Some Interesting Information...

I have unearthed a few things about Botswana in a myriad of conversations. The new president is generally viewed in a positive light. He is relatively young, and trying to fix a few of Botswana's problems. One main issue is deaths due to drunk driving. "Botswana is a country of drunks," people joke. So President Khama cut the hours that bars are allowed to be open in half. "Botswana is a slacker country," people say. So he is also going to try to speed up various government processes.
I have also become a bit disillusioned regarding certain aspects. "My house was burgled once," said one girl, "We called them, and the police showed up two hours later." The law enforcement obviously lacks. Some of the laws are a bit, well, wrong - or one in particular. In Botswana, according to the students I've talked to, practicing homosexuality is illegal. So the good news about California now allowing gay marriage was overshadowed, at least for me, by the realization that many countries are not nearly as lucky as the United States, at least in my view.
Today, a woman spoke to us at our brief morning school meeting about an organization she runs which distributes clothes and other items to orphans in Botswana. Another sad realization: the sheer number of orphans, many of whose parents died of AIDS or who are HIV positive themselves, living in destitution in Botswana.
Enough about current events...Now a post with some lovely photos!!

All Quiet...at MaP, at least

The Deerfield bubble, I believe, does not just apply to Deerfield.
I am finding it even more difficult to keep up with current events here at MaP than at home. But I have managed to check a bit on Africa via BBC.com, and have discovered: that in Zimbabwe, Mr. Tsvangirai has not returned to his country to begin a campaign for president in a run-off against Mr. Mugabe; in Mozambique, police will now be required to follow a fitness regimen; and terrifyingly, in South Africa, vicious attacks, including fire, vandalism, rape, beatings, and other violence, have been carried out against many foreigners residing in the country - especially focused upon the estimated 3 million Zimbabweans who have fled to Johannesburg and other parts of South Africa.
Many people here in Botswana have a relatively negative view of South Africa; yes, they might go to some of the good colleges which do exist there, but in general it is viewed as an unsafe, dangerous place to visit. Zimbabwe has become a bit of a...not a joke, but a counter-character. Jokingly, one teacher said, "I am now from Zambia. I used to be from Zimbabwe but I have relocated." Obviously this man can't change where he was born, but the embarrassment or disappointment about Zimbabwe is pretty widespread.
But submitting to the bubble effect, I'm hoping to go out and take some photographs this afternoon. I'll be sure to post them when I get the chance!