The Real World Gaborone - Episode 5

This is the true story of five strangers, picked to live in a house, work together and have their lives taped, to find out what happens when people stop being polite... and start getting real. This is The Real World, Gaborone.

 

Downtown Gaborone

Arriving from an amazing weekend in Cape Town, I jump into the house car…

“SO???” asks Jenny excitedly, “How was Cape Town?!”

“Amazing!” I reply enthusiastically.

“We missed you LuckyCdnGirl!” Tina says.

“Tell us! What was the best?” asks Jenny.

I start into a diatribe of all the awesomeness that is Cape Town and don’t slow down for a breath.

I miss Cape Town.

Or as Trevor taught me this weekend…I have a serious “tabanca” for Cape Town.

Tabanca – a Caribbean term meaning a deep longing for something you can no longer have

View of Gaborone suburbs

Yup – I have a serious tabanca for Cape Town.

But let’s go back to Trevor…He has a serious tabanca for home.

He left a few weeks ago to go home for a visit, remember?

He returned while I was in Cape Town.

He is not adjusting well to life back in Gaborone.

It can be hard.

You go from your life, your space, your home, your car, your loved ones, your world…

To –

Sharing a house with 4 other strangers, sharing 1 car, life without your loved ones, and a country riddled with electricity challenges and NOT the best internet connection in the world…I mean really, what is 2.5G?!

Jenny was at a party last night with her new local friends…the “Real Housewives of Phakalane.”

(Phakalane Golf Estates is where we live…it’s a gated neighbourhood about 15km from downtown Gaborone filled with ex-pats from South Africa and various other rich people from around the world…it’s a very interesting place to say the least!)

Anyway, at the party, Jenny met these guys from South Africa that told her this joke –

Q - What’s the best part of Gaborone?

A – Johannesburg

Yup – finding interesting things to do in Gabs can get difficult after a while.

Sure we have our favourite restaurants and even lounges…

We can go to the movies too.

There’s even a little bit of shopping…

But other than that – there really isn’t much else to amuse us.

So Trevor’s tabanca for home and mine for Cape Town are quite reasonable…

Hanging out after work at Casa Maria we sip on our drinks…

Jenny drinks red wine.

Trevor drinks vodka tonics.

Tina drinks water.

And I drink g&t.

Like friends and colleagues we chat a little about everything.

Last Friday night was no different.

“I don’t believe there is one special person out there for you,” Jenny says.

“Neither do I,” Trevor answers.

“I think my reality of my boyfriend is not who he really is,” Jenny continues. “I think I have a created the perfect Jeff in my head. Like I’ve taken all the best parts of him and that’s who he is to me. I don’t think it’s necessarily the person he is.”

“What? Really?” I ask.

“Yeah, I see her point,” Trevor says. “I’d like to think that my ex-girlfriends only see the best parts of me. But truly, I’m all good!”

“HA HA HA HA!” We all laugh. 

“Very funny Trev” Tina says, “I know a few women who may think otherwise.”

As an aside - I'm still trying to figure this one out.

Do we really only see the best parts of our loved ones and friends?

Do we gloss over the nasty bits?

I'm not entirely convinced.

At our last full house dinner that night we go to our favourite Chinese restaurant in the Sbele Centre. (I actually have no idea what it’s called. But if you’re in Gabs, it’s the only Chinese restaurant at Sbele.)

Nazir (Tina's sometimes crush) and his family own the restaurant.

They have been in Botswana about 20 years now but are originally from the beautiful Chinese city Xi'an.

Nazir and some of the houesmates work out together at Jack's Gym at Mowana Park.

Over the past couple months we have gotten to know Nazir and the delicious food at their restaurant so it's quite fitting our last full-house dinner is at Nazir's.

Nazir sets us up in our own private room and provides us with a complimentary bottle of red wine. Needless to say, we are feeling good...SO good in fact that for some reason during dinner, Jenny and I are stroking Tina's arms noting how soft they are.

Junior and Trevor are just shaking their heads at us (silly) women when one of the wait staff enters the room, sees our silliness and slowly backs out again.

We, of course, are left in hysterics.

It's all about the silly stupid stuff sometimes. 

Tina is now on her leave.

Her bedroom is across from mine. We sort of share the south wing of the house…It’s kind of sad not knowing when I’ll see her next. She is on the project for the full three years and home for her is in the Caribbean so I’m not sure when/if our paths will ever cross again.

We had what has become the ritual brunch out before the airport run with Tina on Saturday. Although, we did check her in and drop her bags at the Sir Seretse Khama International Airport first.  Afterall  this is actuary Tina we’re talking about, she would never enjoy a leisurely three omelette breakfast and dessert of carrot cake knowing that she is not yet checked in!

Dropping her off at the airport has a tinge of sadness.

And it’s weird to see her walk off away from us.

A part of our family is now on her way half way around the world and almost home.

That will soon be me…

           

****************

Jr. – a mid-20’s Toronto boy, born and bred. Accountant by trade. On this project to travel and try something different. Nurse/student girlfriend at home.

Trevor – an early 30’s guy from the Caribbean. Completed a number of these types of projects before in different countries. Single

Tina – a late 30’s/early 40’s Caribbean woman who has lived and worked with Trevor on projects in different countries. Single

Jenny – an early 30’s woman from Vancouver. Common-law Life partner at home.

And me. LuckyCdnGirl. Accustomed to travel and absolutely loving my time in Africa.