Our first stop on this unbelievable adventure was the Neudamm campus of the University of Namibia. What makes Neudamm so unique is that it is the only agriculture school in Namibia. It also has its own farm! During our stay at the campus we were able to go on a tour of the farm. The dairy cows were first on the list and they were incredible! The Neudamm campus has 14 cows in total and has a machine that can milk four cows at one time. The milk is pasteurized and made into whole and low-fat milk, cream, and yogurt. These products are sold to the workers who live on the farm and are also used to feed the university students.

We then made our way to the pig barn, where we were absorbed with taking pictures of all the piglets. Our tour guide told us how the students are conducting an experiment where half of the piglets receive pig milk while the other half receives cow milk. This experiment is to see if different milk types affect piglet growth in different ways. The next area of the barn housed the boars and sows. One of the boars was huge! Our tour guide laughed and told us the boar is “a teddy bear” and started scratching the boar’s back.

Our last stop was the poultry barn. Normally I would never go into a barn full of chickens, because we all know how stinky chickens can be… But to my surprise the barn didn’t smell bad at all! Our guide explained that they use wood shavings to absorb the chicken excrement, which reduces the otherwise pungent smell, and is also useful in their composting. There were about a hundred hens that are used to produce eggs. The eggs are collected and graded right on the farm! It was amazing to see the egg-grading barn full of egg crates. This was just the first stop on our eventful journey. I can’t wait to see what else Namibia has in store!

We recently spent time with the Schneider family at Farm Habis.  Words cannot describe how amazing it was.  The Habis Farm is completely self-sustainable, like several of the other places we have visited in Namibia.  All their water comes from boreholes drilled on their land, their electricity is generated during the day through solar panels, and at night, anywhere you go is illuminated by oil lanterns.  It is such a refreshing change to see so many conservation techniques in use here in comparison to America.

Staying at the farm allowed me to develop my self-management skills in ways I didn’t imagine. I had to take faster showers to conserve water and ensure I would not end up doused in cold water before I was done with my shower. Since we had limited electricity in our rooms at night, I had to be efficient during the day time and set out everything I think I would need once it got dark, otherwise I would be scrounging through my suitcase in the dark to find my things.  I triple-layered my clothes at night and slept in a thermal sleeping bag to stay warm because of the lack of a heater.  I thought it was difficult to live like this for two short days until I stopped to realize that the Schneider family lives like this every day.  Throughout this trip I find myself questioning how different my life would be if I lived more like the Namibians do.  When I get back to the States I’m going to try to implement the practices, such as some of the conservation techniques, I’ve learned from the Namibians in my daily life.

The people have always been very friendly and hospitable everywhere we have stayed in Namibia, but I have never felt more at home than I did staying at Farm Habis. There was a certain ambiance of home that made us all feel relaxed and comfortable.  We had the opportunity to rotate turns with kitchen duty.  We got to cuddle with the family cat and love on the family dogs.  We sat around the fire at night singing songs and talking about our adventures of the trip.  We got to view a beautiful Namibian sunset that would beat a Texas sunset any day.  We gazed upon one of the most beautiful, star-filled night skies we will probably ever see, complete with constellations bright and ready to identify.  Staying at Farm Habis was an experience I will never forget, and I know I will not be able to adequately explain the farm’s uniqueness to someone who has not experienced it for themselves.

I know the rest of our trip has many great sights and adventures in store, but I’ll really miss staying at Farm Habis.

Before departing for any study abroad trip with A&M, they make you go through a slideshow talking about the cultural shock you will be experiencing. One of the main things that they stress is that while in country, you will experience varying levels of excitement and homesickness. When first arriving, you are supposed to be super happy and enthusiastic to be there. You’re supposed to have a sense of euphoria, and everything will seem great. Then, after you’ve adjusted, you’re supposed to move to the next phase, which is homesickness. Nothing is as fun and all you can think about is going back home, what your friends and family are doing, and how much longer you have to be away. Then you mellow out; you find your balance. You aren’t homesick, and you appreciate where you are better than before.

This seemed to me to be very helpful. I felt prepared for the emotions that I would probably be experiencing while spending time here in Namibia, and I didn’t think about it again.

Now, as I’ve been here in Namibia for about three weeks now, I have come to realize that we are experiencing a different feeling, one that wasn’t discussed or explained to us. I know I’m not alone whenever I say that this is an absolutely gorgeous and breathtaking country. Everything that we’ve done up to this point has been a once in a lifetime experience and I’m so happy to be here with all of these amazing and intelligent people. However, I desperately wish that my friends and family were here with me.

This is a strange feeling, and one that no one could’ve prepared us for. I have fallen desperately in love with this country. It has a majestic, untouched beauty that cannot be compared. But at the same time, I desperately wish that I could see my mom’s reaction to the sunset, or hear what my dad thinks of their commercial farming practices. These contradicting feelings make my experiences here a bit confusing. My excitement is mixed with a tinge of sadness.

I have ultimately decided that the solution is to just come back with my loved ones.

We have the chance right now to do some pretty incredible things. We’ve toured farms, talked to locals, climbed sand dunes, and explored canyons. I’ve had a lion want me for dinner, and Tana has had a caracal choose her as its friend. We’re making memories that will never be replaced. The girls that are here are amazing women, and I love them to death. Conlee is the sweetest guy that there could be. I’m so happy to share this with them, but I wish that my best friend could see the things I’m seeing, and that my neighbors could be smiling along with me.

Whenever I get back home, I just pray that I can do this amazing place justice, and that through my photos and stories, my family and friends can get the smallest understanding of how wonderful it is.

Greetings from Namibia! Traveling through another country has been an amazing experience. My eyes have been opened to a new way of life. As we travel through southern Namibia, one thing is becoming clear: A Namibian’s livelihood is heavily dependent on agriculture.

The two forms of farming in Namibia are communal and commercial farming. In Namibia, 41% of the land is considered communal farming areas, while 44% of Namibia is commercial farmland. The other 15% is allocated as conservation areas. Even though there is a greater percentage of farmland utilized by commercial farming, the majority of the Namibian population actually participates in communal farming.

While it is very interesting to talk about communal farming, there is still much to be said about commercial farming. Making a living off the land, whether in the U.S. or in Namibia, is a difficult occupation. Some people who have a limited understanding of agriculture might assume that farming is as simple as planting and watering the ground. However, there are many other factors that one must consider when it comes to farming for profit.

Take into consideration cost of fuel, labor, and fertilizer in the U.S. Now, take those few factors into account, except, within the Namibian environment. Imagine the difficulty a U.S. farmer faces when he has a dry season. Now, consider that the average annual rainfall in Namibia is 270mm. All farmers face the same challenges, however, not all farmers have access to the same resources to overcome those challenges. Namibian farmers are forced to make the most out of their limited resources.

One man who has learned to do just that is Jimmy Kennedy of Patria Farms (pictured above). Jimmy is a commercial farmer in the town of Stampriet. For the Kennedys, farming is a family affair, as they pass the responsibilities down from one generation to the next. We had the pleasure of meeting Jimmy, who was kind enough to show us how his family’s farm operates on an average day. Touring was quite an experience since we were the first group of people to ever tour and inquire about Patria Farms.

Patria Farms provides fresh produce for small markets in Stampriet, as well as for some of the main grocery stores in Windhoek. Patria Farms is also a seed stock producer for some of the surrounding farms as well. Some of their growing practices are similar to what you might see in the U.S. They utilize crop rotation patterns to promote healthy soil. They have a drip irrigation system that delivers fertilizer to their crops. Having a system such as this is very innovative compared to other farms in the Stampriet area.

Some of the challenges that Patria Farms faces are not your average challenges. For example, there is a huge concern when it comes to game disturbing the crops. In order to remedy this problem, they are forced to spend a lot of time and resources on specialized fences that keep game from destroying their crops.

Another problem they face, that Texans certainly never have to face, is the problem with trespassers and thieves. If someone steals crops or livestock from Patria Farms, the only action they can legally take is to contact the authorities. Because the Namibian judicial system is so backed up that the offenders, if caught, will not have a trial for the next several years. The inefficient judicial system allows offenders to be released, giving them the opportunity to continue their theft.

Additionally, Namibia has an entirely different type of soil than what we see in the U.S. In Namibia, 97% of soil is less than 5% clay content (See picture below). Having soil without very much clay prohibits water retention, thus making the process of watering crops a huge challenge. The soil makeup coupled with the limited rainfall creates a tremendous hurtle for farmers like Jimmy.

This may seem mundane to individuals who lack an agricultural background. However, when taking a deeper look at farmers like Jimmy, one starts to appreciate a family of farmers who are only as profitable as their crops. Patria Farms lives and breathes agriculture and the operators have high character when it comes to work ethic. The Kennedy’s are a shining example of commercial farming at its best.

Driving through Windhoek, the capital city of Namibia, one can see a huge contrast in living. At one point, one can see average houses that have garages, fences, multiple stories, and nice vehicles. As one continues, “squatter settlements” appear, where houses are made of tin, small, and are crammed together. The wealth distribution gap in Namibia is immense.

As we drove through the squatter settlements we saw the small tin houses with people going on about their daily chores. Other sights in town included stray dogs, women walking with baskets on their heads and buckets in their arms, and young children walking unaccompanied. There were bars in almost every other tin shack; I could guess this might be related to numerous billboards advertising alcohol. We also saw cellphone repair and a plethora of hair salons in these tiny tin shacks.

As we continued driving, we spotted many identical, numbered houses that were built by the Germans before Namibian independence to place all Africans in a centralized area. These houses had fences, windows, and some even had BMWs in the driveway.

The drastic range of living accommodations in Windhoek is shocking. How can these vastly different living situations be located in the same city, not but a few minutes from each other? Actually, the living situations may not be so shocking. Similarly, as one drives through Houston, they see large and prestigious mansions followed by rows of homes that cannot compare. I realize that this “pocketing” is a misfortune for Namibia and the United States.

We must realize that although every country has defining features, there are similarities. We cannot only focus on the differences. Although the United States may not have the amount of poverty that Namibia does, there is poverty everywhere and wealth distribution gaps are visible no matter what country. Despite the vast differences of Namibia and the United States, we may not be so different after all.

Our dune climbing adventure had an early start. I had to wake up by 5:00 AM and had to be completely dressed and ready by 6:00 AM. As the bus made it into Sossusveli, my fellow students and I watched the sunrise. The early morning sun cast shadows on the dunes, giving them a surreal and breathtaking look. Finally at 8:00 AM, we spotted “Big Daddy”, one of the tallest dunes in the Namib Desert and the dune we would climb.

A group of three other students and I, made our way up the dune. We quickly came to the realization that they best way to walk up the dune was to keep looking down at the trail not off to the side. I soon discovered that climbing “Big Daddy”, a 300 meter dune, was not going to be an easy task. I followed my fellow students’ foot prints, and whispered encouraging words to myself to keep marching forward. After about 45 minutes of walking, we reached a plateau area. I made the executive decision to kicked off my sneakers in order to climb steeper part of the dune barefoot.

After a much needed 10 minute break, my band and I started up the sharp incline to our destination. Each step was agonizing. My legs shook with exhaustion as I walked up a nearly vertical incline of 50 feet. At one point I started crawling on all fours in order to gain a better grip on the dune. My entire body felt like lead I dragged myself up the side. About 10 feet down from the top, my legs collapsed with fatigue. I lay in the sand as my body screamed that I could go no further. A guide cheered me on, and I made my way to the top of the sharp incline along with my teammates.

We were almost to our destination but we still had a quarter of a mile to go until we reached the top. My peers and I trudged along. We made sure to take careful, calculated steps. Finally, only one sharp incline separated us from the top of “Big Daddy”. For a few moments, I believed that I couldn’t achieve the task. The climb was too high, too far, and too dangerous. With some effort, I pushed all of my doubts and limitations to the furthest depths of my mind. I kept moving forward. With slow determination, I placed one tired foot in front of the other. Finally, we reached the top of the dune. My weariness turned to joy and triumph; for we had made it to the top.

While waiting for the rest of our group to join us, I made the connection of how climbing the dune was a lot like my college career and life in general. There were easy parts, hard parts, and parts that seemed nearly impossible to finish. Nevertheless, through these hardships and heartbreaks I’ve become a stronger person. Climbing “Big Daddy” made me grasp that no matter how far away my goal may seem; I have to keep fighting if I want to achieve it. The climb was both mentally and physically challenging for me, but it made me realize that I need to keep moving forward and push myself past my mental limitations. In the end, it’s the struggles that we face on the climb that makes our goals worth the fight.

Climbing to the top of one of the tallest sand dunes in the world is not a task for the faint of heart. It takes over two hours of walking up the largest pile of sand you’ve probably ever seen. Each step forward means a half a step backward as your feet sink into the soft, fine Namibian sand. As we sat atop “Big Daddy”, one of the tallest sand dunes in the Sossusvlei National Park, I pondered the forces it took to create such gentle giants. Millions of years of erosion led to the creation of unfathomable amounts of sand that spent centuries traveling across the Namib Desert until they finally formed the ever-shifting sand dunes.

The Dead Vlei is the pan at the base of Big Daddy that has not had water for many, many years and as such now contains only the memory of flowing water in its rocky floor and the skeletons of trees that were 750 years or more in the making. The camel thorn trees, technically called acacia trees, look much different here in their deceased, branchless state than they do in areas with water where their leaves grow amply and their thorns become as long as one’s finger. The result though is a dark barren tree that contrasts deeply with both the red sand dunes behind and the light grey clay beneath.


The animals that thrive in this environment are difficult to see in the vast stretches of red desert sand. Along my trail I was able to spot the tracks to several species including mice, snakes, lizards, and oryx. I also had the privilege of spotting a lizard skittering gracefully along the dune on my way down from the summit. The tak taki beetle has adapted to this environment in such a way where it will stand on its front legs with its back end in the air so that the moisture that comes in on the morning breeze will collect into a single drop that will then slide down the beetle’s body and into its mouth. The moisture in that morning breeze has traveled about 150 kilometers as the crow flies from the coast of Namibia to get to these dunes that otherwise experience minimal moisture in the winter months.


Being in a place where not all that many people of the world have visited makes any trip feel more special and unique. Where I found fault with the human race as I have countless times before was in the occasional cigarette butt I found lying in the middle of the Dead Vlei. Human inconsideration really knows no bounds, even in the oldest desert in the world. The fact that humans can alter our environment so easily and in such negative ways was highlighted by the stark contrast between the archaic sands of time and the week-old cigarette butt sitting in the middle of it all. Of course I picked up every cigarette butt I saw, but that won’t stop the next smoker from dropping their poor choice on the floor of the world. In some way it made me revere the dunes even more for inherently standing up to the destructive forces of the world for such a long time. As each step is made up the ridge of the dune the wind blows sand back into the depression, filling the dent the human footstep has left. Not all landscapes have this relentlessly renewing ability, and it is really one to admire as it has allowed the dunes to remain as they always have been, despite their daily visitors.

For anyone who has yet to see anything like these dunes, you should seriously consider taking a trip during your lifetime. The soft sound of the sand blowing around in the breeze is captivating and calming all at once. The luxurious feel of the soft sand beneath your toes is unmatched by any beach sand. Then of course there is the view once you reach the summit. The view from the top of the world is one that can’t be beat. It is also a view that a picture just does not do justice to, but that did not stop me from trying to capture as much beauty as I could. Until we meet again, farewell to the sands of time.

Food pyramid.  The picture with the layers of fruits and vegetables, grains, and dairy products instantly pops into my head.  The idea of healthy and balanced eating is something I have been educated about since a young age.  If you mentioned the food pyramid to anyone in America they would more than likely know what you are referring to.  This is not the same for Namibia.

Nutritional education is not an issue that is stressed in Namibia.  Even if nutritional programs were implemented, the government or economy does not have the means to support them.  I was surprised to discover that none of the institutions of higher learning in Namibia offer training in dietetics according to one source (eclp.com.na).  Dieticians are limited throughout the country, and one report (www.dietnamibia.m.webs.com) stated that there are only 14 registered dieticians in all of Namibia.  This realization really opened my eyes to one of the many cultural differences between the United States and Namibia.

While studying at the University of Namibia at Neudamm, we learned the difference between hunger and food security.  Hunger is when you have no food to eat.  Food security is when you have food to eat, but it is not always of the highest nutritional value or follows a balanced diet. Food security is a major issue for Namibians. Since Namibia is a very dry, arid country, they are limited on what crops they can grow here.  Namibia is not food sufficient, and their imports are significantly greater than their exports. Most Namibian diets are dominated by staple foods, the foods they can grow and have local access to. Staple foods include various types of meat, dairy products, and some beans.  Fruits and vegetables are very limited.  In fact, most fruits consumed in Namibia are imported from South Africa. The majority of the population does not have the means to meet dietary requirements.

 

Namibian citizens are more concerned with having food to eat each day rather than making sure it is of the best nutritional value.  Many citizens are extremely poor and do not have the economic means to acquire various foods that would help balance their diet.  I have never had to worry about not having enough to eat, and have always had a varied diet without putting much thought into what foods I am consuming due to the fact that I have always had a variety of choices.  I’ve always known our government stresses nutrition, but I never realized how much emphasis they actually place on nutrition until seeing first hand a government that does not. I feel grateful, but also very spoiled to live in the United States.