Oh the Month of February

I know I have not posted in like 3 weeks or something, and for that I apologize.  Last week I was in a village north of Gaborone called Mochudi where there is obviously no internet and now my computer is not working so this is a small chance for me to write a bit.

School is moving right along just as it would back at Villanova.  However, the teachers here are becoming utterly monotonous and there is really no incentive in going to class since many of the teachers post their notes online and read straight from their notes in class.  I have found myself, on more than one (or two) occasion(s), getting up for class and thinking to myself that I am not going to gain anything from going to class so why go.  And obviously there have been a few time where I just don't go (sorry mom and dad).  In the beginning of the semester I thought to myself that it would be really cool to learn from teachers with different perspectives on the world and the happenings in the world which has turned out to be true to some extent.  It's just that as soon as you learn a teacher's own viewpoint, there is not much more to it.  That idea about a certain thing seems to control their ideas about everything and it seems like the teachers a narrow-minded - like it's a 'my way or the highway' kind of thing.  It was cool at first to hear something different from what I am used to at home, but now I can almost predict what a particular teacher's presentation about something will involve (for most, it typically includes a discussion of the United States and the European Union and everything that they have done correctly and then compare it to the countries and organizations of Africa and talk about where and how Africa has failed).  Almost as if they are telling the students that Africa has not succeeded on the global level and it is not about to change soon.  A really tough thing for an African student to hear when they are in school in order to be successful and make a difference in their communities in the future.

In the beginning of the semester I also thought about how awful I now felt when I do not show up for class,  but professors show up to just about every single class every semester because they want you to learn.  Early in the semester some teachers here would just not show up for class and it made me mad because I was making to effort to go to class and learn, but the teacher was not reciprocating that.  I thought that I would make a conscious effort to go to all my classes this semester because of this, but it turns out that it has made me miss class more than I think I generally would because you never know that the teacher will also show up and when the teacher does show up, many times class only lasts for half of the scheduled time which becomes frustrating when there are other things which you could have done instead (mostly sleep).

The week we spent in Mochudi was far from what I would have though 'village life' was like.  We arrived Saturday afternoon and hung out at my family's shop for the day and night.  On Sunday I went to the cattle post - where each family keeps all of their cattle (cows, goats, chickens, etc) - and spent a few hours chasing cows in their pen before heading back to the house and spending another few hours at the shop.  During the week we had to commute to school which took almost 90 minutes by bus.  I woke up at 5am every day, walked 15 minutes to the bus stop, got on at 5:45, and finally got to school around 7:15 or 7:30.  I was at school until about 5:30 or 6pm every evening and then had to take a bus back to Mochudi where I would finally arrive home between 8-9pm every night.  I would eat dinner with my family and then go to sleep around 10:30 so I only got to see my host family for about an hour a day.  The second weekend was spent hanging out at home and the shop for a few hours each day.  All in all, it was pretty cool to live in the village and see what it would be like for a student who lived there and had to commute to Gaborone each day, but with the exception of the weekends, I felt like it was more of a hassle on the group to get to and from Gaborone each day.  I think it would have been a much better experience if we were required to take care of household chores and actually take part in the family lifestyle rather than coming home and having dinner ready.

Now for the best part of the last 3 weeks-ish.  I got Stones Into Schools - the follow up to Three Cups of Tea for Christmas 2009.  I read the first half of it on the plane ride to Rwanda last summer but never finished it (I don't know why).  However, I always bring it with me just in case I decide I am going to be a grown up and finally read a book.  Saturday night in Mochudi I was bored and decided to start reading and I thought I would pick up at the halfway point where I left off last summer.  I realized though, that I had forgotten everything prior to where I was now starting so I went back and started over.  I managed to finish the book (370 pages) in 3 days.  Now, as most people know, I am not a huge fan of reading, nor do I ever really get into a reading mode where I can just go, but this book, similarly to Three Cups of Tea, just got a hold of me and I never wanted to put the book down.  Anyway, as the first book did, Stones Into Schools definitely evoked some emotions and memories and makes you really put life into perspective.

For those who do not know (and should therefore go and purchase both of these amazing stories because if I can get into a book this much, then anyone can) these two stories are about how Greg Mortenson and some of his central Asian colleagues have managed to build over 130 school in Northern Afghanistan and Pakistan in order to help educate young people - primarily girls - in regions where the governments do not provide funding for education.  It is a truly remarkable story of how one man decided he was going to do something to help people and how it turned into a life journey which he never saw coming.

After reading Stones Into Schools I, first and foremost, realized how fortunate I am just to have education and have the ability to gain knowledge about things which are completely foreign to me.  Too many times I feel like hitting the snooze button or skipping class because I am tired and think missing one day or sleeping in is not going to be that detrimental to me.  But when you hear and read about how those people who are deprived of the fundamental human right to education are yearning for the opportunity to learn, you become the most humble person in the world.  The fact that I have the access to anything in the world that I could ask for, but I constantly try to cut corners shows what I could accomplish if I appreciated everything I had every day.  We often say that we take so many things for granted, and while it is easy to say we take things for granted, it is much more difficult to realize every day how fortunate we are to have all that we do.  To be able to see your life from the outside every day and be thankful for all the we have is so important.  There have been many times in my life where I feel I have been given the opportunity to appreciate everything which has basically been given to me and every time I am in one of these situations I try to cherish them because it makes me appreciate the things I have in my life.  It makes me feel good about myself to know that I can survive without the things to which I have become so accustomed to in my life.  It is so refreshing to read something like Stones Into Schools and feel the same type of humbleness which comes from being in the presence of those who are living in dire situations, yet they teach us so much about how we should live our lives even though they have no idea how we live our lives or what we do in our lives.  When I was in the Dominican Republic I showed up at this orphanage looking at the boys who lived there thinking to myself, 'alright kids, how are you going to teach me more about life than I am going to teach you in the classroom?'  Everyone always tells you when you go on a break trip that you learn so much more from the people you meet than you could ever expect to teach them but it is so hard to believe or comprehend how that can possibly happen.  But by the end of the week you end up becoming so attached to the people you meet because they truly influence you in such a way that you could not experience by reading a book or watching a film.  It is amazing the influence that a group of people, who the rest of the world looks down on because they are uneducated and impoverished, can have on you.  But it takes the most humble of people to teach us about the things that are truly important in life.  Many of these people may be illiterate, but they have the power to show us that things which we think are important - like making a lot of money - really are not that important in the grand scheme of things.  The things that really are important in life are developing relationships with people beyond the surface and understanding where people come from, why they live the way they do, what influences their way of life, etc.  There is something about a relationship with another person who does not have all the worldly possessions that brings us back to that level and makes us realize that almost everything we strive for on a day to day basis is not necessary to live.  While we may need money along the way, you don't have to be a millionaire to have a happy life.  As long as you are surrounded by people who care about you and have your back no matter what, life will always be good to you and you will always look forward to the next day.

(Another Rwanda Note)  This type of person and culture is something I felt I was able to experience much more easily in Rwanda than I have been able to do in Botswana so far.  I felt like I was able to get to know the culture in Rwanda and the people so much faster than has happened in Botswana and I think that is why I felt so attached to Rwanda and I am not beginning to realize why I miss it so much (and the same goes to the DR).

Anyway, Sam, Kelly, and I are heading to Durban and Cape Town for our Semester Break (or Spring Break for all you party animals in the USA).  We are heading out Saturday morning and will be returning Sunday night.  I am definitely looking forward to getting out to another part of Southern Africa and getting away from classes for a week.

Super Bowl Monday

Alright, so I know I said I would put up some pictures from Victoria Falls but my SD Card won't load onto my computer currently so that has been put on hold and therefore this post is coming much later than expected.

Tonight a group of us went to Linga Longo (a restaurant in town) to watch the Super Bowl - on Monday.  I had to force myself to refrain from any contact with the Internet all day, which was definitely a tough task, as the Internet has become such a staple in my daily routine.  Anyway, I was able to do it and it really made watching the game 16 hours later a great game.  I was kind of torn between who to root for because I really enjoy watching the Steelers play football and love Mike Tomlin as a coach, but Ronnie is a huge Packers fan and it was awesome for him that his team was in the Super Bowl.  And luckily we found a place that he could watch it.

Anyway, there were a few things that went through my mind from beginning to end of the game.  Firstly, I was not impressed with Christina Aguilera's version of the National Anthem.  Great pick on who to sing; however, she could have done a much better job.  Secondly, when the clip of all the historical moments in American history were played - I have never felt more proud to be an American than I did at that point.  Maybe it was because I was in a completely foreign land where I am a huge minority and seeing those things just makes me think of home, but I think it was more that it took me being in a foreign land to realize all the great things the United States has to offer and all of the great things that make up my history.  From the great athletic moments of Vince Lombardi and Peyton Manning to the shots of Martin Luther King Jr. and President Kennedy, I think I may have finally realized what it is like to be an outsider looking at American history and then realizing that it is the history of my country.  Anyway, it definitely increased my nationalism (if that is not a bad thing to say in the political realm still) for a bit.

The game in itself really was not too different from any other game.  It was a close game for most of it and definitely kept my interest.  But, as with every championship game which I watch nowadays, I could not help but to look back to winning the National Championship last December at the end of the game.  And every time I think about that I get a weak stomach and really have no words.  A few people even asked me 'what's wrong' after the game and all I could say was I was thinking.  Every time I see a team celebrate it brings back the incredible memory of running onto the field in Chattanooga after accomplishing the goal which every team in the country has the eyes on when the season begins.  And even after you win, it is still hard to believe that you accomplished something that you have watched in every sport for more than a decade and now you feel like you are invincible.  It is definitely one of those feelings that you cannot explain and even today I can't really tell you how I felt December 18, 2009, but it was truly something special knowing you were a part (even a very tiny part like myself) of something incredible.  And every time I see the quarterback put on his championship hat and smile really big, I cannot help but to think of Chris Whitney and how much respect I have for that kid.  He really is the absolute toughest man I have ever met and he is a winner.  I never saw someone be a leader of his team until he took the reigns that season and led by example of what it takes to be a winner and doing everything in his power to help his team win.  I don't think there are many people in the world who I have more respect for than Whit.

Back to the week that was.  Last Monday I was thinking about my trip to Victoria Falls and I realized that it is without a doubt the most incredible thing I have ever seen in my entire life and how lucky I am to have been able to see it.  I don't think I can even begin to explain how spectacular it was.  I am even thinking that if I have another chance to see it this semester how I would love to go back for a weekend and just sit and stare at the falls.  It is such a peaceful place and it is so easy to think and reflect when you're in the presence of something so incredible.

The week went by just as any other.  A few cancelled classes, some basketball with UB.  I am finally starting to cook for myself because it is so much cheaper than eating in the refectory every night.  (However, I have only made it as far as pasta, but it is some good pasta).

Yesterday a few of us climbed Kgale Hill once again, but this time we left at 8am so that we would not burn near as badly as we did last time.  We spent a little over an hour at the top but it was such a beautiful day and looking out over the country definitely provided some time to think.

I've told myself plenty of times before that the reason I came to Botswana was because I had to come back to Africa after having been in Rwanda last summer, but that I also wanted to experience a new part of Africa. It would be foolish to think that every part of Africa is exactly the same, even though we so often associate everything in Africa as being the same.  Especially those people who think Africa is one big country.  Idiots.  Anyway.  I realized that Botswana is completely different in almost every aspect of what different could encompass.  With the exception that the overwhelming majority of people in both countries are black, there are few similarities between the two places.  And I am not sure I am a huge fan of that.  I am happy that I have found something different because that was one of my goals, but after spending a month in Botswana, I don't think I could spend a long time here whereas I still feel like I could be in Rwanda for a few years and be very happy.  Everything from the people to the food to the city and the culture are entirely different.  I think it makes a lot of sense that the city and culture are different because of the commercialization which has taken place in Botswana over the past decade.  However, it is really hard for me to believe that the people would be so different only because of the greater development that has taken place here.  But I started thinking about how people in the U.S., perhaps the most developed country in the world, are always so aggressive, independent, and self-reliant.  And then when you compare the people of Botswana to those in Rwanda the same characteristics come through.  I think it would be terrible if the only reason that people, in general, have moved towards individualism is because of Westernization.  There are so many great things about being able to walk down the street and say hello to everyone you see.  Even if that hello turns into a 5 minute conversation about how life is or how the day has been, it is nice to know that someone else cares enough to talk to you about you rather than being so consumed by their own lives.  That is no to say that you don't find people like that here, or even in the U.S., but in my experience, the more Westernized a culture is, the less friendly and open people become.

I also began to think about where Africa went wrong in regards to corruption.  Sitting at the top of Kgale Hill you would have no idea you were in the middle of Southern Africa.  There are vast plains of green, a city of 300,000 people, a dam with clean drinking water, and small hills that rise out of the ground in every direction. The land in various parts of the world does not differ by much, but the people do.  And it is insane to me that corruption on the entire continent has become so widespread.  It's not like there are special environmental things which caused people to strive for ultimate dominance over an entire group of people.  That happens everywhere.  But why in Africa has it been able to succeed?  The only possible explanation I can come up with is colonization in Africa, but even that doesn't seem to satisfy the fact that so many countries have experienced coups and military takeovers in such a short period of time.  But, for me, even colonization comes back to the point that unless you were told you were in Africa, the land looks no different from so many places in the rest of the world - and what gave Europeans the right to take land from the people who have been here for millions of years (yes, they did do the same thing in North and South America, too)?  And possibly the European development of expansion and world exploration paved the way for globalization and the future development of places like Botswana, which in turn makes people more individualistic, self-reliant, and goal-oriented - the same things which seem to turn us away from the side conversations we have with a stranger just because we are walking on the same street at them.

There are many things about Botswana which I like very much and I am happy that it is much different from home because I want that experience.  But it seems like the people here are trying to move more to a society similar to that of the U.S. and losing the cultural values of past times.  Maybe that is globalization at its core.  It makes me really appreciate the fact that while Rwanda is in a developing stage, they have not lost sight of their past and it follows them wherever they go.  I think the people in Rwanda have a deep appreciation for their past and they want to carry that with them for the rest of their lives whereas the youth in Botswana seem to be surrounding themselves with Western music, clothing, and values rather than holding their past close to them.  I am already looking forward to Semester Break at the end of the month and the chance to see South Africa.