Russian connection

Someone has mentioned to me recently that there is some kind of Russian theme threading through my blog. I did not actually intend for it to be there, but this is something I have thought about it. In small things. In fact, I seem to find some similarities with Russia in many cultures and countries... My housemate will understand what I mean here ;)

So Namibia, huh! I think the simple explanation for russian interest in Namibia is as it is with many natural resources rich countries - in this instance uranium! But this is very boring, instead I prefer to draw less obvious parallels...

So to start with – food! A very traditional Namibian dish - mahangu porridge with cabbage and meet stew. Cabbage! Previous volunteer had mentioned in her notes that she struggled to describe what mahangu looks and tastes like. Well, for me this one is easy – cold semolina porridge (mannaya kasha) tinted grey! Voila! For my Russian speaking comarades, this would be easy to understand. Many might cringe, but I still like “manka”. My mom was outraged by the comparison though – “Nobody eats it anymore!!” Well, my memories of Russia are 10 years out of date...:)

Next, the ladies’ fashion sense. I am sure many would identify with this one. Now, to put this into perspective – the weather is hot. Very hot. It is 32 degrees with 20% humidity and bright sun. Hot. Yet, most women around wear full colour matching and accessorised outfits, some with full length skirts, sleeves, cardigans, jeans. Heels are pretty much a standard, often on closed and pointy shoes. While queing at an ATM the other day, I saw a lady wearing full length long sleeved woollen (!!!!) camel dress with matching fluffy woollen beret!!!! I suppose camel is the colour of the season.... And she was not the only one wearing a beret to add that “je ne sais quoi” to her outfit in the last few days!

She is wearing boots!!! Thankfully, not the UGGs...

 Is this passion for fashion not what most people note when they meet Russians? Christie, your support is needed here!

Love for the most ridiculous foreign soap operas – I may have mentioned before that there was a soap of unidentified origin that seemed to play everywhere. Well, the mystery has been solved – it is from the great filmmakers of the Phillipines! So Phillipines to Namibia = Brazil to Russia!

Gender roles – men are invariably the head of the household, however the women seem to be the ones bearing most responsibilities and struggling to keep their families afloat. Women here (and in fact in many parts of Africa) are the ones who are considered more entrepreneurial and reliable in money matters, and are often targeted for development programmes. Do not need to look far – most microfinance programmes focus on women for these reasons! Men appear to often choose to drown their sorrows in a bottle when the going gets tough – there are a lot of “bottle stores” here!! Of course, I am generalising, but aren’t Russian women, and particularly from the rural areas, known to be strong, as a quote from a Russian literary piece goes “if needed, to stop a running horse, to enter a burning house...”. This of course has nothing to do with me, entering a burning house would mess up my hair!

And well, of course the key historical aspect – socialist regime that Russia tried to support implementing in Africa...That did not work out that well, but there is always uranium....