January 27, 2011

Yet another weekend filled with adventure!

I went camping at the Gaborone Game Reserve with the University of Botswana's Wildlife Conservation Group. Leaving on Friday afternoon, we camped over the weekend and returned on Sunday evening.

Thee game reserve itself was beautiful, and filled with a surprising number of animals. A group of about 40 UB students came, and we all camped in a communal tent.

We divided into groups to prepare food and clean up after each meal. I am finding that there is a much grater emphasis on teamwork and collaborate efforts as opposed to the States. Though not working more efficiently together, group work is seen as less of a challenge here and more ass a necessity.
We prepared pap, a sort of mashed corn porridge, for most meals with a form of meat, usually ground beef or canned fish. For breakfast each day we prepared fat cakes, similar to doughnuts, but unsweetened and more doughy.
It was great to prepare each meal collectively over the fire.

Several of us explored parts of the game reserve and saw warthogs, ostriches, monkeys, several verities of birds, impala, zebras, and other animals.

On Saturday, we held a meeting about the goal s of the organization for the semester. On the top of the agenda was raising awareness for global warming. After talking to serial of the group's members, I learned that the majority of people in Botswana have no understanding or knowledge of the concept of global warming. Most don't learn about it at all unless studying environmental science or a related subject at the college level. I was shocked to hear this.

Being here for serial weeks, I hadn't seen single recycling bin in any location I had been to. I asked about waste management and recycling in Botswana. The president of the group informed me that there are currently no recycling centers in all of Botswana. I was equally shocked to hear this.

Many people don't bother to put their waste into a garbage can. It will require a big change in mentality to get people to recycle.

Rumor has it from some of the international students that Botswana doesn't generate its own electricity as well, and imports it from Mozambique and South Africa, so many of the effects of pollution are yet to be seen.

We had a brie in the afternoon, played cards, and told stories.
That night my friend and i decided we wanted to sleep outside of the tent "out in teh bush." It was fantastic to fall asleep under the stars listening to animals. We woke up around 4am, however, when it started raining, and retreated back into the leaking tent.

I met so many amazing people during the retreat, and I am excited to become more involved with the group.