“Who wants to study abroad?” That was one of the first questions I remember in Dr. Wash Jones’ agriculture class. I of course wanted the experience, but understood being a non-traditional student, there were limitations to my travel and finance that I had to realize were more important than traveling to Namibia. Not traveling to Africa would be the most understandable scenario; well that’s not me, I needed a challenge. I was described the most horrible sights from family and friends; even my husband who is from Senegal, West Africa warned me that I was not ready for what Namibia offered.

My husband was absolutely correct; I could not have imagined what I was going to experience in Africa. The Atlantic Ocean was never brought into the conversation when discussing Africa, to be more exact Namibia. Namibia is home to Swakopmund, which is right off the coast of the Atlantic Ocean. Swakopmund is a quaint little town, home of about 35-40 thousand inhabitants, that reminds me of Galveston, Texas without the combustion and meter parking that is now law along the Galveston coast.

Swakopmund has many things to offer when it comes to the small town, but just beyond the land there is Walvis Bay, which has become a very Globally Important Heritage System for the country. Our study abroad program was fortunate enough to see what grows and lives in the waters of this region of the world. Oysters, to my surprise are grown and harvested off the coast of Namibia and yes, I have tasted them; now I know what the Atlantic Ocean tastes like.

Oysters are grown in cages below the water for 15 months, where in the United States they are grown for about 30 months until harvested. The cool waters of the Walvis Bay have become an economic resource for the oyster farmers in Namibia. The oyster farmers have to lease the water space, just as land has to be leased in Namibia in order to start the farming process.

There are policies and procedure when it comes to the regulation of the oyster industry, also problems such as storms, red tides and poachers. Red Tides can be very costly, due to the high nitrogen levels in the water related to the toxic algae bloom, which can cost millions of N$ in loss to the farmers. As of today, oysters are growing in preparation for the next harvest and I was fortunate enough to experience this type of oceanic farming; which is so different from my agriculture experience back on the Prairie View A&M farm. The oysters were harvested the morning prior to our charter on the open water and served for lunch. In Houston, where I reside, I would enjoy oysters at Happy Hour when they are most inexpensive and make a horseradish, lemon and hot sauce mix in order to swallow whole.

Mr. Ernst our tour guide assured me I have been doing this wrong and told me to “loosen the oyster, slurp and chew to enjoy all the oyster have to offer.”  These oysters were very different and fresh, I honestly tasted the Atlantic Ocean and hot sauce, I am from Texas so not everything needs to change. I can appreciate what has become a wonderful experience for me while appreciate this aspect of agriculture that as an agriculture economist in the making, there are so many more avenues that are available in my future career.

 

As a whole, Texans tend to be a willful, strong and prideful people with a serious identity of being Texan. These traits are instilled in us because of how Texas formed as a state in the U.S., causing a strong history, strength as well as the attitude that tends to come with our culture. We like our Texas flag, state and all around Texan-ness plastered all over our clothes, cars, and even home decor. I have asked my family members who reside in other states what people in other places across America think of us, and the conclusion is simple; Texans love Texas. There is a state pride unlike any other because of our culture, and its reputation continues across state lines.

 

The group of Aggies currently with me in Namibia have crossed state borders, oceans, and countries to partake on this adventure. Our love and passion for our Texas heritage has made the journey with us. Texan’s culture outside of our home state is still a part of everything we do, and how we see the world. Our pride in that culture has traveled with us in our carry-ons in the form of Texas A&M flags and blankets. It is in our suitcases taking the form of a Texas state on our t-shirts. And it is with us in our hearts and minds as we say ‘howdy’ to the Namibians we meet.

The reason why we have brought this identity with us is that we are proud to be Texans. That is who we are, and how we were raised. Our cultural lens is framed with a love and pride for the place we call home. Something that sets our state’s culture apart is how loud we are about it; We are not afraid to tell someone where we come from with a sense of passion flowing through with those words.

A large part of Texan culture is our cattle industry. Texas is the number one cattle producer in America, and cattle is an industry that has shaped our history and heritage. There are about 11.7 million cattle currently residing in Texas, while Namibia only contains roughly 3 million. The difference in cattle population between the two is intense, but the cultural pride is not so far apart. I was talking to a Peace Corps volunteer, Jennifer, who is currently based close to Swakopmund, Namibia. She told me that many Namibians have cattle not just for money, but for pride. Cattle owning in itself is part of their heritage, much like it is back home in the Lone star state.

When we visited the students at UNAM, my professor Dr. Redwine was getting our attention and started off with “Namibians and Texans.” Not ‘Americans’, but Texans. The other day my fellow classmate Alicia was wearing a shirt with a large Texas state on the back. Any time I take a picture of Zeke he throws up his Fightin’ Texas Aggie ‘Gig ‘em’ like is the most natural reflex in the world. Michael gives almost any Namibian he speaks to a “Howdy” and Tiffany asks anyone who meets her eye, “how are you doin’?”. We speak loudly, and laugh with our heads thrown back and mouths wide open; We engage, welcome, experience and appreciate this entire experience just like we do back home. That just goes to show you can take the Texan out of Texas, but you can’t take the Texas out of a Texan.

Over the past week, many Namibian land owners opened their doors and allowed us a firsthand look into their livelihoods. Land ownership in Namibia vastly differs from land ownership in the United States. According to Brian Child, Chair of the Southern Africa Sustainable Use Specialist Group, 44 percent of all land is owned by private land owners, 41 percent is communally-owned, and 15 percent is state-owned, such as in the national parks. Many of Namibia’s diverse ethnic tribes call communal lands home, while private land owners make their living as farmers and business owners.

Jimmy O’Kennedy, owner and operator of Patria Farms, gave our group a private tour of his commercial fruit, vegetable, and livestock farm in Stampriet. Though Namibia is experiencing a severe drought, Jimmy’s 40 hectares of luscious green vegetables show no sign of water deprivation. Patria Farms is fortunately located on the Stampriet Artesian Aquifer Basin, allowing for fertile soils and the ability to implement highly advanced drip irrigation systems.

Patria Farms has been in operation since the 1900s. From a young age, Jimmy said his father encouraged involvement on the farm. Now Jimmy is doing the same for his younger brother, Willy. Patria Farms employs 45 people regularly and more during harvest. I was fascinated to learn that they still implement many old fashioned farming practices, such as weeding and harvesting vegetables by hand, which are long-gone practices in most American commercial farms.

Despite Jimmy’s lifelong farm training, Patria Farms still faces challenges common to all Namibian farmers. The arid soils and lack of water make farming difficult. Livestock can be easily lost to predators and thieves. Another issue facing Namibians is the Land Redistribution Act of Government. If a landowner wants to sell land, it must first be offered to the government. Through the Land Redistribution Act, state-purchased land is then sold to a previously disadvantaged person. Even with the drive to succeed, many of these new land owners do not have and/or cannot access proper training or education to ensure success. Lack of education leads to more subsistence, rather than commercial farming; Namibia needs successful commercial farmers to decrease the country’s reliance on food imports.

While in Stampriet, we lodged at the Stampriet Historical Guesthouse. During our tour with Jimmy, I learned that his father actually built the beautiful guest house. The O’Kennedy’s no longer own it, however many facets, such as antique furniture and old photographs hanging high on the walls, are original pieces from the O’Kennedy family. Like Kobus and Petro Hayman, owners of the Stampriet Historical Guesthouse, some Namibian land owners make their livings in the tourism industry. Namibia is diverse in both landscape and culture, drawing in visitors worldwide.

Namibians won the fight for freedom only 26 years ago and remain resilient in their efforts toward progression. By submerging myself in parts of Namibian culture the past week, I am gaining a greater appreciation for the simple rights and freedoms I often take for granted in America. The next time I am home, in Somerset, Pennsylvania, I will cherish the land that has been the foundation of my life.

Texan. What does that word mean to you? To some it may make you think horses and cowboys. To a Texan, it means who you are and where you come from. There are many cultures in this world, but few are as rough, rowdy, and proud as the Texan culture. Whether this Texan is a Houston city dweller or a full blown western cowboy, that pride remains the same. It is what lies deep in the heart of every Texan.

From the Rio Grande to the Panhandle, since the Battle of the Alamo to present day, Texan pride is common thread. Following the cultural heritage outside of Texas on this Namibian expedition is an intriguing subject. The students of Texas A&M and Prairie view A&M including myself, bring a unique and special heritage. Not all of us are native born Texans, and we all come from different walks of life. This demonstrates our own cultural melting pot in action. One could describe this group of adventurers as odd or strange. Though from the outside looking in, it couldn’t be further from the truth. We desire to show our Texan pride to others. Let me give you an example of what I mean.

The group was invited to the University of Namibia’s Neudamm Campus, a cutting-edge agricultural campus for the region. To me, it was like stepping back in time to the beginning of Texas A&M University, with the exception of military aspect. Texas A&M started with six faculty members and 40 students. I estimated Neudamm had severaland 150 students. This new veterinary medicine-oriented agriculture school started in 1985. When we showed up, we were greeted by 10 Neudamm students and campus faculty. The tension was almost laughable as we walked into the large lecture hall and introduced ourselves. It took a long time to break the tension, but slowly the mingling began and we all got the courage to introduce ourselves before the tour.

We began our informal tour of campus. It was fascinating to see the campus from the students’ points of view; they showed us many things throughout the tour, such as their own chicken and pig farm. Another equally fascinating thing was the dairy production.

One thing that really intrigued Neudamm students was our stuffed animal, little Reveille, who has earned the name Flat Rev. The Neudamm students were curious about why we had a stuffed dog with us and immediately, we Aggies began to explain the many histories and traditions of A&M. The pride in which we all spoke of Reveille and how loudly we sang the War Hymn demonstrated our Aggie pride. I know we left an impact of our heritage because as we were leaving, some Neudamm students started to follow us to the bus jokingly. One student turned to me and exclaimed, “Time for us to start making our traditions!”

The University of Namibia Neudamm Campus is the agriculture school for Namibia. The campus and farm is on 10,187 hectares, which is about 25,172 acres. The earliest record for the farm is in 1897 when a grazer gave the land to the Land Council because the land had no water. Later on, the land was used to house seized livestock during the German-Herero War. During this time the largest dam in Namibia was built to provide water to the land. The name for the campus came from the building the dam, Neudamm (“New Dam”). It originally started as an agriculture experimental farm in 1909.

The long and outstanding history and heritage of University of Namibia Neudamm Campus is shown in the students and faculty. The start of the university as an agricultural school was in 1982. Since that time, the university faced many issues with drought, but have pushed through and now have about 200 students. Every student is either in their second year or higher. Also, they all live on campus.

One of the major traditions for the Neudamm Campus is to climb to the top of the mountain that divides “Old Neudamm” from the new Neudamm Campus. When they reach the top, students get to add their name to a book. The book has names dating back to the 70s and 80s. To have your name in the book is seen as an achievement. The book is a symbol of how the times have changed and how many students now come to the University of Namibia Neudamm Campus for agriculture.

The University of Namibia Neudamm Campus keeps it heritage by being proud of their roots. The campus is still laid out to what it was like during the time of apartheid. During the apartheid, there was segregation of the country. Now the people get decide which side they want to live on. The heritage of the University of Namibia Neudamm Campus is kept alive through the German Government’s donations back to the university, such as their library. Another way is the tradition of climbing the mountain to add your name into the book. Keeping the tradition for so many years shows how the heritage of the university has grown, but also stayed the same.

The culture of the Neudamm Campus is very friendly and welcoming, something I have found in many Namibians. The heritage that each individual student brings to the campus is something that is shown in how the students interact with campus life.

The importance of sustaining cultural heritage is to show how it has changed, but how it also keeps its roots. Cultural heritage is embodied by who or how such traditions and values are established. It influences decision making skills by those sharing their culture. The people are also those who have to work at sustaining their heritage, just as the students and faculty at the University of Namibia Neudamm Campus have done for decades.

Thinking back to five days ago, I walked into the classroom for our first pre-departure meeting and looked into the faces of 15 strangers.  We didn’t know much about each other, besides maybe a name. Through our discussions, we shared our personal, unique backgrounds, the experiences and family histories that helped shape our characteristics. Julia’s family has lived in the same county for nine generations. Devika was born in India and came to the United States for educational opportunities. My nine-year-old great-grandmother immigrated to the United States with her family from Germany in 1912. While our differences are varied and numerous, we acknowledged our shared identities. These identities became increasingly important as we came into contact with cultures far different from those of our own.

Within the United States alone, cultural differences vary by region. I was able to observe this as we landed in Washington D.C. and trekked through the airport in search of the gate to our connecting flight. My Aggie identity was obvious as I was decked-out in Aggie maroon with the block letter logo plastered on multiple pieces of my apparel. I’m sure many travelers were also confused at our posing with a stuffed Collie dog mascot wearing a cape-like outfit. These are aspects of our Aggie culture that are difficult to understand if one is not an Aggie. The unique characteristics of the Aggie culture set us apart from other institutions, but bind our team together through shared experience.

Our arrival in Johannesburg, South Africa revealed our American identity to the travelers around us. We tended to be much louder and more enthusiastic than other travelers in our midst. We complained about the long lines in the immigration customs department, because our culture has trained us to desire immediate satisfaction. Though it is difficult to define exactly what is an American, I saw how the American culture has shaped our individual characteristics.

It is intriguing to observe how our group, though its members come from culturally different backgrounds, can be identified more by our shared characteristics than by our individual differences. We share this same type of nationalist sentiment with Namibians. There are 13 distinct ethnic groups in Namibia. Each one varies in its values, beliefs, and traditions. The San people are hunter-gatherers. The Himba women rub their bodies with red ochre and fat. The Topnaar speak the Nama language with guttural clicks. Despite these significant cultural differences, there is a strong nationalist sentiment among Namibians. A Namibian not only honors his or her ethnic culture, but is also loyal to his or her country.

Americans can learn a lot from Namibians. It is important for us to understand what makes us unique, what makes us who we are as individuals. Awareness of our family backgrounds and cultural histories shapes how we interact with those from other cultures. We should embrace the differences of one another, but it is our shared identities that tightly weave us together as a nation. Our differences are many, but our identity is one.

“All day I’ve faced the barren waste without the taste of water, cool water.”

In many ways humans and nature are at odds despite our need for the resources it provides. As a whole, humans deplete the resources available to them. The most precious being water, due to the fact that fresh water sustains the very life we live.

75 percent of the Earth is covered in water, but of that only two percent is drinkable. On top of that, the human population is increasing exponentially. Even with recent reductions in global population growth, the latest United Nations projections put the population at 9.7 billion by the year 2050. This predicted increase of 2.4 billion people questions the efforts we are making to preserve our natural resources.

During my time in Namibia, I have learned much about the country’s limited water resources. While the state of Texas has more permanent access to water, both regions have implemented similar practices to preserve the water present in their semi-arid climates.

As of July 22, over 700 public water supply systems in Texas were under mandatory water restrictions. In the state capital, Austin, residential and commercial lawns can only be watered weekly. Anyone not following these restrictions is subject to penalties up to $500 for residential violations and $2,000 for commercial violations. While these measures have a positive effect on preservation, in areas where water is plentiful, people remain unaware of the voluntary actions they could implement to conserve water.

In contrast to Texas, conservation is written into Namibia’s constitution. Insecure access to water caused the government to establish a state owned enterprise called NamWater, which provides water to municipalities, mining companies and private landowners.

As a consequence of piping NamWater throughout parts of the country, private landowners can apply for ‘take-off’ points. Although this is not common, I had the privilege of visiting a private farm that currently has a NamWater pipeline through its land. Farm Habis, owned by Dr. Herbert Schneider, has four ‘take-off’ points from the pipeline. This available NamWater is used during droughts at a set price, but a majority of water on the farm comes from his private boreholes at no cost.

Windhoek, the country’s capital, is the largest city in Namibia, boasting a population of approximately 300,000. Most of the city’s water is supplied by a dam that is 70 km north. Throughout the year as the water level lowers restrictions are imposed through municipal bi-laws. These include regulations similar to Austin’s, along with covering pools and washing cars with buckets instead of hoses. As the dam water decreases the prices increase per cubic meter, which are staggered to prevent the wealthy from using excessive water.

As a part of water preservation, the city releases information that provides the dam’s current water level. This information is available through local news outlets and video billboards. In this way, residents are aware of potential water restrictions. Other communication measures include notifying foreign guests of the need to conserve water. Flyers encouraging sparse use of water were present in many of the lodges I visited.

Regulation of water is becoming common, but is it enough? As simple as it sounds, communication is one of the key factors to ensure the future availability of water. I believe Namibia’s efforts to be informative about water levels is a practice Texas would be wise to implement. Though regulation may help alleviate the problem, communicating the importance of preserving our natural resources is key. Perhaps, Bob Nolan realized the significance of water while writing the song Cool Water.

“Like me I guess he’d like to rest where there is no quest for water, cool, clear water.”

During the past few weeks in Namibia my classmates and I have visited many unique and interesting places throughout the country. We have learned about the general culture of Namibia as well as diversity of specific cultures, agricultural practices of different people across the country, communal lifestyles, private land owner lifestyles and so much more.

In Namibia, the land is divided into private land, communal land and national parks. Unlike the United States, the land that some Namibian residents live on is not owned by them; rather, they claim communal land that is owned by the government. According to an article written by Windhoek author Ellanie Smit, approximately 17 million hectares of private land is owned by white Namibians who normally use it for commercial farming. However, many Namibian villages are starting to adopt a popular trend of using their private land, heritage and way of life to lure interested tourists. Two examples we have seen of this on the trip are the Himba and San villages we recently visited.

While visiting a Himba village, we were able to see how they are using their land and traditional lifestyle to bring in tourism. This particular village was given the land they live on by a private land owner after he fell in love with a Himba woman in the village. The Himbas in this village have chosen to continue their traditional lifestyle, wear traditional clothes and follow traditional roles set for Himba men, women and children. To generate an income these Himbas have decided to use the land they live on to lure curious tourists. While continuing their normal activities, the Himbas allow visitors to simply observe what they do on a daily basis, learn about their way of life and purchase crafts that the women and children in the village have made. Although the Himbas were previously known for being a communal group, the tourism brought to their village has caused them to transition more into individualists. The guides keep track of who is giving each tour to ensure they get paid the correct amount, and the women are very persistent when trying to encourage visitors to purchase the specific crafts they have made. Though the income may not be much, it is enough for them to purchase food and other necessities.

Another privately owned piece of land that we had the privilege of visiting belonged to the San people. Like the Himbas, the San welcome tourists willing to pay to see the village and learn about their way of life. However, how they live and the purposes they use the land for varies greatly from the Himba village. During our tour we were taken through the farm, which is used to grow crops to feed the residents of the village and the rest is sold to local consumers. We were also shown the school which many of the children from the villages close by attended during the week. The huts in which the village people live are traditional mud huts, but many of the village people have evolved to wearing modern clothing. The San people have put their land to great use with a farm, a school, a total of three villages and many other facilities for the residents of the land to use. By using the land for tourism as well, the San people are able to educate visitors about the history of their people and how they have adapted to modern day living, all while receiving extra income. Like the Himbas, the effects of tourism have caused the San people to adopt a more individualistic lifestyle. It was very interesting to see the combination of traditional and modern ways that these villages have grown accustomed to, and to see the effects that using private land for tourism has had on the people.

One of the many reasons we travel is to learn and experience; Namibia has given me and my classmates the opportunity for both of these. However, learning about and experiencing the different cultures has stood out to me the most.

Namibians are extremely prideful in their cultural heritage. I have been truly impressed by how they uphold their ways of life. Elena Franchi explained that cultural heritage is “a shared bond or belonging to a community.” It stands for our history, identity, past, present and future.

Because Namibians are so prideful in their heritage, this sometimes leads to difficulties in adapting to the modern world. While discussing food insecurities at the University of Namibia, I learned that there are villages in the mountains that can’t easily accept food aid that they often need. One of my peers questioned why they don’t move. As simple as that may sound, it’s just not an option. The villagers care so much about their cultural heritage that they cannot fathom moving their entire families.

After realizing how important cultural heritage is to Namibians, and many African countries, non-profit organizations decided to help preserve culture and provide economic opportunities to the native people. The Living Culture Foundation is a non-profit German-Namibian organization that helps communities establish projects from which they can profit. It gives these communities the ability to retain their cultural identity not only for themselves, but for many tourists that desire to learn about it.

While in Namibia I was able to visit the Damara living museum. At first I was skeptical knowing that the people in this village would later go back to their homes and a more modern way of life. However, our tour guide, Bernd Schneider, informed me that although they may wear normal clothes and have a cell phone, they still live in mud huts and practice some traditional skills.

Being at the Damara Living Museum was such an incredible experience. We learned how the Damara people started fires, made clothing and used plants for food and medicine. We watched and interacted with some of the Damara women making jewelry and crafts, which we later had the option to purchase.

We also had the opportunity to visit a Himba village, which was home to eight men, 24 women and 59 children. They live in mud huts, raise cattle, chickens and goats, and practice very traditional skills. When I asked our male Himba guide if the children often come back to the village after attending school he responded with a different answer than I expected. He said traditionally the women are expected to come back and live in the village. Because they do all of the daily work, the village wouldn’t continue without them.

I was surprised to learn that even though it’s Namibian law, many times parents don’t allow the girls to attend school in order to make sure they stay in the village. I believe the Himba’s strategy in preserving their cultural heritage is more of a forced strategy on the Himba women.

Although there are many different ways that the different cultures in Namibia preserve their heritage, it is definitely something that is extremely important to the native people. Heritage is something that I hope to bring back with me to the states and make more important in my own life.