Go labokae?

Monday marked the start of the week.  I picked up my food stipend from the office and headed to the vet clinic.  What a day!  There were three vets working and everyone was still moving around at a fast rate.  The new vet and Dr. Conye started on a Surgery to repair a broken femur.  I’ve never had to opportunity to watch an orthopedic surgery so I was excited.  I was able to enthusiastically watch for a bit before I started to break into a cold sweat, feel nauseous and a little faint.  Gah, so annoying!   I find the surgeries interesting so I don’t understand why my body reacts the way it does.  I stepped out for a bit and then stepped back in.  I did this several times before I just couldn’t go back in so I watched for the window.   During the surgery they cut away the muscle layers found the two broken pieces, inserted pins, and then cut off the excess pin.  I hated that I couldn’t stay in the whole time.  The new vet student said not to worry about it, that I would get over it. I sure hope he’s right or I’m going to be one interesting vet.  Finally, around 12:30, I headed out.   I went by the bank at main mall and cashed my stipend.  I then stopped by the grocery store and picked up milk, cereal, and fruit.  The essentials.  

I dropped my stuff at the dorms, took a quick nap, and headed to Setswana class.   It was a slow class and we didn’t do much.  After class, I was still really tired.  I attempted to be productive online and then just took another nap.  I went for a run for the first time in over two weeks and felt the effects.  Rawr!  I then met a couple girls at the courts and we kicked the soccer ball around for a bit.  Boy, do I have mad skills.  And by that, I mean none at all.  After soccer and a quick shower, we walked over to News Café.  It turned out to be really expensive so I didn’t get anything but the atmosphere was nice.  That night I finally fell in to bed exhausted.  

Tuesday morning, I turned my alarm off and missed my 8am.  Deciding whether you are going to class or not while lying in bed in the morning is not the best choice! I got up and moseyed to my 10am class.  I found out what I made on my last test.  It was a lot lower than I expected.  I really knew the stuff but the exam was only four short answers and they apparently didn’t like how I responded.  Eish.  I guess it’s a good thing things are only transferring back as pass/fail.   Along with attending Setswana class, I spent the day trying to catch up.  I cleaned my room, organized my school stuff, and sent a few emails.   That night, on my way out to run I ran into two other girls who were going for a run.  Check!  We headed down a new path I’d never done.   It left the school and continued to the Gaborone Game reserve. It was nice!  Tuesday night, I stopped by a friend’s room and then just hung in my room.  I watched half a movie and went to sleep. 

Wednesday I met Rebecca at 7am in the Pavilion.  We caught a combi to Rail Park.  We then jumped on a bus going to Lobatse.  It dropped us at the edge of Mokolodi for 3.30 pula.  SO CHEAP!  We hitched a ride the 1km to Mokolodi and arrived at 8:30.  Not bad!  We met two volunteers who are paying to volunteer and staying on site.  One is from England and the other is from Holland.  They helped us weigh the animals and do physicals.  We finished around 11 and then had nothing to do.    We sat around an hour until lunch.  For lunch, we spoiled ourselves with coffee and apple crumble at the restaurant.  Did I mention in rained!  It was overcast and drizzled on and off throughout the morning!  It was almost kind of cold!  Woo Hoo! The weather was a welcome change.  The whole day was beautiful! 

 After lunch, we inquired what we could do but didn’t get to much of an answer.  We spent some time at the education center watching kids make presentations on photosynthesis.  It was pretty entertaining.  He he.   We split up a pen of puff adder snakes and lizards.  Finally, we called it a day.  I feel like I’m not doing much for Mokolodi.  I feel my time there isn’t worth much.  I hate that I feel that way because I know it’s a good experience but I wish I could do more.  We have no supervision and I feel we annoy people when we run to them and ask “what can we do now?”  hmmmm.  Hopefully things will pick up.  

We went to meet our ride at 4:30, only to find that our ride was full and that we could wait for another guy but he had a meeting to go to first.  Eish!  Rebecca and I decided we’d find a way back. We walked the 1km to the main road.  (Don’t worry there were cars everywhere and other people walking, so it’s not like we were alone.)  At the main road we stood at the bus stop and tried to hitch a ride.  No one picked us up.  Boo!  Finally, a bus came through, picked us up and dropped us at railpark again for only 3.30!  CHEAP! 

From Rail park we started walking back to UB.  About three minutes into our journey we had a dog start to follow us.  A police officer/traffic officer came over and grabbed the dog and we continued on our way.  Shortly, we realized it was still following us.  We looked back and the officer was telling us to come to him.  Pshhh.  No.  Finally, he started walking towards us.  He got to us and we told him to hold the dog and we would just run away and she couldn’t follow us.  He said no no.  He was trying to convince us to walk with him back to the building across the street.  The dog belonged to some white guy which was why she was following us.  She was one of two dogs that jumped out of this dudes car.  The owner was chasing the other one and the police officer was watching this one.  We tried to just walk away but the dog followed us again.  Finally, we admitted defeat and walked with the guy and dog back across the street and to some community services building.  After denying the guy our numbers, we left him and the dog safely in the parking lot.  Only in Botswana!

By the time we made it back to campus we were starving!  We stopped at Mogol, the better dining hall on campus.  I had sorghum pap (delicious), a veggie patty, beans, and a salad.  It was great to have a meal outside of my dorm room and I stuffed myself. 

 We opted not to run and instead watched a movie.  Fail.  We watched The Lucky One, making it the second time I’ve seen the movie within a month.  (Hello there Zac Effron!)  For dessert, we had tea and rusks.  GOOD STUFF.    After the movie, I went back to my room and went to sleep.  

Today, I have three classes and a lab.  Thursdays are my least fun day.  I also need to tackle laundry but I’m not sure that will happen.  There is only about a month of class left.  WOW!  Where has time gone?  I do not want to rush my experience but I am ready to be done with school and on to traveling around Africa!  Yes Indeed!