Reflections on Gaborone

Friendly, caring people. Relaxed atmosphere despite being a city. Great food, warm to hot climate - no rain. Roads not too busy but driving skills very pooooooor. Would feel the necessity for an armoured 4 wheel drive if living there more permanently.

Botswana is one of the economic success stories of Africa. Modern government buildings dominate the main area of Gaborone and the sounds of construction echo across the capital. Small, neat, concrete residences are interspersed among much larger more affluent homes. There are however still a proportion of very poor families who reside in tin shacks.

The HIV epidemic permeates every aspect of life in Botswana. Average life expectancy has risen in the last few years from 34 to only 37 years despite availability of antiviral drugs (prior to HIV life expectancy was 60 years) Billboards display catchy health messages on major roads, such as the "ABCs of HIV" (Abstinence, Be faithful, Condomise). Despite these health promotions only a little progress to improve the life expectancy situation appears to have happened.

Botswana includes people of many different cultures speaking a variety of different languages but English is the language common to most. From the age of 10 years education is in English and the tv programmes almost exclusively so. There are very few advertisements on the TV. Shopping channel does exist selling exclusively South African products which are very similar to those marketed on our shopping channel in the UK.

Contrast between rich and poor but where in the world is there not.

Photos

Hotel where I stayed during my visit








Shopping Centre















Hotel where I ate at night

















Building where I worked































































Me in my bedroom office - was able to tap away while I watched TV in the dressing table mirror :-)

Final update

Now back home. You will have gathered by the previous entries in the blog that access to the internet was somewhat bleak prob type of access we had 8/9 years - quite amazing how quickly we got used to broadband and cannot tolerate old connections!

Botswana was a very rewarding experience but, no, I would not like to live out there. People friendly and desperate for work but most have few skills which are sellable. If they do have skills they move to other countries. Think the long queues at the ATMs would make me leave the country aside from the current poor technology aspect.

Telecoms and Financial Systems appear to be strangling existing infrastructure. You cannot make any kind of purchase from Amazon and the likes because as soon as they recognise Botswana IP they refuse to 'serve' you. Telecoms will not provide Broadband technology to the country!!!

Cost of living is fairly expensive for what I would regard as a third world country.

On one side of the street is Western type sky scrapers with all mod cons on the other is scrubland where folk are living in a corrugated tin shelter with a fire at the entrance and a generator to charge their mobile phones.

Hotel complex good and met many interesting people there.

Most people speak fairly good English as they are taught in English from the age of 10 years. The average life expectancy is 33/34 due to Aids. Climbing slightly year by year due to huge injection of drugs.

Weather in June/July is very dry. Around 70 during the day and as soon as the sun drops out of the sky at around 5.30 in the evening it drops to below or around 40 or 50 degrees. Locals generally find 70 chilly and go around in their fur coats, fleeces, gloves and woolly hats while I considered that this could be my summer this year especially as it appears to have been particularly good while I was away.

Have completed most of the work I was contracted to do ie write Diploma equivalent of our HND) level qualifications and assessments and provide all support materials for Multimedia. My remit was for units 3D animation, 2D animation and interactive multimedia application development. Also advised on appropriate hardware and software for the whole qualification. Will have to complete tomorrow as I have to deliver to SQA on Wednesday on my way to Glasgow airport as I fly out on holiday to Florida. From one long plane journey to another.

Will post up some more photos of contrasting Botswana.

Forgot to mention I had a tear in my eye as I left.

Gillian

Elephant Photos

Think you can comment on the blog now as adjusted settings!!!

Different but graphical/informative/cross cultural

Look at the layers of clothing I had on - bright sunshine but chilly

Pics do not indicate closeness of me to animals

Saturday Sunday

SATURDAY

Went to the Game Park - Mokalodi to do elephant walk – about a couple of miles over very rough terrain with inappropriate footwear. However, there were frequent stops and I thought walk was excellent, informative and exciting but without too much fear along the way. Most difficult part was at the end getting in and out the Observation landrover. Walked obviously with a herd of very tame elephants and saw warthogs, giraffes – my god they were so tall and black. Apparently change colour according to surroundings. Stroked a cheetah who apparently was as tame as a domestic cat. Did not spend too long on this activity. Unfortunately battery on my camera was very low and I had to be very selective as to what I photographed and animals moved so fast you would have required long lens and multiple shots prob to capture.

Met really nice folk on Elephant Walk. One girl was there for her farewell trip from Botswana – had been working at the University here and was now going back to South Africa. She had attended Lifelong Learning Conf in July last year in Stirling. Her brother had been a student at Edinburgh University but had been thrown out of the country but was unwilling or shy about stating why!!! Another guy was there to advise about cow milk yields and how to improve. He was also South African. Apparently cows they advise are Ayrshire but red and white not black and white. They also build sheds with water falling to keep the cows cool in summer. No end to my education here.

Runa who is the consultant for Beauty left today. We have exchanged a great deal of information as well as her being good company while in Botswana and since this was her 4th trip to the country and she has worked closely with the Education Dept she was able to give me a lot of information that I would not otherwise have had. She also pointed out many of the local customs and landmarks.

She works closely with Joanna who is the main education officer at the education offices for Hair and Beauty. Also got a few tips to improve or supposedly improve the looks and preserve. Runa and Joanna certainly looked well so whatever they were doing it worked well. Joanna is 57 and has 7 children. They all stay in South Africa while originally 8 years ago from Trinidad but which they return for a trip at least yearly if not twice a year. Joanna is in one of the pictures on the blog. (One with spectacles)




SUNDAY

Spent the day at Thornhill Primary School which is the workplace of Frank the other Multimedia Consultant. At last a connection to the Internet which was unrestricted and although not as fast as broadband UK style was certainly falling into the almost normal category. Very attractive school with nice grounds and attractive building. Contents of classrooms very similar to what you would see at home, surprisingly. Little blue tits tapping on windows – apparently see themselves in the reflective tinted glass and think it is a potential partner. Very well equipped ICT rooms. One I am working in has 32 Macs within.
Had meal in the hotel in the evening and was given the lowdown on the entertainment within the hotel by the resident one man band.

MONDAY

This is a public holiday today and again working in the school.

Sunday

PHOTOS














Jewellery












The Mall (stalls - yeh)














My workplace - 7th Floor


















Sunrise from my bedroom window















Street food - £1 per box


















Top up your mobile in The Mall


















Frank - other Multimedia Consultant


















View from my temp office


















Flora - Senior Lecturer of Francistown

Friday - Sun shining again and very warm

Thursday

Yet another day goes by too quickly. Went shopping today. Now greet the ladies who come with the tea with DoMelaMar which is Good Morning to a woman. Most of the folk you meet speak very good English much better than my non existent Setswana.

Find it quite difficult to cope with all the fok in their pink tammies and big warm coats, 2 pairs of socks when I actually feel it is like summer in the middle of the day. Today was rather dull. Went to a Thai Restaurant for lunch which was chilly – would you believe? Then went to a beauty parlour with the Head of Beauty for Botswana and Runa from James Watt. Succumbed to buying this magical product which makes your skin wonderful – we shall see. Had dinner again in the hotel complex accompanied by music from a very good local group.
Driving in Gaborone (pronounced Haveroney) is wild. Drivers are prosecuted for running down a goat which are wandering everywhere but not a person and they come so close to a car – it is obviously something they cultivate from a very early age!!!!!

Driver who takes us occasionally to Office constantly talks about how he is uneducated. Lives on farm with 25 cows (beef) but livestock not coping well with recent rain and cold freezing weather. Gaborone - Very high up – apparently almost as high above sea level as Ben Nevis.

Still awkwardly sharing internet access at the office which is the speed of dial up and constantly stops you from downloading. Stops you getting any type of email?????

Spending Sunday at private school which has unrestricted good access to internet where other Multimedia Consultant works and controls ICT.

Saturday is the elephant walk at the Game Park - £40 but supposed that I should do it while here and hopefully do live not to regret. Better get the repellent on that day.

Now know how a black person feels walking around in Fife. Want to respond in some cheeky way but had better not. Apparently whites not well liked in Botswana as they associate you with White South Africans who are despised - history indicates that wites abused folk from Botswana who went to work mostly in the mines of South Africa. Most people appear to treat you as a novelty item.

City/Town of Gaborone. (Cannot wait for you to see city!!!! Place very, very cosmopolitan but mostly dark skinned. Not too many blondes around but more than I suspected. The hotel is full of mainly men and appear partly European (German, Norwegian, Swedish, Dutch) Think they mainly have businesses in South Africa but are looking to expand into Botswana.

TV is mainly South African. Channels: Soap/Film, CNN, Footbal, Home Shopping, Kids Channel All advertisements price quoted in Rand….

Now one week in

Now hopefully working smart. Looks like my previous very lengthy blogs with photos never actually reached.

Here is my MS Word script created earlier today

Blog


Since I can get text messages now feel that I am at least still in touch with the outside world.

Was connected up to the Internet yesterday but was downloading a massive file at 2.3 mb which jammed my pc here for about half an hour and that was using the high tech link at work. One week down the line and they are still attempting to connect both myself and the other consultant that I share the office with. Had we not brought our own equipment I would have had to go out and buy equipment.

Think it quite hilarious that I am here to develop Advanced Multimedia including Maya when really the IT systems, no make that the electricity is back in the Ark. On saying that I saw the work of one of their students and it was totally amazing. He had produced a showreel on DVD. Currently trying to find somewhere to copy as they only have one copy…

Hotel complex where I am staying is quite another world but Internet access obviously very poor as you have not seen the blog I thought I had posted. Knew it was very adventurous to post photos as well as text. System crashes frequently and most of your time on the PC is spent re-starting and keying in the enormously long login and passwords

Eg metcourt-345987-34776-23-2hr-adieuwr765 Pass=wrchgfwoi76olliiew

Then suddenly you have run out of time, but it does not tell you until you attempt to submit blog.

It was raining yesterday. Runa who is the other consultant for beauty staying at the hotel has been here 4 years running and has rarely seen a cloud in the sky and never rain. In fact first year she came area had not had rain for 3 years. However yesterday felt and looked like home. Totally inappropriately clad for Gaborone. Spring type clothes or almost Winter would have been more appropriate. My fur gilet would have come in handy.

Usually very pleasant in the middle of the day but almost frosty at night and in the morning.

Now got my case so life is much more easy now.

Get picked up with Ministry car in the morning at 7.45. Takes around 10-15 mins to Office. Lunch is at 1-2 and car picks you up at 4 sharp. Go back to hotel where I work for another couple of hours and then go for evening meal. Food is absolutely delicious and beautifully prepared, served and in fairly lush surroundings. Going to the best restaurant tonight so will update. Wine is included in all meals almost free of charge so in order to get over sense of insecurity while moving outside…

Yes you cannot drink too much.

Will try to optimise some images today and post up tomorrow. Pics tell a 1000 words. Few families living in a shack despite freezing at night. Have a generator to charge mobile phones. Everyone owns one and they have them out everywhere. Street traders etc all on their mobiles all of the time.

Broadband – do not think it exists. Telecoms and Banking appears to be strangling the country and stopping everything happening. Education has special Internet Links but takes 4 weeks for a foreigner to get into the system as you have to submit your passport and book of details!!!!

Interesting fact. People working in Ministry Building if caught surfing untoward sites are posted on their website and disconnected for a min of 3 months. As a trustworthy consultant I am going to be allowed to share one of the Manager’s logins along with the other consultant – Frank with whom I share an office. Only trouble is we only have one cable and one connection point which works between us. Cable not really long enough but Frank bringing cable from home today so hopefully I will not only be able to share connection but share comfortably.



. .

Now hopefully working smart. Looks like my previous very lengthy blogs with photos never actually reached this site.

Here is my MS Word script created earlier today

Blog


Since I can get text messages now feel that I am at least still in touch with the outside world.

Was connected up to the Internet yesterday but was downloading a massive file at 2.3 mb which jammed my pc here for about half an hour and that was using the high tech link at work. One week down the line and they are still attempting to connect both myself and the other consultant that I share the office with. Had we not brought our own equipment I would have had to go out and buy equipment. (Apparent black market)

Think it quite hilarious that I am here to develop Advanced Multimedia including Maya when really the IT systems, no, make that the electricity is back in the Ark. On saying that I saw the work of one of the Botswana students and it was totally amazing. He had produced a showreel on DVD. Currently trying to find somewhere to copy as they only have one dvd…

Hotel complex where I am staying is quite another world but Internet access obviously very poor as you have not seen the blog I thought I had posted. Knew it was very adventurous to post photos as well as text. System crashes frequently and most of your time on the PC is spent re-starting and keying in the enormously long login and passwords

Eg metcourt-345987-34776-23-2hr-adieuwr765 Pass=wrchgfwoi76olliiew

Then suddenly you have run out of time, but it does not tell you until you attempt to submit blog.

It was raining yesterday. Runa who is the other consultant for beauty staying at the hotel has been here 4 years running and has rarely seen a cloud in the sky and never rain. In fact first year she came area had not had rain for 3 years. However yesterday felt and looked like home. Totally inappropriately clad for Gaborone. Spring type clothes or almost Winter would have been more appropriate. My fur gillet would have come in handy.

Usually very pleasant in the middle of the day but almost frosty at night and in the morning.

Now got my case so life is much more easy now.

Get picked up with Ministry car in the morning at 7.45. Takes around 10-15 mins to Office. Lunch is at 1-2 and car picks you up at 4 sharp. Go back to hotel where I work for another couple of hours and then go for evening meal. Food is absolutely delicious and beautifully prepared, served and in fairly lush surroundings. Going to the best restaurant tonight so will update. Wine is included in all meals almost free of charge so in order to get over sense of insecurity while moving outside…

Yes you cannot drink too much.

Will try to optimise some images today and post up tomorrow. Pics tell a 1000 words. Few families living in a shack despite freezing at night. Have a generator to charge mobile phones. Everyone owns a mobile and they have them out everywhere. Street traders etc all on their mobiles all of the time.

Broadband – do not think it exists. Telecoms and Banking appears to be strangling the country and stopping everything happening. Education has special Internet Links but takes 4 weeks for a foreigner to get into the system as you have to submit your passport and book of details!!!!

Interesting fact. People working in Ministry Building if caught surfing untoward sites are posted on their website and disconnected for a min of 3 months. As a trustworthy consultant I am going to be allowed to share one of the Manager’s logins along with the other consultant – Frank with whom I share an office. Only trouble is we only have one cable and one connection point which works between us. Cable not really long enough but Frank bringing cable from home today so hopefully I will not only be able to share connection but share comfortably.



. .

Friday

Well if the plane journey went smoothly things have not gone quite as smoothly in Botswana. Only way is up from here on in. Still not got my luggage yet but it is amazing how well you cope with just the toilet bag in tact.

Hotel room good and food excellent.

Eventually arrived at SQA after texting several text messages which was a learning curve in itself bouncing back and forth to Shirley in the UK at 7 am in the morning. Papaers with the tel nos were in the case I have not yet got but should pick up tomorrow morning.

Eventually arrived at the Ministry of Ed Offices just after nine this morning so only an hour or so late.

Was so looking forward to walking down the mall at lunchtime. When I get the opportunity ie decent internet connection (had forgotten what initial connection to the web was like) I will post up the photos of the mall....

Spar food shops very sparse deepest Russia or Africa comes to mind.

Weather pleasantly warm most of the time. Very cold at night. Just knew my clothes were inappropriate. Will post up locals with their tammies and gloves. Cloudless skies. Ground fairly dry.

Food very good in hotel despite none in the shops seen so far.

Monkey escorted me home from other hotel just a little while ago.

Arranged to go on an Elephant Walk and have breakfast with them next Saturday. You have to book quite far ahead. Beauty consultant who was one of the Associate HMI's who reviewed the college is out here too so have teamed up with her to do things I would otherwise not do as a female single here.

Hotel and partner hotels very good and locals all very pleasant and friendly.

Enjoying trip but 2 weeks I think will be enough.

Will write again Monday if I can get connection at the Education Offices (this could be doubtful, though)

Gillian