by Beth Alexis

I don’t have an answer for that joke yet, but I thought it would make a catchy title. If you have a good punch line, please leave a comment.

Being in Namibia is a bit like being behind the scenes of a wildlife documentary, or it feels like you’ve hopped into the movie the Lion King.

Thursday’s tour of a game farm was one of those standout moments where I was able to appreciate the unique and diverse wildlife that Namibia has to offer.

The game farm is connected with the University of Namibia Neudamm Campus. The cattle for the university graze on this land, and there are options to camp on the game reserve for the chance to view wildlife.

We rode through the reserve in trucks and saw so many different animals. There was a family of warthogs that we kept coming across; they were fast runners and had no problem sliding under fences.

It was fun to see some of the animals run on the road in front of us and hop over fences. I think that the waterbucks (a type of antelope) we saw should be heading to the Olympics because they were certainly proficient in the high jump. Another group of animals that crossed our path was a congress (group) of baboons!

While touring the game farm we had a chance to learn about the crop science department and visit the greenhouse-like huts where some crops are grown. Since it is winter in Namibia there wasn’t too much growing, but we did see carrots, spinach, and onions. The particular onion variety was called Texas Giant. The crops manager explained to us the rotational planting practices between tomatoes and legumes.

Near the end of the tour we were surprised by a special lunch. We got to experience a braai which is a Namibian barbecue. The staff made us Namibian beef steaks, mutton, and pork sausage.

Keep following us (granted that we have Internet access) as our adventures take us to Gobabeb!

by Tray Heard

The scale and beauty of Heroes’ Acre, Namibia’s official war memorial, clearly shows the freshness of independence in the hearts and minds of this countries’ citizens. Perched like a bird’s nest high above the capital city of Windhoek, it can be seen for miles and offers an amazing view of the rolling hills all around. 

The towering 25 ft. bronze statue of Sam Nujoma, Namibia’s first president, stands fiercely at the top of the memorial, looking out over the country he helped create. This figure is shadowed only by a gleaming white obelisk—a structure similar to our Washington Monument—rising nearly 100 ft. into the sky behind him; it is truly a sight to behold.

Completed only 10 years ago, very few of the memorial’s 174 gravesites are currently marked. Nine black marble tombstones show portraits of Namibia’s heroes that have already passed, political and military alike. As Namibia is now only 22 years removed from its independence from South Africa, it is understood that there are still many more heroes that have yet to earn their place in the annals of this young countries’ history.

Similar to many state-funded structures built across the world, Hero’s Acre has not escaped controversy. Contracted and constructed by a North Korean firm, Namibians and outsiders both struggle to understand the ruling parties’ decisions in creation and design.

Much can be said about the look of the memorial; marble, bronze and gold are all the eyes can see in sharp contrast to the dry green and brown hills that surround it. Memorials have often stood as bright and shining examples of how a population can show their pride to visitors and the world. With all its splendor, this memorial does not fail to stand up to that desire. 

by Leighton James

The first souvenir I will pack in my bag—the weather.  

It’s beautiful during the day. At night, the temperature drop is quite shocking though.  However, the blankets University of Namibia gave us to sleep with are very warm, which makes for a cozy night’s sleep. That’s purely opinion though.

Some stay colder than others. Thankfully, our excitement makes up for any heat we may lack. We carry it with us everywhere.

We started Monday by meeting with U.S. embassy staff. Much to our delight and surprise, Ambassador Wanda Nessbit joined us as well.

We learned about Namibia’s economy and politics and U.S.-Namibia relations. We also learned about how to get jobs in foreign relations. Our pre-departure research came in handy while at the visit. It prompted many insightful questions and allowed us to make the most of our time there.

After, we explored the city of Windhoek. Giraffes, elephants, and monkeys lined the streets—the carved miniature versions of course … not the real ones.

The city is similar to one you would find in the United States. There were malls, food courts, nice stores, modern buildings, and restaurants. We actually felt a little closer to home in town.  

The restaurant where we ate lunch looked like it walked out of an old western magazine. Old country music played in the background as we chose burgers, fajitas, fish, or other similar dishes.

Outside, there was heavy traffic and people everywhere. We even had to dodge a few cars. Pedestrians do not have the right-of-way here.

At the embassy, we learned that the wealthiest people here are 52 times richer than the poorest people. We definitely saw the wealthier population of Namibia while in Windhoek.  Later on our trip, we will get to see the poorer regions. I believe that since we saw the wealthier side first, we will have a greater understanding of the gap between the rich and poor when we encounter the other extreme.

Next, Sean Kalundu, who recently left Texas A&M University as a Fulbright Scholar, gave us a history lesson at Heroes’ Acre. Stairs lead visitors to a massive statue of Namibia’s first president, which overlooks the graves of Namibia’s heroes. Although we were out of breath when we reached the top, the hike was worth it. The cool, fresh air, the beaming sun, and the panoramic view were priceless.

Sean told us there is a lot of debate about who should be remembered at this memorial. Who should be defined as a hero? What makes someone a hero?

I frequently have to silently tell myself, “I’m in Africa.” It’s almost too hard to believe, and I have a feeling it will go by too quickly.  I didn’t know what to expect when I got here. Honestly, I don’t know what to expect the rest of the trip.

There’s only so much that can be learned from research and pre-planning. However, the introduction was capturing and has left us all wondering what will happen next.

How will our ideas be challenged?  What doors will this open?  What kind of appreciation will we have when we leave?  Will we be chased by a cheetah?

Stay updated to find out.

by Holly Van Groll

After 30+ hours in transit, we Aggies have finally reached our destination, Windhoek, Namibia! It has been a long trip, with very little sleep, but we are all so happy to be here.

After our first flight landed in Frankfurt, Germany, we jumped on a train and headed downtown. Luckily, they were having a local festival in a large, open square, where we grabbed a quick lunch of delicious bratwurst! We took part in some great “people-watching” and soaked up some of the local culture.

On several occasions throughout our time in Frankfurt, I overheard several of my fellow students exclaim how surprised they were to encounter so many English-speaking locals. This is a great example of the globalization that is quickly become our norm today.

As an international agriculture graduate student, I have learned to recognize the importance of gaining these experiences abroad. Learning how similar and different our culture is to others is a great way to promote understanding and acceptance worldwide.

After lunch, we were able to hop onto a boat for a river tour on the Main River. We had a great time chatting and relaxing on the deck while learning about the local buildings and bridges, which were covered in very elaborate graffiti.

After the tour we headed back toward the train station but stopped for a few minutes to look around a local chapel. Just as we were leaving, a wedding party was starting to convene at the front steps of the church.

Once we arrived back at the train station, we had a few hours to regroup, clean up, and prepare for the next leg of our journey … Frankfurt, Germany, to Johannesburg, South Africa!