Ghanzi!

 Swimming in a quarry in Ghanzi

 Going for a walk with the bushmen

 Sitting outside the huts we slept in 

 Another beautiful African sunset

 Some of the bushmen showing us traditional dancing

Ash and I out in the bush--twins!

Although only a couple of days have passed since I last wrote I thought it important to write one more post before I take off for my world-wind month of traveling. This past weekend was the last cultural excursion and this time it was to Ghanzi which is on the western side of the country close to Namibia. We actually drove along the same road to get to Ghanzi as we did to get to Namibia in September.

Friday started off good as we only left the office a half hour later than expected which for Botswana is early. However we did have to pull about a block from campus and wait for 15 minutes until another driver showed up to give our combi the proper permits and then had to wait another 15 minutes at a filling station for ???? We think the driver had to drop something off to a friend, but we are really unsure.

Anyways finally by about 10am we were on our way traveling across Botswana. We stopped by Jwaneng for Nando’s for lunch which is noteworthy because Jwaneng is where one of the largest diamond mines in Botswana lives. We were actually supposed to go visit there earlier in the semester but unfortunately there was a mining accident with some casualties and the investigation is still ongoing and the mine is closed.

Back on the road after lunch for another 5/6 hours of intense heat and wind. The combi didn’t have air conditioning so we were left with opening the three windows we had and getting blasted with the wind and it was still so so hot. It’s only averaging between 95-100 which is hot but the real problem is that there is no air conditioning anywhere so you rarely get a respite from the heat.

Finally by around 6 we showed up to Ghanzi trail Blazers which is basically a camping site. It was really cool because you could either pitch your own tents or thye had little circular huts with two beds each which is what we got. After walking around and seeing the sunset we were served dinner where I had the first colorful vegetables since being here and a salad!!! Woot! Then the bushmen from this part of the country performed traditional dance for us around the fire. It was really cool because the bushmen do not speak Setswana but speak a different version of it with the clicks. The dancing involves a lot of stomping and singing in a circle and a couple of people from our group were chosen to dance with them too.

After the dance was over the CIEE group built our own fire and chatted, played charades and told stories before we were asked by the other campers to keep it down and go to bed!

We woke up bright and early Saturday morning for our 6:30 breakfast right before we were supposed to head out on a walk with the bushmen. The walk was so cool because the bushmen showed us all the different plants they use for medicinal purposes. To me all the different plants looked the same. We were in basically the dessert because the ground was just sand and the plants really did look very similar but after seeing the bushmen dig up the roots you could tell they were very different. A lot of these small plants would have huge, tuber-like roots that the bushmen use for various medicinal purposes. One was for kidney stones, some were for menstrual cramps, one was for infertility, tanning leather, etc. Basically for all of them they take the roots, grind it up and brew it in a tea. Other times they would take the more stick like roots and chew on them for other ailments like stomach pain. One plant had a huge tuber and they grate it and then squeeze the gratings and a cascade of water came out. Apparently they use this one when they are out in the bush for long periods of time and do not have any water. It was also cool because they all spoke in the click language and at one point gave each of us a seed, told us to put it under our tongue and it would help us learn the clicks. It turned out to be a practical joke because with these seeds when they get when the shell cracks open. The bushmen really enjoyed that one. They were so animated and since they knew we didn’t understand them they were very animated when they spoke so between the translator and the gestures we understood them perfectly. Nowadays they don’t live in the bush per se, but rather government sponsored compounds very similar to the American Indian reservations in the states.

After sweating it up on our early morning bush walk, we were driven to an old quarry that had been turned into a swimming pool. It was gorgeous and the water was absolutely perfect. Some people had doubts about swimming because of parasites and the fact that the grounds had just been freshly manured so it smelled like cow dung (which does eventually run off into the water we swam it) but once one person went in, everyone jumped in. It was so refreshing and such a wonderful time. They had surfboards and inner tubes that we found. It was one of those moments where life is good!

Headed back to the campsite to pack up and then before we knew it we were headed back to Gabs in that awful, hot, hot, sticky combi again. This time most people slept for like half of it, I got some studying done and then we played the celebrity name game for a good 3 hours!!

Finally got back to Gabs late Saturday night and went out to our favorite bar one last time all together. A lot of the international students from other programs are leaving this week so it was nice to hang out with them for a bit.

Sunday is a lazy day. I am just spending my day in my room studying for my two tests tomorrow and finishing up a paper. However, tonight I am heading over to Riverwalk with Tshego, Ashely and Charlotte to see the new Twilight movie which should be a lot of fun. Tshego is finally done with exams and has more free time which is great except that I am leaving for my 3 week crazy vacation tomorrow! Oh well, I will do what I can!

Okay so this might be my last post for a while. In Mozambique if they have internet I might try there!!! Oh and HAPPY  (early) THANKSGIVING!!