Ever read those “What I’d tell my 18 year old self”
posts?
They are supposed to impart some wisdom on your younger
self having had now had experience and time on your side.
Well this is a take on it – except it’s what I would have
told myself – before leaving for Botswana.
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| Ain't no thang...just horses in the street... |
20. Pack whatever you want – don’t listen to people
telling you that you don’t need “fancy” clothes or purses, shoes or other
accessories. Bring em if you want them!
19. Know that whatever you bring will get over worn –
darks will somehow become light and shoes will get crazy ruined by the roads,
but you’ll be happy you brought them! Also remember you can donate whatever
pieces you don’t want to take home to a local deserving Motswana.
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| An elusive (yet absolutely delicious) macchiato |
18. Buy a yoga mat as soon as you get there – you’ll need
it to zen out…every day – living in a developing country will present many
challenges for which you’ll need a few down-dogs and deep yogic cleansing
breaths to keep you calm.
17. Spend as much time outside as possible. The sunshine
is lovely and at home, people are trudging through snow. Don’t forget to use 30
or more SPF all the time, every day…even when it is cloudy, those sun’s rays
are getting to you and you need to prevent those wrinkles!
16. You are going to meet some amazing people who will
probably be in your life for a long time to come.
15. Buy a local phone. Do not hesitate. They are cheap
and you’ll be happy you have it, especially when you start traveling.
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| a Marula tree with its fruit |
14. Ensure all your devices are always charged – you
never know when an eight hour power outage may occur and you just may need to
catch up on Downton Abbey or play Candy Crush.
13. Your need to shop will dissipate as soon as you find
out there’s really nothing to buy…try as hard as possible not to resort to
on-line shopping.
12. Batswana are nice…get to know them, speak to them in
their language, use the colloquial phases…but remember, once they get behind
the wheel of a car, they are dangerous – always look both ways, then look again
before you cross the road!
11. Go on as many safaris as you can. They will cost you,
but you will love every minute. Remember to stop and live in the moment. Listen
to that herd of elephants silently walk past you instead of taking pictures.
Then again, your distaste for home videos may change. Take a few videos so you
can show people how warthogs move.
10. You think you want to see a “kill” on safari, but as
soon as you watch a lion chomp on a zebra lung, you want to hurl…re-think the
kill thing.
9. Try the local game meat – ostrich, impala, eland etc.
It’s delicious. The biltong on the other hand…well, I guess you should try it
also.
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| Main Mall Gaborone |
8. The food is great. The beef and lamb are particularly
fresh, free range and organic. SO good. Enjoy it, but know you won’t get good
seafood til South Africa. And bring coffee. Good coffee is hard to come by in
Gaborone. Bring coffee!!!
7. You will fulfill your shopping needs by buying
souvenirs…too many perhaps.
6. The work you will be doing is not difficult. It is not
earth shattering. But it will do good for the country and for your team. And
remember, you’re in Africa. (That in itself is amazing!)
5. Use your excess brain power to read and learn as much
as you can about anything you want. Write lots and read even more. You never
know where it will lead you.
4. Remember to call home – as often as the internet
provides…and get used to crappy internet…it’s the norm.
3. Being in Africa will allow for time to reflect and
think about what you want to do next. Don’t be afraid of it.
2. You know that
everyone is different. Remember to have patience with this.
1. You will leave part of your soul in Cape Town.
