Thank you for sharing your gift of story telling and the lens of the world with us. We’ll meet you at the Niobrara!

- Angie

4 Comments

Thursday, June 24, 2010 – 05:03 PM
Brian
What a great commentary on your year in Africa! I am sure you did inspire a few people along the way in addition to making a day here and there a little brighter with an open mind, friendly discussion, and click of your camera. Glad to have you back home.

Thursday, June 24, 2010 – 11:19 PM
Anonymous
Hi Ryan , the Rotary Club of Rosh Pinah congratulate you for what you have achieve in your year in Africa…..like you said many would have choose the easier way….. but , you would’ve never had this lifetime experience(one that you surely will never forget!).
Anyway from us here down south in Namibia, all the best for you and Rachel in your future endeavours. If you ever visit this part of the wold again……….

PP Richard,
Rotary Club of Rosh Pinah

Friday, June 25, 2010 – 03:40 PM
Steven Graham
HI Ryan,

Wonderful report! You were a great ambassador of your two Rotary Clubs in Manhattan, Kansas. We are very proud of you and your work in Namibia and the southern African region this past year. The Rotary Ambassadorial Scholarships are such a wonderful vehicle for world peace and understanding. Best wishes to you and Rachel and thanks again for being such a great ambassador.

Wednesday, July 7, 2010 – 01:37 PM
Sarah
Nice report!

Sunday, December 27, 2009 – 02:53 AM
John green
Merry Christmas!! I enjoy your travel and research stories, keep up the good work so I can continue to live vicariously through you while stuck in ks. I miss you so much and sometimes feel like an army wife when I will randomly wonder what is Ryan doing right now. I will figure out Skype soon so we can have a long over due conversation. Take care my good friend, miss you tons.

Wednesday, December 30, 2009 – 06:42 PM
Anonymous
Merry Christmas Ryan and Rachel,
Your narrative is enjoyable and very information. The photos are gorgeous and my second favorite is the photo of you and my beautiful grand daughter, Rachel. My favorite photo has to be the Oktoberfest lunch plate. It made my mouth water. I trust you aren’t losing any weight.
Keep up the good work.
Gramps Leroy Gfeller

Thursday, January 7, 2010 – 06:53 AM
Ryan
Thanks for the nice comments, and thanks to everyone else who took time to read my post. I really appreciate it!

John, we have definitely let too much time pass without talking. I miss you too man–it’s not like to old days when I could just give you a call and we could get together. Let’s talk soon!

Ryan

9 Comments

Friday, September 25, 2009 – 08:32 PM
Rachel
LOVE the pictures! I like the one of the little kids standing around to look at the pictures on your camera. They are so cute. I can’t wait to meet them!

Saturday, September 26, 2009 – 11:13 AM
Andrew Norman
Great stories, Ryan. Fantastic photos. I loved the “bakkie” confusion, and your insight into how the disconnect between the haves and have-nots relates to Namibia and Kansas. Nice work!

Saturday, September 26, 2009 – 11:38 AM
Wes
It so great to hear about all of your adventures, Ryan! Keep it up!

Sunday, September 27, 2009 – 12:07 PM
Anonymous
Wow! Ryan sounds and looks awesome! Love the pictures of the kids! What wonderful experiences!
RonDee

Sunday, September 27, 2009 – 12:09 PM
RonDee
Ha! Hope you and your pet goat will be very happy together!

Sunday, September 27, 2009 – 06:31 PM
Gramps
Ryan, Loved the pictures and the commentary. Keep it coming. I can see how someone could confuse a Toyota with a goat. Similarity in quality. ha………. Grandpa Leroy Gfeller

Wednesday, October 7, 2009 – 03:29 PM
Steven Graham
Hi Ryan,

Great update to your blog. Wonderful pictures. Such an interesting country, so different than where I was in West Africa. Thanks for your reports and staying in touch.

Friday, December 18, 2009 – 08:43 PM
Paul Stuart Detto
Hi Ryan,I have relatives in Omaruru and spent a while in the Schülerheim in Otji.I see by the pictures that you are in fact I believe,staying in the very room I lived in during my time there.Have you got to know the staff such as Uta and Trish?They are so kind and Otji is a place which I do miss so terribly.Take care,
Paul

Thursday, January 7, 2010 – 06:57 AM
Ryan
Thanks to everyone who posted encouraging comments on this essay! It means a lot!

Paul, thanks for finding my blog and contacting me! I enjoyed the hostel, and Trish and Uta are definitely very kind and helpful people. Are you still in Namibia? Feel free to send me an email sometime as well. Take care

Ryan

7 Comments

Sunday, July 26, 2009 – 08:12 PM
Rick
Dude, that bread looks amazing. I’m hungry.

Sunday, July 26, 2009 – 10:34 PM
Betty
I’m thinking, Brother Ryan’s cell in the darkest corner of Africa. But what I’m seeing is small town in Germany with a room that has all that any PhD student could need, and a young husband who has work to do so he can return to his patient and loving wife.

Monday, July 27, 2009 – 12:27 AM
Kim
Can’t wait to see a photo of you in a few weeks with the spider on your shoulder holding a mini beer.

Thursday, July 30, 2009 – 12:18 AM
william
Ryan, that nearly looks like a guest bed in your room. Convenient for a guest such as myself, I might say. The pictures look really cool. Keep up the good work!

Wednesday, August 5, 2009 – 09:03 AM
Ryan
Will, that is definitely a guest bed! Come on over!

Friday, August 7, 2009 – 01:56 AM
John
Hey Ryan, it looks like you are really absorbing the whole experience and learning as much as you can. I know luck will turn around soon with transportation and you can look forward to digging yourself out of a sand trap soon enough! Otjiwarongo appears to be a nice quaint town that has a lot of character. It’s also nice to hear that you have claimed your ground with the local creepsters, haha. Keep up the great updates, it makes KS a lot more interesting!

Thursday, August 20, 2009 – 10:16 PM
Micah
You’re doing great work, young man — keep it up. Your home base is a far cry from the room you first established for yourself at the ol’ Sleep And Eat, but I have no doubt that the legacy that you’ll leave on the town of Otjiwarongo will be no less than the one you left on Denison street.

13 Comments

Tuesday, July 14, 2009 – 09:53 AM
christian
very nice ryan…..you make it spound very interesting!!!!!!
christian

Tuesday, July 14, 2009 – 10:02 AM
Rachel Klataske
Ryan, thanks for sharing your first two weeks with us! This is a beautifully written post and it sounds like you have had many great experiences already! Love the pictures too!

Tuesday, July 14, 2009 – 10:58 AM
Rick, Jess and Mags
Ryan, we’re glad that you’re settling in and it sounds like you’ve had a very interesting experience so far! Keep posting your thoughts and pictures, and have some more beer for me.

Tuesday, July 14, 2009 – 06:11 PM
Mom
This is great, Ryan. Well written and beautiful pictures. It’s a great way to not only keep a record of your time there but also shares your life with all of us not able to be with you. Sure sounds like you’ve been busy!

Tuesday, July 14, 2009 – 09:58 PM
Brian
Ryan, Sounds like you are have a great start to a great year! Happy Anniversary from this side of the equator. Love the picture from the classroom – but i think Kansas is a little bigger than that! Take Care – B

Wednesday, July 15, 2009 – 10:57 AM
Ryan
Thanks everyone! Yes–I know my map was quite terrible! I was hoping you wouldn’t notice!

Wednesday, July 15, 2009 – 11:01 AM
Rick
Wow, the map of the US was abstract enough that I didn’t realize what it was… Can’t wait to see your field note sketches.

Wednesday, July 15, 2009 – 11:35 PM
Lorrie
Fascinating, Ryan! I am looking forward to your future postings!

Thursday, July 16, 2009 – 10:30 AM
Carolyn
What amazing adventures Ryan! It sounds like you are going to have plenty more and many fascinating and amazing people to meet during your time there! Best of luck with everything!

Friday, July 17, 2009 – 01:45 PM
Andrew Norman
Great storytelling and photos. Keep it up, Ryan!

Sunday, July 19, 2009 – 04:24 PM
Kim
Very nice Ryan! I’m looking forward to reading this regularly and learning more about Namibian culture.

Sunday, July 19, 2009 – 11:54 PM
Anonymous
wow! Ryan, this is amazing!! I have learned so much already by reading this. As a fellow teacher I think it is wonderful what you did with the high school students making them feel so important and valued for who they are and their cultural backgrounds. I really enjoyed reading about your experiences so far and seeing the pictures. This is truly a gift from you to us – thanks for keeping us up to speed on your exciting life – we can live vicariously through you!
Love & miss you!
RonDee

Wednesday, July 22, 2009 – 03:45 PM
Steven Graham
Hi Ryan,

Thanks for the wonderful explanation of the start to your year in Namibia. Looks like it will be a fascinating year. On behalf of the Manhattan Rotary Clubs, we are proud to say we are sponsoring you and know you will do a great job representing us, Kansas, and the U.S. to your new Rotary District and friends in Namibia. Best wishes. Thanks.