Reactions

I have found that reactions of friends and acquaintances to news that I am going to Botswana in the PC are varied and interesting. The words "You're kidding!" can mean everything from "Wow, how exciting!" to "You couldn't be so dumb as to do that, now, could you?" By and large people are positive. The ones who think it's a dumb thing to do surprise me in who they are.

Want to see a diamond mine? If you have Google Earth, which is easily downloaded, turn the earth to Africa. Just north of South Africa, and landlocked, is Botswana. Zoom into the country until you see cities named. The Capital, Gabarone, is on the south-southeast border with South Africa. Look west of Gabarone, zoom west some more, until you see what looks like a pale blue smudge on the map. Center that smudge and zoom in some more. Pretty soon you have a huge, open pit mine, with stepped sides. That is where diamonds are mined. No miners digging in dark tunnels, but earth graders the size of small houses picking up tons of earth at a time, and taking it to graders. Since diamonds don't break, they drop out of the crushed earth and voila, one has diamonds to sell. Botswana is so smart in owning these operations with the DeBoers company. One owns the land, one knows how to mine, cut and sell them, and everyone makes money.

If you are really into learning about Botswana, and I obviously am, watch the #1 Ladies Detective Agency series from HBO. Filmed in Botswana. The first episode of The Planet Earth,  narrated by David Attenborough, also has a nice segment on the elephant migration every year. Wow. I get to go there. I'm still processing.

Friends out there!

How cool is this? Facebook has a group of others going to Botswana in April! I can now officially share my excitement as well as my nervousness with others who understand.

Well, I thought I had retired from the political world, but a dear friend called just before Christmas asking me to be her legislative Aide until I go. She is newly elected to the Colorado Senate and I do believe she is one of the most capable and honest people in our legislature, so I guess I have a job after all until April 1. It's probably a good way to keep my anxiety level in check!

I have also located the blog and email of a friend (a nurse practitioner) from Denver who is also in Botswana at this time. What a gift - to have someone to ask - do they cook with olive oil in Bots? and similar questions.

Welcome! Just two days ago I accepted an invitation to serve with the Peace Corps in Botswana. Botswana is a country of approximately 2 million people, in a land area slightly smaller than the state of Texas, and is located just north of South Africa. It has the second highest prevalence rate of HIV/AIDS in the world - nearly 25% of its population. My job title will be 'Community Capacity Builder' in the HIV/AIDS Capacity Building program. Departure date is April, 2011.

Because I am not sure who all will be reading this blog, here is some basic information about me. I have a doctorate degree in Public Health, and the focus of the program was health policy. But it was a well balanced program, with courses in epidemiology, health law, environmental health, and lots, lots, lots of statistics. I am not sure how all that will be put to use in Botswana, but I am sure to find out!  For several years, I worked with our state legislature as an independent contract lobbyist, focusing predominantly, though not exclusively, on health issues. I also worked with non-profits and a bonding authority that served as the financing authority for education and cultural institutions.

I will be leaving behind a daughter who has just married her long-term boyfriend and received her master's degree, so I feel very confident that they will be just fine while I am gone, and will help Mom with homesickness when it hits - as it invariably will. I will also be leaving my black lab mix, named Nigel, who will not understand why I suddenly disappeared. I am hoping Skype will help me reassure him that I will be back.

I'm told that even though Botswana is roughly the same distance from the equator as is southern Florida, winters are cold there! Because Botswana is in the southern hemisphere, I will be arriving in the fall and have another winter to look forward to. For anyone who is geographically impaired I recommend Google earth. The program can take you anywhere, and go right down to housetop level. In many instances, you can even get a street view. Take a tour of Botswana and see the diamond mines!