First few days

Upon arrival I was left to find my way from the airport to the University. I was dreading this before I left but now that it was confronting me I actually reveled in it. This was my first opportunity to interact with some locals and barter on my cab fare. The bartering didn't end up as well as I would have liked but I jumped into "Yellow Man's" (that's what he asked me to call him) cab. On the way from the airport to the University I got my first taste of what driving in Gaborone (Gabs) was going to be like. Scary. I think Yellow Man was a bit drunk. Not terribly drunk but just enough to make the ride terribly scary. Braking with 20 feet to the car in front of you while doing 30 is not something that I would ever care to repeat.

Despite Yellow Man's best efforts at making me wet myself I arrived at the University unharmed and dry. He laughed a bit at the pallor of my face and shook my hand firmly and displayed one of the first of many huge smiles that would be to come. Toting my duffel bag, back pack, and messenger bag I made my way to the campus International Students Office. Kevin, who is a local student here, helped me get into a dorm room and then rushed me back to the office to the meeting they were having on our class schedules. With 48 hours of travel time and no sleep I was in no shape to even think about when my classes would be let alone plan my next semester. Thank god they only gave us the information and the planning session was set for the following day.

After introductions around the room and some small chat we went to eat and then some of us decided to visit the student bar 411. This bar put every dive bar that anyone in the States has ever seen to shame. There was broken glass everywhere, bars and a steel mesh fence guarded the bartender, empty beer cans littered the floor, and groups of young students playing pool. When we walked in everyone stopped and stared. To their credit I don't think it was out of hatred or malice, it was because of all the young white girls that had just walked in. Once Hayden (a 6'4 exchange student from Kelso Washington), Bjarte (a slightly shorter Norwegien exchange student), and I got our drinks and some of the other exchange students sat next to us the locals went back to their game, for the most part. Slowly but surely the games got fewer players and the girls got more and more attention. Hayden, Bjarte, and I weren't left alone but you could tell that the highlight of the evening was the girls.

Everyone had had enough to drink and we decided to head back to the dorms. The girls said goodnight and we waved as they disappeared into the residence hall complex. Enter the first drunken adventure of Hayden and myself. Hayden Looked down and noticed it was only 7:30 or 8:00 and proposed we not go in. So instead of calling it an early night we decided to try to find the "Police Mess". The "Police Mess" is the police canteen. It is open to everyone and cheaper than the 411. Why not? So we made our way through the dark, on a back university road till a break in the fence. We slipped through the fence onto an unlit dirt road and walked with a nervous haste through a dark neighborhood till at long last we could see the lights of the bar. The bar itself was actually pretty nice. Low key and friendly. After a few drinks we decided it was time to head back.

Before leaving we got a drink for the road and then bid Macdonald, a local cell phone dealer adieu. On the trip home while Hayden was relieving himself in a big pile of leaves I thought it was the appropriate time to mention that the deadly puff adder likes to bed down in dead leaves. Hayden was not amused. But I sure was. We made it home safely.

The following day, Wednesday, was filled with schedule making and then a trip to one of the malls to get some basic supplies. I got my room all checked out and put together and settled in for an early morning. I woke up fairly early this morning and decided I would write a blog entry before orientation starts.

I love all you guys so much and already miss you. I am having a lot of fun and am so excited for the adventures that are to come.

written by  Mattdabbs on July 28, 2011 from Gaborone, Botswana
from the travel blog: Matt In Africa
Send a Compliment

comment on this...