Buchter News » From The Buchters

A NEW YEAR WHAT WILL IT BRING

admin — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 14:07:02 +0000

2012, a new year, a new chance, new challenges. Thinking about what to do in the new year. Then my thoughts take stock! What do you want to do? What is going to make 2012 special and not the same as 2011? Well, you are turning a year older, some things from last year are going onto the next year and you’ve got your hopes and dreams. But that has happened every year.

Then either you can think about just doing the same as every year, but why not start working on the dreams you’ve got or not doing something about your hopes and go for that new challenge. It is better to make that change, so you can get new dreams and hopes and also new challenges!

I think it is a question of whether you want new challenges. It isn’t always easy and sometimes the easiest way out is by saying: I’ll do it tomorrow. I don’t think there are any people who don’t say that. Then suddenly, it’s the New Year again and you can put the thoughts of last year in your new year’s resolution of the next year!

I don’t really like new year’s resolutions. I can’t follow them up or I forget them. I’m better at doing something about the things I really want. If I really want it, I think about it often, so I won’t forget it. It was the same with doing volunteer work. I was talking about it for 6 years or more and here I am!

So give 2012 a good chance. A chance to do the things which you really want before it’s too late and you wish you had done it. And before it is the end of the world as some people believe 2012 is.

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Love is in the air. Just a normal day of life, but special because we put a name to it. 14th of February is Valentine’s Day. There is a whole history about Saint Valentine but in different religions are there different stories about Saint Valentine. With that in mind is Valentine’s Day different in religions and cultures? Different traditions are used in different countries and this gives something special to Valentine’s Day.

Roses, chocolates and sending cards are typical for this day. Besides the gifts the most special thing is that this is the day that you can anonymously send a card to the person you love. A day where it’s not strange if you don’t say who you are, but most of the time it will come out because everyone is curious who did send the card.
But even saying to someone: I love you is a different thing in countries and cultures. Some people are saying I love you earlier than other people and that can work confusing. Even if you’re not sure about it.
Red harts, roses, chocolates, and Cupid’s you will see them all round Valentine’s Day

Simone Visser

SINGING AULD LANG SYNE

admin — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 14:03:48 +0000

Now everyone has recovered from the excitement of New Year, I want to tell you about the next celebration for Scots, something called Burns Day or otherwise known as Burns Night…

On the 25th of January,1759 the Scottish Poet, Rabbie Burns(Robert Burns) was born in Alloway, Ayrshire, the West of Scotland. He is also known as “Scotlands favourite Son” and “The Bard” and is most famous for using Scottish Dialect in his poems and lyrics. You may know the song “Auld Lang Syne?” Auld Lang Syne means long, long ago and is thought to have been written by Rabbie in 1788 and is traditionally sung after the bells at New Year!

This man did not lead a life of wealth and had a tough upbringing on the farm with his peasant farther. He worked long hours each day and was home schooled by his mother who introduced him to Scottish folk songs and legends. Living a short life and passing at the age of 37 he was definitely not forgotten. Since his death he has become legendary through his limericks and rhymes and in 2009 he was voted greatest Scott.

Celebrations to commemorate Rabbie Burns are held on the 25th of January and usually include a traditional Scottish meal and a fair amount of Scottish whisky. Dinner will usually include haggis, which many people can relate to as being “typically Scottish.” So what is this dish really made up of?

Only a heart, pair of lungs and stomach of a sheep, onions, oatmeal and a generous amount of salt and pepper. Cooked in an unfamiliar style, ingredients are whacked into the stomach, sewn up and boiled for several hours. Once cooked you have your “haggis.” Then you simply slit open the stomach and serve up with neeps and tatties(turnips and potatoes). If you prefer not to handle something so bloody there is Cullen Skink, a fish dish made with Haddock and then you have your good old Birdie Meat Pastries and Pies.

Speeches, songs and recitations are all part of the night as well as a celidh which is a night filled with Scottish dancing. The men are dressed in their kilts and woman in smart dress. It provides a grand night for all.

You can find one of his famous love poems on our puzzle page, My Love is like a Red, Red Rose. I hope you like the poem and I’m sure you will understand, if not don’t hesitate to ask!

Lastly, a Happy Valentines Day to all.

Alexandra Fraser

IT’S (ALMOST) CHRISTMAS TIME

admin — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 14:11:22 +0000

One of my favourite Christmas songs is: It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas. But that’s probably because it’s cold in my own country with a lot of Christmas trees, snow, ice and lights. Here I’m sunburned and almost blown away because of the wind. But that doesn’t take the fun out of the Christmas time. I like the Christmas play’s and the story of Christmas. It makes Christmas a time for peace, joy and happiness. Everyone is happy and enjoys their time. But unfortunately, it isn’t always peace, joy and happiness. There are a lot of problems in the world. War, poverty and one can think of many more. Christmas is the time to think about it, but also the time to forget about your problems and celebrate the good things in life. It’s the ultimate time to look back to the things you’ve done and the next year which is in front of you.

After Christmas you get New Year. A new year to think about what you really want to do. What you want to achieve this year. Not easy and for me a difficult thing to do, but it’s also good. Make a New Year resolution and see what will happen this year.

For some people, Christmas seem to be the time of the year to think about problems, your own and in the world. But it is good to think about it the whole year instead of one month in a year. Not always of course, if you think too much about it, you are not living your life. But sometimes you have to think a bit more about everything.

Now it’s time to party! Go out and have an amazing time. Have a great holiday, I hopefully will, and we will be back for the February issue 2012.

The only thing that left for me to say is: Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

HOW DO YOU CELEBRATE?

admin — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 14:10:01 +0000

“Snow is falling, all around us, children playing, having fun, Merry Christmas Everyone.” An overplayed hit song by Shaken Stevens always around in December, forever managing it’s way into the UK charts during Christmas holidays.
Of course it doesn’t always snow at Christmas, does it? With little knowledge of how the Namibians celebrate this festive season, I am looking forward to finding out. Let me give you a peek through the keyhole into some of my home festive traditions…
Tacky tinsel, sparkling lights, holly reefs hanging from door to door. Pine trees covered from top to bottom with ALL the

Christmas decorations that have been found in the attic dating back generations… Finding a glowing and/or dancing Santa or snowman on show in every household is normal back in the UK at this time of the year.

Christmas is a time for loved ones to fork out some cash and exchange cards and gifts celebrating the season. A stocking or sock is hung above the fireplace, the end of your bed or under the Christmas tree on the night of the 24th of December. Placed on a small table is a fruity mince pie or two and a glass of milk for Santa. Then, as if by magic the empty stocking will have been filled with gifts overnight by jolly old Santa Claus. Bear in mind you have to be on the nice list to receive any Christmas presents! Land your name on the naughty list and it is said you will receive nothing but a lump of coal in the bottom of your stocking.

The family all gathering at one house on the 25th. Party crackers to pull, walking around wearing red Santa hats with the white fluffy pomm pomms on the end. Sitting around the table next to the tree. Drinking some beverages awaiting the mighty Christmas Meal! A large turkey, the best gravy and some home made cranberry sauce. Stuffing, sausages wrapped in bacon, roast potatoes, brussel sprouts, warm bread, a feast. “Still room for Christmas Pudding?!” someone will always ask, unquestionable, the answer is always yes. Dark in colour the rich steamed fruit cake will be reheated on Christmas Day and served with a splash of Brandy or Port and then set alight before being served with cool ice cream. Spending the rest of the day digesting and watching festive films…
So it’s my eighteenth Christmas and I’ll be spending my time in Cape Town, in the sunshine, on the beach, who knows! One that will not go un-remembered I’m sure.

A Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all you Buchters, enjoy the vacation wherever and however you spend it.

Alexandra Fraser

My Gap Year in Luderitz

admin — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 15:25:05 +0000

When I finished High school, a lot of my friends and other students wanted to take a gap year. One wanted to work a whole year to earn money, another one wanted to travel. Someone else wanted to work for a couple of months and travel after that or wanted to go to school in another country.
I wanted to do volunteer work in a country in Africa. I have been saying for a lot of years: ‘I want to do volunteer work.’ Don’t ask me why, I just wanted to do it. It looked great to go to a different country, get to know a different culture and different people. Every country is unique, so it looked great to explore it myself in a new country.
I went to a meeting from Project Trust. This is an organisation that sends young people, between 17-19 years old, overseas to do volunteer work for a year in Asia, South America or Africa. The Buchter News is one of the projects from Project Trust and every year, there are new volunteers to take it over. The talk about volunteer work overseas with Project Trust inspired me and immediately after the talk I said to my mom and dad: ‘This is what I want to do!’
After that, a whole year of selection course, fundraising and trainings course came around. From the selection course till the moment I went overseas took almost a year. You needed this time to get prepared for everything.
The whole preparing was a project on its own. There was a lot to do before I was able to go and I didn’t think about that before I applied. But it was a lot of fun as well and I got a lot of support from everyone.
Maybe you’re still wondering why I want to do volunteer work in a country on the other side of the world.
Why does someone wants to travel? They will get experience and see more things of the world.
Why does someone want to go to school in another country? They want to learn the local language and get the experience to get away from home and live on your own.
Why does someone wants to work for a whole year? To earn a lot of money and you can save it or immediately spend it. It gives you a good feeling to have a lot of money.
Why do I want to do volunteer work? Because I get the travel experience, I’m away from home and have to live by myself and I will learn better English and maybe a local language. I also wanted to help the community with things they need. That’s the main thought for me to do something like this. So I’ll get all that in a year and a more. That is great, in my opinion. I won’t get any money for it, but that’s okay, I’ve got my whole life ahead of me to earn money. Now I just want to get the experience and do things I’ve never done before.
It was a dream to go and after two months here, I haven’t any doubts. I was allowed to see almost 200 wild horses, almost blown away at Diaz Point and took a boat trip. We also went down Windhoek and had an amazing time there. But it was good to be home again and the fact that it feels like home says that I’m completely settled in. Let’s see what the rest of this year will bring!

Simone Visser

A Life Changing Opportunity…

admin — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 15:24:01 +0000

A gap year. Those three words, don’t sell it. Twelve months away from home, working with children in two completely different areas, writing a monthly newspaper, on the coast of Africa! That’s more like it.
High School leavers are plummeted straight into College and University from High School to immediately continue their studies. I struggled to decide what I wanted to spend my time doing for the following three or four years of my life, until I heard about Project Trust. They offer a life experience, a chance to learn about myself, to mature and to take on responsibilities. The journey did not start when I first arrived in Luderitz but as soon as I stepped onto the Ferry to the Isle of Coll for Selection week.
One of the disadvantages of taking a year overseas is how much it costs, fundraising and looking for sponsorship is an early stage of the progress. Some can frown upon gap years, as it can be misinterpreted as a long holiday, the easy way out of education, a year of wasting time, I have even heard. All of these accusations can make it hard to get donations. However after a year overseas it can bring a number of advantages, having first-hand experience in different cultures and ways of life. Independently living alone, not a walk or drive away from parents who you can easily rely on. You learn invaluable life skills at a young age which can make one stand out when later applying for jobs, even University and College.
What is your opinion of taking a ‘Gap Year’ first, instead of students instantly going to University after High School. Knowing the first year of University drop outs is low, could taking a year out perhaps be a good thing?

Alexandra Fraser

FROM THE BUCHTERS

admin — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 12:00:44 +0000

Zo, dus dit is Lüderitz. Wat een verschil met mijn eigen land. Zoals jullie al hebben kunnen lezen in de editorial ben ik Nederlandse. Ik spreek Nederlands en dat lijkt heel erg op Afrikaans. Als je Afrikaans kunt lezen, moet je dit maar hardop voorlezen en dan kun je zien dat het heel erg lijkt op Afrikaans. Ik zal nu verder gaan in Engels zodat iedereen het kan volgen.
So, this is Lüderitz. What a difference between my own country and Lüderitz. I’m a Dutch girl, as you can read in the editorial. I speak Dutch. Dutch looks like Afrikaans, but it is a bit different. If you can speak and read Afrikaans, you have to read the previous lines out loud. You can see, it looks a lot like Afrikaans! I will continue in English, as this is the language of the Buchternews.
Lüderitz, a small city in the Land of the Braves: Namibia. A new experience in a new country and a new home. A town so different from my own city, I didn’t expect it. In my own city I see a lot of modern buildings, here I see German architecture and a lot of churches. In my own city it is noisy with lots of people on the street, here it isn’t that noisy at all. It is really quiet for me, but I like what I have seen in Lüderitz so far. In my own city I see a lot of green, here I see a lot of sand. The wind is extreme, but I like it already. Just walking through it with your hair blowing in the wind.
It was strange to get the long drive from Windhoek to Lüderitz. Windhoek was nice and warm and when we drove further to Lüderitz, the temperature went down fast and it became colder and colder. Not as cold as in The Netherlands, but colder than Windhoek. Sand became rocks and we were lucky we arrived on a good day. After that we only got one day of mist so we didn’t have bad weather at all.
I’m looking forward to see the monumental buildings, make a long boat trip and go to the beach often. After work is done of course. I love the sea already and it is good to see the sea from my window.
Everyone is so friendly and helpful, I, as a Western, feel welcome in this little ghost town.
I would like to thank everyone who has made me feel so welcome in the first month. It feels already like a home and I’m looking forward for the rest of the year!
Dank je wel, baaie dankie, thanks.

Simone Visser

Namibia, around 5220 miles from my home in Glasgow. Having never been abroad before, getting out of the UK and doing some kind of travelling was something I ALWAYS wanted to do. The journey from Windhoek to Luderitz was long but the views were stunning. Pictures I had looked at, shown people and talked about were right before my eyes and it was really only then that reality kicked in. This was it, I had my whole year ahead of me to explore here.
The contrast from my home in Glasgow to here is incredibly different. Living with two younger brothers and my mum and dad there is always noise coming from somewhere in my house, loud and sometimes hectic. In Luderitz the flat is spacious, a LOT quieter. My usual walk around the streets at home a couple times a week has turned into a stroll down to the beach. Walking with the wind in your hair and the sun pouring from the sky makes a change from the wet and drizzle in Glasgow. Only my pale complexion has had a harder time adjusting to the sunshine than I have…
Community here is something that I love, the hospitality and friendliness I have experienced has been brilliant, which has made me call Luderitz home very quickly. After a busy first few weeks meeting and greeting as we go, as well as working on the Buchter News and spending mornings at Brightstart, time has really flown in.
Great first impressions of this small town, can’t say much more than thank you to everyone who has helped so far and I’m really looking forward to the rest of my stay here!

Alexandra Fraser

DEAR BUCHTERS

admin — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 14:27:32 +0000

It is never easy saying goodbye to dear friends and now, sadly, it is our turn to do the leaving.
They say that you cry when you first arrive in Luderitz and you cry when you leave. We buchters are certainly good at moaning about life in Luderitz. We complain about the wind or the heat, the sand, the amenities or lack therefore and the lack of things in the shops, and we suffer from the logistics of living in such a remote little town. And yet despite this, or perhaps because of it, we have created a unique and beautiful (and resilient) community.
Lily Gabriel and I are all anxious and scared to be leaving such wonderful friends and a community that knows us, and also loved and remembers Jurgs (Kukus) with us. The love care and support that we were shown at the time of Jürgen’s death and ever since has been tremendous and we thank you. I doubt I will ever feel part of such a community again.
I wish to especially express my appreciation of Paul Van Geysen for his outstanding support and generosity. Without his help at Fibre Marine I would surely have sunk. It was a huge learning curve trying to keep Jurgen’s interests going as well as sorting out his accumulation of tools and machines, and Paul’s help and guidance was invaluable. Jurgs believed that what you sow in life comes back to you and I truly hope that if you ever find yourself in need Paul, that your guardian angel will come and rescue you too.
Dr Noel and Christa Marais, your support and care throughout Jurgen’s 13 year fight with cancer, was tremendous. Our doctors here in Luderitz are unique. With their knowledge and expertise they go far beyond what anyone in the UK would expect from their general practitioner. We were able to seek a lot of support here before having to face the long trek to hospitals in distant towns.
After 20 years I feel like a true buchter and wonder how I will settle into being a Brit again. We have a wonderful family here and despite Jurgs passing and our moving away Gabes Lily and I will always be very much a part of it. Thank you Opi and Anni and all the family for your love and care of us over these past months.

So sadly it is time to say good bye and thanks to you all. We shall miss you dreadfully, but we will be back…
With love
Lindsay, Lillian and Gabriel

YOU’LL NEVER BE FORGOTTEN

admin — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 14:26:13 +0000

Luderitz Bucht – a place literally like none other. I don’t know anywhere in the world comparable to here. The Westernised Africa is hard for any foreigner to get their head around unless they have experienced it. I really wish you Buchters could see this town through my eyes. September 2010, when I arrived for the first time, I received such a warm welcome from every single one of you and the friendliness never came to an end.
I would like to say thanks to everybody supporting The Buchter News this year as well as to those who have done in the past and who will in the future. It has you people to thank for the __ years it has been sustained. I have to say, it hasn’t been an easy job running it, coming from college with no responsibilities to being thrown in the deep end with mountains on my shoulders. But – and this is a big but – I have enjoyed the whole experience of it. For any of you who are interested in what I will be doing with myself back in not so sunny England, I am going on to study Journalism for 3 years at The University of Central Lancashire (UCLAN). Being involved with this newspaper has really inspired me to further my career and doing what I love.
I would also like to thank all the friends I have made here. I am afraid of mentioning names in case I miss anybody out as there are really a lot of you! ‘A friend in need, is a friend indeed’ certainly applies here. I feel Luderitz doesn’t believe in acquaintances – everyone is a friend. I will miss you all. You already know what other things I am going to miss about this place. However, the one thing I didn’t mention is the children I have come to love at Brightstart and Valombola schools. All of you at Brightstart who read this – I am going to miss you terribly! Even if I wake up on the wrong side of the bed some mornings, that feeling vanishes as soon as I see all your smiling faces. I wish the absolute best for all your futures and I hope life deals you with a good set of cards.
Finally, I want to say how much I admire everyone who supports the Luderitz community. Always tackling and overcoming problems, you are all amazing people. Those who don’t get involved – do something about it. Everyone needs to work together. As the well-known phrase I have come to love goes: “United we stand, Divided we fall.”
Namibia as a country has really stolen a piece of my heart and it won’t be the last time I lay my eyes on this land filled with such beauty and life! No matter what poverty or depravation you may face, you always come out with a smile and I find it so incredible. I can’t fit it any better by saying that Namibia really is a “Land of the Brave.” You should be proud.
However, Luderitz is where I have made my home over the past year and I would like to finish by saying thank you for making me a part of the Luderitz family. Not one of you will ever be forgotten. I love all of your warm hearts. One Love.
Jess Christiansen.

“WILL YOU BE BACK?”

admin — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 14:25:17 +0000

Every Buchter volunteer – as we’ve been told countless times in recent weeks – assures you all as their departure date beckons that they will of course, “Be Back”
“That’s what they all say” you sigh with a knowing nod.
I have no desire to beat the crowd so as D-Days dawns, I shall inevitably join them.
I too, will Be Back.

This last year has flown past, it has gone with the wind (which we all know here in Luderitz certainly doesn’t hang around!) Where has that year, which 12 months ago felt like it might last for ever, disappeared to?
Our perception of time undoubtedly changes with age, it of course must be relative. 12 months to a two year old toddler is half a life time, but the older you get the more a single year diminishes in proportion, but in no means importance, to the rest of your life. As I look back at the last 12 months, it is apparently for me the merest moment. I’ve loved my merest moment as a Buchter Volunteer, and although it has been but the blink of an eye, it has certainly been an memorable and eye opening year.

As my twang of Nam-Lish (yes I am – on occasion, guilty) fades away, my tanned skin becomes a distant memory and battered shoes slowly shed their trapped stores of sand, life moves on but I shall still hold on secretly to a little piece of Luderitz.
Every time I blow dry my hair I shall be whisked back to those windy walk to school when Eastern winds raged. Hot air, – albeit a great deal less sandy – will be enough to bring me back.
Each time I open the door and close it again to search first for an umbrella before stepping out, I shall think wistfully of how Luderitz’s annual rainfall amounts to less water than I use to make tea each day. Water will wash me back.
I’ll remember your colourful streets and sunny eastern afternoons. Blue overalls, the smell of fried fish, salty air and sandy mornings. Identical “on hold” phone jingles, songs in the supermarket, and smiles to strangers. Beach Braais and Barrels evenings; Buchters. Friendly faces, crowds that care, Luderitz you are community like no other.

Thank you Buchters for making this year so memorable, Diamond in the Desert, a 12 month flash in the sand but you will impossible to forget.

Ask me again if I’ll Be Back.

You won’t see me, but I’ll be back in no time at all. In fact a part of me will probably never leave.

A volunteer for the merest moment
18 for no time at all
But a Luderitz Buchter
(Even when there’s no one around to see)
I shall always secretly be.
Yours Sincerely
Emily