The first week..

Where do I begin.. this week has been really busy! We've been at UB (University of Botswana) for the most part getting introduced to the culture and history of the country. We've had presentations related to HIV/AIDS, human rights and gender and development, gender issues and concerns of the country, language lessons, cross-cultural connections, the history of Botswana and today visited the National Museum of Botswana. Some of the partner organizations have come in to talk to us about what their organizations do with people in the community. Yesterday, we were able to ride the combi (bus) for the first time. It's not like a bus in Canada, its more of a van where people just get in and out wherever they want, but it's confusing because there are no stops! Alex and I rode out to Tlokweng to our placement, the SOS Village and were able to go inside to visit for a short time. (Our placement hasn't been able to meet with Alex and I yet because the regional director has been away, so we are meeting for the first time when we begin work no Monday). The Village was amazing! As soon as we walked in a little girl, who couldn't have been over the age of three ran up to me and grabbed my hand - she was so beautiful!! Her eyes lit up and she was smiling from ear to ear! She led us to where she lived and we were able to meet her brother and her mother (at the village, there are houses with about 10 people in each, including children and a woman who is hired to care for them... the house becomes like a family - the kids are like siblings and the woman is considered their mother). I definitely did not want to leave and cannot wait to go back to see her and the others on Monday!
Tomorrow we are waking up really early and climbing Kgale Hill to watch the sunrise. We are going with some of the people from Botswana and they are doing a session on volunteerism. After the climb we will head to the Mokolodi Game Reserve to do a game drive. I am so looking forward to tomorrow and the weeks to come. I already feel as though time is going by fast and it will be hard to leave that beautiful little girl and all her brothers and sisters at SOS, as well as the wonderful people here in Botswana!
Miss you all, xo