The village woman’s blog

Should I be crucified for neglecting my blog? Not at all! I should rather be praised for at least having a blog. You come to my village and ask my fellow villagers what a blog is and they will not have an idea what you are talking about. Worse even most young people in Windhoek don’t know what a blog is. They only know what sheebens and cuca shops are. For real! In fact, most of them are drinking and partying as I write this blog.

So the village woman went to America. Experience all that - while learning some new skills and knowledge in public health. This woman is now back home. Not back in her village, but she ended up in the capital city – Windhoek. Her return home was not easy. I mean who would want to move from a place where you have access to everything, to a place where access to everything is limited. But she should not complain. This is her home, and if Peace Corp volunteers can adjust to living in a village somewhere in Ovamboland, then her situation should be easy. I salute all Peace Corps guys who give up an easy life to come and volunteer for developing countries. These guys must have big hearts to want to come here. Some even chose to settle here. Why? I guess it is for the same reason why we love our country – Namibia, the land of the brave!

The village woman spent the 2 months looking for a job, attending interviews, getting offers and turning down offers.  And just like she expected, she finally found what she wanted. It wasn’t an easy process, but she is grateful to join the Ministry of Health and Social Services.

I still don’t know how to thank the American people, specific the Fulbright-PEPFAR program for the opportunity that I was give. And everyday I think of my study objectives, which were to learn more technical skills and knowledge so that I can help my country fight HIV/AIDS, TB and Malaria! And yes I have those skills and I am more than ready to put them in action. Thank you for the opportunity – I shall treasure these memories forever!

The village woman will stop here for now. She has so much to write yet she cannot put it down. And does anyone out there read her blog at all???

If yes then thank you for your time.

Street Car coversation

Street car conversation:
X: Are u from here?
Me: no I am from Africa :) ( I wonder what would have happened if I said I am from Namibia? He would have probably said Nabia or nubia... plss!!)
X: So what do you do?
Me: I am a student at Tulane.
X: So you guys have a female president ryt?
Me: us?
X: yeah you Africans. Africa is a country ryt?
Me: No.... we have several countries in Africa with different president ( explaining while looking at X and wondering.... He must be .. kidding ryt! Africa is a continent but not a country!)
X: so you guys have wild animals ryt... have u seen one?
Me: yeah! .... but they are in reserve parks. ( at the same time wondering if I could lie to this guy and tell him... yeah they are just running in the street... seriously... please)
X: I just saw them on TV and also saw the female president on TV....
Me: oki.. (mhhh the media is misleading people). But I advice that you should google and learn more about Africa... especially NAMIBIA because it is a lovely country!
X: oki... i would love to go on a safari one day.
Me: good ( I should have rather said this---> but you should be careful caz we have lions, cheetah and elephant at the airport waiting for people like you who are ignorant and not know Geography....)
LOOOOOOL :)

“The Hush Theory” or should I say "My Hush theory" :)

Mukulukadhi mwena! (keep quiet woman!)…. That’s what they would say in my mother tongue. I grew up in a deep remote village and now I am in a western world… but this change of environment will never change my identity. I am a woman… and I am supposed to hush and I still hush under certain circumstances.

Am I inferior to men? Not at all but I was raised to be a woman, to only talk when I am supposed to… to not be too verbal and outspoken in public – to keep my chin down, -seriously! Does that limit my capabilities and my function in society??? Maybe yes or maybe not…. Like they say participation is leadership. So how do you expect me to be a leader while I was raised in a hush woman type environment? Anyway… I know I can be a leader and so can any other woman out there!

I imagine women out there in my village -those who never manage to go to school or those who could not go beyond secondary education. The fact that they were raised in a “hush woman” environment does not only complicate things, but also make life difficult for them. Would things be different if those women were educated? Would they be able to be aware of their rights and know that they do not have to hush no more? Of course they would.

So now, how many gender based violence activities could we reduce if it was not of the hush woman stupid theory? How many women would ask their partners to put on a condom, and how many multiple concurrent partnership case could we prevent? A lot of course! And perhaps the HIV epidemic situation would be different in Southern Africa. Perhaps women would be able to report their husband when they abuse them physically. And physical abuse is at least visible… can you imagine what emotional and psychological abuse women go through on a daily basis? And such abuse has become a norm not because women want it to be like that, but because society has shaped itself in that direction.

This is my opinion about the “hush theory” or should I say the zip on the mouth theory. Just imagine having a zip on your mouth that someone controls – terrifying hey!…….. That’s what we call being a woman from a village in Africa J

What ever you read on this blog is my opinion and might not be evidence based… so chill J

A blackboard and piece of chalk can be as powerful as antibiotics and effective as contraceptive.

A blackboard and piece of chalk can be as powerful as antibiotics and effective as contraceptive.

Do you believe that? I do!

Education does miracles... it does not only keep us informed about our health but it teaches us women to stand up for ourselves and be empowered. It empowers us to say yes I need contraceptives; no I am not ready to get married neither have a baby.... and NO to sex without a condom!

So Educate women in developing countries if you wanna give them their rights.

Its time we get over the "hush woman" theory!