I honestly don’t know how many times I tried to start this little writing assignment of mine…. Here I go, after we left Ottawa, I wasn’t that eager about my adventure (missing family back home was the reason). Though when we hit the streets of London with my tired eyes that all changed. From seeing Big Ben to Buckingham Palace I still couldn’t believe it…. I’m in another country and most definitely the only person from Behchoko in a city with the population of 11 million.
10 hours and three movies later, we were in South Africa, I couldn’t believe the vast difference in temperature, and we were in London just hours before with the temperature feeling like summer then to spring cold mornings in what felt like only days ago. Even in the airport we could feel the South African’ winter chilliness on our backs, we were not prepared for such a thing, most of the group still in their summer clothing, shorts, and sleeveless shirts. I smile about it now, thinking back to it.
At last we hit Botswana, after going through two borders I got used to the waiting in lines and being asked questions about how long will I be in the country for, what’s my purpose of being here…. that sort of things. We headed on down to the nation’s capitol Gaborone. It was such a relief to think that we will get to finally settle down and sleep in a bed again, only after being in flight for hours. Just being there was totally different to me.
After our short stay in Gabs, saying good bye to our other group of friends was not fun for me, especially at 4 am, we had to catch our bus to get to our placement, a small town called Shakawe, 14 hours or so away. I found it to be a little overwhelming all the people around us were very busy despite the cold morning. Even some of the locals would try to get us to purchase what they were selling, through the windows of the bus. On the way we stayed in a town called Maun, at a place called “Back Packers Place”, it was just the most beautifulness place that we stayed in so far.
It was mind boggling to see the difference between back home and here in Shakawe, the people, the food, the transportation, the animals that are around, and the way things are done are so much different than what I am used to. I was in awe of the place; we got to do some work here at Botshelo Trust Daycare. I loved it. So far, we met the Chief, we got to meet the San people and we got to go to a place that I’ve only ever got to see on the internet, and in pictures, a place called Tsodilo Hills, with its ancient drawings, I thought it was the most intermeresting thing that we got to see…. We climbed the highest peak in Botswana that day, most of us complaining the whole way up and when we got to the top, we couldn’t help but say what babies we were for doing so.
We also went to school for two days, so many eyes were on us the whole time; so many questions were answered and asked. We all got to do a home stay as well, I loved being around a family atmosphere, and a camp fire meal was what I needed. Most recently we finished our trip from a Safari…. I just cannot believe what I saw; we got to see a Lion, a Lioness, a Lion cub, Giraffes, Zebras, Elephants, Cheetahs, Warthogs, Hippos, a Monkey, Baboons, Antelopes, an Ostrich, Wilder beasts, and many different kinds of birds.
I would have to say that my adventure so far has been phenomenal, I’ve learned a lot about myself and others. I’ve read two books, and I’m craving more. Even though homesickness has its ups and downs, I know that within the next few weeks I’ll be right back to where I started from, only it will be better. Gosh, I’ve said too much, I have to get going, thank-you for taking the time to read about my journey and have a nice day. Remember life is too short to not take on the challenges that we are faced with. Bye.
