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