Saturday, May 24, 2008

BOTSWANA

Well, I made it! After a lot of running around like a crazy woman trying to get ready, and Maisha bringing me donuts and offering moral support I made it to the airport and got checked in. The flight to DC was on a tiny plane, so small that I had to put my backpack under the plane because it wouldn't fit in the cabin. The flight to Johannesberg went pretty well and I watched 4 movies... The Jo-berg airport is smallish, but nice and I checked out all the African stores. They even had a zebra bag with a mane down the front!

I met two Penn students on the flight to Gaborone who had been on the trip before, so I got some good inside information and found some people to hang out with. At the airport Dr. Oagile and a driver met me and took me in to the University of Botswana (herein after UB). I got my stuff put in a room that I would be staying in overnight. Then Dr. Oagile called Riley, a grad student from Canada here in at UB and asked her to show me where the cafeteria is the next morning. We talked and had some tea and then I went home and took a shower and went to bed.

The next morning I had breakfast with Riley in the cafeteria, an egg, toast, french fries, a slice of tomatoe and a "russian" which is a sausage. Then Riley introduced me to Ragnhild, a Norwegian student who has been doing field work here in Gaborone for a few months. We went to Game City, a large mall here in Gabs and did some shopping. When I got home I took a nap and about 2 pm Dr. Oagile came and said her daughter was taking two newly arrived Penn students to the Riverwalk mall and asked if I wanted to go along. We ate at Nando's (the best chicken in Africa according to our friend Larato) and got plates and cereal and etc. When we got home I was thouroghly worn out, so I took a shower and did some reading. A little later there was a knock on my window and the three law students from University of Cincinatti who will also be working at the High Court in Lobatse arrived and needed me to unlock the door. Something is wrong with our door, and it takes about 10 minutes to get the door unlocked from the inside. I hope that gets fixed soon. So I met the famous Judge Unity Dow in my bathrobe and slippers. I'll dress extra nice on Tuesday to make up for it...

The next morning I went to breakfast with Riley, showed the other law students (Marilu, Michelle, and Theresa) where the cafeteria is and Larato took us out shopping again. We got food, silverware, roach spray (we have a bit of a roach "situation"), and other household necessities. Then I came home, helped unpack the bags and took a nap. While I was sleeping, the power went out. I guess it happens about once a week. When South Africa is low on power they cut Botswana off for an hour or two. I'm glad I brought those flashlights!

Riley came and fetched me and we went to a traditional barbeque called a brye (I don't know how to spell it) with several Canadians, Ragnhild, her friend Dixon from Kenya, and his friend Joe, who is Kalanga. We went to a village just outside Gabs to Mountain Rest. We got a HUGE piece of seasoned meat for 20 pula and went up to the grill and barbequed it. They gave us some pap (cornmeal mush) and tomatoe salad as well. The owner is married to a Norwegian man, and she spoke Norwegian to us. There were no forks or knives, so we ate meat with our bare hands. It was REALLY good. Then there was dancing. It was so much fun. I think someone was taking pictures... The owner's brother was there and he was saying all the Norwegian words he could remember. It was pretty amusing.

Today I think we are going on a brye with the Penn group. It has been a much more relaxed day so far. Monday is our orientation and Judge Dow is sending a government car to pick us up and take us to Lobatse on Tuesday. So far I really like it here.

Friday, May 9, 2008

Rising 2L!

Well, I have finished my first year of law school! It is amazing how fast that year went and also how long ago orientation seems. They say law school changes people. I can't make out any big changes, although I am more likely to 1) number points I am about to make and 2) think about legal recourse for people who tell me about their problems. I'll have to ask my friends and family at home if they think I have changed, then cross my fingers that it hasn't been for the worse!

I had three take-home finals, so I started to go a little stir-crazy in my apartment. I think Gordon was wondering why I was home ALL THE TIME, too. Over the next few days I will be keeping pretty busy getting myself ready for the big trip to Botswana, packing, cleaning the apartment for the guy who will be living here over the summer, and trying to get all of the things the law school wants me to do over the internet this summer taken care of before I go. I am sure there will be lots of chances to use the internet while I am in Botswana, but it seems foolish to risk my interviews for On Campus Interviews or my class schedule for next semester if it can be helped. Law students are a risk-averse group, or at least that's what the administration keeps telling us.

Gordon is doing well, I will conclude this post with some new pictures of him.