Expo in Windhoek

First off I’d just like to say Happy Birthday Mom!

This past weekend Mascato went to Windhoek for the big tourism expo. It was lots of fun and very tiring! It’s funny being in Windhoek though…I know Kokopelli stayed there last time we were here (at the Roof of Africa Inn) but I didn’t remember Windhoek being that big! Maybe we were more on the outskirts or something last time.
But yeah, it definitely has a big city feel…and the drivers are insane!! Even if the light is green for you to walk you still need to be careful (the drivers just lay on their horn and don’t slow down! Scary!!)
Well, we left bright and early on Thursday morning and arrived in Windhoek around noon. We first went to the hostel we were staying at (the boys hostel for Windhoek high school) and got changed into our uniform. That was pretty neat – my first new choir uniform since I joined Kokopelli 7 years ago!
We went over to the expo grounds just after that to do our first performance. I had absolutely no idea what to expect. It was actually pretty neat…it kind of reminded me of K-days but without all the rides and games. There were a bunch of different halls you could walk through with tons of displays to get information about all these different African safaris, hotels, festivals, spas…basically anything you would want to do as a tourist. It was mostly all African places but there was a display for Finland as well (that was a little random). Some of the displays were very elaborate with sand, rocks, trees, fountains, animal skins…and more! I learned the different between the Ovambo sand and the Damara sand.
A few girls in choir and I went to the India display and got henna done on our hands. There were also bigger displays outside from just Windhoek that you could buy (cars/hot tubs/tents and other camping gear…stuff like that)
One of my favorite displays was a clothing designer from Windhoek. She makes clothes that all have different functions (like a skirt that turns into a pair of shorts, which then turns into a handbag. She even had a winter coat that turned into a tent!!! Crazy!)
Anyhoo…Mascato’s performance. We did all our performances outside. (I like how you never have to worry about anything ever getting rained out here! Haha)
I stood in the back row thinking that I could just sneak off for the songs that I didn’t know. I was standing next to Desiree who hasn’t been in Mascato for about 5 years or so but just rejoined this past year. She didn’t know lots of the music either but she wouldn’t let me sit down…we just faked our way through stuff together. It was probably the scariest performance I’ve ever done but also the most fun. It’s pretty exhilarating learning movement during a performance ….and also trying to make up words at the same time! Hahaha
We did 3 performances on Thursday and by the 3rd one I was actually getting some of the words that I didn’t know in the first one. That’s pretty exciting! We did all the performances on Thursday and Friday with the marimbas as well. We would do a few songs, then they would do one, and then we would do some together. I really enjoy singing with them! It’s always so groovy ...people seem to let loose a little more too.
So, after we finished at the expo on Thursday we went back to the hostel. There were supposed to be 4 people per room but for some reason there weren’t enough beds for everyone. So the girls in my room decided to push two beds together and they ended up sleeping 4 people in these tiny two beds! Crazy girls…it was pretty funny though!
Mrs.Venter told us that breakfast was going to be 8 in the morning (and that we could come in our pajamas if we wanted) …and then we had free time until 11. Now I figured it would be like Kokopelli…you know, most people waking up at 7:55 …going to breakfast in their pj’s, and only then going back to shower and do whatever. Or even some people skipping breakfast to sleep in till 10:30 and only then getting ready.
But no…everyone got up at 5:30. That’s right… FIVE THIRTY in the morning!!! I thought I was going to die! I have no idea how all of Mascato can function on only like 5 hours sleep. They are crazy!
Most of them wanted to get up early though so they could have warm showers. They didn’t want all the hot water being used up. Oh…and speaking about showers…because we were in a boys hostel, there was only one bathroom for men and women to use. Now I thought Kokopelli was close,(like everyone having to change in the same room or something) but holy Mascato is much closer. I saw way too many male parts while I was just innocently trying to brush my teeth! Hahahahaha…those boys are very proud of their bodies!
Alrighty… so Friday, we had four performances at the Expo. I had to miss one of them though to go across town to the College for the Arts. I was accompanying Linus’ choir (the Swakop Secondary High School) in a competition that was going on. I believe the winner of the competition gets to go to Johannesburg to do a competition there.
That was really neat there…they performed really well. They were a little nervous at the beginning but really opened up by the end. It was great! They were first and then there was only one other choir competing against them. I was going to leave right after we finished so I wouldn’t miss all of Mascato’s performance but their accompanist asked me to page turn for him so we stayed to listen instead. I believe it was another high school from Swakopmund as well. They were really good but a little shouty at times. I left quickly after they finished singing and made it back to Mascato’s performance just in time for the last few songs. I found out later on that both choirs ended up tying for second place (which means neither will go to Jo-burg!)
We finished up at the expo and headed back to the hostel. A few of us went to KFC though before bed…it’s nice to know that the Colonels recipe is pretty much the exact same all across the world! Haha…I had Sprinkle Pops (which are the same as popcorn chicken at home) Very yummy!
The next morning was great… we slept in till 6:30. blech...we had to be at the Expo by 9. We did four more performances yesterday in the hot hot hot sun. My face kinda looks like a tomato today. Afro Shine also got to perform. They are fantastic! They made up a new version of Sweet Spirit…I told them they absolutely have to sing it for Kokopelli when you guys come! You will die! It was incredible!!
We also saw Ponti’s drumming group, Ongoma. They were really great and fun to watch. You can tell they are all so into it! It was really nice to get to see Ponti again (and hear him! He sings in the group as well!!)

So, these past few days have been really fun…and have helped me learn more music, meet more members of the choir, and get a little better at Afrikaans. I also learned that in Damara a word can have a completely different meaning if you have a different tone on your click. I may or may not have sworn at a bunch of members in choir. Haha oops.

Well…my hands are getting tired from typing so I think I’m gonna go!

Only 29 days till you guys are in Swakop! YAY