So this isn't the lengthy informative update i have promised, more of a "sitting at someone's computer grabbing a few moments while sweating profusely" kind of update. This is shadowing week here in Botswana PC world and I and Amelia are visiting Sydney up north in Nata for a few days to see what a real volunteer looks like in action. She has been in this town of about 8,000 for 12 months and seems to have made some real friends and good connections. We have been following her during her daily rounds at the clinic, showing us where they see people for various things, including their ARV clinic, where medications are distributed to people who are HIV+, blood is tested and they see the doctor for checkups. People line up early and wait a long time to see the doctor on two days a week. they can pick up their meds any week day and come to do that once a month. Meds and care are free, but they do have to wait for things. this small town has a fairly high prevelance of HIV and I saw people of all ages sitting and standing in line waiting. More on that later.
This trip to Nata was our first venture off our training grounds, other than that less than productive trip to Gabs. We were picked up at our home stays at about 4 a.m. to travel to Gabs to catch the 6 am bus to Francistown that arrived just before noon. one stop on the way long enough to get a pee break, which of course i did then spent the rest of the trip not drinking a drop. in francistown we met up with 3 current volunteers who took us to a nice coffee spot and an indian restaurant. Then amelia and i rushed off to catch our bus to Nata, which we found but it didn't leave until later than we thought so we stood and sweated and talked to the very friendly street vendors who were trying to sell us water we so desperately wanted and needed but didn't dare drink because of the upcoming 2 1/2 hour bus ride w/o amenities. this bus was more of what they call a combi, which is a smaller van type thing - wider than our family type passenger vans but not as big as the kind we have at HSRC. So, it was cosy, and warm. We dosed off and on being woken mostly when the driver would slam on the brakes because of a donkey or cow or even goat that decided to try to figure out why the chicken crosses the road by doing the same themselves. Pretty common for cars to hit these animals on the road, so traveling at night is not at all recommended. apparently if you damage an animal who does this, you have to pay the owner of the animal. on the other hand, in town when you cross the street drivers don't worry so much about damaging you, so one must be vigilant and light on ones toes, to say the least.
We arrived unscathed, but sweaty and dehydrated to be greeted by our host Sydney who brought us home and made us a nice chicken soup. today we did a walk around till we could walk no more. did I mention it is hot here? Thata means alot. and thata thata even more so. We are resting now and plan to visit a local refugee camp and maybe the salt flats tomorrow or Saturday, which is an area that fills during the rains but in non-raining time is a huge vast sandy salty flat area. I am guessing anyway. also a bird sanctuary nearby, but I am guessing they are not seeking sanctuary from the heat, because this aint the place. i need to mention that the opinions expressed on this post are mine and mine alone and do not in any way, shape or form represent Peace Corps or its opinions. i have to post that officially somewhere, but just so you all know.
HIV is definitely a major issue here and I will talk more about that later. Have i mentioned that I met my four sisters here over easter weekend? They are in their 20s the oldest is 33. I now have 4 sisters constantly texting and calling me to see if i am okay!! they are awesome! My host mom called me last night to see if I got to Nata okay and told me she missed me as did the kids. Golly. I lucked out with this family, very kind and fun and the kids rock. Okay. all for now.
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