Trivia & Tidbits Thursday - Precious Bundle

I have wanted a photo of a mom with her precious bundle (her baby!) on her back. I got one! I am absolutely amazed at how a mother can convert a simple blanket to a carrier for her baby. Baby is bundled up snug and safe. It is quite cute to see a mother approaching you that has her baby bundled on her back - you just see the baby's little feet poking out on each side of mama's waist.






Another photo of mama and baby.

Wouldn't you know it - after I took these photos, I've seen at least a half-dozen mothers and bundled babies around - but I didn't have my camera with me. At least I got this one to share with you.

Trivia & Tidbits Thursday - Kgale Hill

If you've read any of The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency novels by Alexander McCall Smith, then you've read about Kgale Hill. (kuh-HOL-ee)
If you haven't read any of these novels, I highly recommend them. The books give you a taste of what life is like in Botswana, since that is the setting for the series.

Here is a picture of Kgale Hill, taken from inside our car (in case you hadn't noticed the rear view mirror, dashboard, etc.).

This is info about Kgale Hill, taken from the Botswana Tourism web site:
"It offers a pleasant climb with breathtaking views of the Dam and city. Visitors can choose one of three well-defined routes up the hill: the steep Rusty's Route up the rocky face; the longer Transfeldt Trail up the back; and the undulating walk across the saddle to Cross Kopje. Each takes less than an hour. There is a resident troop of baboons living on Kgale and a pair of black eagles consistently nests in the craggy cliff-face just below the peak. There have also been reports of early morning sightings of leopard."

Sounds nice enough. Right? (Except for the chance of meeting up with baboons or a leopard.) As US citizens, we've been advised not to go hiking around Kgale - unless we're with a group. Apparently, we're targets for theft. I would definitely like to hike up Kgale - but only with a large group, and some body guards.

Here's a link I found of a view of the City of Gaborone, taken from Kgale Hill. At the base of the hill, you can see the top of one our shopping malls, known as the Game City Mall.

Though I don't know the names of these 'hills', or if they even have names (which I'm guessing they probably do) - here are more photos of hills just outside the city. The first time I saw these I couldn't believe the beauty. It's like having 'mini-mountains' in my backyard. Since I just love the mountains of NC - I am thankful to have these majestic views to admire.

Mail Call!!!!

We only get mail once a week ---maybe twice from time-to-time. When the mail comes in - it's like 'Mail Call' for the military. We LOVE it when it's mail day. That's when our orders from the US arrive. We (I) order frequently from Amazon.com and LandsEnd.com. (I take full advantage of their free shipping offers.) One of my South African friends here is becoming a fan of Lands End, too.

We also love it when we get cards and letters from family and friends (HINT, HINT). Best of all, is when my mom sends us care packages! Today was a great mail day. Not only did we get our latest Netflix movies (Lady and The Tramp; Star Wars #3...the Siths), but we also received a ginormous care package from my mom, dad, sister and brother-in-law. Opening the box was like unwrapping a great big hug! The girls received Easter baskets with lots of craft goodies. Included in the box were packages of Velveeta Shells 'n Cheese, Jiffy corn muffin mix and CHOCOLATE. Comforts of home! (As an added hug, my mom drew smiley faces, the words 'Yum', and 'Luv You' on the muffin boxes.) My mom is the best!

Thanks Mom, Dad, Sis and Bro-in-law. We are so blessed.

Trivia & Tidbits Thursday - Plastic?

I need to blog about the "grocery shopping experience" here in Gabs. That is a topic all to itself. Perhaps I'll have that one ready for next week's post. I have to remember to take my camera to the grocery store - so you can 'see' what I'm talking about.

For this post, I just want to tell you about 'plastic'. I'm not talking about a credit card, forks and spoons, or containers. The plastic I'm referring to are the plastic grocery bags. When shopping here at a department store, clothing store, shoe store, pharmacy, etc., the plastic bag is included at no charge. However, when grocery shopping, you are charged for each 'plastic', as they are called. The 'plastic' comes in a couple of sizes, depending on how much merchandise you have. The clerk decides which size you need. They're good about choosing an appropriate size. There's one other store, besides the grocery stores, that charges for the 'plastic', and that is Game City (our version of Walmart).

Here's how it works at the check-out (called a 'till'). You place your groceries on the counter. (Sidenote: There are no 'conveyor belt' check-outs here. Only a counter top. You just keep sliding your items toward the clerk. Oh - and all the clerks that I've seen here sit in a chair...which is why you slide your items towards them. No standing here for hours for the clerks! Makes sense to me.) As the clerk begins to scan your merchandise she asks you, "Plastic?" (The first time I was asked this, I thought I was being asked if I was going to use my credit card!!!! Thankfully, my husband was with me to 'translate'.) You either answer, "Yes", and indicate how many bags. Or, you answer, "No." Some people just have the groceries stacked back in the cart, or they provide their own bags. Keep reading.

How much do these plastic bags cost? Not much at all -- usually about 25 thebe (pronounced TEH-bee) or less. That equates to about 4 US cents per plastic bag. No, they don't cost much - but think about how much money you spend on just plastic bags over a period of time. It adds up.

So, to be a better steward of our finances, and to minimize the amount of trash we produce, it is common practice to use canvas bags for your shopping. I have about 10 of them in my car - and load them up when I do my grocery shopping. The canvas bags cost the equivalent of about $1.00-$2.00 each. I've already used the bags more than enough to recoup my investment. AND, I'll bring them home with me and use them in the States after our time here is done.

See you here next week!

Trivia & Tidbits Thursday - Reclaiming Water

Rain here in Botswana is so precious. The Setswana name for rain is "pula". The currency here is also called "pula". That gives one an idea of just how vital rain is here, to have your money named the same.

Our rainy season hasn't ended yet. We received more precious rain last night. Living in a place that only receives rain for a certain period of time each year is strange to me. Living in the US, we received rain throughout the year.

Our home, and many others that I've seen here, do not have 'buried' or underground pipes for their outgoing water. The piping coming from our sinks, showers, washing machine and dishwasher are exposed. This allows for that 'runoff' water to be reclaimed. Our piping is positioned to allow a hose to be attached, to redirect the water to a nearby flower bed or vegetable garden. Others I know here have a method of reclaiming the water to large trash cans on wheels - so the water can be distributed easily to flower beds and such.

This is a picture of the piping coming from our washer, dishwasher and kitchen sink. It doesn't take much to notice just how dry and dusty it is here. Every drop of water is precious. During the months when we receive no rain, even more so.


Living here has definitely heightened my awareness to be a much better steward of the resources entrusted to our care.