4 Things I Love About Namibia

I've lived in Namibia for a month now, and I've been in awe at so many incredible things about this country. Many of these things were expected, like its beautiful scenery and wildlife, and yet, so many more were unexpected. Prior to my move, I put in hours of research on the country's history, culture, and just cool things to be excited about, and yet, there were still many surprises that awaited me upon my arrival. In celebration of my one month mark, I wanted to provide you with a list of 4 things I love about Namibia that no research could have prepared me for.

1. The Bread

I know what you're thinking, 'Are we really going to talk about bread?' Yes, we are, because if food is culture, and you want to talk about culture, then we absolutely need to talk about the bread. In fact, I meant to publish this post a week ago, but the date kept being pushed back because I simply could not stop eating the bread long enough to take a picture of it. It means a lot to me that you see what the bread looks like, and yet, it took me about three loafs of different purchases to take a picture. So here it is, this is what the bread looks like.

Behold, the bread of dreams. You may also notice on the package that it advertises "more slices." It sure does. There are actually enough slices packed into this bad boy to last me several days, and that is saying a lot. This bread wastes no time on crust, which gives you more gooey bread area, and a true square shape. Why is a square shape so important? This way, you won't smash the top part of the bread if it's sitting on the table the wrong way.

Now, why am I bringing up bread? Because when I say this is a staple food item, I mean it. Bread is a real thing here, and I appreciate this a lot, because I consider myself a bread person as well. When you're in the grocery store check out line, every single shopper has this bread, and hardly anyone has just one loaf-usually people buy two or three at a time. What food is available at my office? You already know the answer. We snack on it for breakfast and lunch. You can spread peanut butter or butter on it, and most people stack three slices at a time.

This is probably not how you were expecting this list to go, but I beg of you, next time you're in Namibia, buy the bread.

2. The Safety and Friendliness Factor

Join me in my perspective of being a woman traveling by herself to a foreign country. Warning signs would usually go off, right? It certainly does for me when I backpack or travel through the United States. So believe me when I say that this is one of the safest places I have ever lived in or visited.

Now, before I go any further, I am absolutely employing safety measures and precautions-I haven't thrown caution to the wind. There are a number of safety standards that I uphold every day.

What I am saying here is how safe I feel being able to walk through my town and how so many people have gone out of their way to welcome me into the community. I can't tell you how many taxi drives have ended with me shaking the driver's hand and truly wishing him a good day, or sharing a genuine laugh with strangers that are walking on the path with me. There is a bit of a magic component in the community of my town that makes people want to take care of each other, and I love being a part of it.

3. The Focus on Power Consumption

This one really impresses me. Namibian outlet sockets come with an on/off switch, which I know many countries use, but I'm more impressed with how deliberate I've seen people turn off their outlets when they're not in use, like the oven, microwave, and even their water when they are not home.

Now, it's important to note that Namibians prepay for their electricity. Meaning, if you buy $100 worth of electricity, then you get exactly $100 worth of electricity. After that, you need to buy it again. So for Namibians, being energy conscientious also gives them the benefit of spreading their $100 a little bit further. The box on the wall tells you exactly how much energy you have left to use, which is a surprisingly good motivator to turn off whatever you can. The added secret benefit here is an entire nation that is dedicated towards power conservation.

There's a lot more that comes with this conversation, obviously, that isn't being discussed, but for the sake of keeping it on the list of what I love most, I'll end the conversation here.

4. The Languages

How many languages do you speak? Chances are, you speak English and you boast about the years you took Spanish in high school. This is one of my favorite questions to ask someone when I'm getting to know them. My follow up question then is to ask which language English is to that person. Most people will say it's their 3rd language, but I've heard plenty also say it's their second.

So what's the average answer to my first question? Most people respond somewhere around 3-5 different languages! A typical response will usually include Oshiwambo, Afrikaans, and English in the mix, with Rukwangali (the language I am learning), Dutch, and German also being put in there. I hardly ever hear someone say KKG, since that language is a really tough one to learn. The highest language number I've come across was a studious high school learner who boasted 7 languages!

In Namibia, there is something called the Mother Tongue, which can also be described as your first language. In my neighborhood, Rukwangali is the Mother Tongue, but not too far away, Oshiwambo is the Mother Tongue. What happens then, when two of these kids grow up and find themselves working in the same office? This is where English comes in, and why it is so crucial for everyone to know. English becomes the common language that all Namibians can speak, regardless of their original Mother Tongue. This is how everyone can ensure equality in the professional world and make sure that everyone is able to communicate with everyone. I find it fascinating, but I'm also an English teacher.

So, there's my list of 4 things I was not prepared to love, but absolutely do. Did I miss anything?