Pics from Namibia

I feel so stupid. Could it be any easier to upload photos? 

OK. This is my speed. I told them God didn't give me girls since I can't braid hair. They all want me to die it black or brown. If only the knew how much weaves cost in the US. Hate this pic of me but I love it of the girls. 

Hiking? Really? It's only 102 degrees!!!!! 

 'Catie, you ok? You look like a cherry.'

 This is Christian. He is something else! He left his life in Belgium to come take care of orphans in Africa with his dynamic wife, Rita. He strikes that difficult balance of being fun while earning the respect of the kids. My heart melts as I see him reach out his hand in reassurance for a girl who needs just a bit more security and patience than the others. He jokes with the boys like he will hit them with his shoe if they don't go to bed. They giggle and love him. He took us to see some sights today. I loved that we were late to get home from our outing but he saw a little creek and got so excited he stopped for the kids to play a few more minutes. Precious, precious people! 

We are going where? Can we just go back to the Ark and have the girls brush my hair some more???? You can see forever here and it was absolutely silent on the hike. Saw a meercat but that was it for wildlife. The little girls kept picking what looked like pea pods from bushes and munching them up. They told me finally that it makes their 'boom booms' grow. Yes, you know what 'boom booms' are. It was great having Christian show me what they meant with sign language. It is so interesting. People from Belgium speak Flemish. Christian also speaks french. He comes to Africa and can transfer much of his Flemish into Africans (I gather he has a pretty good accent). English isn't a passion for him but he is always learning new phrases. Rita is clearer in Africans, according to some of the kids. Her English is better but sometimes I feel like it is exhausting for her to process in it. They speak Africans to the kids. 

Then you have those who speak Dutch and German. Somehow they can transfer their language over to Africans pretty easily too. 

Between 4 years of french in college and spanish, there are many words that transfer over or have been adapted. The other day, the others didn't know what a building was. I said it was a library without thinking because there was a sign that said 'beebliotek.' Spanish for library is bibliotec. The other day a man was asking for 'beaucoup' of something at the store. The checker didn't understand. I was able to tell her the word. I asked if he was french. He looked at me like I was crazy. 

The world has become very small and we don't even realize how much is melding together. It always surprises me that EVERYONE has a cell phone now, even if they don't have other necessities (or at least it seems that way). It has become a need. Many don't see it that way but I can tell you that students in Santa Ana without cell phones with internet really do miss opportunities and waste lots of time and energy now. Have you tried to find a pay phone lately?