On site

After a "restful" weekend, we all shipped out to our sites this morning. It was sad to leave the University of Botswana, which was starting to feel a bit like home. Cara went of to Mmangkodi, and Ashley and I went to Molepolole. After dropping off our things at the chief's place and meeting his wife, our new "mother," we headed off to the library. The library is a bit of a walk from our house, and you have to cross bits of concrete across concrete waste waterways to walk in. Our boss wasn't in, so we passed a little time applying for library cards and reading intro to Setswana books before some boxes of new books arrived. The head clerk, Margaret, showed us how to check off the books on the shipping slip--using carbon paper!-- and then how to write the borrowing cards. Yes, nothing is computerized, so they use borrowing cards at the back of the book, just like when I was a child.

Max showed up and we had a little chat about the framework the interns used last year and what kind of things we could do this year. As far as I can see, things are pretty well set up, but at a standstill until the new building is ready. We're going to have to be creative to devise some helpful projects.

The library culture is very different from in the US. It is absolutely quiet. Even the staff whispers, and rarely at that. Max told us they've tried to have children's programs, but any bit of noise makes the adults really mad, and they'll walk out. So now he's forced to try to do a bit of children's programming by going to the schools. There are no programs for youth (age 12-29) or adults at all. But there are certainly a lot of ideas in the works. Max seems to have thought of everything--there's a plethora of plans and proposals in his files, all written up, and he even has a newsletter, brochures, and friends of the library up and running.

After a few hours at the library, he told us we should come back tomorrow afternoon and we walked back to the khosi's compound. We found out that our stove and refrigerator do not work, so Mma Khosi brought us some lunch, which was delicious and I was very grateful. Tonight I guess someone will bring dinner, too. Also, the whole city has been without water for 2 days, so a man came with several buckets of water to fill the toilet tank, provide us with a place to wash up, and some boiled water to drink.

An adjustment!

Thanks for all the comments. Keep 'em coming.