Let me first say that if you don’t know me and this blog is the only time we’ve spoken, there are only two things you need to know about me: my sarcasm (see the next sentence) and the fact that I can relate EVERYTHING to a movie/a scene from a movie. Now when I say spoken of course I mean me talking via this blog and you never getting in a word edge-wise—trust me you’re not missing out, I’m the same way in person. However, if you’d like to contact me or send an anonymous comment feel free. But if you are one of the few people out there who want to be “pen-pals” feel free to e-mail me at my Semester at Sea account: jmuliano@semesteratsea.net .
Moving on…
There are only so many experiences one person can have in a day; today was the epitome of a perfect day. I’m not quite sure I will ever experience anything better.
Now when you think of Namibia I’m assuming you’re thought process is the following—okay, it’s somewhere in Africa. And now that you’re thinking of Africa (which by the way is correct), and pending you are at least 16, one of the top ten things you associate Africa with is Disney’s The Lion King. Oh, just I do that? Damn. Well, that was my thought process (you’d think I did research on the countries I was traveling to…).
So at 7:45 we open the curtains and I’m really hoping to see the African savannah and have elephants and gazelles prancing across the scene before me. The jukebox in my head starts singing, “Nahh, swa-embaa, babba hee swenn nah nohhh…” okay, so that was a horrid attempt at the opening song, The Circle of Life—my apologies to Elton John and Tim Rice.
Sadly, I’m here to report that when I opened my windows this was not the scene before me—instead it was much better. Out of bed and into the Union we were greeted by diplomats from the US Embassy. Of course, I was still half asleep and hardly paying attention, but what happened next was the start to what would be an amazing day. The entire shipboard community made our way to the 7th deck, and looked out to the pier where 22 girls were singing for us. The choir of young girls came all the way from their school to sing and dance for us and welcome our community to Namibia. After listening to a few songs and dances I rushed to get dressed and see the new country that welcomed me with open arms.
Surprisingly when we headed down the gangway the choir was still outside hanging with the community of college kids. I couldn’t help but smile at the welcoming committee before me and they were just as excited to meet us. The little drummer and a few girls were standing with a few students when one SAS girl decided to sing a thank you for our performers. She taught them a cute little beat that starts with a bang, bang, clap, bang, bang clap. For those of you who can’t figure it out she started singing Queen’s “We Will Rock You.” Immediately I felt the spirit of performing jump into me and joined in our rendition of the song. The smiles and applause made it so worthwhile. A girl, unknowing of me, trusted my smile and gave me a big bear hug around the waist. We stopped and chatted, laughing about Beyonce songs. Another one of the girls stopped me, grabbed my arm and said, “I love your color” referring to my skin. Quickly they were swept up by their teachers and took a tour of the boat, our home for the next few months, and we set off to tour their current homes.
The town is a basic, just apartment buildings and stores and restaurants. It’s not run-down, per say, nor is it dirty is a negative way. Basic is the only word I can think of to explain it. It’s simple and a non-complicated, no flourish kind of way. The port we’re docked at is very industrial full of trucks and storage centers. Namibia faces serious issues like the AIDS epidemic and Malaria, but still, it’s a paradise for the adventurous traveler.
Kristen and I explored Walvis Bay (pronounced Vaull-fish Bay…think German). We found a bank and exchanged some money for the South African Rand, which is interchangeable here and in South Africa, and then made our way to lunch. We stopped at an adorable café for toastees (grilled cheeses) and Coke-Colas. Once we left there we went to the local supermarket to pick up some supplies for the next stretch at sea.
Again I found myself greeted by more of the locals. A woman and her mother asked me if I was South African, visiting for holiday, but I was quick to laugh and tell them I was American, here for school. They were so interested we ended up in a quick conversation about my education and my travels thus far. They wanted to know about my family and my studies and what I planned on doing with my degree. Their interest was so honest I couldn’t help but loving every moment of their company.
We made our way back to the dock to set off on a Desert 4x4 Adventure at 1:45. After dropping off our grocery bags, we piled into one of the many Jeeps or Land Rovers waiting for us. Our driver was Toss, a local from Walvis Bay. He was an older gentleman who gave us a tour of the land and was driving our vehicle in the chain. The leader of the entire group was Tommy, a comical crazy tour guide who relished in the naïveté of the Americans. We drove along Long Beach in Walvis Bay, taking in the local sights, and finally arrived in the Namib Desert where our adventure began. We stopped to take pictures and let the air out of the tires of the 4x4s. Then we took off.
Up and down the dunes we drove through the waves of sand past sand boarders (think snowboarding…but on sand) and sand surfers (think windsurfing). We made pits stops along the way to see a few of the local animals like the Side-Winder (a snake), a small gecko, a scorpion, a chameleon (which Kristen got to hold reluctantly after she was volunteered by Tommy—see her blog), and various landscapes. In the middle of the tour we stopped and had lunch in the desert—oysters on the half shell with tobasco sauce, chips, granola bars, and soda. And toward the end of the trip we let the boys play with their toys (the guides and their trucks) and take us all over the dunes, flying in the cars like we were on roller coasters or something.
The desert is more than just sand. It’s a miraculous place. And the words will never do it justice, nor will any of my pictures/videos. I mean, I was standing on dunes today, making tracks in the sand with my bare feet (I didn’t wear shoes the entire trip!), and just to think tomorrow there will be no evidence I was ever there. Every day the sand changes, blowing to and away from the coast. No one will see the same dunes I saw today. And the colors vary on the dunes from light tans to deep blacks and purples and reds and all these shades in between.
To finish our Valentine’s Day, Kristen and I had a little romantic dinner for two at a local steakhouse. When we walked in we were seated at a table for two with candle light and everything. The waitress gave us each a single red rose and then we ordered dinner. We shared appetizers of calamari and mushrooms and split dinners of chicken cordon bleu and pizza. Then we had a fabulous chocolate brownie. It was the perfect ending to a wonderful and memorable Valentine’s Day. And I couldn’t have a better date than my best friend.
But the night wasn’t over!
You’d think that returning to the ship, taking showers, and heading to bed would be the ultimate ending, but there is one thing that could make it better. Aladdin is on TV!! I mean really?! One of my favorite cartoons is on TV, I’m with my best friend, I ran around the Namib Desert today, and I met wonderful locals today. I bet you’re Valentine’s Day wasn’t nearly as great as mine.
I think today was the first day Semester at Sea had really made a difference in where my future leads me. Spain was beautiful, Morocco was an experience, but Namibia is something unique and wonderful. And to think I still have 2 more days here. If today was any preview, I’m not sure I will be able to handle what else Namibia has to offer. Yet I know I will definitely be back after this trip…maybe with the Peace Corps?
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