Leina La Me Ke Tebojo

In a week and a half so much has happened I am finding it hard to even figure out what to write about. I could go off on a HIV crusade and tell you about everything I have learned about the crisis here. About how one in five people are living with HIV, about how just about every Batswana has lost at least one family member to AIDS. I could talk on my soapbox for pages on the topic of female empowerment through male empowerment and the exploration of masculinity (I realize I’m the only one interested in this… I’ll just wait for my future dissertation). I could tell you about the amount of death I have already seen and heard of in Serowe alone then go on to make inferences about life, death, and love. I could talk for pages about the gender dynamics and tradition in Botswana. I could talk about the Kgosi and the amazing traditional governing in the villages. I could talk about the dynamic behind the non-acceptance/illegality of the LGBQT community here. I could talk about the kindness of these people and their openness to change and new thought. I could talk about the food, the music, the lifestyle, the way we do laundry, and on and on and on.

If I wrote about everything I could write about I would be writing a novel and I don’t want to bore any of you that much. I have told a lot of people that it’s hard to put this experience into words. Most of the time I love it but sometimes I hate it. Sometimes I want to go home; sometimes I want to call this place home. I will look at the donkeys with their front hooves tied together so they won’t wander too far away and think gosh this place is different then I’ll go for a walk and hear Mirrors coming out of some child’s phone and I am immediately transported home. There are parts of the culture in Botswana that are so completely different but then there are parts that are so incredibly westernized.

I am having a blast learning everything there is to learn about the people, the culture, and the language. I guess our practical sessions about HIV are okay too. This week I am going for a practicum to a NGO called Little Friends. It is a preschool for Orphans and vulnerable children. We are going to interview a few staff to see how the organization is run, what its mission is, and the kinds of services they provide. In a week I will be leaving Serowe (most likely) to shadow a current volunteer for three days. I will live with them, go to work with them, and explore the wonders of public transport.

I will do a post on a few of the topics up there in a few days/weeks, but for now I just wanted everyone to know that I am having a blast and am happier than I have been in a long time.

Love you guys and miss you all!

Setswana phrase of the day: Leina la me ke Tebogo mo Botswana. Kwa Amerika ke Erica. (my name in Botswana is Tebogo. In America my name is Erica.)

If you just want to say my name is (blank) it's: Leina la me ke (blank).

Picture Time!

 On the left is a little girl at the bar just in front of the college where our PST is. She had fun posing for the camera. On the right is my friend's home. 

 Perma-gardening! We made six beds and planted rape and spinach!

Puppy time. This little guy was a little shy but still adorable.