I am not on my computer, so I don't currently have access to my pictures and to my video-making apparatus,  but I wanted to share some updates nevertheless.

This morning, we visited another one of the Rustenberg Rotary club's sponsored projects (just realized I haven't much spoken about any of the projects we've visited in detail! Will get on that, promise!). They've donated money and resources to an incredible school run by an incredible woman in a tiny village called Groot Marico, en route to Botswana. Before Santa (no, not THAT Santa) started the school (for children aged 3-5), there was NO early childhood education school or program for children of the village. Now, just yesterday, Santa attended the University graduation of one of her FIRST ten students who started in the late 1980s! Where do you think that girl may have been today without early schooling?

Groot Marico was a magically uplifting place, as the children laughed with us and performed for us, dancing in costumes to the PROFOUNDLY GORGEOUS music of the marimbas, played by local high school boys. I cannot WAIT to share the video! The music is some of the most goose-bump-inducingly-beautiful music I've heard. Frank and I did NOT. WANT. TO. LEAVE. They had to drag us out. And we were still dancing.

After visiting with the children (and learning some of the marimbas!), we went to the Groot Marico Community Art Project. The Project is also run by Santa and it is a place where local residents make beautiful arts, crafts and the like to be sold to raise money to sustain the village. Santa, incredibly grateful to the Rotarians for keeping her school alive, was excited to treat us to a traditional (and delicious) breakfast. It consisted of pap (spelling? anyway, a sort of thick porridge made of homegrown grains), worst (big, delicious sausage), and a sort of tomato/onion/something-delicious sauce to drench the pap with. Honestly, it doesn't sound that great and I was a bit put off by the pap (I hate oatmeal or ANYTHING soggy), but I tried it. and LOVED IT. GOT SECONDS. DELISH.

After breakfast, bought some things at the Art Project store: a striking painting of a woman and these.... somethings I don't know the name of. They're sort of maracas which African dancers tie around their ankles to make sounds while they dance... Not sure how much African dancing I'll be doing (probably a lot after this trip), but they'll make a nice table topper if I decide not to put on my dancing.... feet.  
 
After that brilliant morning, we drove to the Botswana border to meet our next new friends! When the border patrol was checking Nicole's luggage, we all got a GREAT laugh. He picked up her pack of tampons and pored over them carefully. He handled them with apprehension, as though they would explode at the slightest move. "What is this?" he asked. "Uh, tampons," Nicole responded. He still looked uneasy so she continued, "you know... for women... their periods..." He said, "I know..." (he didn't look like he knew!) "I just have to check. Some people try to smuggle drugs in there."

So! We arrived in currently in Botswana's capital of Gaborone (which we've learned should be pronounced Hah-ba-ro-ni. Like macaroni, but more... African. We went to Rotarian Gary's beautiful, secluded home in "the bush" for lunch... and it's SERIOUSLY in the bushes! We drove on a dirt road for....ever... and it didn't look like there was a home in sight. We finally arrived at his tucked away retreat, though, and were immediately welcomed by a  peaceful, relaxed vibe. All of my team members and I agreed that we could definitely spend an extended period of time here (don't worry family and best friends, I won't move...I don't think...)

After some much-needed R&R (we've been non-stop ever day since we landed!), we went to meet some more Rotarians from the club and I went back with my host, Sandra and met her husband and brother and they are seriously wonderful, funny people and we had a brilliant dinner and then cheese plate (to.die.for.) and then bananas foster dessert at their home and and aaand annnddd AAAAAAAAAAAAAND(!!!) I've decided that Rotary has done an impeccable job of selecting the world's most awesome humans as it's members. The end. 
Sue Wheeler
4/15/2010 09:31:25 am

OK - you're a very good writer. How clever of you to figure out that Rotarians are awesome. Have John read you the four-way test. We all subscribe to it and I think (and hope) it makes us better people. I also cannot wait for the SA team to get here so we can show them some of our American hospitality as you are enjoying the SA folks'. How can you upload to the blog without a computer, she asked having no clue....
Keep up the good work!
Sue (Frank's friend)

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    Meet Jaime

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    Jaime C. Randle: Born in Jamaica, raised in New York, lives in Connecticut suburb of New Fairfield (50 mi/80km from New York City).  
     
    Education: B.A. in Psychology from The University of Connecticut on a full scholarship. 
    Post-grad, Jaime lived for a year in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, where she researched and traveled.

    Work: Insurance and Risk management Specialist for Asset Security, Inc., her family's insurance agency. Helps individuals, families and businesses protect their most valued assets.      

    Play: writing, playing/watching sports, entertainment and culture in New York City, movies and music, theater, traveling, volunteering, quality time with family, fun with friends, new adventures & old world charm.

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