life in africa

homesick but happy, a year later

2009-05-11T15:14:00.000-07:00

an excerpt from my senior seminar personal statement (seemed fitting):

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Last summer I had the opportunity to live and serve in Botswana. My summer spent in Africa inspired new hopes, dreams, and most importantly a newfound sense of purpose. Botswana made me feel alive. Alive in a way that I haven't felt for a long time – I've found that it’s often easy to fall into the background of life, get lost in the daily routine of classes, work, meetings etc. that sometimes people can become almost numb to the world around them. Botswana woke me up, made me feel real again. I cherished every single moment of my time spent in this beautiful country – not to say that I didn't have very real challenges and hard times, I did indeed, but there was never a moment that I would have rather been anywhere else in the world.

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I can hardly believe it has been a year since we left for Botswana, I still think about my time there everyday. I miss everything about it - the people, the beautiful shade of blue in the sky, the smells, the sounds, the combi rides, the hospitality..everything. I think about Champ, Tsasone, Shirley, Tootsie..and so many others that have made a continuing impact on the way I live my life. I am still discovering what my experiences in Bots have taught me - and still learning, 9 months later, and probably for a long while to come. Best of luck to all of the international teams students this year, you will all do wonderful things this summer - whether in Botswana, Kenya, Mexico or here at home, there are good things in store for you. Thank you for all you have taught me about life over this past year. It has been a pleasure to see the commitment, compassion and depth of service that you all have brought to the program. Embrace this experience for all its worth :)

A summer of service in Africa - a journey that continues to stay close to our hearts

2009-05-11T15:07:00.000-07:00

A video that was played during our final reflection upon returing from Botswana: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3PeL-Pa1M5o

'Feels like when you have it, then its gone..'

2008-07-24T14:49:00.001-07:00

No where near ready to leave our home in Botswana..but so grateful for the time we have been able to spend in this wonderful country.

Chobe Safari

2008-07-20T05:25:00.000-07:00

A few pictures from our amazing safari day at Chobe.

We spent the first half of the day on a relaxing boat ride where we saw piles of hippos, birds, kudu, warthogs, crocs, buffalo, giraffes, impalas ect. The last half of the day we jumped into an open safari vehicle and bounced around the safari. Chobe has the largest population of elephants in all of Africa - 60,000 elephants!! I would say we saw several hundred off in the distance as well as a few dozen up-close and personal. We even had the chance to ride right up to a mother elephant and her baby bathing in the river. It was by far the most wildlife we have seen thus far and overall an amazing day.

This is how close we were to the elephants!

Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe!

2008-07-15T03:47:00.000-07:00

Jack, myself and Matt soaking wet from the mist of the falls!

View from National Park of Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe

This past week myself, Meeka, Jack and Matt traveled to Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe. There are absolutely no words that can describe the beauty of Victoria Falls, I’m not even sure if my pictures can do it justice. From the Zim side we were able to view 70% of the falls from the national park. We spent our first day in Zim running from the view points in the park and got completely soaking wet from playing in the mist of the falls. I have no doubt that this was a day that I will never forget. I can see why Vic Falls is one of the seven wonders of the world - it is an absolutely breathtaking sight.

One of the many rainbows over the falls

This is a bit hard to see, but it costs Zimbabwe citizens 50 BILLION Zim dollars to enter the park

After the park we went to the bridge that connects Zimbabwe and Zambia. From the bridge I watched as Matt bungee jumped – I wish I had the courage to jump! It looked amazing and terrifying all at the same time.

Above: Matt bungee jumping of the bridge - the 3rd highest bungee in the world!
Below: Matt swinging above the falls - you have to look close but you can see him on the bungee!

More Gamodubu pics

2008-07-05T01:40:00.000-07:00

Jayne, myself and Lorato
some of the girls at the entrance of UB
Gamobubu kids at the feeding project

HI GRANDMA! Glad you are reading my blog :)

Okavango Delta Trip

2008-06-30T08:07:00.000-07:00

This past week six of my team members went on a mini vacation to the Okavango Delta. The Delta was a perfect change of pace for us and turned out to be a really relaxing stay at Audi Camp. We did a little wining and dining as well as a horseback trip through the bush and a day-long Mokoro trip. The campgrounds were beautiful and peaceful, we each stayed two to a tent and enjoyed strange animals noises during the nights. The night sky is a sight to be seen in the Delta – I don’t think I’ve seen that many stars in my lifetime.

We left on an overnight Gabs train to Francistown and then boarded a bus for another 7 hour drive. We arrived at Audi Camp a day and half later.
This is the tent I shared with Jayne at Audi Camp Me on my horse 'Shotgun'

Zebra we saw on the Mokoro trip Morkoro boat day trip - the highlight of this boat ride was when we heard a hippo's footsteps from behind the bush...we never did spot the hippo but did get the chance to see several zebra's and a huge giraffe. The second higlight was when our Motswana 'poler' began to sing the theme song to Lion King as he poled us down the delta.

Video of our relaxing Mokoro trip

We are now back in Gabs and will continue to volunteer in Old Naledi and Mokolodi until our next trip to Zambia/Zimbabwe to visit Victoria Falls in about two weeks. Happy to be at home at the university :)

a few videos and such..

2008-06-30T07:05:00.000-07:00

This is a picture my little cousin Zach drew for me :)

Tsaone and Jack playing and rapping
(I'm working on rotating this video..can't figure it out for now)

Video of the toddler and preschool classes that I help teach - morning assembly songs

A few of the older girls playing in the school yard

you have the right to have..

2008-06-21T14:59:00.001-07:00

This was Billy our goat that was given to us by Teacher Shirley's man friend..she refers to him as the 'old man'...receiving a goat is a very big honor in the village!

two by two..

2008-06-18T12:38:00.000-07:00

"I try to believe like I believed when I was five... when your heart tells you everything you need to know"

My favorite part of each day in Botswana is seeing the kids first thing in the mornings...there is always about 30 of the children that run straight into our arms for hugs and kisses. I can't tell who's more excited to play, the kids or the seven of us. Entering our fourth week in Old Naledi, I feel it is quickly becoming our second home.

'Hiking' is an understatement

2008-06-15T11:54:00.000-07:00

above: the view from the top of Kgale hill

below: group pic after we finished the climb

Summary of the past week:
- Started teaching in Preschool, it has its ups and downs but I think I will really enjoy the class of about 40 crazy 5 and 6 year olds.

- Took a tour of Old Naledi – by far the worst slums I have ever seen, we visited with a few different families and I am amazed by how positive their attitudes remain despite their living conditions. Champs tour of the village really opened our eyes to how the children live on a day to day basis.

- The second day that I was suppose to teach the teacher said she wasn’t going to be at school (fairly common for teachers to just randomly not be in class) so I made the boys and Meeka come with me to help out – a very fun day with the toddlers and preschoolers.

- Saturday Jack and I went to another soccer game, Botswana vs Ivory Coast (1-1) we had a good time cheering for the Zebra’s tied game. That night Meeka, Jack and I went to out to a club called the ‘Fashion Lounge’ and met up with a few friends from Penn University and had a blast dancing the night away.

- Sunday the seven of us met up with Luke and Graham (2 guys we met through Tlamelo) and they took us on a hike up Kgale Hill. Kgale hill is the highest point in Gaborone and took about an hour and half of hardcore rock climbing to the top – the view was breathtaking, it overlooked the entire city and Gaborone Dam. We stayed on top of the hill and took in the view until sunset and headed back down into town for a dinner with Graham.

This is Tsaone a little boy from Naledi - the teachers have started calling him my son. I have basically fallen in love with him.

power outage fridays

2008-06-13T14:21:00.000-07:00

It's been a crazy week of ups and downs. I'm thinking about everyone at home after the tornado that struck Manhattan this past Wednesday. More updates coming this weekend...

A different kind of day...the happy and sad

2008-06-10T11:49:00.000-07:00

Today was a different kind of day. It was my first full day teaching preschool in Old Naledi – I’m not exactly sure how to explain the feeling I had leaving the village today, but it was a first feeling for me being here, an uneasy feeling that I’m still trying to process.

I can’t pinpoint the change because most of my day was spent watching these 5 and 6 year olds sing and play, however, these kids that we laugh and play with day in day out are often sick, hungry and struggling.

On the bright side...they are learning and growing everyday and for that little time we are able to spend with them they are happy and loved - if that’s what we can provide while we are here it is worth every second of our time.

Danielle..are you going to get off the combi?

2008-06-09T11:51:00.000-07:00

"There are no strangers here, just friends you have yet to meet"

2008-06-08T02:49:00.000-07:00

Meeting at 9am – no address, no one knows where it is…find the place and our contact person was gone, need a phone, no electricity, find a phone, calling card doesn’t work, wander around to find a taxi, no taxi’s so we find a combi, I say ‘station’ they say ‘get in’, we end up at the bus station NOT the combi station, wander around again until we find the actual combi station and head to Old Naledi. That's basically a normal morning when nothing works out and we don’t even really care because we always end up somewhere worthwhile.
Arrive at Tlamelo…it’s impossible to care about being lost all morning when you’re playing with the kids. Les and I are trying to learn our way around the kitchen – I think we almost butchered a whole cow for the kid’s lunch on Friday.

After Tlamelo we stayed in Old Naledi and helped clean up a few yards and made a hole where we put trash in to burn – so basically I kinda fell in the trash hole and lost my shoe…some nice guy from Tlamelo frantically dug for my shoe while everyone else laughed at me. My shoe was safely returned. Then the boys tried to rip out some electrical thing from the ground and it started sparking everywhere, after a few more pulls and sparks they finally left it alone. Then we headed across the street where we saw the nearest electrical pole on fire. OOPS, guess we started an electrical fire in the middle of the village. For some reason no one seemed too concerned and it went out soon after. Just a typical day starting fires and falling in trash holes.

Loved being at Tlamelo again, I think we all look forward to days spent in Old Naledi and have started to look forward to the week much more than weekend…although we do still enjoy our weekend excursions.

Oodi weavers on Saturday afternoon – a women’s village that hand weaves beautiful wall hangings and such. Several of us ordered custom made designs. Went to Bull & Bush Pub on Saturday night – very cute little restaurant and bar hangout. Really enjoyed the night. I’m sure we will be back soon.
Bull and Bush Pub

Aunties and Uncle Jack

2008-06-04T12:46:00.000-07:00

I can hardly believe this is my life. This morning I woke up at 6:30 and headed out to Mokolodi game reserve. Leslie, Jack, Marinda, Meeka and I were the five that decided to return to Mokolodi. We had coffee and biscuits with their wonderful staff and then took 40 pre-school aged kids on a safari. A SAFARI. Seriously, I would be perfectly happy staying in Bots forever... The weather is beautiful, the people are welcoming and most importantly we all feel so comfortable here.

We are still in the midst of site visits and determining where and when we are going to volunteer – tomorrow we have a 9am appointment at a local women’s shelter and then we are headed back to the Tlamelo project in the afternoon. I haven’t decided exactly where I will be and when, but I know that I will spend a great deal of time at the Tlamelo project and most likely a day or two a week at Mokolodi.

The Tlamelo project just gives you that feeling the instant you walk in - you never want to leave. Champ is the director we work with and is just an all around amazing guy. His dedication and passion for the project is really inspiring. Tlamelo is in the heart of Old Naledi (which is a very very poor area of Bots where HIV/AIDS rate is incredibly high) and provides approx. 150 orphaned children with a meal in the afternoon, there is also a lesson circle time and plenty of time set aside to simply pay attention and love on the kids.

Lessie and I riding in the back of Peter's truck through town from Mokolodi back to UB

From the World's View

2008-06-02T10:16:00.000-07:00

Mokolodi Safari

An amazing day.

Today was everything we had imagined and then some. We began the day with our first site visit to Mokolodi Game Reserve where we were greeted by a wonderful man named Peter. He said that he had something we would appreciate and that he would change his clothes and return. He came back minutes later sporting a shirt that said “Bro’s before Ho’s” with Barack and Hillary’s pictures below…it made for a pretty good laugh.

Peter sat with us and discussed what we could add to the ongoing programs at Mokolodi. Mokolodi is an absolutely beautiful stretch of land that gives tours, provides camp sites, has a nature/animal education program for children, teaches sustainability etc.

After our introduction we had the opportunity to hop in a safari vehicle and ride all around the reserve. Incredible. Our first stop was called “World’s View”, from the top all you can see is miles of endless clear blue sky and the entire game reserve. Warthogs, ostriches, monkeys, horses, cheetahs, impalas, snakes, crocodiles were some of the animals we had the opportunity to see on the safari.

Tlamelo Project

You would think Mokoldi would have been the highlight of our day…but then we arrived at Old Naledi Tlamelo Food Project.

There were only a handful of kids left in the afternoon but the second we were surrounded by the children I could tell that we were all a little in love. It's an amazing sight to see these beautiful children laugh and play.

In Old Naledi at the Tlamelo Food Project

More about what goes on at Thamelo after we spend the day there on Wednesday. Can't wait to go back and be with the kids :)

They will tell you they love you...

2008-06-01T01:35:00.000-07:00

Day 6: Stayed up way too late excited about internet finally working in our flats. Slept in a little and got ready for the game. The seven of us went to the Botswana versus Madagascar soccer game. It was a qualifying game for the World Cup, South Africa 2010. It was so much fun! We met two guys there – Lucas and Hope who were super friendly and funny. Game ended 0-0 and the Botswana Zebras will have to travel to Madagascar for a rematch. I think we will attend another game in two weeks.

Below: group pick (minus Jack) with some guys we met at National Stadium

Day 5: Friday. Woke up early due to cheerful students and others wandering around outside my window. It was a really relaxing morning – unpacked the rest of my things and made breakfast before my flat mates woke up. Went over to get the boys around noon. Walked to Riverwalk and hung out at a really cute little coffee shop.

Trying to become more familiar with campus – slowly but surely. Visited with Charity who is contacting our service sites – appointments on Moday at 9am at Mokolodi game reserve and at 2pm with the Thalemo feeding project and education centre in a nearby village. I think we will be more than ready to visit the sites and start volunteering by Monday.

Attending a national qualifying soccer game tomorrow at National Stadium just across the street from the UB. Should be an exciting afternoon. Meeka cooked the seven of us a homemade dinner and Jack and I met a few new friends.

I've never been an early riser - but here there seems to be more life to live.

2008-05-30T05:13:00.000-07:00

Day 4: It’s hard to believe that our first week is almost over. Time is flying by already. Yesterday evening we moved into our graduate flats at the University of Botswana (UB). The five of us girls (Leslie, Jayne, Meeka, Marinda and myself) are sharing a flat with one other grad student from Kenya - she seems pretty friendly. The boys (Jack and Matt) are right next door.

We woke up early and joined Riley (a grad student from Canada) for a nice breakfast in the staff cafeteria on campus. We then had a few meetings with the international student office, security etc..as well as a tour of campus. Beautiful campus – it’s refreshing to see the staff and students so proud of their school. So far everyone has been very friendly, especially around UB. We need to get comfortable using Setswana greetings…it’s a bit uneasy at first but we will get the hang of it.

This afternoon we joined Ana and Jessica (two other K-State student also living at UB) for lunch in the Riverwalk shopping centre. We spent the remainder of our afternoon exploring the shopping plaza and buying a few things for our flat as well as grocery shopped at Pick and Pay. Had a good time picking out a bowl, plate and mug each, candles (for scheduled power outages as well as the unexpected) fresh fruit and bread.

Its nice to recognize the simple pleasures of a day.

Day 3: Woke up early and explored the grounds of the Backpacker’s. A really beautiful view from the top of the gardens. Took a little walk down the street to find some food. Found a gas station and settled for hot dogs for breakfast.

above: view from the backpacker's ritz

Caught a cab from the Ritz to the Intercape bus station. Boarded the bus for a 7 hour journey to Gaborone. Pretty scenery. Crossed the South Africa border (where we all climbed out of the bus and walked across the border in the middle of the night) and were slightly harassed by the Botswana border patrol. Only received a 30 day Visa…oh well, we can take care of that later. Important thing is that we are finally in Botswana! We have been planning this trip for so long for some reason it feels strange to finally arrive at our destination.

Arrived in Gaborone and had a slight mix up of transportation from the university – this was easily fixed by shuttling back and forth a few times. Unloaded in the Graduate Flats at the University of Botswana – home sweet home for the summertime :)

Days 1/2: Flew from KCI to Detroit, Detroit to Amsterdam, Amsterdam to Johannesburg. Had no idea what time or day it was when we arrived in South Africa. Picked up at the airport by a man named Frank, who patiently waited as we exchanged our U.S. dollars for South African Rand and helped load all of our gigantic luggage into his van.

On the way to our hostel he proceeded to try to outrun the cops. ..Probably for about 5 blocks until the cop pulled out in front of us. Welcome to Jo-burg!

Still unclear as to why he got a ticket - I think it had something to do with the broken tail lights on the trailer…and him not pulling over for a mile or two… Stayed the night at the Backpacker’s Ritz…about 10 dollars a night and all the character that goes along with that ten bucks. I liked it. The seven of us shared a dorm room full of bunk beds. Matt couldn’t sleep and crawled in and out of the windows trying to ‘explore’ throughout the night. Pub in the hostel that I was unfortunately too tired to test out…planning on making another stop at the Backpacker’s on our way back.

2008-05-07T21:28:00.000-07:00

"Stripped of your ordinary surroundings, your friends, your daily routines, your refrigerator full of food, your closet full of clothes - with all this taken away, you are forced into direct experience. Such direct experience inevitably makes you aware of who it is that is having the experience. That's not always comfortable, but it is always invigorating."

- Michael Crichton