Hard to believe I know but this is the last blog entry from Africa. My time in Botswana is now over and I am sitting in a hotel room in South Africa (Jo-burg) waiting to fly to Thailand tonight. It is so hard to believe, what’s hard to believe you may be asking? Well that it is over, that a semester of school could possibly go so quickly, that I can feel so much like myself but know that I am so different, to know that life has gone on with out me at home, but really not knowing that it has. I think that this last thing is what I am going to have to get use to the most. I am not trying to be vain in any way but it is such a weird concept! Having friends and best friends at home and they having lives without me, things getting done on campus without my help and dedication, kids growing to love other babysitters (God forbid, I would die!). It has even happened with in my family and it is so interesting to see. I would ask questions here to everyone and anyone about what is going on in their lives, and I know that it is a hard question to answer, but it seemed that in most cases I would get a good/fine/okay/great and then the question would be flipped back to me and I would take up the rest of the time talking about myself and I am sorry about that, because I really wanted to hear about everyone else! And what I was ‘missing’ while not in other people’s lives.
I have really become thankful for all of my friends and people that are in my life while was here. I never realized how lucky and blessed I was to have such wonderful people in my life who are so caring and selfless in the fact that they cared so much about me while I have been over seas. It has meant the world to me especially while I was in a program where I was pared and in many cases forced to be with people whether I liked them or not, and I think a big part of me had to grow up in that aspect. I in no way have ever liked of supported fake people, and no most times when I didn’t like some one I would not pretend, I would try not to be rude but at the same time, I now see that this is not the most mature way of handling things. I have had to get over the “showing” of my feeling for people and do it in a way that I felt comfortable with, ie not being fake, and I think that this was a good lesson for me, and kind of a grown up one. However, as I said before, it made me realize how outstanding all the people in my life are. So thank you to everyone that has supported me while here whether you did it in a way that I could constantly see, or through positive thoughts and feelings, talking about me (positively) in groups, e-mails, Letters (Melissa!), IM’s, ect. So thank you.
I have really enjoyed writing and I want to keep people updated on my Thailand trip so I am going to keep on writing, it anyone is left out there, and/or cares. Also if anyone would like to get a post card from Thailand let me know, and I will put one in the mail for you. I have had the time of my life the past 4 and half months and I cannot remember a time in my recent past where I have been so happy, no, not everything was perfect, most wasn’t actually. But it gave me reassurance that my long-term goal, for my future of turning into a Hemingway, in the sense that I could be an ex-patriot and continue writing (not with the whole taking of ones life thing, don’t worry), was not only possible but quite likely to happen again. I loved exploring and learning about the new cultures and even in the set backs humour was always found. The whole idea of growing as a person to me was the best. I try so hard not to be an “Ignorant American” or a hypocrite and I found that for me the best way to avoid this is through traveling and see what others expect from others asking the questions that you are ready to hear the answers too, and not fight back when the answers are not what you like or think that they should be. Okay so here it goes buddies and pals, the last Botswana/ African Cheers (what I will not miss) and Jeers (what I will desperately miss!)! Watch out cause I’ma get fancy!
CHEERS! Jeers!
- No more men: shaking, grabbing, hugging, touching, calling, hollering, shouting, asking to marry, asking for phone number, asking to come over, ask to go over, starring at me. It got a little annoying at times, like on bad days irksome.
- No more ‘mean girls’. It took a long time for the girls in my classes and around campus to start to like me, most never did. I am a tall while girl that dresses differently, and thanks to the media in the US has the reputation without doing anything of being easy and a boyfriend ‘stealer’, non of which are true, there for it was a constant to be talked about in Setswana, pointed at, twice pushed, and looked at in a very mean way.
- Having a professor who thinks that you are brilliant because you are from the States, therefore ostracizing you from the rest of the all Batswana class, OR a professor trying to make you look as stupid as possible because you are from the states and not as ‘smart’ as you think you are, therefore ostracizing you from the rest of the class as they laugh at you.
- Cutters!!!! People ALWAYS cut in front of me in lines and thought that it was so funny. I DID NOT think that this was funny and it was the cause of the only time that I lost my temper in the whole 4.5 months.
- I will cross the streets now with a totally different mind set. See some drivers think of pedestrians as a sport and speed up to hit them as they cross here. God is it scary!
| - The friendships that I did make. My roommate Yamiche, although from the states was my most constant and probably best friend in Botswana. The Haitian born Georgetown University student was a hilarious, open-minded, and smart asset to out CIEE group. We are very similar in many ways, but our differences I think is what strengthened our relationship. I don’t think that we would have been as close if we were not roommates and able to have ‘girl’ talks with each other or go on double dates. See we both met and began dating people over here. Her Boyfriend. Eddy, is from the DRC, but is now living in Gabs with his folks while going to UB. I spent more time with them probably then any other people while here. Thanks to Eddy and his knowledge of Gabs, Africans, and complementary corky sense of humour (to mine) we got on beautifully. And he was able to save me many times. He also got alone quite nicely with boy, so that helped Miche and I because we were able to do a lot of fun things together around Gabs that others in our group never had the opportunity to do. Miche is staying the summer in Gaborone and will be working for a Newspaper there as an Editor of some kind. I am going to miss her and I really hope that we will be able to maintain a long lasting relationship!
- The sunsets and the natural raw beauty that is everywhere you look in my experience in Africa.
- People being able friendly and the interested in what you think about their country and how to make it better. People care so much about what is going on, and the lack of apathy that I experienced was so refreshing and welcomed!
- My money, for the most part (in nearly everyway, but groceries) going further then it would at home! It has been so wonderful! However I have still managed to spend more then I have in 3 semesters, or maybe its just because this was the first time I haven’t had a job since I have been 13 and the lack of income is starting to freak me out. But then again that is my own issue.
- Walking Everywhere and tons of outdoor activities (camping, hiking, canoeing, swimming)! I really hope to keep this one up at home. But I have walked so much over the last few months and the fresh air and the sense of adventure and excitement everywhere you go has been awesome.
- There are so many more things that I am going to miss, but its kind of nice to know that I can really come back at anytime, and something tells me that I will.
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