Um... ok!

I love this picture of us because it caught our emotion so well. We gave Onx's mom her blanket during this big family ceremony of prayer, songs, speeches, and introductions. After this long intro that was very formal, we brought out the blanket. The women all shrieked and made noises like turkeys with their months. They tore the blanket out and wraped Ellen in it. Then they wrapped all three of us in the blanket while cheering and shrieking. This picture was taken right after they released us from the blanket wrap. The emotion was something like, "Not what we were expecting as a reaction but, um... ok!"

I love the faith of these people. As we took a picture, I heard Ellen say something... and then add thank you. So I said, "You are welcome." Assuming she was talkin to me who was right next to her. She doesn't speak much english, but she took the time to say, "No, thanks to God." She apparently had been saving pula for a blanket as winter approached. Later she did thank me, but I so love that she recognized that all good things come from God and are sent to bless us.

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Mathethe

(Ma-tet-ay) I visited the home village of a friend this weekend. This is the cattle post by his mom's sourgum field in his family lands. I milked a cow and goat here. More to come...

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African Lady Mama

We bought this blanket to give to Onkemetse's mom. We are going to her house this weekend in a village I can't spell yet. I had two friends help me pick it out of an oriental shop. The women here love their blankets. They carry them around in their cases to show all their friends. My friend Moitshepi said that she will never forget us for giving her this blanket. When I walked home people all stopped to laugh and point at me. Apparently, I was a spectacle to look at. What do you think? Am I african looking?

Tonight, I went all the way to the expensive grocery story to buy dairy icecream today. It melted on the way back and so i had to lick alot of the icecream off the container to get a taste. Why must I love dairy so much? Also, there are 5 kittens living the in rain gutter next to my building... They never shut up. I'm sure I'll blog more about the cat overdose here on campus soon. Over and out.

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Just another day in Gabs

Today a herd of 20 goats walked down the road by work.
A guy who gave us a ride home Saturday (illegally as he is not a real taxi) called. The first time he called and asked me if I liked the weather. Today he called to say, "Why haven't you called to check up on me?!" Mind you, I didn't even talk to him in the car, but he got my number for future business. People here check up on each other, even if its only 30 seconds. The following scenario happens nealry every day with someone.

Them: Hello
Me: Hi
Them: How are you?
Me: Fine, how are you?
Them: Are you doing ok? I was worried ______(insert anything into the worry slot ex. "...that you didn't get home ok yesterday.")
Me: Yes I did. Quite nicely. Thanks for asking. How is your day?
Them: I am fine. Just checking up. Take care. I'll call soon. Bye!

This inevitably leaves me wondering if I missed some kind of cultural clue. Did they really just call to see if I got home safe yesterday? Was I supposed to ask them something else? Why was the conversation so short? I tell you, these mini small talk moments leave me feeling even more insecure than my usual conversations, which says alot.

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Night Visitors

When I went to bed last night, there was cheese on the top of these rolls covered in saran wrap. This morning there is no cheese. What do you think, peckish roommates? Snazzy teal kitchen/living room anyone? This is usually shared with 6 grad students, but we are only 4. They are all very clean and rarely cook.

This is a picture of my bedroom taken from the doorway. The door has a padlock and an internal lock. I don't even shower without leaving the padlock on, even though there are two doors, and a houselock keeping others out.

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Friends back at Kabong Villa

Onkemetse (unk-ee-mets-eay) and Tumi are our good friends we met at Kabong Villa. Onk works there and Tumi is a student looking for housing. We visited them last night and they taught us some more Setswana. Whenever we ask Onk how he is, he says, "Bad, because you are not speaking Setswana yet." Among the phrases we leared was, "Are you asking me for money because I am white?" So far, (as of today) it hasn't stopped Fred from giving money when asked.

This is the meat they made at the Braii on Friday night. It was... honestly... really... some of the best cow meat I have ever had. My face was covered in it by the time I was done. I was the last done from this group too. I pretty much sucked every piece of meat off the bones.

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8 days

It took 8 days, but we have a place and internet connections. I'm not sure how long the internet will last- as this morning we were called into the main library and told we are now denied access. HA! Goooo Americans!
Africa! A wonderful place. The people! The clouds! The desert! The art! The Language! It's becoming winter here and I love the weather. Going to church here has been one of the best experiences so far.
But...
To be honest, I still I miss home. I'm working very hard that, so I don't sqander this opportnity. Starting work will help alot I think. On we go!

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I am outta here!

I'm about to fly to Botswana, Africa.
I'll be back mid August. Describing how I feel is almost impossible. For one, I no longer have a knot in my stomach. I feel like I have no stomach. There is not a hole, just some extra space in my abdominal cavity. As I am thinking this, I feel a certain amount of relief in the idea that my stomach is no longer part of my body. It shouldn't be able to cause problems that way. I also feel a lot of joy. Its a kind of joy lingering inside of my cheeks that bubbles forth for no reason and often at inappropriate times. The lady who bumped into me in the metro in NYC today and got a really big smile laced with gushy apologies knows what that looks like on me. Admittedly, a large amount of stress is present... but where.. I am uncertain. I can't find it, and deep down I know I am purposefully trying to ignore it. Stress is around, maybe outside of my skin, irritating it ever so slightly. I feel like I'm not connected to several major body parts (ie. my brain and my limbs). Certain fingers feel very clumsy, and my hair is completely rebellious in its desire to stay in a country where the showers are warm and hair care products are more readily accessible. My respiriatory system is probablly taking the biggest hit. I'm planning on taking Swine Flu to Botswana (Do you have swine flu?). Besides, feeling an infection in my sinuses, I am taking shallow, yet sweet breaths.
This will all work out.
I can do this.
Mommy!

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