes (a couple of options here - one
like snow boarding the other like sledding), kayaking in Walvis Bay with
the seals and famingos, horse back riding, etc. One is thinking of sky
diving but I think Paul might be the only other interested party! And NO,
I will not do that!

On Wednesday we head for South Africa. Hope to have better internet access
there. Hopefully I'll be able to write back to each of you who have sent me individual e-mails.

When I get my South African cell phone set up, I'll send the number
in case you need to contact me in an emergency (or just to chat).
Hope all is well on your end of the world.
I'm off to dinner at the Lighthouse Restaurant.
Cheers,
Kristy