AUTHOR
Marion Menzel Ritter
I was born and raised as second daughter to Hans and Gisela Menzel in Dortmund Germany. In 1986 I finished school with the german Abitur, and planned to do something else, before I wanted to start studying east European history and languages in Marburg Germany. But as they say: Life is what happens, when you have everything planned.
Actually I wanted to go to Canada for a year as an Au Pair with a friend of mine, but due to bad health I missed that opportunity. So I sat alone in Dortmund, thinking about what to do for the next year, when my uncle, a seasoned traveller told me" Why don't you ask someone in Nambia , if you can work there for a year? They always need some help on those farms down there." He gave me an address of a farmer, where he had stayed on his travels through Namibia.
That's what I did, after two long weeks of waiting I finally got a letter "Unfortunately we already have an au-pair for the next year, but we have friends, who would love to take you"
Another two weeks later I was sitting in a plane to Windhoek, the capital of Namibia. I arrived early in the morning and had to take a taxi into Windhoek, which is 40 km from the airport. There I sat until the early evening, before I was picked up. We drove for miles without end, and by now it was already pitch dark, when suddenly and abruptly the farmers wife stopped and said: "Oh my, I think we are lost and we have a flat tyre" Just great, that was my first day in Africa!
But after a few weeks I already knew: This is where I want to stay, such a beautiful country, people being very friendly and all these open spaces and wild animals. Near the end of the year I met my husband Rolf ( who was born in Namibia), and so, here I am, for the last 25 years now.
We have taken over the farm of my parents in law and have expanded it. We have 4 children, who are already grown up by now, two of them studying in Europe, the third will join them next year, and our youngest son Reinhardt is in 10th grade at the DHPS, a german private school in Windhoek. All four of them love their home and help out a lot.
Being a farmer does not have to do a lot with the romantic image of African farmers one sees in the movies, but it is hard work, long hours and no real holidays. But we love it and would not like to change anything about it.
I cannot imagine living in Germany after all this time.
I hope, by telling our story with Jacky, I was able to share a few impressions of our life here on the farm in Namibia with you.
REVIEW
Available shortly!
CONTENT
Our year with Jacky
Life on a farm in Namibia is anything but boring, but when a baby leopard arrives one day, it marks the start of a very special year for everyone. Jacky, an incredibly moving story illustrated with delightful photographs...
ORDER
Our year with Jacky
Published: 03.2012
Binding: Hardcover
Format: 30 x 24,5 cm
Pages: 68
Price: 17,95 Euro
ISBN: 978-3-9812432-5-3
Langauge: Bilingual (DE/ENG)
Author: Marion Menzel-Ritter
Translation: R. Mendy
Englisch-German: Claudia Pusitsch
For ages: All ages
