The highlight from yesterday was getting my shoes repaired. It was just one of those “African” moments. I know it is completely cliché to generalize a continent into one moment that I shared here in Namibia. BUT it is what came to mind…I had this shoe repair guy on recommendation. I could not find him at first, but upon asking a few people, I found him. He is a street shoe repairman, with his shop consisting of 2 benches, a toolbox full of shoe repair stuff, and piles of broken shoes. He is super awesome – full of Rasta, shoe polish stains all over his printed shirt and khaki cargo pants. I bartered with him until he agreed to repair my broken sandal for $1.50 USD. I sat and waited while he worked his expertise – I was impressed! He cut through the heavy sole and easily repaired the shoe before my very eyes. But the “African-ness” had to do not only with him, but with the surroundings. It was the very end of the month, the town was hopping! Everyone here gets paid at the same time, and thus RUSH to town to buy supplies (and drink) all at once. So while I sat on my new friend’s bench and waited for my shoe, there were “Nam Jams” BLASTING at full speed right behind me. There were multiple “shebeens” (informal bars) popping music and town was just full of hustle. A girl behind me was selling ice cream. Two women walked by selling cotton candy. Lots of guys in construction uniforms stared at the strange white girl getting her shoes repaired by the Rasta guy.
It was a cool moment; I enjoyed it. The shoe repair process allowed me to sit and enjoy the moment. Normally I would be annoyed by the crowds, the crazy music, but that day I was able to enjoy it, and to appreciate the uniqueness of it. A friend of mine who formerly served in Peace Corps Namibia, said that one thing she misses most is the fact that ANY day can turn out absolutely any way possible; often completely crazy and unexpected. An event. And this day was exactly like that. I didn’t expect the experience, but the experience found me.
And again, strangely, today, my day took a twist as the baboon family that lives near my village graced my path during my morning run. I stood and checked them out for maybe 5 minutes. They stared right back, asking “Is she safe?” Wondering who I was, what I was doing, if I would hurt them. They perch like birds, like small kids, right on top of the fence posts. They amble along, and play and gather together, keeping grouped up as a big family. I really love them. I know they are aggressive and the farmers here hate them because they are actually so smart, that they can pick and open locks, steal small sheep, and cause other havoc. But I love them. I love their personalities, their uniqueness, and the novelty of being able to see these animals in the wild that in the U.S. we only dream about or visit in the zoo. This is another example of the odd twists and turns one’s day can take here in Namibia. I am really loving it – very much in my element.
