I went to my friend’s house after school to plan a time when
she can teach me to make this delicious boiled bread. Her husband and her were
enjoying the sun’s powerful rays and so I joined them and we started to chat
about my friend’s new chicken. I started advocating for my friend to get more
chickens so I could have a reliable egg provider in the village, she responded
that this was not a viable business plan as I would be leaving in a year. As
sad as I am that I will still have to buy my eggs in another village, she is
making financial sense. Then the conversation progressed to how long I have
been in the village and the things I still appreciate. Regardless of how much
time passes I still love the gravel/dirt road east of the village that heads
into the bush, which has become my running path. My friend’s husband asked if I
was scared running on that path. I chuckled and asked what is there to be
afraid of? Previously the answer has always been other homo sapiens, however,
this time he threw me for a loop and said the tigers! Comforted with the
knowledge that there are no tigers in Botswana, I respond that I am not afraid
until the language barrier was broken and it is determined that he meant
leopards instead of tigers. So after nine months of running on the same dirt
road I have only just found out that my running companions are not limited to
small children, cows, and donkeys but also leopards and large snakes!
My temporary fear turned to excitement at the thought of
seeing these animals but then was quickly placated by the reality that it has
been nine months with no sightings. After an afternoon filled with laughter, my
friends company, the warming sun, and new knowledge I now feel much more hardcore
about my running. In the unlikely event that I encounter a leopard I now know
to just pretend like I didn’t see it, which I may have inadvertently been doing
for months.
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