The pace is very SLOW here compared to the US, Europe, and even South America. But I would speculate this has to do with the welfare system here. ARVs are free, food baskets are free, land is free and there is free education. Most complain, but of not having certain material things such as cell phones, electricity, a car, and money in general. So people really have no worries and there is no urgency, especially concerning HIV/AIDS. The government is tackling behavior change with the all too familiar and now saturated educational workshops and condom distribution.
Most people here have lands and cattle, no electricity, etc., so at the end of the day, what are you going to do for diversion? SEX! There are no formal jobs, movie theatres, or recreational centers so there you go. The government seems not to want to tackle the underlying issues that are exacerbating the epidemic here, especially when you read a plan to build 8 recreation centres that is, without justification, canceled!!….hmmm.
Most Batswana have sex in the dark here. It’s taboo to look at your partners genitals. So if you have an STD, they’d never know it though I’ve attended HIV/AIDS workshops where nurses speak and show pictures about STD’s. I mentioned the sex-in-the-dark and genital thing and the whole workshop was in laughter and heavy debate. GOOD! And many men (including high-ranking officials) asked me if I really looked at my partner’s genitals…you should have seen their faces when I told them that I even smell it!!
Woman are treated like shit here…is this a worldwide phenomenon??!!! And kids are treated worse.
So apart from preaching my thoughts on the HIV-issue to any curious ear, my life is chill. I try to motivate my government colleagues who are beleaguered with the village and that “there’s nothing to do here”, according to them. Many transfer to other parts of the country so there is a high turnover rate and that’s another factor why districts like mine are poor and have problems with project and program implementation and evaluation; the planning –on paper- is good... most who are here spend there time figuring out how to leave and this is rampant nationwide unless you’re in the capital or a small number of other places… and they are paid so well!! It’s sad to see a lack of perspective on their part. But I, a volunteer and explaining my presence, hope to bring a different point of view. That too! The mentality is DIFFERENT. So much so that when I speak and convey a thought, I am often misunderstood, completely! I thought it was a “Lekgoa” or “Western-world thing” but I’ve been able to interrogate Africans from other countries and they feel awkward in Botswana and we also do understand each other’s thoughts! I have some theories about the Batswana but nothing concrete yet but talking and debating it with many, the preliminary conclusion is that their mentality is about 40,000 years old…but give me 2 more years to confirm that.
How have I been spending my free time? Hanging out with other volunteers and playing with kids. As I mentioned about the mentality, it’s been difficult to build relationships, not only for me but for the majority of foreigners, even other Africans! …oh! Generally speaking, they are not expressive people so it’s hard to know when they are happy, sad, serious…it’s very interesting, the behavior. They are a nice people but are not at all welcoming, again in general. Oh! And they have no “friends” per say. Their friends are their family and here they are very tribalistic, meaning loyalty to the same or familiar tribes and not to mention VERY xenophobic!
