54 photos.
the Vogl family at Christmas dinnerSouth Bend, Indiana, 1997
Clockwise from upper left: Mary, Mohammed, Jim, Don, Colette, Paul, Suzy, Tom, Gertrude, Dawn,
Joanitha near a tree planted by President MoiKisumu, Kenya, 1997
Joanitha's school went on a sporting trip to Kenya and stopped by this monument to Kenya's long-time president. Many things were named after Moi, who held onto power for more than 20 years.
Joanitha acting as a ghostMwanza, Tanzania, 1997
Joanitha enjoyed drama and acting. Some students were afraid of her for some time after this performance.
teacher-student basketball game, Ponhofi Senior Secondary SchoolOhangwena, Namibia, 1997
This was my field of dreams. After three years of playing basketball on the unsurfaced, dusty netball court, with no nets or backboards and tiny rims, we finally found funding for a real basketball court. Playing in the teacher-student game at the end of the year was a dream come true. The girls picked up the game with amazing speed, probably because they could transfer the skills they knew from netball, a similar sport. The court was an expensive development project and hastened the inevitable Americanisation of the world, but it would be nice if every school in the North could have one. On the right is an enormous omukwiyu (wild fig) tree, good for shade and a popular hangout for kids and goats.
staff, Ponhofi Senior Secondary SchoolOhangwena, Namibia, 1997
Greg Vogl (me), physics and computer teacher, USA, Monika Katanga, secretary, Namibia, Tuyeni Ndaikile, Kwanyama teacher, Namibia, Martha (Katiti) Nhinda, Kwanyama teacher, Namibia, Irene Carolissen, English teacher, Namibia, Saima Amunyela, Kwanyama teacher, Namibia, Lydia (Ivawa) Munghadi, biology teacher, Namibia, Liam Garvey, mathematics teacher, Australia, Julie Murphy, accounting teacher, Scotland, Philip Shimhanda, natural economy teacher, Namibia, Emmanuel Edomwande (seated), biology teacher, Nigeria, Eric Kemanya, English teacher, Namibia, Mark Fleming, mathematics teacher, Scotland, Mary (Maria) Nashandi, business studies teacher, Namibia, Peter Maswahu, agriculture teacher, Namibia, Lucky (Nhlanhla) Lupahla, mathematics teacher, Zimbabwe, Michael Kavungo, Vice-Principal and English teacher, Namibia, Håkon Hermanstrand, English teacher, Norway
House 19, Ponhofi SchoolOhangwena, Namibia, 1997
I lived in this house with a Nigerian entomologist. There were plenty of insects for him to study.
House 16, Ponhofi SchoolOhangwena, Namibia, 1997
I stayed in this house in late 1995 with Liam Garvey from Australia.
Red, white and blue tin houseOhangwena, Namibia, 1997
I passed this abandoned shack in the middle of an empty lot whenever going into town. I took this photo the morning I left Ohangwena. Elago Elago writes: As it's painted in DTA colours, I suspect it's an abandoned DTA cardboard type pre-fabricated office. The DTA had quite many of those (and mobile ones) in the 4 northern regions and after losing quite a lot of support, they simply abandoned what they couldn't take along.
road, Etosha National ParkOkaukuejo, Namibia, 1997
A dirt road, a tree, some bushes, some rainclouds; an ordinary African scene that is indescribably compelling.
two zebra, Etosha National ParkOkaukuejo, Namibia, 1997
Etosha is the focal point of Namibia for most tourists. It contains an enormous number and variety of animals, but the subtle beauty of the plants and setting might be overlooked.
upside down trees, Etosha National ParkOkaukuejo, Namibia, 1997
San legends say that when God threw these trees in anger, they landed upside down, with the roots in the air. These trees have been damaged by elephants, and many are now protected by a fence.
stub of a tree, Etosha National ParkHalali, Namibia, 1997
Etosha contains a variety of strangely shaped trees such as this.
tree and Okaukuejo tower, Etosha National ParkOkaukuejo, Namibia, 1997
This type of tree (camelthorn? acacia?) is very common throughout the Namibian savanna.
tree and valleyBrandberg, Namibia, 1997
This scene reminds me of the Biblical story of Moses and the Burning Bush. Brandberg means Fire Mountain; from a distance the mountain appears red as if it were on fire. The Brandberg is the tallest mountain in Namibia. The summit is less than 3000 metres, but it is a challenge to climb because of the heat and amount of drinking water you must carry.
donkey cartSpitzkoppe, Namibia, 1997
Donkey carts are still used in rural areas of Namibia and sometimes even in larger villages like Oshakati.
sociable weaver nestUis Myn, Namibia, 1997
These enormous nests can be seen in trees throughout Namibia. They can be inhabited by hundreds of little birds, and the nests can take over and destroy the whole tree.
melonsSossusvlei, Namibia, 1997
Finding these melons in the middle of the desert was a delightful surprise. Desert melons are a popular source of food for the Nama people of the center and south.
Sossusvlei PanSossusvlei, Namibia, 1997
The Sossusvlei pan is nestled among the world's tallest sand dunes in the southwest. It only fills with water for a few weeks about once every ten years; otherwise it is dry. For those few weeks the desert miraculously becomes green.
aloe and quiver tree, KokerboomwoudKeetmanshoop, Namibia, 1997
Aloes are very common, especially in the South. There are hundreds of varieties.
quiver tree, KokerboomwoudKeetmanshoop, Namibia, 1997
The Quiver Tree is so named because San (so-called Bushmen) hunters hollow out the branches to make quivers for storing their arrows. The trees do not quiver much in the wind.
bicycle and muralSwakopmund, Namibia, 1997
This bicycle nicely matches the mural behind it. Perhaps the artist is the bicyclist.
MuralWindhoek, Namibia, 1997
This mural shows themes of hope in the end of the 1980s war for independence and the new government.
Christus KircheWindhoek, Namibia, 1997
This German Lutheran church is a landmark overlooking Windhoek.
TintenpalastWindhoek, Namibia, 1997
This 'ink palace' is the Namibian house of parliament and opened in 1913.
Windhoek High School students lined up for assemblyWindhoek, Namibia, 1997
Windhoek High School students were professionally dressed and neatly lined up for morning assembly.
red treeElmina, Ghana, 1997
This tree has two 'arms' that look like they could grab you. I would definitely not walk by this tree at night, especially after listening to African folk tales about witches.
fishing boatsElmina, Ghana, 1997
The coast of West Africa is bustling with business, such as fishing, shipping, petroleum and tourism. Hand-made nets and boats compete with more modern equipment.
drawbridgeElmina, Ghana, 1997
This is an entrance to the Cape Coast Castle, one of several castles built by the Portuguese around 1500 and used for the slave trade for centuries by various European colonizers. There are several well-preserved slave castles on the coast of Ghana.
dungeon doorElmina, Ghana, 1997
This is the door to a dungeon where hundreds of Africans were chained in small, dark, cave-like cells until they could be packed into boats and sent to the Americas. Those who escaped disease, starvation and fatal beatings and were free of physical weaknesses became slaves in the New World. Those who did not were tossed in the ocean and fed to the sharks. The museum, which was once the church, is a must-see.
dancersKpalime, Togo, 1997
This fête du récolte (harvest festival) included a variety of people, colourful costumes, and lively music and dancing.