BNC – the last visit

Last day in Namibia and just enough time for a last vist to BNC

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All classes were busy and I walked around…BNC_last_02

…finding dedicated teachers…BNC_last_03

…and attentive children…BNC_last_04

…although me peeking in caused some interruption.BNC_last_05

There are kids in different ages…BNC_last_06

…all getting this fantastic possibility for after-school assistance. BNC_last_07

Although many people are involved; it is this woman holding it together and making it happen. Marybeth is “BNC – providing hope through education“.BNC_last_08

Providing hope of course cost money and there is always a need for support.
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On my last visit I was able to hand over an envelope with money donated by Åsa, Birgitta and Anna – friends from Sweden. Thanks a lot!BNC_last_10

This money will be used for all these small important things like pens…BNC_last_11

…and papers and bread and spread for meals to the children. And much more.BNC_last_12

Other things also cost. My daughter Saga has been involved in a project at school that she named “Bracelet for change”. She made and sold bracelets to collect money aimed at making it possible to…BNC_last_13

…repair this broken toilet. This day I was able to give BNC the result – 3,000 Swedish Crowns that became 4,300 Namibian dollars. Marybeth told me this will not only pay to repair the toilet but also…BNC_last_14

…make it possible to make a proper repair of this sink and more things as well.BNC_last_15

This is how happy Marybeth and the kids were. Thanks all of you who donates money or who bought a bracelet from Saga.

Next week my colleague Rob will go to BNC to hand over more money. As I left Namibia my colleagues collected money for a farewell gift to me. I asked that my farewell gift is turned into a gift to BNC instead. Thanks ICAO colleagues!

Marybeth and all other staff at BNC; keep up your fantastic work! You make a difference!

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A journey home

Wednesday was last day in Namibia. A lot to do…

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…like seeing an old friend driving away. Good-bye Pajero and enjoy Rundu!Hemresa_02

A quick but very pleasant visit to really good friends. Good-bye Herman and Lilian!Hemresa_03

The last visit at BNC. More on that in a separate post later.Hemresa_04

And after a long day with last-minute packing and cleaning the house long-time friend Peter managed to fit us and a lot of luggage in his beloved Landy. Thanks Peter, hope to see you in Sweden soon!Hemresa_05

Hanna enjoyed the business lounge before…Hemresa_06

…it was time for boarding…Hemresa_07

…and a relaxing drink in Air Namibia Business Class. Hemresa_08

After our dinner we passed a magnificent thunderstorm…Hemresa_09

…and enjoyed a fantastic spectacle in the skies over mid-Africa.Hemresa_10

We woke up to a beautiful sunrise over the Mediterranean…Hemresa_11

…and soon landed in Frankfurt to change flight for the last hop to Copenhagen.Hemresa_12

As we taxied out I thought of being back in Europe with a fully functioning aviation system and with regulatory compliant air traffic control. With all parts of the system at a high standard, the aviation safety levels in northern Europe are of world class.Hemresa_13

Scandinavian safety as we passed the bridge that joins Denmark and Sweden.Hemresa_14

In Copenhagen everything went smooth. We even managed to get on the train and to endure the trip on railway to…Hemresa_15

…our home town and our house. Sweden welcomed us with a beautiful spring day with a warming sun…Hemresa_16

…bushes in bloom…Hemresa_17

…fantastic purple crocus…Hemresa_18

…and a pot with flowers in Swedish colours!

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Last workday in Namibia

I arrived in Namibia 2 March 2011. Here is my first post (on Swedish) from work. More than four years later…

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Yesterday I was very happy when some of my Namibian colleagues took me out for “brunch” at MoJoe’s (an old favourite!). Thanks Erik, Christine and Mikhail! I will miss you…

Later the same day my ICAO colleagues arranged a farewell dinner at Stellenbosch Wine Bar (another favourite!)…

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Our Project Coordinator Louise with Peter. Both good friends and professionals who have been very important for my work here. Peter has also been a good travel companion in Namibia and outside.LastWorkDay_03

Maimuna, the ICAO expert who has been in Namibia longer than anyone. Always willing to go the extra mile for a colleague!LastWorkDay_04

To the left is Rob who has been here for a few months but is already a very good friend and a respected professional. Dan to the right started working for ICAO the same day we had our dinner! Thanks for coming and good luck Dan!

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Christoph, far left, is one of the ICAO lawyers. Next is Tom, our ICAO business expert doing a very important work preparing for the Namibian Civil Aviation Authority and last but not least comes our persevering and much loved Director. What would Namibia do without her?LastWorkDay_06

Rob and hs lovely wife Ann stayed until late. Thanks for that!

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Not everyone ended up on a photo but my gratitude extends to all who came. Thanks for a fantastic evening with many nice words. I have appreciated my time with you and this evening was a great finale.

Today all the last bits were sorted out, the last items from the office packed and I participated in my last meeting. Goodbye DCA!

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Last day in school for Hanna

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Above is Hanna with her grade 5 teacher; Mr Barnard…

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…and here with her friend Agnes.Hannafinale_03

Today was Hanna’s last school-day…Hannafinale_04

…at St George’s Diocesan School. During the morning assembly…
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…the headmaster Dawie Leibbrandt called up Hanna to give her a farewell hug.Hannafinale_06

It is sad to say goodbye and we will miss St George’s a lot. But we are also very glad for our time with St George’s and send our appreciation to all fantastic children, parents, teachers and other staff at this good school. All the best and maybe we come to visit one day…

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A project for safety at Eros

Most of my last days working for ICAO in Namibia are spent in a project to improve safety at Eros airport.

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The project is lead by the Eros ATS unit manager, Christine Eiman. Two other controllers are involved and two ICAO advisors are supporting; Rob and I. 150217

I had the opportunity to return to the ATC centre and to a job I was very involved in three years ago; simulator exercise production. This time in an attempt to use the Eurocat radar simulator as a 2D Tower simulator.150223a

I and Rob quickly learned how to be simulator pilots…150223b

…and I think we managed fairly well in making the aircraft take off and land, follow traffic circuits and the suggested new procedures.150223c

After a few simulations Christine and Mikhail were convinced. This will be a great improvement for the Air Traffic Management at Eros airport.150225

After the tests in the simulator the team was ready to present the ideas to the airspace users. Good discussions followed with valuable inputs from the pilots view. These inputs were incorporated and then…150304a

…it was time for real tests. Richard Becker at Windhoek Flight Training Center offered us to test fly the new routes for free!

150304bAfter more than an hour in the air we had learned more. We could see that the routes were flyable but also that one entry point was too difficult to identify from the air and had to be replaced.

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This week the Project was presented to the Namibian Airspace Committee.

There is however more remaining in the project. I am preparing material for the AIP amendments, there will be more airspace user consultation, there will be training for controllers, there will be safety assessments and more. But the continuation will be done without my assistance…

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Map of Namibia

We have had a map on the wall for some time. After each trip we marked overnight stays with a dark blue pin and visits with a white pin. Today I took down the map but first I had a photo of it.

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There are still a lot of places we have not been to that I would like to visit but overall I think we have been doing quite well during four years in Namibia.

If you want to know more about our travels you can start here (click and then scroll down).

Vill du hellre läsa på svenska finns det lite på svenska om våra resor (klicka och scrolla ner).

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Hanna farewell party

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For the last time; we had prepared No 2 Kiekebusch for a party. Walls covered with pictures from Hanna’s almost 4 years in Namibia.Farewell_02

Guests arrive…Farewell_03

…and games are played.Farewell_04

Dancing time, and…Farewell_05

…while dad is flipping hamburgers…Farewell_06

…kids get in their swimming costumes…Farewell_07

…and things get a bit wet…Farewell_08

…and somewhat wild, which seemed…’

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…to suit some guests well!Farewell_10

Someone forgot his swimming trunks.Farewell_11

Dinner is served, and then…Farewell_12

…it is “masks on”…Farewell_13

…and why not a big smile…Farewell_14

…eeeh, yeah – a big smile!Farewell_15

Kids were nice, Hanna won the price for best mask!Farewell_16

Isn’t that a pretty cake!?Farewell_17

Even as I am writing this, these three girls are giggling and playing Monopoly.

It was a good farewell party! Thanks to all the nice kids who came to say farewell…

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Another visit at BNC

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I was met by these photogenic children today…
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…as I drove over to BNC after lunch…
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…to deliver generous contributions from Scandinavian friends…BNC_05

…and found that right after school it was obviously time for free play! Fun!BNC_06

Some kids were involved in more quiet activities and here…BNC_07

…I also found Marybeth and two new volunteers. The big smiles are caused by my delivery!BNC_08

Play time or not, I also saw concentration…BNC_09

…in this fantastic place. Good things are happening here and your generous assist is highly appreciated!

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Hoanib teaser

Last weekend we were on an amazing final adventure in Namibia. I have hundreds of photos and I really want to tell you all about it but it will take some time so for now I will just tease you…

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Friday 27 February we were at Doro Nawas (close to Twyfelfontein) to board this Cessna 210…Teaser02

..and fly north until suddenly we found this in the middle of a desert and mountains – the Wilderness Hoanib Skeleton Coast Camp, and if…

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…you are spending three nights in the desert this is the way to do it!Teaser04

We were on a drive the first evening, exploring the river bed with beautiful giraffe sightings…
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…and enjoying this stunning sundowner!

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Saturday driving north a bit. Saw this herd of 200 Springbok…
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…and amazing sceneries!
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Another drive into the river bed Saturcay evening. Here is Amspoort…Teaser09

…and isn’t this an amazing view? Springbok and an impressive edge of the river bed.

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Sunday we left before sunrise heading for the coast. After an hour we met these desert-adapted Elephants!Teaser11

A bit further on we saw this. A few weeks ago heavy rains in the Etosha area brought the Hoanib river in full flood for a few days. It was 20 years since this happened last. Most of the water ended up here and turned the desert into this wonderful green area. Teaser12

Further on Hanna could enjoy the sand dunes that stopped most of the river.Teaser13

After about five hours we reached Skeleton Coast and had a wonderful time there.Teaser14

Skeleton Coast for lunch and Hoanib Camp for dinner. We were not complaining!

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Monday up early again to see the Hyena den!Teaser16

If you are Hyena in your next life you may have a view like this from the den!
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Goodbye Gert and all the other fantastic Wilderness people…Teaser18

…it was time to return. What a fantastic final Namibian Adventure! I will be back to tell the full story!

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Visit at BNC

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I went to visit BNC today and found kids in silence, concentrated on their work. BNC_02

BNC is an after-school activity where kids from Katutura get a chance to get extra school lessons and to get help with their homework. BNC_03

All the staff here are volunteers!

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Some older kids that used to be students at BNC still come here. BNC is a nice and safe place to be after school.BNC_05

The support these kids get at BNC is a great help for them to be able to succeed at school up through the years.BNC_06

My visit today was extra nice as I was handing over support from Swedish friends – Kimme, Martin, Anna and Margareth. Thanks a lot – your support is highly appreciated at BNC.

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