Adapting...........or trying to

There are many misconceptions about Bots (and Africa for that matter) and it’s starting to get to me how ignorant we can be. This place is not a dead end and it shouldn’t be called the ‘Dark Continent’ because it is the most colourful place I have ever seen.


Saying ‘hello’ is a start. This is quite different from home. ‘Dumela’ is the equivalent in Setswana (the main language in Bots besides English). If you are addressing a woman you say, “Dumela mma” and a man, “Dumela rra”. People here take the time to say ‘dumela’ to each other and stop to further ask how you are, and how your family is. Being late for work, appointments, and meetings is the norm here, the pace is much slower and laid back (it’s called Botswana Time).


Bots landscape is dry but not quite a desert. There are floral trees everywhere as well as papaya, lemon and palm trees. This area is called the shrub lands and the Kalahari Desert is just west of us so it’s very hot. It’s spring right now and soon it will be summer (which is supposed to be around 40+ deg), and I know it sounds crazy but I could get used to this heat.


Batswana people are extremely friendly, but at the same time, I am a foreigner and there are those that just stare. Being a minority is an interesting experience, truthfully, uncomfortable at times. I think feeling alienated at times is healthy, it’s like a deserved slap across the face, reminding me that I shouldn’t take my way of life and my comfort zone for granted. The other girls from Canada, who are also volunteering in Bots, are adjusting at their own pace as well. We hit it off the first time we met and have had a few intriguing discussions about our initial impressions of the country and the way things work here. Some of us are much more uncomfortable with the way things operate here than others. We are coping the best we know how with what we don’t understand, and our small group of 4 works well to support each other.


Gaborone (pronounced Hab-or-on-ee) is the capitol of Bots and is the city I live in. It’s a city about the size of Ottawa and has such character. Weirdly enough, my first day here I was taken to a mall, and yes, it’s very similar to the malls back home. Gabs has 4 malls, 2 movie theatres and many international restaurants, (I can even get sushi here)! I was shocked. I wasn’t sure what to think but I know I wasn’t expecting all these luxuries (if you can call them that), to be at our fingertips. I soon learned that Bots is fairly new (became independent in 1966) and since then, has been hugely influenced by the western world. Now having said that, there are parts of the city that will utter you speechless, I say speechless in the context of being so horrified from witnessing the way of life, or lack thereof. Not surprisingly, Gabs is filled with HIV and AIDS (every 1 in 3 people is infected), and yet, you don’t see people sick and falling over in the street. There are awareness campaigns all over but it is not discussed among the people. Stigma is the biggest contributor to the problem here, everyone wants to hide it because they will be looked down upon if exposed. From the outside looking in, people here seem happy, they are enjoying life and I believe most of them do, despite the continued, raging current just below the surface. I think most are doing the best with what they have, which isn’t much in some cases.


While I’m here, I will be working at the Holy Cross Hospice (http://www.holycrosshospice.org/). This organization’s mandate is to help HIV/AIDS patients who are terminally ill as well as families affected by it. They run programs and workshops on positive living, HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention, they offer counselling and medical services, as well as provide them with 2 meals a day. I have only been to work 2 days so my opinion and full understanding of their operation is limited but I have met some of the patients who seem to be close to healthy which is encouraging because I was told they were near death when referred to the hospice. I still don’t know where I will best fit in at work but I was warned it takes time to sort that out. I’m encouraged to initiate activities for the patients and come up with ideas for projects I can work on during my stay. I will get to shadow the social workers while I’m there but as far as my job description and experience, from what I understand, it is what I make it.


So far I would describe this adventure as challenging and exciting, and there’s so much more to come!


Until next time.....


(pictures still to come)