Camping in the Kalahari

Last weekend we went camping in the Kalahari. This is the truck we rode in 4.5 hours to get to Khutse Game Reserve. Our guide, Tim, customized it himself.


The winter mornings can be a bit chilly to begin with, but driving down the highway in an open truck really made it necessary to bundle up.

Back Row: Molls, Kristin, Pratik

Front Row: Nina, Dave, Emily

This is one of many traditional houses we passed on the drive down.


Here is a flock of guinea fowl that ran in front of the truck for several meters before taking off on our game drive.

Springbok

Gemsbok or South African Oryx

Ostriches

I uploaded several more pictures, but they seem to have vanished. In the interest of getting this posted before any more of it disappears, I will publish this and try again soon.

High Court

Well, a lot has happened since my last post. I found out that my family dog, Holly passed away on the 23rd of May. She had a tumor in her heart, so we knew it was coming but I don't think it has really sunk in for me yet. I hope Gordon will keep my parents company and cheer them up a bit.

Sunday night as I was setting my new radio alarm clock, I noticed the display flickering. I was checking to make sure the plug was not coming out of the outlet when *PANG* the lights went out in our apartment. We looked for a breaker box and couldn't find one. So we called our friend Lorato to see if she knew what to do and woke her up. She called Dr. Oagile, the program coordinator who called the security people and came over to keep us company. Security came with the president of the Graduate Student Association and opened the locked closet to reveal the breaker box. They flipped the switch. Nothing. So they were going to have to find someone else to try and fix it. We decided to go to bed and sometime in the middle of the night our power magically came back on.

On Monday we had our orientation which consisted of a TON of information from all sorts of offices here on campus. We had lunch at the cafeteria and then went on a bus tour of Gaborone. We also went out to the village of Tlokweng and visited the customary court there. We met with one of the tribal leaders who acts as an arbitrator and judge for the village. He showed us where they administer corporal punishment (caning) and we saw the cattle who had broken into a woman's field and destroyed her harvest. She "arrested" the cattle and they were being held until the owner came to claim them and pay damages for the lost crops. Free range is a way of life here and you will often see herds of cows, goats, or chickens wandering the city.

We visited the monument to the "fathers of Botswana" the men who asked the British government to form a protectorate when a corporation was buying up southern Africa. We ended the night with a traditional dinner, dancing, and song in a village just outside of Gaborone. It was quite the event.

The next morning at 9 am we were picked up in a government car and driven to the High Court in Lobatse. We met with Justice Unity Dow and she gave us a tour and introduced us to most of the people working in the building. At noon we got to sit in on a hearing and after that she took us to her house for lunch. We met her daughters Cheshe and Natasha and had a great conversation. We went back to the court and were driven home by the same government car.

The next morning Marilu (Judge Dow's other clerk) and I were given our first assignment. I was asked to write a draft judgment about a case involving a Union dispute. I spent the rest of the week working on the project and was loaned a laptop "Property of the Government of Botswana" to assist me in my work. Friday I worked from home and got some of my laundry done. That evening we went to the Bull and Bush with Hong and Jessie (the Penn students I met on the plane) and had some great steaks and got some souvenirs from the artisans selling their work out front. At 9 pm the restaurant turns into a disco and Jessie and I headed home. I'm an old lady, I guess. I hear it got pretty crazy.

Saturday I got up and went to the Main Mall with Nina (the Penn student doing the archaeology internship) to get tickets for that afternoon's soccer match between Botswana and Madagascar. I got myself some official Zebra wear to sport at the game. The game was quite the experience, though it ended 0-0. It seems the Madagascar team had been assembled just 8 days before the match so the fans were upset that the game ended in a tie. I hear the coach has been fired.

After the game we came home and changed and headed out to dinner and the Sex and the City movie. After the movie we decided to head to the famed Fashion Lounge. We were having a hard time getting a cab, so I called Maxy, a cab driver who had driven us home before and he came and picked us up. During the ride we discovered that neither of us has children, which I guess means we are meant to be together (?!). Later that evening I got a text message telling me that he was "missing me tightly." I have thus far been unable to figure out what that means... Anyway, I had fun dancing and ran into Riley's friend Ronald who I met at Mountain Lodge at the braai (barbeque).

Sunday we were all pretty tired. Most of the girls went to Riverwalk (a nearby mall) and I stayed home and waited for my friend Dave to arrive (he is the other Penn Law student working in Bots this summer). When Dave got here we went to the mall and got him some food to tide him over and had some really good Indian food. When we got home most of the girls went to listen to jazz, and Marilu and I stayed home to work on our assignments.

Monday morning was pretty funny. We thought the Court had arranged for a bigger car to pick us up because there are now 5 of us and we won't fit into the standard white Volvo along with the driver. This did not happen, however, so one of us had to be left behind. I volunteered and ended up getting to work at 11:10. I met with Justice Dow about the case I was working on and spent the afternoon working in our new office. I think I like our office better than the library where I was working last week. Monday is half-price rib night at the Bull and Bush, so we all went for spare ribs.

Today I did laundry and finished up my assignment. Working from home has its perks. Tomorrow I will go in and get my next assignment! Now that I have internet access in my very own room, I will do my best to update my blog more regularly. If any of these stories is unclear or assumes knowledge of past events that I have not related, please let me know and I will do my best to fill in the blanks.

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.

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.

Check, check, check

Well, I am officially a member of the Equal Justice Foundation (EJF) Board for 2008-2009. I will be working with my fellow fundraising chair to plan the annual book sale and the Tortfeasor's Ball. I am really excited; both the IHRA board and the EJF board are full of great people, so it should be a great year. Busy, but great.

This weekend I am expecting a visit from my cousin Nick and his girlfriend. It will be great to see Nick and meet Kayt. I hope Philadelphia has enough alleys and trolleys to satisfy them.

I am doing my best to keep checking things off my "to do" list. Last night was my oral argument and I made it through unscathed. This morning I went to my travel consultation and got a polio booster and typhoid vaccine. Later today I will attend the "Africa Orientation" offered by the Penn Study Abroad and Africa Studies departments. Monday is the Law School study abroad meeting, my Botswana orientation meeting, and the Public Service recognition reception where we will be doing a short presentation on our Mexico trip. Tuesday is the last day of class for my 1L year! I have one in-school exam on the 28th and three self-scheduling take home exams to be completed by May 8th. Whew. I need a nap just thinking about it.

During my travel consultation I had to have an evaluation of my physical and mental health. The doctor asked how I was feeling and I told her I was happier than I have been in quite a while. She said "you're in your first year of law school and you're happy?!" I guess I made the right choice. I may be in the minority, but I love law school, 1L craziness and all.

Finally, the mandatory Gordon update. He is doing great. I think he is ready for me to stop all the reading and play with him. He sits on my books whenever I start an assignment.

golden ticket(s)

Well, I have my ticket to Botswana and a ticket home to visit and drop Gordon off in Montana! I am very excited! I also found out that I will be working for HIAS for three weeks at the end of the summer--I am looking forward to getting some hands-on experience with immigration law. Yesterday was quite eventful. I was called on in Constitutional law, and the professor said I was making some "weird functional argument." Then I posted my apartment on craigslist to see if I could sublet it over the summer and I have gotten some good responses. Then I got some laundry done, which was a very good thing.

At 7 I went to the Equal Justice Foundation dessert potluck and learned about the different board positions available. I am planning on running for social chair. Then at 8 I went to meet some of the other students headed to Botswana. I think it will be a great group. Tonight is the final meeting for the Uganda project. I really enjoyed working on the syllabus for a Children's Rights course; I hope what I came up with will be useful. We are also having a meeting about On-Campus Recruiting (OCR) for the fall today. OCR is terribly exciting and dreadfully scary all at the same time. I have to decide where I want to live, what firms I want to interview with, and the job I end up with for next summer has a high probability of being where I end up after graduating.

This Saturday is the last Penn Preview Day, our last formal admitted student program. I have really enjoyed being on the Post Acceptance Committee this year. Oral arguments are coming up a week from today. This will be in the real courthouse in front of real practitioners. It will also be the last Legal Writing assignment. My 1L year will be over in less than a month! I think that is AMAZING! I didn't believe all the people who told me it would.

I aim to please!

I know my dad was being facetious when he said "more broccoli pictures, please," but I couldn't just ignore a request like that. He should know better!

Life has been pretty busy over the last week and a half! Admitted Students Weekend was last weekend, and it was a great success. I met lots of great admitted students and the ladies who stayed with me were AWESOME. It was nice to see all the hard work pay off. We had lots of events, panels, food, a trolley tour, and great fun. One last admitted student event is coming up on the 12th. I am really glad I was able to be a part of the Post Acceptance Committee, it was a great experience.

Last week was quite busy. In addition to meetings, information sessions, and make up classes the two main projects were the rewrite of my appellate brief in collaboration with another student and finishing up the Gulu University pro bono project. I turned in my syllabus and all the reading materials I collected on Friday. It is really nice if a bit scary to think that someone might be using this syllabus. I hope all the reading materials are ok and that I haven't assigned too much work. I figured it was better to send too much and let the professor cut anything he or she didn't want to teach.

Friday was the most NUTS day of all. The brief was due at 10:30, then we had to Contracts class. Right after Contracts I got to go to a panel on international careers at law firms. It is a bit intimidating to start firm research when there are SO many firms and I have SO little base knowledge about them. Then I transfered my Gulu files to Alison's computer and went to a Post Acceptance Committee meeting where we debriefed on ASW and planned our tasks for the preview day. Most exciting was participating in the school's mock interview program. I got to meet with recruiters from two great firms and practice my interviewing skills. We also got a chance to load up on swag from law firms (everything from a canvas shopping bag, to a wireless mouse, to jelly beans) and gather information for formulating our plan for on-campus interviews in the fall.

After I got home I went to Ethiopian food with a new friend; I love taking people who have never had Ethiopian food to Almaz Cafe. I called my parents only to find out that things are not going so well for my dog, Holly, at home in Montana. They think she may have had a stroke; she wouldn't eat her favorite treats and was lying flat out on the floor. I hate not being there even if there is nothing I can do. (Mom called this morning to tell me that she does seem to be doing better today.)

As I was getting ready for bed I started hearing beeping. At first I thought it was the TV, but then I started hearing doors slam in the hallway. I opened the door and the hallway was filled with smoke and there was a fire extinguisher on the floor. I grabbed Gordon, put his harness on, and headed down to the street. Gordon was agitated, so I put him down and he crawled under the security gate in front of the pet store next door. When the firemen gave us the OK to go back in I had to drag him out from under there and he was not very happy with me. The doorman explained that the guy in the apartment adjacent to mine had put a pot on the stove and passed out on his couch. When the doorman got there the pot was smoking like crazy so he put it in the sink and tried to get everyone out. It seems my neighbor was pretty out of it. When I came back upstairs the police were talking to him and he was insisting that he had not been cooking anything. All in all it was a crazy ending to a crazy day.

Saturday was time for some much-needed rest. I have not accomplished much today. Dad did help me with my taxes, so I can cross that off the list. I also got some excellent cuddle time in with Gordon--I've gotta take that when I can get it :) Tomorrow I will attempt to get some reading done...