After a week of exploring
Northeastern Botswana and peaks into Zambia, Zimbabwe and Namibia we returned
to Gabz and rather than staying at another hotel we told Batsi that we would
like to stay at the program house. The program house is a house owned by Pitzer
where the “offices” are and where we hold some of our classes while we are in
Gabz. It is also an awesome house, with court yard, pool, four bedrooms two baths,
study, kitchen, living area and deck with attached side house for the live in
gardener and Remus’ new father! Our little puppy from Manyana has found a new
home in the high life. Although I’m sad he would be coming home with me I’m
glad that he will be here from generation of Pitzer in Botswana students to
come. I mean studies show the benefits of having a dog and in such a high
stress time the comfort and affection little Remus can and will provide will be
a great aid. I bet there is a sociological or psychological study in there.
But I digress, staying in
the program house had it benefits but some quite humorous drawbacks one was the
instance of Nobu that I sleep in one of the offices alone rather than in the
common room with the boys. Although I had no problem with it especially since
someone snores, but I know it has a lot to do with the gender roles and divide
in Botswana rather than anything else. Batsi walking into the closet and
discovering our extracurricular activity was also quite entertaining along with
setting off the alarm every ten minutes.
More lectures where also a
major part of our orientation week. This time covering “Christianity and
traditional African Religion in Botswana” where I got to kick some knowledge
thanks to Professor C.Berry got to say I really miss her classes and will
continue to since she won’t be at Bowdoin in the spring, if anyone knows
another AFS professor I can adore let me know I’m trying to make up my mind
about a fourth or five class. We also had a Gender Issues and Impact on
Development where a good mix of my focuses from Bowdoin came into play. I
notice that has much as I’m enjoying the ease of Botswana I am very much a
student and enjoy structure classroom learning. Maybe it will be off to grad
school for me after all???
Well grad school will have
to wait because its off to the next homestay. Batsi is send us to a new
location for our Big Motse stay which shall be interesting. I’m looking forward
to working my internship in the local school although it wasn’t my first
choice. I’m also hopeful the Lobatse will keep me busier that Manyana, which
being the third largest town and the almost capital of Botswana holds promise!
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