Go Zebras!

Today is Saturday – I was a bit at a loss about what to do with myself today since my advisor left yesterday afternoon to return to the US and I don’t have anything on my agenda until Monday morning when I will go to the hospice again.  I slept in until about 10am and then took a leisurely shower (as leisurely as it can get in our tub with no shower curtain and the shower head that you have to hold on to the entire time).  I needed to get out of the house, so I decided to walk down to the “other” shopping center (three blocks in the opposite direction from the River Walk mall where I have been going every day).  The other shopping center turned out to be a much cheaper supermarket called “Choppies” and a gas station.   Along the way I discovered a few interesting things, including a museum (I think it’s the natural history museum), a very modern looking gym called "Gym Active", and a cinema that didn’t look like it is in working order.  I love the names of things here - there is no avoiding the point: the cheap groceries are at Choppies and the gym is Gym Active.

On the walk back home I took a different route and saw the Holy Cross Hospice preschool and an art workshop/gallery.  I got back home with my bag of groceries and decided that I would go nuts if I spent the rest of the day indoors, so after a quick bite to eat I headed out again to River Walk.  I took my time and examined all of the shops this time, stopping in the Orange cell phone store to ask how to check my balance and see whether I would be able to use my US Android phone in Botswana (the answer being decidedly no).

After a stroll around the mall and poking around in some of the clothing stores to look for slippers (the one thing I really regret not bringing since the floors are cold and everything - including my feet - is covered in a fine layer of the red dust that makes up the landscape here) I headed to the bar/restaurant Linga Longo for a local St. Louis beer.  St. Louis turned out to be a pretty mediocre lager – it wasn’t terrible but I can see why they don’t export it to the US.  Nevertheless I ordered a second one and before I knew it the bar was filling up with football (soccer) fans – there was a Botswana (Zebras) vs. South Africa (Bafana Bafana) game on!

St. Louis - Botswana style

It was super fun to see people crowding around and watching, and the whole bar erupted into cheers followed by song when Botswana scored.  A little while after the Zebras scored I was having a hard time seeing the screen due to the overcrowding and I thought I should head home . . . but not before stopping at the liquor store I had just discovered!  I bought a small bottle of Amarula (cream-based liqueur made with Marula fruit) and a bottle of South African wine recommended by the guy working there.  I asked him what kind of wine he drinks and he pointed to a 42 Pula (~$6USD) bottle from South Africa, and dissuaded me from buying the 100 Pula bottle I was eyeing – way too expensive for him, he said!  I have yet to try either of my liquor store purchases but I will be sure to report on them when I do.

Watching the Zebras play @ Linga Longo

The soccer game ended after I got home, but the score was 1-1 in the end.  I'll have to make a note of when the Zebras play next so I can keep up on my local sports!