Getting the Green Light ...

It doesn’t take much to get the green light. That’s one of my favorite things about working here in Namibia. There’s no red tape, no background checks, interviews or paperwork. If I have an idea, I just have to offer it up. It almost always becomes a reality. Schools are eager to enrich their programs. Teachers are anxious to lighten their loads. And it seems almost everyone wants to work with the American.

In some ways this makes my life easier. But I’m finding the “system” is not without flaws. When the go ahead is quick to come by it can be hard to gage the real level of others’ commitment. So there are times when I’m ready to get the ball rolling and despite their initial enthusiasm, others are nowhere to be found.

Like today.

I was scheduled to start a session of Youth Leads (the after-school sports, leadership and life skills program Tonje and I did) at a new primary school. Gino (one of my Nam Friends) and I met with the principal last week to discuss our plan for the term, our lessons and our activities.

I swear he was on board when we walked away.

But it’s been a week since we talked. Three missed meetings and one totally MIA teacher. So understandably, I had some reservations when I headed to school this afternoon. That glimmer of enthusiasm I’d felt from the principal in our first meeting must have flickered out when he missed so many more.

I stopped at Gino’s house on the way, ready to discuss plans for our first day. And though he’d volunteered to help—more importantly, been excited to—he wasn’t ready to go, because, I found, he wasn’t even there.

Then I arrived at school to a missing principal. (Again.) And a missing teacher. (Still.) And a bunch of learners who’d never been informed. (Of course.)

It’s frustrating, but it happens when people and projects don't require much up front. So I’ll go back to school tomorrow. And then again next Tuesday (when hopefully we’ll start). Because in a place without paved streets or traffic signals, getting the green light may not always mean go—but it certainly never means stop.