One of my favorite parts of living abroad is hearing the different perspectives or ways of understanding something. Through talking to Namibians I have learned new ways of solving problems, cooking delicious foods and appreciating new landscapes.
When I first arrived in Namibia, the landscape reminded me of my state New Mexico. Like Namibia, New Mexico is mostly a hot and dry desert. On my taxi ride into Windhoek, the driver asked if I felt hot. I thought it was warm because I was used to the heat because I from a desert. The driver responded that we were not then in not a desert area: Namibians think the desert is on the coast. Until I went to the coast this weekend, I did not understand this difference.
The Namib desert on the coast is filled with thick sand, that forms huge hills called dunes. Since there is not a lot of rain, plants and animals have learned to live without a lot of water. Instead of tall trees, plants are short because they have evolved to use less water. Even though Windhoek is hot and dry like New Mexico, it has a different climate from the coast.
As a result of my time spent in Namibia, I now have several images of what a desert means. What things in your community do you think Namibians might understand differently?
