22/11/10

I went inlittle bit later this morning, so managed to have a couple of conversations with Cecil about things here and also to show him my drawings just to see whether he thought they were any good. I was pleased that he thought they were. Really pleased!

My heart wasn't really in it today, but I was kept busy with 65 children. The numbers are already increasing with school starting to finish.

In the evening we watched 'Under the Tuscan Sun', a lovely film! In true style, both Cecil and Denise fell asleep at some point through it. After I went to my room and soon went to sleep...

23/11/10

Took Sal around the lake first thing and then got ready for work. This morning the present that the cats had brought in for us was a bat! It was the cutest thing. I have not seen a bat close up before- it was the size of my palm and looked like it was sleeping! Denise told me that apparently when it's light they cannot really move, it just had its head buried in its wings. I managed to complete the rescue operations, removed the cats (locked them in the corridor) and put a towel over the bat so that I could carry it outside and put it somewhere safe and in the shade. As it was outside of the property, I hope it manages to survive....

I made progress on the cards and got done what I needed to before the weekly review meeting. I found myself getting more and more frustrated to the point that I couldn't talk as would just have burst into to tears! I think it might be time for a bit of a break!! In the afternoon I just engulfed myself in the children and tried to focus fully on them. I did storytelling with them on the blanket outside and then we went to play on the trampoline, nice but pretty manic! This afternoon we had over 100 children at TOP Banana!! The day ended with more miscommunication and so a downhearted me drove home. Dad had responded to a 'cry for help' text I sent and it made me feel better. Unfortunately no credit meant I couldn't reply and answer, 'yes, please call me!' so I would have to wait......

24.11.10

I was looking forward to walking Sally this morning, to clear my head and get my thoughts together for the day...... but as I had just set off, I heard a voice shouting. I turned. It was the landlord, Bonwell. I really wasn't in the mood to speak with him this morning, but he asked to join me and I just didn't know how to say no. He started by talking about 'our trip' and that it was a special trip just for us and so Denise and Cecil could not really come, he then said that I had not returned his calls and texts, he then asked when I would be leaving, when I would be coming back and if I would marry here. I told him firmly that I was here for TOP Banana and not to find love - to which he responded that he was the same and did not want distracting from his charity work!! WHAT??? Call me naive but this man was clearly trying to hit on me and had been from the first day I met him. I had to laugh out loud when he said this - in the next breath he was asking when it would be appropriate for me to receive a gift from him! GO AWAY!!!!! The one time I actually wanted Sally to scare a man away, and she thought I was happily chatting away to him so just b****red off!

Anyway the walk ended and I went to work. The morning started pretty well with all the youth centre staff working together (Okay, it might only have been sharpening coloured pencils, but I was sick of getting blisters from doing it on my own!), but then deteriorated rapidly. I don't want to go into detail on here, but I was taken back in time to being about 5 years old. There were a lot of tears, a lot of snot, a lot of sobbing and trying to draw breath. I knew I needed to talk to mum and dad - but had no credit and no money to buy credit. I felt truly, truly alone. Awful.

Thankfully Denise let me borrow her phone and so was able to get a message through to my parents and within minutes - mum called, followed by dad. It doesn't matter how old you get, you will never come to a point where you don't need your parents anymore. I love mine so much, and there is no way I could have got through today without them. Thank you so much x x x x

25.11.10

Today was better. The afternoon was quite chaotic as usual, but good fun! I did some hula hooping with the children, more and more joining in, and then I tried to organise some skipping games - and failed miserably! Again the language barrier and the older children's desire to complete the games they already knew, made for a pretty impossible task! Ah well. When it was then time for Petros to practice the Beauty Pageant with the children, I sat outside with some of the children that were not completing this. They were again fascinated with my skin. It was nice to sit on the tyres and be entertained by them. My favourite little boy and my increasingly favourite little girl - his sister - were there.

Today I spoke with Kedi and Lovemore about the best time for me to take my trip. As they had no preference, I have decided to bring it forward to next week. So I will organise this with Charmaine this weekend! How exciting!!!!

I tried part of a 'Moroja' fruit this afternoon. Tasted a bit like a fig - I caused much amusement to Kedi and Thande with the faces I was making while I was eating it!

26.11.10

Today as it was payday for staff, they would be travelling into Francistown. Great news, as meant I could get a lift. Lovemore had said that we would be leaving at 8am but in true Botswana style we did not leave until 10.00. To be fair, there were problems with the pay having not been paid into some of the staffs bank accounts - sounding pretty familiar to those of you in HR I'm sure!!. But at last we were there.

It was good to see Charmaine again and we went to a Christmas fair at Sarah's school - with Christmas music playing, it felt quite festive! I saw a bag made out of the sack for horse feed and immediately fell in love with it, anything to do with horses.... there was much more I would have like to have bought including some amazing paintings but (perhaps luckily) they wouldn't have fitted into my backpack so had to be left.

Charmaine had had a bad week and after filling me in on hers, I mentioned that I was bringing my trip forward and could she help me to arrange? She was brilliant and gave me lot of advice on where to go and what to do. She suggested that I travel to Livingstone in Zambia initially as there was a cheap backpackers place and I could do any safari trips from here, but also see Victoria Falls. Brilliant. I was really, really excited now!

That evening we went to the rugby club and I enjoyed some veggie food. Had a couple of drinks and fell asleep quickly when I got back to Charmaines. It had been a very emotional and stressful week, although now I felt more settled and happy knowing that I would be going on my trip on Wednesday morning! YAY!!!

27.11.10

It was the Christmas Gala this morning and Petros and Kedi were supposed to be at the shopping centre by 7.30am to meet the manager and set up. I said that I would be there shortly after - which I was, with no Petros and Kedi...... In fact when I phoned them, they had not yet left Tshesebe! Botswana time! Botswana time! GET IT INTO YOUR THICK HEAD LAURA!!!!!

They arrived just after 09.00 and we set up. The morning went well with us selling quite a bit and us taking a couple of orders for jewellery and hand made cards. I had been surprised at how much stuff we actually had to sell and it was great that Lovemore, Cecil and Denise were all there too. By 12.00 it had gone quiet so we decided to pack up. This all worked out well for me as Charmaine and Sarah were competing in a Triathlon at a game park near Tshesebe that afternoon and Sunday and so I had been invited along. It meant that I could get a lift with them, rather than making my own way there, much easier.

So Charmaine came to 'pick me' (Petros will always say to me 'I will pick you' rather than 'I will pick you up' - I think it might be rubbing off on me!) and we set off. Everyone was in high spirits and I was so excited when we arrived at the gate to Tantebane Game lodge! And even more so when Charmaine said, "10 pula for the 1st person that sees a wild animal!" It hadn't even crossed my mind that we might actually see something, but we did! Charmaine shouted "Zebra!" At first I found it hard to see, but then through the bushes I saw not one, or two, but four! They were stunning. I managed to take a few photos and then she told me to get out, but the sound of the door must have startled the animals and with a toss of their heads, a swish of their tails and a stamp of their hooves, they were gone. I was so lucky to see them.

So memorable bits from today were the stunning setting, the rain storm and getting soaked going to the toilet, the beautiful sky afterwards, Sarah and Charmaine doing their warm up lap, the chicks in the kitchen (until I learned they would be fed to the python outside), trying pap for the first time (but thinking it was mashed potato), Charmaines influencing skills on getting a corkscrew, the guy from Belgium leaving us some mosquito nets in our rooms and the bad nights sleep due to the late arrival of some of the guests!!! It was such a brilliant day. I loved it.

28.11.10

I was up early - and so were most of the other people in the lodge. There are plenty of people that take this triathlon lark very seriously! Charmaine and Sarah's race did not start until about 10.30 so we had plenty of time to sit around, drink coffee and catch a little sun - although it was probably the hottest it's been here so I sat in the shade quite a bit. I enjoyed all the people watching, there were definitely some interesting sights. Long leather coats in 40 degree heat?! Very tight Lycra cycling shorts and a favourite for Tracey - Speedos!! Ha ha

Charmaine and Sarah both did really well in their leg - the swimming - and we were able to wait until both the cycling and running had been completed. Charmaine had really looked after me all weekend and I really appreciated it.

I got back to the house at about 1.30 and Sally came bounding up to me. It was lovely to see her. I will miss her so much L

29.11.10

Rain! And not just a bit, a lot! We had three power cuts in the space of 10 minutes. Thunder and lightning driving home in the tin truck - probably not the best place to be!

It rained much of the evening and Cecil and Denise went to bed early. I watched a DVD, before going to bed too. I was reflecting quite a lot this evening, thinking about the day, smiling at some of the situations. Such as when you ask a question...... it goes a little like this;

Laura - "Would you like a lift home?"

Kedi - "Yes"

Laura - "So you would like a lift home?"

Kedi - "No"

.....and this goes on for a few minutes until I establish whether the answer is yes or no!

Today I got cracking on the wedding thank you cards that Bonette had ordered at the gala. We had to make 100 and I was unsure whether this would be achievable!

30.11.10

I have been writing a report on my time at TOP Banana and what has been achieved. I was hoping to get this completed before me going on my break, but have not been able. So I managed to give a half completed report to Cecil and Lovemore for them to take a look over in my absence. I know that Cecil is a little disappointed that I haven't made any major changes and wanted to document the achievements but also challenges I have faced, to hopefully help them and future volunteers.

I continued helping with the cards, as did Denise, Petros, Tapiwa and Kedi. But I had to leave at about 11.30 as Lovemore was going into Francistown which meant I could get a lift with my heavy bag!! Before I left we had a meeting to discuss the last week, but more importantly what needed doing while I was away. We will see what gets completed and how they get on with the schedule!

On the way into town, Petros spied a dead snake in the road and turned the truck around and went back so I could take a photo. I hadn't asked to bless him.

The afternoon worked out well. I needed to change Pula into Dollars, which the internet place I usually go to was able to do. No idea if the rate was any good, I was more concerned that I would not have money in Zambia! I managed to jump on the internet briefly and then Charmaine came to pick me u. She suggested that I take food with me so that I kept costs down. I hadn't even thought of this but it was a great idea. After picking up some bits we headed back to hers....and then I had this feeling that I hadn't seen my memory stick! I searched my bag, but it wasn't there. I must have left it in the internet place! It had so many of my photos on and all my updates. Ahhhhhhh!!! But Charmaine was great and we went straight back - the stick was still in the machine I had been using, so all worked out well. I was so grateful to Charmaine for going back for me!

I was exhausted by 7pm so having been given butternut squash soup by Charmaine (definitely my fave soup by far now!) I wandered off to pack my bag and get some sleep, as it would be an early start. Mum called to check I was ok and to find out more about my trip. I reassured her that I would text Josie as soon as I was at Kasane (as my phone would not be working in Zambia).