Homeless

Figured that since our internet connection hasn't been good enough to upload even one photo to the blog, then in the meantime we would find something else to write about. And for this entry, that is... why we are homeless.

It all started as our Khorixas homestay was coming to an end in mid-November. We learned that the house we were originally promised had actually been double-booked by the Ministry of Education (though we're not sure if it was the Ministry who dropped the ball or someone else in the chain). An alternative was soon suggested by the principal of Kevin's school that there was a hostel house on school grounds that would be suitable for us.

But there was a catch. A bit of a housing triangle was taking place between us, a teacher and her children living in the house in which we were supposed to move, and a lady working for the Ministry of Justice who was living in another house on school grounds but should no longer be. Her house was larger than the one we would move into and more appropriate for the teacher and her kids, who were reasonably finding their current house too small for a family of their size.

So, all we had to do was have the Ministry of Justice worker move out of House B, so the teacher and her kids could move from House A (smaller) to House B (larger), so that we could move into House A.

But where would the Ministry of Justice worker move to? Great question! We should have suspected that the squatter in House B would not so readily give up her place of residence. Interestingly, she's overstayed her welcome by two years now, the time in which her (now ex-)husband left the school in Khorixas to teach at another school. Instead of also finding a new place to stay since her husband, and therefore- she, was no longer entitled to live in House B, she has been living there and enjoyed free rent, electric, and water. That's right--free! But what's worse is no one ever made sure she moved out!

Even this time around, she is adamently refusing to move, though she said she would if someone found her another place to stay in Khorixas where her rent and utilities would be covered. Apparently there are Ministry of Justice houses in town, but of course, these too are occupied by squatters and currently unavailable for her to move into.

Numerous attempts by several high-status figures have been made so that this lady would leave, but apparently no one has the authority to see it through. Or the face. The Ministry of Justice (which she works for) would have been responsible for sending her the eviction notice, but here in Namibia, people often avoid confrontation and/or save face to avoid looking bad. Not trying to judge, it's just a cultural thing and the way things often go in Namibia, like it or not.

And now, well, the Ministry of Ed sent for the woman's (now ex-)husband to come and make her leave since they say it was with him that they had an agreement (um, 2 years ago). To boot, they are giving him a ministry vehicle in order to travel to Khorixas... and then, they are going to take it away until he succeeds! So we'll see how that goes.

But, in the meantime, we remain homeless. (And by that, I mean we are residing in my principal's house.) This Ministry of Ed house that you have been reading about has actually become Plan B, so let's hope Plan A (which we can perhaps elaborate on in a future post) comes through... soon..! Especially because school is starting in about a week now!!!

I share this anecdote not to be critical of Namibian culture or pessimistic in our expectations of the outcome of the situation, but in hopes to provide a specific, illustrative experience of how things sometimes happen around here!