Compare and Contrast

Compare and contrast: remember those words on pick-any-exam or homework assignment? Those words either caused your stomach to drop, or your heart to race, depending on how knowledgeable you were about the subject. So, dear readers, today -- for fun -- we'll compare and contrast. I think you'll be surprised at the similarities between southern Africa / Botswana and the United States, and appreciate the acute differences that make both countries special.

We started our Sunday with a trip to Gaborone. Phil had a meeting at 1130, I went to one of the shopping malls and had lunch and window shopped a bit. This was our drive - we no longer have to go the 80 k's out of the way to Gaborone. Although the bridge is not fixed, the wonderful BDF (Botswana Defence Force) erected a military bridge for general passage over the original bridge. The buses that want to cross must unload their passengers and then traverse the bridge picking them up on the other side. They can't cross the make shift bridge with passengers inside the bus. Sounds kinda precarious to me! But this is a bridge that has been built for tanks. No semi-truck traffic has been allowed at this point.

 
 

 

After the meeting and lunch were finished we headed to the SPCA - yes, there is an SPCA in Gaborone, rescuing plenty of stray dogs and cats. We adopted two male kitties, Sachin and Tiger, welcome! Only downside is, they don't do "kitty litter" here - so it's sand and dirt from outside. It works exactly the same way - only difference is dirt doesn't mask the odor as nicely. :)

 Cats google. It's a thing. Google it.

SPCA:

And - as a side note, one of my favorite things: gas station attendants. You never have to get out of your car. Welcome back, 1980!! They pump your gas, check your oil, tire pressure, clean your windshield - AND - they will bring a hands free swipe machine to run your ATM / credit card. How cool is THAT?! Swipey, swipey!

 Wednesday we made a trip to Mosi (pronounced moo-see) to have a look at some of the farmers' crops, see their progress as to whether or not the excessive rains have hurt or helped the crop. It's about an 80k trip one way. These are some of the shots I took along the way in rural southern Botswana.

Many still use donkey carts - primarily to transport wood, etc.

 A "tuck shop" or here as it is written "t" shop - for tuck - is just a small building, or make-shift building where small goods, like Coca-Cola, candy, cough drops, etc. are sold. I see the kids after school stopping at some of the road side shops to buy "energy", like a sucker (lollie), a piece of gum. A tuck shop will likely sell single cigarettes for those who can't afford a whole pack, and air time (pre-paid cellular minutes).

Not sure what happened here, it doesn't really look like a crash, but you can see the wing damage.

This is a typical cemetery. The graves are covered with a wrought iron housing and then draped with a shade cloth.

An ambulance - it's a Toyota. (So, Connie and Doug, just in case you'd like to experience being an EMT in Botswana....)

Road construction - all signs are in English.

Where agriculture meets town, not an unusual site in rural Iowa, either!

 Ironically, these cows know exactly where to cross. Hahahahaha!

A baby stroller (or pram) is a luxury - most women wrap their child in a blanket and strap them onto their backs to remain mobile. This lucky baby gets the hat for protection against the sun.

Dodging traffic and goats, just another day on the road!

Inspecting the corn. It's a bit thin - stalk wise, but tall.

 "But do not go in fear, Grasshopper. Fear is eternal darkness. Go instead with inner strength."

 "Is this Iowa?" :)

 Sorghum crops.

On the way home, we passed a government school (public) just as the kids were walking home. This particular school is situated in between two towns / villages so kids have to walk home. No such thing as a school bus. Pictured below you'll see both the school and kids of all ages enjoying their walk home. Uniforms are a requirement whether it's a public or private school. I am always surprised when I see the young ones traipsing along so confidently. It makes me sad that we have lost that ability in the states to allow our kids to walk safely from home to school and back. And then I remember the days when it was 5 below zero, had to walk five miles one way, uphill, and walked backward to avoid the harsh wind. Thanks, Mom!

Typical house in Botswana, wood is a material that is used very sparingly in housing construction. And oddly, there isn't any such thing as a screen for the window. There are "burglar bars" which prevents anyone from entering a house through a window - but nothing to prevent creepy crawly's, specifically I'm thinking about mosquitoes. Nothing like being bitten at 1 a.m. on your elbow.

Some road side animals:

 Phil took this pic of a beautiful Brahman cow against the back drop of the dilapidated Sesa Bar, and I did not realize until I enlarged it there are three donkeys coming out of the building. Which reminds me of a joke, three donkeys went into a bar, one says to the other two......

This is actually a problem in the sense that many people graze their cattle (there are 4.5 million cattle in Botswana and 2 million people, but before you think wow - there are like 7 million pigs in Iowa against 3 million people!) along the side of the road. Free range style. The number of times we've driven at night to practically have a heart attack while slamming on the brakes before hitting a donkey or a cow! It's extremely advisable not to drive at night.

I'll leave you with these parting shots, one of my favorite things to take pictures of: lovely ladies and their colorful umbrellas. No one likes the direct singe-worthy heat from the Botswana sun.

My apologies for the blog set up, some pics are this way, some are that way....I'm still learning. Happy Friday everyone, enjoy your weekend! Mom - get the Reuben!