Starting in our front yard, below you will find a lizard at the base of the tree. Lizards are everywhere, like squirrels in our yard in Indiana. We have not been too successful in learning what types of lizards they are, but there are many kinds. (Since the rains have started there are also lots of frogs; sometimes when it is raining they come out so heavily that it is hard not to step on them).
Below is another shot of the corner of the front yard; Grandma Cheryl, Eden and Hope are looking at the lizards. You can see the fence and gate behind them. At night we pull the car up into the front yard and lock the gate behind us. Not sure why, other than that is what everyone else does, so it seems like a good idea.
Below is a shot from the outside of our gate, looking down the street to the right. The entire right side of the street is university flats like ours. The entire left side is a big field that is the property of the Thapong Visual Arts Center.
Below is the Thapong Visual Arts Center. It is what we see when we look out our front door. Besides these different statues and such, there are a number of bigger works throughout the property, including a life size elephant made of rusting metal. There are all different types of artists working all the time, and you can just go in and wander around and watch them work. There is also a trailer on the property that is a secretarial service/internet cafe. For a while I stopped there daily on my way to work for printing of class notes and such, because for quite a while I could not print or copy at my office or at home.
I should add here that our neighborhood is called "The Village" because it is where the British headquarters were located when Botswana was still a protectorate. When Botswana gained independence, they located the capital around this existing area, so our area is really the oldest part of the city. Gaborone was really not in existence until it was built up for purposes of being the new capital. I am told that Thapong sits on the site of the actual original British administration building.
Below is the most interesting building to me. It is the old prison. It sits to the southeast corner of our flat. We were told that the tower was used for hanging people. The spot does not appear to be actively used, and is starting to be quite run-down. I wish I had more of the history, but you now know everything I know about it. It would make a great museum.
Moving north, you get to Choppies, our neighborhood grocery store. This little stand is in Choppies parking lot. They sell the African version of hot dogs, and drinks. These stands are everywhere around the university, and for all practical purpose they take the place of vending machines. There are NO vending machines on campus, but if you walk outside the university gate in any direction you will see many of these stands. Actually, if you go in any direction outside any place where a lot of people work, you will find many of these stands. Most just sell candy, drinks, and cell phone minutes. Some sell hot dogs like the one below, and a few sell full Botswana meals: beef seswaa, pap (like mashed potatoes made from sorghum), and chicken and rice. None sell coffee. I have gotten used to a lot of things here, but I still struggle with not being able to get a cup of coffee during the day when I need one.
About a 10 minute walk from Choppies, I arrive at my office building. Block 244A/021. It is one of the "portacamps" in an area they refer to as Siberia, because it is on the remote edge of campus, where administrators never wander. Many of these "temporary" buildings were put up quickly when the university separated from the joint university with Lesotho, which was located in Lesotho. I am not sure the reason for the split, but Botswana had to come up with its own university facilities rather quickly at some point (in the 1970s I believe, but this might not accurate). There are now of course some much nicer facilities on campus, but many of these original building remain.
And, my office. Not bad, actually. Very big - at least twice the size of my office at IPFW, with more book shelves than I know what to do with. I have my own window heating and air conditioning unit, which I would not survive without. It can get kind of quiet, dark, and lonely at times, because everyone keeps their office doors closed almost always, so you never know if anyone is actually around. I keep mine open mostly, because - well I don't know why - habit I guess. So, I get a regular influx of students who are lost, or in a panic to turn stuff in to their professors and can't find them, DHL delivery guys trying to find someone, and people asking to borrow toilet paper. (They provide you with a supply, but it is brought to your office by the cleaning lady. There is none to be found in the bathrooms themselves.). I digress, but my point is that keeping my door open has allowed me to meet all kinds of interesting people that I would not otherwise meet, and they generally seem very greatful if I go to the trouble to look up an office number for them or something.
Below is the most interesting building to me. It is the old prison. It sits to the southeast corner of our flat. We were told that the tower was used for hanging people. The spot does not appear to be actively used, and is starting to be quite run-down. I wish I had more of the history, but you now know everything I know about it. It would make a great museum.
Moving north, you get to Choppies, our neighborhood grocery store. This little stand is in Choppies parking lot. They sell the African version of hot dogs, and drinks. These stands are everywhere around the university, and for all practical purpose they take the place of vending machines. There are NO vending machines on campus, but if you walk outside the university gate in any direction you will see many of these stands. Actually, if you go in any direction outside any place where a lot of people work, you will find many of these stands. Most just sell candy, drinks, and cell phone minutes. Some sell hot dogs like the one below, and a few sell full Botswana meals: beef seswaa, pap (like mashed potatoes made from sorghum), and chicken and rice. None sell coffee. I have gotten used to a lot of things here, but I still struggle with not being able to get a cup of coffee during the day when I need one.
About a 10 minute walk from Choppies, I arrive at my office building. Block 244A/021. It is one of the "portacamps" in an area they refer to as Siberia, because it is on the remote edge of campus, where administrators never wander. Many of these "temporary" buildings were put up quickly when the university separated from the joint university with Lesotho, which was located in Lesotho. I am not sure the reason for the split, but Botswana had to come up with its own university facilities rather quickly at some point (in the 1970s I believe, but this might not accurate). There are now of course some much nicer facilities on campus, but many of these original building remain.
And, my office. Not bad, actually. Very big - at least twice the size of my office at IPFW, with more book shelves than I know what to do with. I have my own window heating and air conditioning unit, which I would not survive without. It can get kind of quiet, dark, and lonely at times, because everyone keeps their office doors closed almost always, so you never know if anyone is actually around. I keep mine open mostly, because - well I don't know why - habit I guess. So, I get a regular influx of students who are lost, or in a panic to turn stuff in to their professors and can't find them, DHL delivery guys trying to find someone, and people asking to borrow toilet paper. (They provide you with a supply, but it is brought to your office by the cleaning lady. There is none to be found in the bathrooms themselves.). I digress, but my point is that keeping my door open has allowed me to meet all kinds of interesting people that I would not otherwise meet, and they generally seem very greatful if I go to the trouble to look up an office number for them or something.
