Sunday, April 11, 2010

Sale Santle Botswana

Incredible - only a few more days here in Botswana and seems like a good time to think about what I will miss about here and what I have missed over the last few months from our US home. Sale santle means goodbye in Botswana, but in the typical complexity of the language, is only said by the person leaving (it translates as "stay well") and the person who is staying says to the departing person, "tsamaya santle" or "go well". All makes good sense, but sometimes hard for me to remember which role I'm in! Then there is "sleep well" travel well, etc.

So here are some random musings about what I will remember fondly. I love the names we have come across here - Precious. Luscious, Beauty, Tiny Man, Alleluia (born on Xmas), ThankYou, Grace. Wonderful sounding rolling r's (that I still cannot manage) that come our with every "dumella rra". Yes (ee) is pronounced as "aye" but is so much more than that - it is typically said with great emphasis and lots of panache, sometimes as aye rra! (yes sir). Setswana and all the tribal languages we hear are usually spoken pretty loudly with lots of dynamics. In contrast, English is almost whispered. Pale sounding in comparison.

How about those umbrellas! In the sunny midday, umbrellas shoot right up to protect people from the sun. Mostly women and girls, but even men use umbrellas for the sun. Guess, what, it really works! Lots more coverage than a hat and cooler as well.

The size of the sky here. We have been to remote areas before to witness wonderful night skies but there is something about the sky in Africa - the brightness of the stars, shooting stars, the southern constellations. As we are pretty flat here, the horizon goes on forever.

I will miss the small town, friendly atmosphere of Gabarone. We have made some nice friends here who have been very welcoming and generous to us. Compared to the rest of Botswana, this is a big bustling city, but it has more the feel of an Augusta Maine size town. Lots of people working here either for the govt, or because this is where the jobs are, but they come from all over and often go back to their home villages up north or to their cattle posts.

I will miss how Peter comes home most days shaking his head about the incredible case he has seen or laughing about some bizarre event at the hospital. Very charged up about the pathology and pleased to be providing such a needed service in both teaching and clinical care.

Trying out new stuff - whether it is the safari adventures we have had to see incredible game, birds or just neat plant life, or merely taking a combi ride to a new part of town, trying new foods, meeting people with interesting backgrounds and perspectives - it all adds up to a wonderful sense of adventure to our days here. Sometimes exhausting but still very stimulating. A reminder that most of this is probably available to us back home but until you are placed in a foreign situation we tend to stick to our well worn ways.

Now, what I can't wait for:
Our family and friends - we have missed our fam very much (and one little 3yo Duncan in particular - can't wait to get the real life hugs and kisses from them all!). Skype, email, email chats, all make it bearable but are just not the real live communication we miss. We very much look forward to seeing the friends and family who have been following this adventure (and those who have wondered - whatever happened to Peter and Barbara?).

Reliable IT - again the technology here is far better than in most places in Africa, but still quite slow and unpredictable. Much gnashing of the teeth as I wait and wait and wait some days.

Getting back to familiar routines of home and work - all the everyday mundane stuff that makes a place your home will be wonderful.

Driving myself around - we have been without a car here, and I miss having my wheels (instead of walking, taxis and depending on the kindness of friends for rides).

Regular exercise. While I have been walking most days, I miss the gym (hard to believe) and both of us feel the need for more of our routine exercise days. BT and Mary - will be waiting for you on the blvd and I believe Peter plans a return to Woodlands golf asap.

We have learned and accustomed ourselves to the African pace - which is far slower than the type A American style of talking, moving, responding, making decisions. But it will be refreshing to get back to good old American moving right along!

We are off in a few hours to a farewell event hosted by our friends Gordana and Branco Cavric. Should be fun and will fill you in on the details later.

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