Botswana, South Africa & two warthogs doing the nasty

Another day, another blog entry...

I returned yesterday from a long week in Maun, Botswana followed by a quick retreat in Nelspruit, South Africa... Botswana was work-related and Nelspruit was a much needed dip in Lake Me. I have officially been in my position for two months and have now visited all the countries we support... so I suppose I can either quit or be fired knowing that I saw what I came to see... but hopefully that won't happen.

Botswana was... well... um... interesting. It was about a two hour flight from Johannesburg and looking out the window I'm pretty sure not one person lives between Joburg and Maun. How would I describe Maun? Lots of sand... lots of little bushes... tons of goats and donkees... and not much else. Sadly, there was some sort of cow disease at some point in the 90s and they all had to be slaughtered. They are now back in Botswana, but now there are a lot of donkeys too. AND there are hippos and crocs, but even more sadly I saw none.

Did I mention I slept in a tent for four nights?

Yup, that's right... Boston Sarah has had to do some majuh readjusting to life in Africa. Expectations have had to be altered (not lowered) and hand sanitizer purchased. I did not wash my hands once (ok, actually just once...) while I was in Maun because the water in the toilet was yellow and I figured it was probably also yellow coming out of the faucet too. I stayed at a camp ground and had two cots and a tent all to myself! It wasn't really roughing it, per se, but it was a tent... the safari kind, but without the safari. And when I arrived there was a cow just hanging out, plus several really large spiders in the bathroom stalls. And I am keeping my fingers crossed that I did not contract malaria... should find out in two weeks when I either get really sick or I don't.

(On a positive note... I have now been out of the country for two and a half months without any tummy troubles!)

I spent two days traveling, and three days visiting our projects. But enough about work...

While in Maun, I had a little bit of an opportunity to do some fun. Nearby there is the Okavango Delta, Chobe Game Reserve, and I think about 8 hours away is Vic Falls (one of the natural wonders, my friends). I did not get to see any of these sites, but I was able to go on a two hour boat road down the river to the entrance of the Delta. Basically there were people in Maun having fun, and we were able to talk the boat driver into letting me go with him to pick up the fun-havers at their camp sites along the river... which is where the hippos and crocs hang out that I did NOT see. But alas, the river is beautiful... tons of exotics birds (if you're into that sort of thing), African lilly pads, those white and pink flowers that just float on the river, and just overall niceness. My plan is to stay a little bit longer the next time and see both the Delta, perhaps Chobe, and definitely Vic Falls. The neat thing about Botswana is that they don't have fences around their reserves, so it's just you and the predators hanging out together under the African sky.

(and as I write this blog, my tin roof just made the loudest noise... that musta been one hell of an avocado... I'd go explore, but this is Africa and all the single ladies should not be exploring outside by themselves after dark).

So, then I flew back to Joburg via Gabarone, and made my way across the N4 to Nelspruit for a nice weekend with no volunteers, work colleagues, or backpackers. In Nelspruit I was able to FINALLY visit some proper malls... (see, I'm already talking like a South African, hey?) which is ironic, because back home shopping and me did not get a long so much... I ordered everything off of amazon because I seriously could not be bothered. Here, it's like heaven... a fresh breath of civilization compared to my new home in Swaziland. And shopping I did... ALL weekend long... not only because it was fun, but because I have a new home to shop for and not too many options nearby.

OMG, and the beef jerky... on the plane ride back to SA, my new Afrikaner friend made me try some... although it had some Dutchy name so I can only assume that's what I was eating based on appearance... and I am so hooked... and they had it all over Nelspruit at the malls. Slim Jim has nothing on these beautiful pieces of dried up South African pieces of meat (I can feel my blood pressure rise as I type this blog).

It was a great weekend to myself in Nelspruit, staying both nights at an adorable little guest house, and on Sunday I made my way back home. I looked at a map, and decided on the quickest route... which turned out to be the longer route through winding roads and mountains and a town with not much there called Piggs Peak. Although that was not the most economic return home, the cool part is that I got to drive past Kruger National Park and went to to the gates to see how much it would cost me to take a little drive... 180 Rand... so that will be a trip for another day.


Speaking of pigs... this morning I went to my car and there was a whole bunch of them just hanging out... protecting my car from strangers.

I may have previously mentioned this, but just as a reminder I totally live on a farm. Not only that, but while I was gone two of the momma pigs had a whole mess of piglets... I'd guess around 7-8... which puts the total pig count to about 15-20 RIGHT OUTSIDE MY DOOR. The chickens are having babies, the goats are having babies, the horses are having babies, I drove past two wart hogs going at it yesterday, and I am here all by myself blogging (When I was young, I never needed anyone...)

So, here we are... today was a successful day back at work and I went to yoga for the first time tonight... and I don't want to get y'all too excited... but... [wait for it]... I may have made some new friends. A bunch of bloody Americans... can you believe it? AND one from Westborough of all places. Oh, Route 9... how I have missed you.

Anyhow, on that note... I think it's time for bed... I will be up at 3 AM with the roosters.