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Published: November 16th 2013
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Lunch with Barbara and Alan on the way to Botswana. Dear Friends,
My friends Barbara and Alan Braley from Fairbanks just left Monday after being here for two weeks. They came in time for our school play on Nov. 2nd, which went very well. We have several very talented actors, and one great comedian who added some light relief to a pretty somber play. The major problem was sound. Our sound system has just one mike which wasn't any use for a play. We taped it to a table, but people weren't close enough for it to pick up much.
My job was to train two students to be stage managers. One, Reegina, really took over and did a great job. The other, Hermanus, morphed into the sound technician, while I mostly acquired all the props and created the "house / school / hospital." During the play I actually just helped change scenes. Nicki had brought me a roll of duct tape which was a "scene saver".
Barbara and Alan had rented a camping truck which was great. The first weekend they were here and we did local things: we went to Mahango Game Reserve, where, among other things, we saw great piles of hippos in very low
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This is at the front of the lodge. The sign says, "Warning. Crocodile." We never saw one. channels of water. I had a dead phone and someone else has my camera, so check out my facebook periodically. Barbara was going to try to put up some pictures, and she has a good camera.
During the week, I was the only English teacher here (out of 5), so Barbara and Alan went up to Victoria Falls. They went on the Zimbabwe side, and from the pictures, the water was a lot lower than when we were there. I had bought one of those "Great Courses" on African history before I left to come here. The professor suggested everyone should see the Falls in both the wet and dry seasons. (He also put in his will that he wants his ashes poured over Victoria Falls!). The second weekend, I took Friday off and we drove into Botswana, down to the Okavango Delta. We stayed outside Maun at the Okavango River Lodge, which was quite funky, but right on the river, and they had good food. We got a cabin with three beds which was good because it poured rain the first night.
On Saturday we went on a makorro trip (little dugout canoes that people pole. Very
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Both Barbara and Alan's poler and mine were women. Two out of five. unstable feeling, but they know how to do it. It has to be the most peaceful place on Earth. We sat in the makorros while the polers poled in a very relaxed manner. Cows and donkeys on the banks. Once a line of cows swam across in front of us.
The only difficulty was the heat. We were just out there with the sun beating down on us. I didn't have a hat or a visor (rather nuts of me). After two hours we came to a big island where they planned lunch. We all climbed out in the mud and hurried to the shade. There were nine of us passengers. However, the head poler told us that the program included a two-hour hike before lunch. I didn't want to go, but felt like I was being lazy, so of course I went. We were among trees discussing this, so I had hopes the hike was among the trees, but no! We quickly came out of the trees onto savannah with to trees or trails. After about half an hour, I asked if anyone remembered the old saying, "Mad dogs and Englishmen go out in the noonday sun." We
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Cows crossing the channel in the Okavango Delta, right in front of my mokorro. (In Kavango they call it a wateau, not mokorro). walked to a large baobab tree which was making NO shade because it was noon. Then further to see some zebras our guide could see Finally we turned back. I think the guy bringing up the rear could tell we were losing our enthusiasm. All the way back, I was concentrating on lifting my feet rather than plopping them down (as the girls were teaching me in the Vambo dancing), and on sucking in my abs to try to lift up straight. As a result, at one point, I walked smack into a thornbush. Finished the walk with blood dripping down my leg. When we finally got back, I think I guzzled about 2 litres of cold water (I did have my water bottle, not that dumb).
It was a nice lunch. There were two other Americans, Germans and Swedes. Unfortunately, we had to get back into the makorros for the two hour trip back. That was when I started to feel sick. I splashed water all over myself, soaking my clothes and face and neck. I tried covering my head with my rain jacket hood, but that was very hot. Then just as I got all wet, clouds
came over, the wind picked up, and a thunderstorm broke over us. The change in the polers was something! They had been lazily poling and chatting, then suddenly they were really pushing. All I could think of was my mother telling us as kids that if we were in the water or on the beach when a lightning storm started, to get out fast. There I was soaked with puddles gathering in the tiny little boat. One simultaneous clap of thunder and lightning made me squeal and duck. However, as you have probably deduced, we made it back to the makorro station and stood under a tree until it was over. Then the boat from the lodge came to get us and he had a cooler full of beer!
I loved the whole thing. That sense of peacefulness going up was so wonderful, that the heat and all was worth it. The next day, Sunday, we drove back up, and Barbara and Alan left on Monday, wishing, I am sure, that they had longer. Thursday exams started. I invigilated twice and have one more. But I have 360 8th grade exams, and possibly 240 11th grade to mark, so I am going to have to quit. I worked from 7:30 a.m. until 9:00 p.m. marking all my Religious and Moral Education things and getting those grades done and out of the way. Now for English. However, I've taken most of the day to go to the shop, do my laundry, and mop my floor. I'm including a picture of a dust storm. Look closely.
I'll try to write one more before I leave. I am getting anxious to come home, and knowing I will really miss this place at the same time. Every one here is suddenly realizing that I won't be back, so they all want time and pictures (while I mark!) Wish me luck.
Lots of love,
Wendy
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margi
non-member comment
finishing so soon?
dear wendy, no hat!?!?!? yikes!!! i'm glad you didn't die from exposure, heat exhaustion, or lighting strike. you had your chances and i'm glad you got away with your skin. okavango is so peaceful. your notes took me right back there in the mokoros (sp?). wow. what a time you have had. i'm glad to hear that your friends were able to join you for the play and all. oh, and here's a cheer for the duck tape. i always travel with some wound round a pencil (takes less space) but you probably needed the better part of a roll for the play. good for nikki to think of that. enjoy.... savor... these last few weeks. remember everything and tell me about it when i see you. wow. congratulations on the adventure of a lifetime. wow! love, margi