“You are too white, Miss.”

Being white in a mostly black country has been interesting. I have not encountered racism among the blacks of Namibia, though I am often met with curiosity. I have not met any Afrikaaners, though I have heard stories from people that this is where the racism in the country still lies.

The learners find me strange. The community finds me strange. Outside of the community I am stared, grabbed and yelled at. Most people do not ask me what I am doing here. They tell me they love me and ask me to marry them. One man touched me and when I turned to tell him to stop he said, “I just wanted to touch white skin. I have never touched it.” I replied, “It is the same as yours.” He simply said, “Is it?”

My strange fascination with the everyday things also makes them laugh. I am in love with the baby donkey that lives nearby and grazes outside my house. I was asked by a taxi driver if I was planning to buy a cow. When I told him I wouldn’t know what to do with a cow he was appalled. “You milk it, you eat it.” It is as if I was asking him how to eat.

One learner asked me if we had the same subjects in American schools. I told her that we did, except some of the things they are learning, such as business and accounting, are elective or taught in college. She asked, “What about agriculture?” It didn’t even occur to me to include that subject, though to them it is one of the most important as it teaches them their livelihood.

Often I feel inept, but it is nice to need help with something just as much, or more, maybe, as they do with things. I helped one colleague with her computer today and in turn she made for me traditional porridge and fish. She is also patient with me when I ask her to repeat, usually for the fifth time, a word in oshikwanyama. It is nice to be able to exchange skills and not perpetually feel as if I am taking, taking, taking or being taken from.

Peace, love and giraffes,
Jenn

PS. The title is what one of the learners told me the other day. I agree.