Around Gabs

It has been way to long since I've updated my blog.

Since going to the delta, I've spent a few of my weekends around Gaborone, including going to the National Museum and Art Gallery, several different churches, a political party youth meeting, a circus, and the Gaborone Game Reserve.

There were a lot of nasty baboons at the Reserve, they stole food right of the Braai ('African' for barbeque). So we were always chasing them away, and I managed to hit one on the head when he had his paws in the braai.

I had an opportunity to go to the university vice chancellor inauguration, during which I saw the President of Botswana (who arrived late in a... fancy Land Rover, of course). One interesting difference in the culture here is when the ladies make a unique kind of cry (as in cheering) that involves wagging the tongue side to side in a very rapid fashion...difficult to describe, and difficult to keep a straight face when I first heard it as well.

I also went to a football (soccer) game with my friend Solomon, where we were representing the Mochudi Center Chiefs. They definitely love their soccer, as was demonstrated by sections of the fans dancing and singing songs (made up on the spot) at halftime. Just the fans themselves were entertaining, I'm not sure I followed the game too closely...but we won!

football game

I have also joined a club on campus, Tshwaraganang Charitable Society. Their primary goal is fundraising to build a house in December, however Sept. 17^th we went to Gabane Homebased Care, where we made a donation to the school there, did presentations for the kids and played with them. It was really cool to see how the children play, always with lots of song and dance in their group games.

volunteering at Gabane Home based Care

And in honour of two special friends, I really must close this blog post with the following image:

Purple trees on campus

This blog post covers about a month of time, during which I did the above on weekends, but of course spent the bulk of my time at school. But stay tuned for my next trip...