Last year, a friend invited me as part of her entourage to a wedding in Northern Namibia. I didn't know the bride, I didn't know the groom, but I was excited to go and see the northern part of the country! We had a couple of calls about what to expect and what to pack, and here's what that looked like:
Snacks. Namibia has plentiful game and a lot of the culture is centered on cattle. A lot of the menu will be meat-centric barbecues and I came ready to feed myself and share with others if generosity required.
Water. This is desert country. Bring a gallon for each day.
Several outfit changes. Weddings typically include multiple days with a variety of events, so I borrowed a dress, my friend bought me a traditional Oshiwambo dress, and I also rustled up some formal wear from my closet. I wish I brought with me some hair powder to soak up the natural oils (I didn't want to waste water to wash my hair.)
Camping gear. The wedding party was going to be quite expansive, so we would need to camp out at the bride's house. We ended up sharing a bedroom in the main house as part of the celebrated guests/family. But the camping gear was helpful to share with other guests.
Notebook and pencils. I was NOT about to see this experience without documenting it! I didn't bring my colored pencils - and that was a mistake! Colors would have brought a lot of life to the drawings. But I brought my trusty mechanical pencil and eraser pen and clipped my notebook open and ready every chance I got. As usual, this got a lot of attention from the kiddos, which always delights me. But after a while, some of the adults opened up and were gracious enough to let me draw their portraits, too!
Pillow. I don't think I would have made it without this pillow. It brought support and relief when my period dropped on the long drive north and I needed to curl up. And then, served as a huggable divider as I shared a bed with my friend each night. And then became a squishable rest for backseat passengers for the long ride back home.
Lavender spray. I don't travel without this anymore. It's great for freshening up, cooling down, calming my zen and changing the vibe.
Frog Togg® towel. This stay-wet-towel helped me manage the heat. I would soak it and wrapped it around my thigh to keep my blodflow cool. I would switch it from leg to leg to let my soggy skin rebound and prevent the towel from drying out too fast. And at night, I would lay it on my legs to cool me down when the desert heat became unbearable. Truly a life-saver, highly recommend!
Illustration of The Packing List for the wedding trip © smartigraphicdesign
I designed a little 'zine sharing the adventure moments day-by-day which I plan to post here soon. Drawing this 'zine itself has been a challenging exercise. Considering the flow of the events, pulling together layouts, and trying to capture poses and expressions. It definitely felt like taking my drawing skills to the next level.
It reminded me of how rich a graphic novel can be. When we lived in Paris, I was overwhlemed by how the culture elevated the graphic novel. I enjoyed how the pages created a visual immersion into a story that words couldn't always capture. Making it myself this time, I believe I'll remember more of the adventure because by drawing I'm actually reinforcing the imagery and moments into memories. And I don't want to forget this experience!
Photo of 'zine pages in layout form © smartigraphicdesign
I'd like to extend my gratitude to: my friend Taimi Nangula who invited me as part of her entourage, Lusia who was our official host and the sister of the bride, to Maria the bride and Venondjo the groom for letting me join in! Thank you also to all the fun people who allowed me to try and capture them for this mini publication of a brilliant cultural adventure.
happy Namibian wedding memories to all,
smarti
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