Plenty of doings this week in Ram-town, some of which will make up for my grief at the drowning of my laptop in last Saturday’s storm. Rescue attempts are still underway, but it is unclear whether or not they will resolve the blow dealt to the now-Khomputerless-Kgosi.
I taught my first classes in Africa this week—three one-hour presentations to a group of 25 Peer Educators at a two day workshop. These are workers in various public governmental agencies who are appointed to assist their colleagues in the work place on HIV/AIDS issues through small group education. They also serve as resource personnel and when necessary, conduct one-to-one education and counseling. Although eager learners, they have had very little training in any of the skills necessary. I presented sessions on ”Being a Peer Educator—the Role and Expectations”, “Basic Listening and Counseling Skills” and “How to Give an Effective Presentation to a Group.” Speaking in English, I only needed a little translational help from my office mates. All in all the group was quite attentive and said it was very helpful, with material that was new for them. At the end of the second day, I also lead a role-play on putting some of the listening skills into practice. I was very pleased with the response, but as in the States, standing up and giving 4 hours of content is tiring.
Kopo conducted her first student group exercise, asking the high schoolers to describe their home schedules during a typical day, focusing on and discussing the roles of males and females in BW society. The boys in particular talked about how “it used to be” with farming and hunting roles, and “how it is now” with school attendance, work and even some child care. All agreed that there was definitely more of a 50:50 sharing of work and decision making in the modern Botswana home. The students also pointed out that since a majority of homes are headed by single women, females often are the sole decision makers.
Spring has sprung!
My office colleague congratulated Kopo and I. “You have survived your first winter!” As quickly as the winter departed, spring has appeared. Gone are the multiple layers of clothes in bed; sleeping bags are now unzipped and no space heater for the last two nights. While the morning walk to work remains chilly, it is now light at 6:15 AM. Daytime temperatures are reaching into the 70’s and on two days this week, the mid-80’s. The warmth has helped sprout some of the seeds I planted; little green lettuce, beet, cabbage, carrot and tomato seedlings are peeking through the dirt. Even this early in the growing season, it is so dry here that twice daily watering is necessary for the small pots.
We also obtained some new furniture including a dining table with four chairs plus a new patio table for the back deck which will allow us to read, eat and play Scrabble outside in the warmer weather.
We attended our first Men’s Soccer Tournament (Bolo in Setswana)yesterday—four area teams of under-30 males. It was vigorously contested including an 89th minute goal to tie the score and on overtime shoot out. The players are very skilled, particularly given that most of the fields in BW are hard-packed dirt, not grass. One of the Ramotswa teams played well enough this year to be promoted to the Premier League which means they get to play their games on one of the four larger stadiums with grass or artificial turf, like the one in Molepolole close to where we trained.
The Tournament was sponsored by the Men’s Sector, the all-male village group organized to fight HIV/AIDS. Our office supplied materials, funding and organizational support. Medical teams were also there from the hospital and health clinics. They set up tents in an adjacent field offering free confidential counseling and testing for those attending the tournament. For a 15 pula entrance fee ($2.00), it was a whole days entertainment and good medical advice.
This Sunday morning was particularly delicious. The sun was rising and very quickly I could feel the warmth. I sat with a mug of hot coffee on the back patio and contemplated the atomosphere of Africa. Sounds dominate the sensory landscape--many birds chirping, cocks crowing, dogs barking in the distance, donkey's bells clanking lazily. Fortunately here smells are almost non-existant, and the air is clear and pristine. The red dust, the rocky footpaths and the duties of the day can wait. These early morning peaceful times are to be savored, no matter where in the world they occur.
Out with Mr. Jack; In with Fred
It has been 6 weeks now since we have heard Mr. Jack’s dulcet tones waking us up at 3 AM. We even miss seeing him…… sort of…… strutting around the yard. Since we have received no confirmation of any egg production, our speculation remains that his strut is false bravado and masculine over-compensation for lack of virility. We do have a new pet however, a two foot garden snake, whom Kopo has named Fred. Fred the Friendly Snake lives through a small hole in the mortar under our back patio. We are sure he is not poisonous……..well……..mostly sure. He has a very pleasant face—think of the GEICO gecko with a long skinny body. He is quite shy and skitters away when we try to get near—which for Kopo is almost never. Since there is no connection between his living space and ours, we have always applied “Live and let live.”. The huge hairy spider in the kitchen, however, was an exception. May he rest in peace.
Coming Soon to this Blog
Having failed at occupational attempts to be a rooster veterinarian and a political candidate, I have decided on a new career; newspaper editor. Starting next week in this very Blog you will be able to read the first edition of Kgosi’s Kalahari Khronicle, a newspaper devoted to articles of interest from African and American newspapers that you may have missed. With the motto “All the News We See Fit to Print” it will feature a concept untried previously. We have no reporters, no bureau chiefs, no staff and in truth no “News.” We promise that all stories will be absolutely factual, however they will technically be “Olds” that is, stories which have been totally pirated from BW and other newspapers. Volume 1, Issue Number 1 will be seen next week, so be sure to tune in. Future subsequent issues will be published whenever we damn well feel like it.
If by chance next week’s issue does not come out as promised, do not, I repeat, do not bug the Khronicle staff or complain to the Editor. I have already told my staff that I will be out of the office “hiking the Appalachian Trail.”
South Karolina Kgosi
PS By the way, does anyone know where I can get some Argentine pesos? I may need a few for a possible upcoming trip.
A View from the top of the Hill
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