A penny saved...

Is a penny that you weren't willing to share with your friends.

The concept of "saving" is something that really does not translate well between American and Namibian cultures. It's something I don't totally understand about Namibians, something they don't understand about me, and honestly, a point of contention between traditional Namibian cultures and the current capitalistic world.

Saving, to me, is an idea that has been drilled into my head since I was tiny. One-fifth of my allowance, starting from when my entire allowance consisted of 5 pennies, had to be put into my separate "savings" piggy bank, which I was keeping as a college fund. My mom always encouraged us to save our money, "just in case." What if you want contacts when you are older? What if you want a car? What about a prom dress? It's not that my parents were being unreasonable… it's that they were trying to instill in my brother and me a sense of personal responsibility.

This habit—saving what I have in case I need it later—actually goes contrary to the common culture here in Namibia.

Here, all people—starting from a young age, just like my brother and me—are trained to share. "In Africa, we share" is probably the phrase I've heard the most often since arriving in Namibia. What does that mean? Here, we are taught to share what we have. Because in a month, you might also be out of work. What will you do then? So, if there is extra food, you don't keep it as leftovers—you share it with your neighbors, friends, or a stray dog. If there is extra money, you don't save it for a rainy day—you give it to your aunt so that she can also provide for her household. It is not at all embarrassing here to go to a friend and ask for money for something, because you know they will do the same at some point. (And if not, then you are extraordinarily lucky and ought to be sharing what you have anyway.)

As an outsider, it's easy to look down at this kind of "sharing" because, honestly, it does inspire less personal responsibility than we are encouraged to have in the States. If you don't have to plan, to save for what you want, sometimes you are less inclined to think ahead about anything. Money, babies, whatever. There's less drive to get a good job to support yourself, because you know you will always be supported somehow. Not necessarily good.

BUT. Is it all bad? Definitely not. I've walked through towns in the US and stopped someone on the street before. Not to ask "ou me one rand" (the common call of children here when they beg all white people for money), but to ask for directions. And people look at me like I'm crazy. Why should I help you if you can't take care of yourself? Here in Namibia, anyone will help you. Need directions? No problem. Anyone will take you there or if they're busy, find a small boy to show you the way. Not enough money? No problem. You can take something from the shop on credit or "on account". Not enough time? No problem. There is never a lack of friends with free time who can come help you finish your projects in a hurry.

This ideal of sharing builds community. It makes people closer and more willing to help each other. And honestly, it's when people get more money—like the teachers or the police—that they become less willing to share. Does having money make us less generous people?