Last minute we were asked to write a vignette for PC Botswana to present to DC. These vignettes were to push congress to continue with programs and give more funds to the PC. Not many volunteers turned in vignettes and I am not one to go above and beyond like that so of course I did not do one either. However, they know I am a sucker and can not say no- so they called me and of course I complied. I thought I would share it on the blog since I am not inspired to write much lately. Sorry for the typos and misuse of rammer- like I said this was very last minute. And don’t worry PC office here is editing it for me!!!!
Being a Peace Corps Volunteer offers many ups and downs professionally and personally. Matt and I have been serving in Molepolole, Botswana for 19 months.
Early on in our service we worked really hard to get to know the community members that we lived amoungst. This entailed going to weekly kgotla meetings (meetings held at the chief’s work place), going door to door to introduce ourselves, and being patient while waiting for the community to trust us. After talking to the community elders and many women in our ward, collectively we decided that the ward needed something to help educate and engage the out of school youth; thus, we started an out of school youth group, Bright Future, Lekwapheng Leaders of Tomorrow.
Day one of our meetings, 30 women came to the meeting and we were thrilled that this was truly something the community wanted and participated in. We started with very little to no funding. We brought the group together weekly, taught Life Skills, English and we even showed videos to start discussion about HIV/AIDS. Watching these youth leave their compounds for a few hours, become part of group and become more open and free has been poignant.
About five months ago, we were approached by a local NGO called Kagisano Women’s Shelter, they wanted our out of school youth group to apply for funding using them as our umbrella organization. They had heard about our group and told us we were eligible for a grant that the Ministry of Youth was giving out. We said sure, we would love this, as we were constantly thinking about how to raise money locally to start a chicken farm, get more supplies and register our group. Together, Matt and Kagisano wrote the grant; however, Kagisno did the final budget part on their own. Months passed, we were still meeting with the group and we did not think much about the grant, we kinda just assumed we were not selected and thought about beginning the Peace Corps Partnership Grant Process.
Then, three months ago, the big news arrived. We had won the grant and the contract was in the mail to be signed. Matt and I were overjoyed and sat down to look at what was given to us. OH MY GOD- 1.4 million pula ($175k) was given to our amazing youth group. We got all the money that we had ask for and not only were we going to be starting a poultry farm, we were going to get to send 14 girls back to high school to get their diplomas all expense paid. Women empowerment at it’s finest. The most exciting part of this grant is that we get to hire and train two life skills facilitators to take our place when we leave. This project and weekly session will continue and these youth will continue to be served. We both talk about how wonderful it is that this group will go on after us, I mean this is one of the hardest task that is put before us in our two years- and now it is not only possible, it is inevitable.
Over time, the group has become a project that has taught Matt and I so much. These women and few brave men have been our source of hope and direction, working in a foreign country when the taboo topic of HIV/AIDS becomes too much. They have opened our eyes to the disconnect between what we think is going on in this country and what really happens at a local community level even compound level.
Life here has been a serious of missteps, hard lessons and experiences that have changed our lives forever, whether for good or bad. If, when we signed up for the Peace Corps some one would have told me, a teacher, and Matt, a cancer researcher, that we would leave here quieter, calmer and more unsure about the future, I would not have believed them. The one thing we know for sure is that we have lived and claimed Africa as our home for a while and with this project our lives have been enhanced and changed. And yes, all of it, Botswana, Bright Future’s and Africa have left an imprint on Matt and I that will have forever changed our life and perspective.
Getting ready for South Africa trip. Can't wait to go to the beach. Going to do some diving and finally running in sand that is on the ocean not just the desert!
-laura
24 November 2010
04 November 2010
For Some Bushmen, a Homeland Worth the Fight
One of the first times I have seen Botswana written about in the international news...... thought I would share.
here is the link (you have to cut and paste):
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/05/world/africa/05bushmen.html?_r=1&hp
here is the link (you have to cut and paste):
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/05/world/africa/05bushmen.html?_r=1&hp
31 October 2010
So resourceful...
What we see as rubbish- has become a pretty cool guitar for someone to pass the day away with....
Development Work..the debate continues but where are the results...
This past week Kristof had an article in the NYT Magazine praising Do-It- Yourself (D.I.Y) development projects around the world. You must read the article to understand some of this blog. The web address-
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/24/magazine/24volunteerism-t.html?ref=magazine
The article was excellent and caused a great debate between Matt and I as we sat, prisoners in our house, held up by the 105 degree heat.
At first, Matt and I disagreed about what we thought. Matt agreed with Kristof and I, for the most part, disagreed with Kristof. I was under the impresson that by allowing D.I.Yers in the field we were taking away from the professionalism of the field. However, after many days of thinking about this idea, then reading many blogs by people working around the world in the field of development, who also received Masters, through university programs, I realized I was being selfish. I was trying to hold on to the field as something only us trained in the field could do successfully. I have totally changed my point of view and written this in response to the following blogs:
http://findwhatworks.wordpress.com/2010/10/30/diy-follow-up-part-2-of-5-questions-of-elitism-or-just-what-is-a-%E2%80%9Cprofessional%E2%80%9D/
http://talesfromethehood.wordpress.com/
http://findwhatworks.wordpress.com/2010/10/29/diy-follow-up-part-1-of-5-how-complicated-can-things-really-be/
My response:
As a graduate of NYU's International Education program with a focus on Development Education and a current Peace Corps Volunteer in Botswana, I am perplexed at how to respond to your recent post.
You have valid points. However, you over estimate what a graduate degree prepares you for. If someone does not already know the importance of knowing your community or audience, involving the community and the important members of the community, and using past lessons as guiding principles, then I suppose they do need graduate school.
However, I think these principles are common sense. This is how we should live our lives in general; learning from past relationships and adjusting accordingly, learning about the culture we are trying to be apart of, learning from past mistakes in any professional field and correcting them for the future and learning how to interact with others effectively are all the same principles on a different scale. Why would we act differently in the field of international development?
If you have successfully volunteered at a soup kitchen, worked at an inner city school, worked in volatile communities anywhere and formed relationships there and become an agent of change with that organization, then you know the guiding principles and what it takes to enter into a place you do not naturally belong. If you have ever earned the respect of those you work with thus enabling true dialogue about how to move forward between all involved then you have also earned the right to add to the academic discourse that goes on in the classroom.
I agree with you that what it takes to be successful is a commitment. But, I also think what it takes is cultural humility and I think sometimes grad school strips us of this notion. We think we know so much, theory, lessons learned etc, yet we know nothing until we are on the ground and we hear, feel, smell and see what is all around us in that certain situation. D.I.Yers are in the field, on the ground, learning the theory while doing the practical work that is so desperately needed. Me, I sat in classes in NYC in a controlled environment so far removed from the reality and learned the theory, so excited to have the background that everyone told me was so necessary. To then go into the field and throw theories out the window because any good development worker knows the two do not always go hand and hand, when the problems and reality hit you so bluntly in the face.
When I get furious, seeing so much money squandered away, while the orphaned kids in my village are scavenging for food on a daily basis, I constantly remind myself the field is learning and evolving. I also remind myself of the development theorist Samuel Huntington and Immanuel Wallerstein and how Botswana is a young country growing and learning. This is what keeps me going, hoping for the best while aware of all the shortcomings of this field and I try to remember development is an evolving process that is natural, as well as forced.
There is not one organization that I see working perfectly; there is more, of what you call ‘professional organizations’, that need to be shut down than I can count. Moreover, I find that professional organizations have no real incentive to succeed. I mean if they succeed and reach their goals, there is no need for funding or the organization any longer, thus making them obsolete. Why implement your programs and reach the desired outcomes, if you are no longer going to be needed and thus left without a job?
The closest parallel I can think of is looking at the education system in America. It, too, is broken like the field of aid and development. So, Charter schools have been created, many times run by people how know nothing or very little bit about education. At first, as an educator I was insulted or reluctant to believe that this was the best solution. I still do not even know where I stand on this idea of creating a new system without fixing the old. But, after years of watching charters and a true investment in fixing the system and seeing public school perform better to keep up with the competition, who am I to judge this? What if one succeeds and we can learn from it, wasn’t it worth the investment, wasn’t it worth the unknown or the possibility of failure to help secure a better future for those kids that were involved and that will be involved in the future? Or what if one fails, and we learn what not to do the next time, wasn't that also worth it in the sense that we now know more and how to move forward and be more accurate next time? Isn't this the way the most innovative ideas have presented themselves throughout history?
With all the money that is wasted on moving development workers in to their field assignment, for their kids to go to private schools, cars for their organizations, personal housing payments, diplomatic pouches, flights home, lunches and workshops, I think the money invested in D.I.Y is a drop in the bucket, comparatively.
Doctors are known for being elite and for that I am thankful. Doctors hold our lives in their hands sometimes and for that we need the elite and the best. Similarly, we as development workers hold the lives of many in our hands and we are still not completely working at 100 % and are not seen as elite, much less effective, amongst members of other professions, even if we were educated at the top schools. We flounder and do not always know how to approach the problems that plague so much of the developing world. Therefore, since we, as aid workers, do not have the answers/results nor are we even close to coming up with one, until I see the perfect solution that we in the development field have come up with, I am willing to look at, learn from and accept D.I.Y approaches that are not so caught up in the bureaucracy but rather on the ground trying to do what they can.
Here is Kristof’s response to the Find What Works blog critical response:
http://kristof.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/10/29/a-postscript-on-diy-aid/
If for some reason you are interested in the field of aid and development I have found some great blogs from people working in various sectors of the development field:
http://www.aviewfromthecave.com/
http://goodintents.org/blog
http://africasacountry.com/
http://lessonsilearned.org/
http://onmotherhoodandsanity.blogspot.com/
http://penelopemc.wordpress.com/about/
http://www.owen.org/blog
http://texasinafrica.blogspot.com/
http://bloodandmilk.org/
-laura
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/24/magazine/24volunteerism-t.html?ref=magazine
The article was excellent and caused a great debate between Matt and I as we sat, prisoners in our house, held up by the 105 degree heat.
At first, Matt and I disagreed about what we thought. Matt agreed with Kristof and I, for the most part, disagreed with Kristof. I was under the impresson that by allowing D.I.Yers in the field we were taking away from the professionalism of the field. However, after many days of thinking about this idea, then reading many blogs by people working around the world in the field of development, who also received Masters, through university programs, I realized I was being selfish. I was trying to hold on to the field as something only us trained in the field could do successfully. I have totally changed my point of view and written this in response to the following blogs:
http://findwhatworks.wordpress.com/2010/10/30/diy-follow-up-part-2-of-5-questions-of-elitism-or-just-what-is-a-%E2%80%9Cprofessional%E2%80%9D/
http://talesfromethehood.wordpress.com/
http://findwhatworks.wordpress.com/2010/10/29/diy-follow-up-part-1-of-5-how-complicated-can-things-really-be/
My response:
As a graduate of NYU's International Education program with a focus on Development Education and a current Peace Corps Volunteer in Botswana, I am perplexed at how to respond to your recent post.
You have valid points. However, you over estimate what a graduate degree prepares you for. If someone does not already know the importance of knowing your community or audience, involving the community and the important members of the community, and using past lessons as guiding principles, then I suppose they do need graduate school.
However, I think these principles are common sense. This is how we should live our lives in general; learning from past relationships and adjusting accordingly, learning about the culture we are trying to be apart of, learning from past mistakes in any professional field and correcting them for the future and learning how to interact with others effectively are all the same principles on a different scale. Why would we act differently in the field of international development?
If you have successfully volunteered at a soup kitchen, worked at an inner city school, worked in volatile communities anywhere and formed relationships there and become an agent of change with that organization, then you know the guiding principles and what it takes to enter into a place you do not naturally belong. If you have ever earned the respect of those you work with thus enabling true dialogue about how to move forward between all involved then you have also earned the right to add to the academic discourse that goes on in the classroom.
I agree with you that what it takes to be successful is a commitment. But, I also think what it takes is cultural humility and I think sometimes grad school strips us of this notion. We think we know so much, theory, lessons learned etc, yet we know nothing until we are on the ground and we hear, feel, smell and see what is all around us in that certain situation. D.I.Yers are in the field, on the ground, learning the theory while doing the practical work that is so desperately needed. Me, I sat in classes in NYC in a controlled environment so far removed from the reality and learned the theory, so excited to have the background that everyone told me was so necessary. To then go into the field and throw theories out the window because any good development worker knows the two do not always go hand and hand, when the problems and reality hit you so bluntly in the face.
When I get furious, seeing so much money squandered away, while the orphaned kids in my village are scavenging for food on a daily basis, I constantly remind myself the field is learning and evolving. I also remind myself of the development theorist Samuel Huntington and Immanuel Wallerstein and how Botswana is a young country growing and learning. This is what keeps me going, hoping for the best while aware of all the shortcomings of this field and I try to remember development is an evolving process that is natural, as well as forced.
There is not one organization that I see working perfectly; there is more, of what you call ‘professional organizations’, that need to be shut down than I can count. Moreover, I find that professional organizations have no real incentive to succeed. I mean if they succeed and reach their goals, there is no need for funding or the organization any longer, thus making them obsolete. Why implement your programs and reach the desired outcomes, if you are no longer going to be needed and thus left without a job?
The closest parallel I can think of is looking at the education system in America. It, too, is broken like the field of aid and development. So, Charter schools have been created, many times run by people how know nothing or very little bit about education. At first, as an educator I was insulted or reluctant to believe that this was the best solution. I still do not even know where I stand on this idea of creating a new system without fixing the old. But, after years of watching charters and a true investment in fixing the system and seeing public school perform better to keep up with the competition, who am I to judge this? What if one succeeds and we can learn from it, wasn’t it worth the investment, wasn’t it worth the unknown or the possibility of failure to help secure a better future for those kids that were involved and that will be involved in the future? Or what if one fails, and we learn what not to do the next time, wasn't that also worth it in the sense that we now know more and how to move forward and be more accurate next time? Isn't this the way the most innovative ideas have presented themselves throughout history?
With all the money that is wasted on moving development workers in to their field assignment, for their kids to go to private schools, cars for their organizations, personal housing payments, diplomatic pouches, flights home, lunches and workshops, I think the money invested in D.I.Y is a drop in the bucket, comparatively.
Doctors are known for being elite and for that I am thankful. Doctors hold our lives in their hands sometimes and for that we need the elite and the best. Similarly, we as development workers hold the lives of many in our hands and we are still not completely working at 100 % and are not seen as elite, much less effective, amongst members of other professions, even if we were educated at the top schools. We flounder and do not always know how to approach the problems that plague so much of the developing world. Therefore, since we, as aid workers, do not have the answers/results nor are we even close to coming up with one, until I see the perfect solution that we in the development field have come up with, I am willing to look at, learn from and accept D.I.Y approaches that are not so caught up in the bureaucracy but rather on the ground trying to do what they can.
Here is Kristof’s response to the Find What Works blog critical response:
http://kristof.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/10/29/a-postscript-on-diy-aid/
If for some reason you are interested in the field of aid and development I have found some great blogs from people working in various sectors of the development field:
http://www.aviewfromthecave.com/
http://goodintents.org/blog
http://africasacountry.com/
http://lessonsilearned.org/
http://onmotherhoodandsanity.blogspot.com/
http://penelopemc.wordpress.com/about/
http://www.owen.org/blog
http://texasinafrica.blogspot.com/
http://bloodandmilk.org/
-laura
28 October 2010
Coming Together
Coming Together
Its been some time, I know but thought I would tell you all about the sponsored walk we did today with our youth group, Bright Future. As most of you know, Laura and I both spend a lot of our time working with this group and trying to develop them to be more productive, responsible, empowered individuals. We have been meeting for about 10 months and developing wonderful relationships with many of them. After all, they keep coming back so something is working!!!
Anyways, we had some t-shirts designed by a good friend and Peace Corps volunteer here, Ryan Mannion and then sent the logo to Jim Pike in Indy. Jim printed and donated all 35 shirts to our group and we brought them back from our trip home. Thanks Jim, means a lot and they are the hit of the village, everyone wants one. We told the group that the shirts were done and they needed to raise 300 pula for shipping (they didn’t know we brought them back), so we decided to do a sponsored walk on Youth Day in our district.
Three hundred pula should not be that hard for 25 people to come up with but the reality is that not one of these members have a job and a source for income other than boyfriends and an occasional family member. Most sit around day after day craving something to do, wishing they could find a job, and realizing the possibilities are very minimal with their educational background. While lack of motivation and laziness is inherited within the culture and greatly affects the youth often and early, I truly believe many of these kids (I call them kids but youth here is 15-29 years old) want to succeed in one way or another.
We met at the kgotla this morning and starting collecting sponsor sheets and money in hopes our goal of 300 pula was reached so that everyone could get their t-shirts. After collecting 660 pula the shirts, yeah we more than doubled the money, were handed out. It was awesome as each and every person made sure it looked nice and was the right size. After some decided it necessary to apply colored eye make-up, we had a photo-op and were off.
It really was a nice opportunity for them to show off to everyone that they are a part of something and trying to move forward. We strolled very leisurely through the village, singing and dancing at times while passerby’s looked on. Some asked what we were doing and the common response was “raising funds and awareness for our group and youth activities.” We walked for about and hour and a half, ending at the Kagisano Women’s Shelter, an organization that has taught our girls about gender based violence and currently is receiving a grant from the Ministry for our Youth group.
Yeah we wrote a grant through the Women’s Shelter many months back to the Ministry of Youth here. We got the entire grant, 1.2 million pula over two years to continue life skills trainings, going back to school, and learning business skills through a poultry farm. That is basically the equivalent of 150,000 US dollars. It is crazy; we have been operating this group with NO money and all the sudden the Ministry wants to use our group as a pilot project. GREAT – lets do this. We constantly see money thrown away here, but now we get to send 14 girls back to Form 4 and Form 5, basically high school, FOR FREE. Everything is paid, EVERYTHING. It is a once in a lifetime opportunity for them to finish these all-important educational years. We will start the interview process very soon and select a final 14 to start in January. I wish the funding were for 18 so that everyone could go, as telling some they didn’t make the cut wont be easy.
I really can’t believe that is happening. I shouldn’t get too excited until I see them in their uniforms on the combi going that first day.
So from NO money, to a lot of money, we will be spending most of the time remaining in Botswana training new facilitators for life skills and continuing trying to empower this group. We have become very close to many of them and only hope that their futures will be brighter and filled with more opportunities.
Pike, thanks again for the shirts, I cant wait to see how many people come to the next meeting wondering if we have more. While the group is open to anyone, the shirts solidified Bright Future’s spot in the community, hopefully for years to come…………
05 October 2010
Pula o Kai?
Where is the rain? Yeah summer is approaching and approaching rather quickly this year. It has consistently already been in the 90’s and the Kalahari is as dry as it can get, I believe. Technically speaking, its not even summer here yet. We are waiting for the rain to come, when it will happen? Nobody knows. Traditionally speaking, we were told it will rain on Sept. 30th, “it always does” but this year the ancestors were wrong.
Living in the desert is quite a challenge at times and this year seems to be no different. Laura and I constantly talk about spending most of our day thinking of water, whether it being downing liters at a time or trying to find a swimming pool for relief. Thankfully our water at home has not gone out; although we do know people that have now gone two months with nothing from the tap. It is only a matter of time if the rains don’t come.
One very interesting thing this spring compared to last is that everything is still blooming, the trees, flowers and fruits. Last year we had ample rain to get these very things sprouting and going, but even this year with NO rain, everything is blooming. It’s such as weird phenomenon that the desert can still flourish for some time without any water and some species obviously don’t need anything. I know, they have adapted over time, year after year with no water, but its still a bit bizarre to think about......
This past weekend was Botswana Independence and allowed for a four day weekend so we decided to visit a few friends up north. It was so nice, we spend the entire day at the Ntimbale Dam, a man made dam to supply water to many villages up there. We were able to swim the entire day in nice clean water, what a relief and so fun considering it’s a rarity here in Botswana. The only option we have near us in to go to the capital and raid one of the nice hotels there, but can get expensive and you still have to travel to get there. By the time you get home on the bus, you feel like going straight back.
Furthermore, the weekend was capped by attending the Kalanga festival at Domboshamba. The Kalanga are the predominant tribe up north and it was nice to around different people, experience traditional food, music and dance. Although the festival was still a typical Botswana event, it was nice to be in a different part of the country. When I say typical event, I mean most people sit outside next to their cars with house/pop/techno music bumping between cars in a drunken stupor. It’s quite entertaining and can be as fun as you want to make it really. It’s the thing to do when you go out as there really isn’t anything else to do here. It is too expensive to sit in bars so most people hangout outside and chill. In fact, some will call it a “chillaz” session if you can imagine.
So, hope all is well with you all and your enjoying the nice cool autumn air, baseball playoffs starting, a new NFL season (Colts need to get it together), and whatever rain you can send our way, please do. Its no wonder the word “pula” or water is so dominant here, including the currency.
-matt aka thuso
22 September 2010
Makgadikgadi Pans Walk
This past winter (July) we got to do one of the coolest, most challenging things we have ever done. We got invited to participate in a charity walk across the Mkgadikgadi Pans in northern Botswana. We walked on the Curry Pot team, which is a local restaurant here in Botswana. All of the money that was raised was used to help HIV/AIDS NGOs (Non-governmental Organizations) with small funding issues that come up throughout the year.
The challenge- to walk 40 kilometers a day (26 miles) over three days across the pans where there is no shade and the hot sun beats down you for the entire 7-8 hours you are walking. Basically we did three (walking) marathons in three days. And I would have to say it was absolutely brilliant and we both agree that we would do again in minute.
We packed up our tent and our belongings and loaded them onto the truck and trailer that would be leading us for the three days. We were instructed to follow the tracks created from the four- wheeler and just keep walking. So, we started walking. Every 6 k or so there was a four-wheeler and trailer stopped so that we could have some water, PowerAde and/or oranges. These stops also served as a way to relieve ourselves with a little protection while hiding behind the four wheeler.
The first four segments proved to be fairly easy; so we kept our fast pace and did not think the rest of the day would be that difficult. However, after walking in the desert for 6 hours the last segments of this day seemed almost impossible. However, we reached the campsite, ate dinner watched the stars in this incredible setting and where fast asleep, our bodies needed the rest. We actually got to watch the moon set over the horizon- SO COOL!
Day two, we reached this strange island of grass and trees in the middle of the saltpans. IT was so amazing. We were walking through the salt pans for two entire days, seeing no life and anything that was living and tried to survive the pans was petrified and bleached white by the sun. Then out of nowhere, there is this island of land with living things. It was a pretty cool experience and something that I have never seen. At the end of this day many of the walkers had to drop out and ride on the four-wheelers to the campsite. They had blisters (and honestly if I had them I would have stopped too- OUCH!), were simply tired after 80 k of walking and needed a little extra help. Knowing how difficult day two was and the thought of day three on the horizon- I pass no judgment on these people. This day was truly the hardest for me.
Day three- going back the way came, knowing what to expect, and the aches and pains in my body really did not have me to excited. However, our team of four made it the entire way on our own. The last 6 k- was the most challenging thing I have done. Honestly it was the thought of completing this on my own that got me through. And Paul Simon- Under African Skies- on my Ipod. At one point, Matt and I just started running so that we could feel different muscles and give the walking parts of our feet a break.
We reached the camp/lodge, showered for the first time in three days and ate a feast. Walking around that night was virtually impossible considering all the aches and pains we had and I went to bed around 8- dead to the world.
It was really awe-inspiring being in the middle of nowhere with nothing to block the morning sunrise or the shine of the many stars at night, looking out and seeing these crazy mirages in the horizon that were created by the sun and the heat, and completing this great feat.
And once again, while living or traveling in Africa, I am astounded by all that mother earth has to offer us, teach us and awaken in us.
If you are interested in learning about the pans-
( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Makgadikgadi_Pan )
Pictures are posted in Picasa-
http://picasaweb.google.com/mattandlaurabots
laura
21 September 2010
KE NAKO- IT"S TIME TO SHARE
So it has been over 9 months since we have written and told you anything about our lives. A lot has happened and actually nothing as happened. Our life in Botswana and the Peace Corps is very complicated and hard to explain. We think of something we want to talk about and then decide it sounds too negative or that the real truth lies so much in the gray area we can’t even put it into words. I will have to say having a little over 50 other Americans to share our thoughts and frustrations with has been our saving grace. It’s like our own secret world we live in, that you truly have to experience for a good amount of time to understand. Our decision to continue this blog (or our service for that matter) is one that we have tossed around a lot. We have decided to continue this blog with a more lighthearted approach that just keeps us in touch with you, our family and friends.
Here is a recap of what has been going on:
Visitors:
We have been lucky enough to have many visitors over the last few months. Our first visitors were Matt’s mom and his brother. We went to the airport thinking we were just meeting Matt’s mom and to our surprise Andy, Matt’s brother, walked out of customs. I cannot even explain the excitement of having Matt’s mom make it all the way to Botswana, but to see his brother, who said he would never come to Africa was a shock. We had a great time and it was great to show them around Botswana. We went to the Khama Rhino Sanctuary, Thuli Block and Maun. We got to do a Mokoro ride on the delta, which Cathie, still says is one of the worst things she has ever done. You must ask her about her fear of snakes!
My aunt Renie and cousin Maddie came over the Easter holiday. I would not be lying if I said that the desert decided to rain buckets of water the entire time they were in my village. And when it rains on our tin roof, it is painful. We had such a great time, caught up and played some great euchre! We went on a safari in the north of Botswana. We did a five-day camping safari- Renie said it was the first time she had camped since girl scouts. Considering that neither Renie nor Maddie are much of campers, they were great sports and we had a great time. We saw the Delta and all the animals you could have wanted to see. The guides were great and northern Botswana is really an amazing place on this planet.
Emily Caito came to visit. Two Peace Corps friends and me met her in Cape Town. It was awesome. We went shopping, ate at great food markets, went to a museum, ate great food and completely enjoyed ourselves. We went to this winery right out side of Cape Town in Constantia Valley, called Constantia Uitsig. (http://www.constantiavalley.com/vineyards/constantia_uitsig/) The restaurant was called La Colombe and is rated one of the best in Africa. (http://www.constantia-uitsig.com/pages/gallery/la-colombe.php) We had a seven-course wine tasting meal. It was amazing, lived up to it’s reputation and we knew we were over served EVERYTHING, when we started ordering shots of Coffee flavored Petron!!!
After Cape Town, Matt, Emily Caito and I met my parents in Johannesburg. I still cannot believe my parents made it to Africa. It was great being back together with members of my family. We had the day in Jo’burg, so we decided we would go to the Apartheid Museum. It is an marvelous museum. The museum was moving and well done. I was very impressed and once again in South Africa overwhelmed by their history and how far they have come in such a short time.
On a side note, I cannot tell you how much Matt and I have fallen in love with South Africa, Jo’burg included. IT is such an amazing country. Moving to Africa we are not all that excited to be in the southern region. We had heard that it was unsafe and knew that it was not the Africa we had signed up to move to (more developed than we had wanted). Even though it is not what we initially wanted, it is not dangerous and it is truly one of the most beautiful countries (people included) I have ever seen. Great cities, mountains, vineyards, game parks with many animals and coast lines that are truly spectacular. I am really glad that I have gotten to see many parts of South Africa and I am excited to explore more of it before we leave. I can see why it is one of the top tourist destinations in the world for sheer beauty alone not to mention the amazing culture, art and people we have met there.
The rest of the trip with my parents was spent on safari and a few days in our village. It was awesome. The lodge that we went to was called Londolozi - Tree Camp. It was definitely probably one of the nicest palaces we will ever stay at in our lives. The place is known for their leopards. So for three days we tracked leopards; we watched them hunt, play with their young and take down impalas! It was great and the scenery was amazing. From there we went to Sabi and stayed at this great lodge in the middle of the mountains. We did a day drive and saw the panoramic views of the mountains and many waterfalls. It was awesome to be with my father, who has sold produce and bananas his whole life, when he got to see banana plantations for the first time in his life. So glad that my family came to visit, what a great memory.
Scott Dillinger and Pugh are coming in November- pretty excited about this trip.
Bryn and Mauro say they are coming as well. Hey Mauro I heard phish is touring in South Africa!!!!!!
The World Cup
I am sure many of you have seen the pictures on our Picasa website ( http://picasaweb.google.com/mattandlaurabots ) from this trip- so I will not go into much detail. It was an incredible experience. I am not a sports fan but I have to tell you international live soccer events are truly unbelievable. Everything about it was so much fun. Budweiser for the first time in a year (written for Matt), international banter amongst all the cultures, and being able to cheer America onto what I call a victory over England!!! The South Africans were the most gracious of host. They were so excited to be able to host this event and share their county with the world. Congrats to them on a successful world cup and I look forward to Brazil in four years. We are hooked and we are definitely planning our trip to Brazil!!!!
Mozambique
Amazing, Awesome, Fantastic, Would Go back tomorrow!!!! It is such a cool place. We went to Maputo, Tofo and Vilanculos. Such a great place to travel to and I would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a great African trip to the beach. Awesome coastline, diving, and food was incredible. So great to get out the desert for a bit! Pictures of this trip are up on our Picasa site http://picasaweb.google.com/mattandlaurabots
Trip to the States
It was so nice to be off the African continent for a bit and we loved seeing everyone we missed so much over the last year. Indy was great. It was wonderful to hangout at the lake, catch up with our growing nieces and nephews and spend time talking with my sisters, mom and dad. Thank you so much everyone in Indy that threw his or her schedule out the door for a quick visit. And Gill thanks so much for coming to Indy. Kelly family- thanks for making the trek up to Indy as well. It was great to see you for at least a little bit. Also, Suanne, Dave, Jacqui and Anthony- great to see you as well, thank you for making time for me!!!! It really meant a lot. Carrie Maniaci, Jason, quickdraw, busby and danmeyer and Jane- so good to see you both.
New York was great. Misha thanks for taking us right to Coney Island and feeding us amazing pizza. Bryn and Mauro you gave us the greatest excuse to come back to the states. Such a splendid wedding and it was so great to get to spend time with you guys. Also thanks everyone, too, for throwing your real lives away for the week to hang out. Never enough time to spend as much time as we would like with everyone. However, we had a blast and look forward to being back in the city in 2011.
Women’s Group and Other Projects
As you can tell, travel is a big part of our life her in Africa. I mean since we are here and not going to live here forever, we might as well make the most of our time and geography. But there is some work that is going on I promise!!
About 8 months ago, Matt and I with the help our local chief, started a women’s empowerment group. It is the project that we like the most and feel like is doing to most to better our community. We have about 20 women and we get together weekly. We teach them life skills and have guest speakers come and talk to them about prevention, death and grieving. WE applied for a large grant about four months ago and had not heard anything, so we assumed that nothing was going to come of it. Last week, we heard we have been accepted for the grant given from the government of Botswana. The grant is for two years (the women’s group can continue after we are gone- Yeah! - as this in one of the hardest things to accomplish – sustainability) and in the amount of 1.4 million pula or $157k. The money is to pay for a local person to help facilitate, so that we can do our life skills work in the local language and then expand the group to more women that do not speak any English, to help start a small poultry farm co-op with the girls, and to get 15 of them back into school to finish their high school equivalency. Matt actually wrote the grant, so hats off to him. But, now that we have the money, this is what most of our time will focus on. As soon as the actual money comes through, the hard work begins with clearing the land and starting the farm. This is exactly what we moved to Africa to do and we have grown very fond of our girls. They are going to be very hard to say goodbye to!
Side note- Jim Pike, a friend from Indiana, donated shirts to our girls. They love them and are in the process of raising money to pay for the shipping. Thanks Jim!!!!!
We will try to be better- so the next one is not so long.
Stay Well,
laura
Here is a recap of what has been going on:
Visitors:
We have been lucky enough to have many visitors over the last few months. Our first visitors were Matt’s mom and his brother. We went to the airport thinking we were just meeting Matt’s mom and to our surprise Andy, Matt’s brother, walked out of customs. I cannot even explain the excitement of having Matt’s mom make it all the way to Botswana, but to see his brother, who said he would never come to Africa was a shock. We had a great time and it was great to show them around Botswana. We went to the Khama Rhino Sanctuary, Thuli Block and Maun. We got to do a Mokoro ride on the delta, which Cathie, still says is one of the worst things she has ever done. You must ask her about her fear of snakes!
My aunt Renie and cousin Maddie came over the Easter holiday. I would not be lying if I said that the desert decided to rain buckets of water the entire time they were in my village. And when it rains on our tin roof, it is painful. We had such a great time, caught up and played some great euchre! We went on a safari in the north of Botswana. We did a five-day camping safari- Renie said it was the first time she had camped since girl scouts. Considering that neither Renie nor Maddie are much of campers, they were great sports and we had a great time. We saw the Delta and all the animals you could have wanted to see. The guides were great and northern Botswana is really an amazing place on this planet.
Emily Caito came to visit. Two Peace Corps friends and me met her in Cape Town. It was awesome. We went shopping, ate at great food markets, went to a museum, ate great food and completely enjoyed ourselves. We went to this winery right out side of Cape Town in Constantia Valley, called Constantia Uitsig. (http://www.constantiavalley.com/vineyards/constantia_uitsig/) The restaurant was called La Colombe and is rated one of the best in Africa. (http://www.constantia-uitsig.com/pages/gallery/la-colombe.php) We had a seven-course wine tasting meal. It was amazing, lived up to it’s reputation and we knew we were over served EVERYTHING, when we started ordering shots of Coffee flavored Petron!!!
After Cape Town, Matt, Emily Caito and I met my parents in Johannesburg. I still cannot believe my parents made it to Africa. It was great being back together with members of my family. We had the day in Jo’burg, so we decided we would go to the Apartheid Museum. It is an marvelous museum. The museum was moving and well done. I was very impressed and once again in South Africa overwhelmed by their history and how far they have come in such a short time.
On a side note, I cannot tell you how much Matt and I have fallen in love with South Africa, Jo’burg included. IT is such an amazing country. Moving to Africa we are not all that excited to be in the southern region. We had heard that it was unsafe and knew that it was not the Africa we had signed up to move to (more developed than we had wanted). Even though it is not what we initially wanted, it is not dangerous and it is truly one of the most beautiful countries (people included) I have ever seen. Great cities, mountains, vineyards, game parks with many animals and coast lines that are truly spectacular. I am really glad that I have gotten to see many parts of South Africa and I am excited to explore more of it before we leave. I can see why it is one of the top tourist destinations in the world for sheer beauty alone not to mention the amazing culture, art and people we have met there.
The rest of the trip with my parents was spent on safari and a few days in our village. It was awesome. The lodge that we went to was called Londolozi - Tree Camp. It was definitely probably one of the nicest palaces we will ever stay at in our lives. The place is known for their leopards. So for three days we tracked leopards; we watched them hunt, play with their young and take down impalas! It was great and the scenery was amazing. From there we went to Sabi and stayed at this great lodge in the middle of the mountains. We did a day drive and saw the panoramic views of the mountains and many waterfalls. It was awesome to be with my father, who has sold produce and bananas his whole life, when he got to see banana plantations for the first time in his life. So glad that my family came to visit, what a great memory.
Scott Dillinger and Pugh are coming in November- pretty excited about this trip.
Bryn and Mauro say they are coming as well. Hey Mauro I heard phish is touring in South Africa!!!!!!
The World Cup
I am sure many of you have seen the pictures on our Picasa website ( http://picasaweb.google.com/mattandlaurabots ) from this trip- so I will not go into much detail. It was an incredible experience. I am not a sports fan but I have to tell you international live soccer events are truly unbelievable. Everything about it was so much fun. Budweiser for the first time in a year (written for Matt), international banter amongst all the cultures, and being able to cheer America onto what I call a victory over England!!! The South Africans were the most gracious of host. They were so excited to be able to host this event and share their county with the world. Congrats to them on a successful world cup and I look forward to Brazil in four years. We are hooked and we are definitely planning our trip to Brazil!!!!
Mozambique
Amazing, Awesome, Fantastic, Would Go back tomorrow!!!! It is such a cool place. We went to Maputo, Tofo and Vilanculos. Such a great place to travel to and I would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a great African trip to the beach. Awesome coastline, diving, and food was incredible. So great to get out the desert for a bit! Pictures of this trip are up on our Picasa site http://picasaweb.google.com/mattandlaurabots
Trip to the States
It was so nice to be off the African continent for a bit and we loved seeing everyone we missed so much over the last year. Indy was great. It was wonderful to hangout at the lake, catch up with our growing nieces and nephews and spend time talking with my sisters, mom and dad. Thank you so much everyone in Indy that threw his or her schedule out the door for a quick visit. And Gill thanks so much for coming to Indy. Kelly family- thanks for making the trek up to Indy as well. It was great to see you for at least a little bit. Also, Suanne, Dave, Jacqui and Anthony- great to see you as well, thank you for making time for me!!!! It really meant a lot. Carrie Maniaci, Jason, quickdraw, busby and danmeyer and Jane- so good to see you both.
New York was great. Misha thanks for taking us right to Coney Island and feeding us amazing pizza. Bryn and Mauro you gave us the greatest excuse to come back to the states. Such a splendid wedding and it was so great to get to spend time with you guys. Also thanks everyone, too, for throwing your real lives away for the week to hang out. Never enough time to spend as much time as we would like with everyone. However, we had a blast and look forward to being back in the city in 2011.
Women’s Group and Other Projects
As you can tell, travel is a big part of our life her in Africa. I mean since we are here and not going to live here forever, we might as well make the most of our time and geography. But there is some work that is going on I promise!!
About 8 months ago, Matt and I with the help our local chief, started a women’s empowerment group. It is the project that we like the most and feel like is doing to most to better our community. We have about 20 women and we get together weekly. We teach them life skills and have guest speakers come and talk to them about prevention, death and grieving. WE applied for a large grant about four months ago and had not heard anything, so we assumed that nothing was going to come of it. Last week, we heard we have been accepted for the grant given from the government of Botswana. The grant is for two years (the women’s group can continue after we are gone- Yeah! - as this in one of the hardest things to accomplish – sustainability) and in the amount of 1.4 million pula or $157k. The money is to pay for a local person to help facilitate, so that we can do our life skills work in the local language and then expand the group to more women that do not speak any English, to help start a small poultry farm co-op with the girls, and to get 15 of them back into school to finish their high school equivalency. Matt actually wrote the grant, so hats off to him. But, now that we have the money, this is what most of our time will focus on. As soon as the actual money comes through, the hard work begins with clearing the land and starting the farm. This is exactly what we moved to Africa to do and we have grown very fond of our girls. They are going to be very hard to say goodbye to!
Side note- Jim Pike, a friend from Indiana, donated shirts to our girls. They love them and are in the process of raising money to pay for the shipping. Thanks Jim!!!!!
We will try to be better- so the next one is not so long.
Stay Well,
laura
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