Today I had my first full day in Kasane and I couldn’t be
more pleased with how it went. I am staying with a 25 year old woman named
Mpho, she is the niece of Monica, the owner of the Lilly Lodge that I mentioned
in an earlier blog. It is super rare to see anyone so young living alone let
alone a woman, and I don’t have many details as to why this is the case but I
have to say I’m looking forward to learning more about Mpho. She normally stays at the lodge so I
basically have the house to myself. However I am not alone, it might be my
first day but I have made so many new “friends”. But before that CARCAL…
CARCAL it is a rare bush cat but it is also the non-profit
wildlife conservation center that I will be working for my DISP. Although I
don’t have a set ‘job’ or role, the team seems very open to letting me explore
the wide options that they have.
Today for example after meeting very one and being showed around the
office I met Ellen a recent grad and head of education section of the
organization and we went with Rob the local scientist dude (not sure what his
real title is) Maria the vet to a local primary school for a science fair. The
students were 6-10 and so bright and adorable! (also their teacher is Rob’s
girlfriend) After the fair Maria and Rob went to check out an Elephant that
sadly had died and had anthrax! WILD
I also met Lipa, a volunteer and Motswana, who had be help
him enter data on the different cases of diarrhea from local hospitals and
clinics for the water health project, next week I will get to go out into the
Chobe to help collect samples!
At 2:30 we made our way to Kasane primary for the weekly
site visit for Ellen’s education programming. The children were not as well
behaved as I expected or as interested in learning about “bush fires”, despite
there being a wild bush fire going on as we spoke but it is the last three
weeks of school in Botswana and Friday after school program is always going to
be a little rough but I used more Setswana in that hour or so than I have in a
while and I could tell the children enjoyed my efforts.
After more data entry, Ellen invited me to her regular
Friday movie night with Rob and some of her other friends which I was very down
for because Mpho works late and to be honest I haven’t spoken to people in a
LONG time. Lipa kindly walked me home after work through a CEMEATRY, some
things don’t change despite getting out of Maine. Shortly after Cora, a friend
of Ellen’s came to pick me up and I glad an lovely dinner at the home of Rob’s
girlfriend’s parents. As the rain and lighten rolled in they rolled out the
Southern hospitality, despite living in Bots for a very long time they are
still strongly Texans! It was different being with so many American’s and Brits
but nice. I even got invited to Thanksgiving! Funny enough makes me miss the
Matoin’s and their lovely daughter even more! haha
After dinner and a movie Cora drove me home spotting some
elephants buffalo and a small wild cat on the road on our way back. I was a
little worried that I was awkward and kicking myself for no offering to house sit
for Cora when she asked but as I got out Cora asked “Do you play Volleyball?”
Now I have an after work activity for Tuesdays and Thursday.
I have more to share about what CARCAL is, my trip to MAUN,
hitchhiking, my newly adopted religion, and applying for Jobs in NYC and
considering Teach for America more seriously ( most of which happened today) but I’m ready for bed and
seeing that I have been sleeping in a tent with two boys and only a blanket in
the Delta bush for the past week the four soft pillow are loudly calling my
name.
Robala sentle!
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