Week 75: Donkey Carts

More often than not my life does not fit the stereotypes of what people think I am doing here in “Africa” but some days I believe it does.  Monday on my way home from school I ran into my friend Ishmael who I frequently see as he rolls through the village on his donkey cart to fill up his jugs of water before going back out into the bush. On this particular day he offered to give me a ride home, which was a welcome offer due to the heat. Now despite many people’s offers I have never actually ridden in a donkey cart before and was a little stymied by how to get on the cart itself. This proved even more difficult as I was wearing a pencil skirt. My first attempt involved using the wheel as a step and when that failed I was reminded of the rollie logs that I used to play with at parks growing up and come to think of it that I was never very skilled at. Little did I know that those logs would have a practical application later in my life. Eventually I made it on the cart and truly felt like my nickname was accurate as I waived to the kids like a true Moshana Princess.

Week 74: The Start of Term 1 and the Trials and Tribulations of Cheese Buying

This week marked the start of Term one for primary school students in Botswana. The school year is divided into three terms, beginning in January and ending in November. It is a gentle start to term as the students begin by cleaning out the dust that inevitable invades their classrooms, then are issued their books for the year and by the end of the first day the standard seven classes are in full swing however the standard ones are still battling the dust. As the leaders of the school the standard sevens will take exams at the end of the year which allow them to move onto junior school. Pass or fail the students will move up for three more years (form 1-3). However form 3 and a above a student will only proceed if they pass. If a student completes form 5 then they are eligible to proceed to university.

I enjoy cheese much more here then I did at home because it has become a precious commodity. The village I do my grocery shopping in did not carry cheese until six months after I arrived. I am now making up for lost time and I make a point of purchasing cheese if it is available. Inevitably the days that cheese is available I wait hours to get a combi home to put the cheese in the safety of my fridge. I used to worry about this but since I have yet to get sick I just assume this is how cheese buying days go. Which is why I was surprised and grateful when this week the combi was waiting when I finished doing my shopping and I was home within 30minutes of acquiring the cheese. I arrived home only to find that the electricity was out and I simply laughed to myself knowing that that should be expected on a cheese day.

Week 73: Homecoming Number Two

It was hard to leave home but yet I knew I was simply leaving one of my homes to come to a different one. When I arrived at the bus rank in Kanye, the last leg before I would be home in Moshana, I happened to see my friend and her family. We immediately ran up to each other and hugged and I was reminded that I now have family around the world. This friend and her kids have been my support system and I do not know what I would do without them.

Week 71 and 72: Chicago

I spent two weeks at home with my family and it was possibly the best Christmas I have ever had. I appreciated things that I have previously taken for granted and I was reminded of parts of myself that have been hibernating for the last year and a half.  In Botswana everyone has a home village and I have learned that no matter where I am Chicago will always be my home village.