First Week

FYI- This blog will not necessarily be well written or grammatically correct! :)

Well, it has already been quite the adventure for us. There has been a lot of miscommunication and sudden changes. Everyone always talks about how the Batswana are on “Botswana time” which basically means that it will get done when it gets done, or they will be there when they get there. It is a very relaxed country in terms of punctuality. Let’s see where should I start… the plane ride was ridiculously long. Every limb pretty much went numb and I was absolutely exhausted by the time we reached South Africa and then we still had to travel to Botswana. We were originally under the impression that we would be able to live in the graduate student housing because that’s where previous international students have stayed. Those dorms have single rooms, a shared kitchen, and internet access. Unfortunately, when we arrived in Botswana and came to the University around 11pm we were put in the undergraduate dorms. It was kind of an issue for us in the beginning but this dorm has quickly become home and sort of a sanctuary from the culture shock. Of course it does mean that we do have to spend more money on food and eating out which is not as healthy. Oh, most of our luggage was lost when we got to Botswana as well but luckily I had packed some clean clothes in my carry on so I wasn’t that bad off.

The school and the city are very beautiful. There is extremely dense and bright green vegetation everywhere. Kgale hill is absolutely breathtaking. The people are very friendly and they often greet you on the street saying hello, asking your name, and asking how you are. There are very willing to converse with you about anything. However, most of the program directors keep reiterating the fact that there is a great deal of theft and not to carry your camera around or let people in your room. It is hard to take pictures though if you don’t have your camera with you. I really hope I don’t experience that aspect of Botswana.

We have spent the first couple of days traveling around on foot and by combi (which is a bus system) which has been fun. We have gotten all of the essential shopping done that way. The combis are crazy; they pack so many people in them and they are just run down mini buses that yell at people on the street to see who needs a ride. There isn’t really much organization to the system at all. The taxi system here is interesting as well; there are often times just people in their personal cars that consider themselves cabs and will take you where you need to go for a flat rate. There are also people that set up stands, outside of the university that sell food all day long, which is pretty good.

The school took the international students on a bus tour of the city which was fun. We were able to see the national museum. It was pretty interesting; very small and not a whole lot of exhibits but very informative. Outside of it they also had traditional huts and meeting areas in the courtyard. We went to see two major malls as well; there are so many malls in Gaborone. We haven’t been able to see anything outside of the city yet but next weekend we are going on an overnight cultural excursion to the some of the neighboring villages which will be interesting.

It has been really hot!!!!!!!!! The heat doesn’t really let up until the sun goes down at like 6 or 7 pm. It also seems to get hotter every day we are here. At night sometimes there is a nice breeze so it helps to relieve the heat but even at night is stays about 90 degrees. All of the locals I have talked to have said that it doesn’t really let up that much and apparently the rainy season means about two soda cans full a year. I haven’t gotten sunburned yet though despite the fact that I haven’t really been wearing that much sunscreen. There are also a lot of bugs everywhere which was disconcerting at first but you get used to it quickly. (I guess you kind of have to!)

Last weekend, the international students went and had dinner at a woman's house who cooked traditional food for us. It was a pretty interesting meal. We had a lot of different starches that primarily all looked the same, then there was goat meat, goat intestine, and African shrimp or Mopane worms. I tried the worms but not the intestine. I haven’t really had a lot of time to spend with local students. Classes technically started on Monday however, neither the students nor the professors have showed up to class yet. I was told that I would be lucky to see a professor by Friday. I am pretty anxious to see what classes will be like once they do start. Anyway that is about all that has happened in the first week here. It has been rather hectic and a little unnerving but very interesting. Pictures will be coming soon.

To my family and friends I love you and I miss you very much!