Miss Post-it Goes Global

Harsh cold reality on a warm sandy beach

When I arrived in January, I was shocked by the environment and uncomfortable with the changes that I would have to make to become acclimated to a completely new culture. I am now living in a very different reality; one that I am just realizing will be very difficult to leave. In fact, I tempt myself by visiting the airline website and playing with later flight options. Could I get away with missing May in California and Illinois to see Mozambique, Namibia, Lesotho and Swaziland? What if I flew to Ghana and spent three weeks there? Should I return to Cape Town? Obviously, I am going to get on my scheduled flight at the scheduled time and attempt not to look back. The truth, though, is that it will be incredibly painful.

April has passed quickly and I scare myself on a daily basis by flipping through my day planner and realizing that the days here are numbered. I am ashamed to admit that I have been too busy living to write about my activities; however, I am glad to finally have the opportunity to sit down and recount my last few weeks. If I could put April into three words, they would be the following: stress, relief and sadness. It has been stressful trying to complete so many assignments while also trying to hold onto every last experience here. Having the opportunities to travel outside of Botswana and see different cities in Southern Africa has been relieving. Lastly, the upcoming end to this amazing semester brings with it much sadness.

South Africa is an incredibly beautiful country, and one that I have been fortunate enough to explore over the past few weeks. My “SA” adventures began Easter weekend with a trip to Durban, a coastal city along the Indian Ocean. Three friends and I enjoyed a relaxing weekend of nature, shopping, seafood and culture. It was a nice escape from Gabs and a prime opportunity to dip our toes in the IO. Some of our stops included an outdoor market in a local public park, uShaka Marine World (home of the Wreck Aquarium) and the Durban Botanic Gardens. Please enjoy the small collection of photos that are posted above!

Most recently, I had the opportunity to explore the beautiful city of Cape Town this past weekend. Not only was I able to see some of the most incredible creations on earth, I spent the weekend with the greatest of them all: my momma. After spending 38+ hours in transit, my mom arrived in Cape Town to ensure that I saw all that the city has to offer. We spent both Saturday and Sunday in sprint mode, cramming in more than ten destinations in less than 48 hours. Of course, we also enjoyed some amazing food, shopping and conversation. Cape Town is undoubtedly the most beautiful city I have ever had the pleasure of visiting, and I highly recommend planning a trip to see it. (And, hey, if you happen to have an extra ticket, I will always be available to be your personal tour guide! I will even consider obtaining professional training.)

I have also included some pictures from Cape Town—again, enjoy!

Now that I have returned to this current state of reality, I am busy working on the last few assignments and errands before packing and saying goodbye to Botswana. While I was truly swamped by assignments, I barely stopped to realize just how quickly the days were passing. If I have one piece of advice for anyone who studies abroad, I recommend trying to be present in every moment and to refrain from wishing away time. As a very wise person told me before I left, lean into the uncomfortable moments and grow from the experience. I only wish that I had put this advice to full use long before April 25^th.

I will end this post with the following declaration: growing up is not easy. Over the past few days, I have felt a keen sense of sadness. I constantly think of the quote that goes something like this: “Don’t cry because it’s over. Smile because it happened.” Whoever first uttered those words missed one thing: there is quite a bit of adjustment to be experienced between crying and smiling. It is not easy to simply step back and be happy that something happened, especially when all you want to do is stall the experience and relive it again and again. I wish that being twenty could last forever, or at least I wish that I could stay in this reality for just a bit longer.

I may be days away from the United States, but mentally, I am not even close. 

Mochudi, Men and Mysterious Illnesses

Number of hours I spent sleeping last week: at least 75

Number of Powerades I had to drink: 10+

Number of mediocre (well, downright awful) papers I produced: 1

After escaping and eluding so many bugs, viruses and vicious little mosquitoes, I finally succumbed to illness this past week. I still don’t know what was wrong, but my body gave out and I was forced to slow down. Slow way down. Actually, I just lived in a fog for seven days and could not process much—especially not the things that were going on around me. Therefore, I must use this mysterious illness (I am still waiting on the results of the blood tests!) as my excuse for not posting an update on my life for the past two or so weeks. With that, I apologize for keeping all of my faithful readers in the dark as to my various activities here in Botswana.

Due to the fact that the last update included pictures from a trip that occurred in early March, I must rewind to mid-March to explain my weekend in Mochudi—the weekend I became a part of another incredible family. As if carrying the Beckman name around wasn’t already enough of a pleasure, I was recently dubbed Keitumetse Ratsatsi. In Setwana, Keitumetse means, “I am happy.” This makes complete sense to my mom, who often refers to me as “happy child.” It’s a rare moment when I am not wearing a smile and thinking about how thankful I am for the life that I lead.

Mochudi is a large village located approximately 35 kilometers away from Gabs (that’s roughly 22 miles). Consisting of several thousand people and an array of different socioeconomic situations, Mochudi is vibrant, beautiful and a nice escape from Gabs. The rapid urbanization of Botswana has turned Gabs into a city that can feel cold (not literally—it’s actually quite warm here!), harsh and impersonal. Escaping to Mochudi was an opportunity to learn about life in Botswana away from a large city. And an escape it was!

The weekend began on a Friday afternoon during which we were introduced to our host families and whisked away to their homes. I was greeted by my 22 year-old host brother and taken back to the family’s lovely home to meet my grandmother (Nkuku, in Setswana), sister, auntie, nephew and another brother. I felt my discomfort ease as Nkuku pulled me into an embrace and immediately started referring to me as “my baby.” I was indeed her baby, and I felt blessed to have been invited into a family mere minutes after arriving on their doorstep.

Apparently, I entered Mochudi with “Single and Available” stamped across my forehead. I was proposed to three times alone on Friday afternoon. After trying to explain how I enjoyed being an independent woman, have an education and career to focus on, etc., I had had enough. Enter Mark, my 26 year-old boyfriend (fiancé, actually!) who doubles as both an artist and a doctor. (He likes to be creative in his spare time.) Mark and I have been dating for two years and we are going to become engaged right when I graduate from college next May. Or, at least, that’s what several men in Mochudi think. It’s a good thing that I am quick on my feet. In case any of you ladies are wondering, Mark is tall with dark hair and gorgeous blue eyes. It’s amazing how you can paint whatever picture you want when you are desperate to come up with a reason NOT to get married at 20. ;)

It is difficult to remember everything that we did. Between Friday afternoon and Monday morning, I met over fifteen members of the extended family along with several neighbors and friends. Easily blending as a member of the Ratsatsi family, I spent time with my nieces and in-laws who had come from Gabs just to meet the newest addition to the family. A highlight of the weekend was sharing ice cream with my nieces (aged from 9 to 18) and answering their questions about life in the United States. The best question came from Mimi, my 18 year-old niece, who inquired about how American women respond to break-ups. Her exact words: “Is it true that women in the U.S. sit around and eat ice cream all day when they break up with their boyfriends?” I quickly assured her that while some women choose to immediately start a new relationship with Ben and Jerry, most deal with their emotional complications in other ways.

During the weekend, I was given a traditional dress to wear and bring home with me. As my sister mentioned that she had spent a great deal of time trying to determine what to give me, I was overwhelmed by the amount of love and care that had been devoted to my short visit. Boitumelo mentioned that her friend had sewed the dress by hand, and I have a sneaking suspicion that she completed the project within a day—the dress fits exactly right in every place. I have included a picture of my first appearance in this beautiful gift, as well as a picture with my wonderful sister.

Sunday brought with it the longest church service I have ever attended. Four hours after we entered the church, Nkuku and I emerged to face our last full day together. I have been truly relaxed at several points during this semester, but I had never relaxed like I did on the porch that afternoon. Armed with a book and delicious ice pops, I sat there and read for at least three hours. I was only interrupted to run down to the tuck shop with my nephew to buy more ice pops. As I learned more about Jane’s first weeks at Thornfield and her admiration for Mr. Rochester, I couldn’t help but appreciate those wonderful moments. As has become a common phrase for me here, it was “sheer bliss.” 

Monday came quickly—much faster than I had anticipated upon arriving on Friday afternoon. Heading back into Gabs, reality hit and I was once again preoccupied by the long list of things that needed to be completed that week. It is astounding how quickly one can go from relaxation to panic. At the end of the week, I was once again reminded that everything gets done and always will. A recent devotion mentioned Ecclesiastes 3:1—a verse that is devoted to the timeliness of life. If I were to ever have a verse tattooed on my body, it should probably be this one. More than anything else, it is good to be reminded that everything has its time and I need to stop trying to work things out before their time has come.

I have one of the most incredible families I have ever encountered. Do I say that because they are mine? Perhaps; however, I can’t help but acknowledge the fact that many families do not experience the same joy, unconditional love and sheer gratitude that mine does. Growing up, I don’t think that I ever really stopped to appreciate the precious people by which I am surrounded. Now that I am “growing up” and living away from home, it is difficult not to notice how blessed I am. My cousins are like my siblings. My siblings are my best friends. And my parents—wow, don’t even get me started! Those two are absolutely fantastic. I don’t think that any other pair could shower me with more love, forgiveness, encouragement and pride than my mom and daddy. That being said, I have to admit that I experienced a great deal of love while spending a weekend with my “new” family in Mochudi. They accepted me as their granddaughter, auntie, niece, sister and friend. It is rare to be blessed with two families—for that, I will always be grateful.

At this point, my weekend in Mochudi seems so far away. I am currently caught up in all of the experiences of this past week and of the week to come. On Friday, we had the opportunity to visit the Jwaneng Diamond Mine—the richest diamond mine in the entire world. It was absolutely indescribable. Unfortunately, we were not able to see any real diamonds, but driving into the pit where they are mined was experience enough. After seeing how diamonds are mined and the amount of work that goes into each one, I completely understand why they are so expensive. During the tour, we watched a DeBeers/Jwaneng promotional video (or, at least, that is how it should be regarded) that insinuated that love is not love without a diamond. If/when the time comes, I will be more than happy to receive a single silver band. After all, love cannot really be captured by a stone that came out of the ground…no matter how much DeBeers wants us to believe that.

As I sat down to write this, I glanced at my phone and noticed a text from my sister. The text wasn’t from the incredibly gorgeous, brilliant and loving college student living on the beach in San Diego, but from my hardworking, giving and incredibly loving sister in Mochudi—my Boitumelo. (For the record, I will welcome a text from either sister any day!) She just wanted to check in with me to tell me that she misses and loves me. The blessings continue, and I realize that a weekend will likely turn into a connection for a lifetime. I am definitely going to have to come back to visit, and now, I know exactly where I will be staying.

The weeks continue to fly by here—the official count is 32 days until New York. While I am thrilled that I am almost within a month of being back within the reach of the people who hold my heart, I would be lying if I said that I am not going to miss certain aspects of being here. Will I miss my room in Las Vegas Dorms? Let’s be honest—probably not! However, I will miss so many little things. Without a doubt, this experience has changed who I am. I am still the type-A, go for everything student I was when I left; however, I am noticing that small changes have taken place. I have let several things go, and I am realizing more and more that time is the most valuable currency in the world. The time that one can stop and spend with others is truly invaluable. I hope to take more time to just live when I return. I am learning to enjoy being in the moment, even if the moment is not exactly what I want it to be. Life will continue on once I leave Botswana, but I am interested to watch how I continue on in this life. As the only two on earth who know me inside and out, I am sure that my parents will instantly pick up on the subtle changes.

The Durbs is upon us! This weekend, three friends and I will be setting out to begin our vacation to Durban, South Africa. It is hard to believe that it is already April, and even harder to believe that I will be swimming in the Indian Ocean by this time on Saturday. It will be a nice escape, but I am already anticipating the presence of several notebooks and paper drafts in my beach bag. I am hoping to simultaneously capture a tan and some inspiration for the completion of my research project. If nothing else, Jane Eyre and I will have a fantastic time loading up on our Vitamin D.

I will upload some recent pictures from both Mochudi and the Jwaneng Diamond Mine. Please enjoy and accept my deepest apologies for the lack in communication. I will try to be better this month!

With love,

E  

Please enjoy the selection of pictures posted below. I took over 600 on the trip; I hope to post more in the near future! 

Elephants, Giraffes and Life Lessons, Oh My!

When I would cut myself as a child and need to use a bandage, there was only one rule when it came to removing said bandage: rip it off quickly. Over the past few days, I have been attempting to reflect on my ten days of adventure, challenge, fun and escape during our mid-semester break. Unfortunately, it is difficult to put bandages on problems once you are grown and ripping them off quickly is not an option. Instead, one must process, reflect, contemplate and grow in order to fully experience life. Those ten days taught me to let go and just enjoy the moment—no more bandages, no matter how great they are when Hello Kitty is printed on one side.

We began our journey to northern Botswana bright and early on the last Saturday in February. After landing in Maun, we were driven to Island Safari Lodge—a little piece of paradise situated along a river that leads to the Okavango Delta. Enjoying wonderful meals and a peaceful night of sleep outside in a tent, I was ready to have a break from the dirt, heat and exhaustion of Gabs. I immediately delved into another book and took in each moment, including those in which I met several baboons and (large!) spiders on my way to the outdoor restrooms. In short, it was just the beginning of an amazing adventure.

Sunday brought with it sunshine, 99.8% DEET, and an hour-long boat cruise to the hub at which we would board our mikoros. Essentially, a mikoro is a dug-out canoe that is controlled by a poller—one who stands at the end of the mikoro, keeping its balance and directing it to the desired location. We knew our poller, Paul, was special from the moment that we met him. What he didn’t know was that he was about to hear the greatest hits of R. Kelly and Celine Dion while trying to safely transport us to our home for the next two nights. I certainly hope that Mel and I are not his only impression of American culture or women—if so, I apologize for my off-key renditions of “The Power of Love” and “It’s All Coming Back to Me Now.”

Our island getaway turned out to be just that! We were situated on a remote island in the Delta for two nights, enjoying long hikes, five-hour siestas and the company of the area’s mosquitoes. Making sure to apply plenty of sunscreen and DEET, I survived my first fake camping experience with flying colors. I refer to it as a “fake” camping experience because we did not pitch our own tents nor cook our own food. Showers were available, but most of us decided to rough it. I am quite certain that society was pleased when we returned to cleanliness days later in Maun.

I learned a fantastic lesson during our first evening hike. Foolish enough to wear yoga pants into the bush, I suffered through the agony of having stickers from the local plants stick in my pants and dig into my skin for the duration of the walk. What did Elise Beckman learn on this particular evening? Well, folks, yoga pants belong in the gym, NOT in the bush. The pain was worth it, however, as we captured pictures of the beautiful landscape and breathtaking sunset. The next walk brought even more opportunities for capturing pictures of the local wildlife—zebras, elephants, giraffes, buffalos, and of course, warthogs. It truly is an incredible feeling to walk among some of the world’s most gorgeous animals!

Our journey continued as we boarded our mikoros and headed back to Maun. Upon arrival, we discovered that the Lodge had sold out of camping space. Their solution: allow us to stay in chalets for the evening at no additional charge. My reaction: Halleluia. Praise the Lord. Amen. As we hadn’t seen showers for three days, the opportunity to stand under a rain shower in a spacious bathroom was just what our minds (and hair!) needed. I enjoyed another peaceful night of sleep, but this time, it was in a bed adorned with fresh flowers and several large pillows.

We said goodbye to Maun on Tuesday and boarded safari trucks to begin our four-day camping and game drive excursion. It is difficult to detail all that we saw and did over those four days, but I also know that I will remember them for the rest of my life. Our first day of driving lasted for ten hours during which time we had the opportunity to encounter elephants, giraffes, mosquitoes and the threatening rays of the sun. For the girl who usually protests sitting in a car for longer than 30 minutes, I was surprised at how much carsickness I didn’t suffer from. Then again, when you’re looking at some of the world’s most incredible animals and driving through a national park in Botswana, it is very difficult to think about getting sick.

We arrived at our camping site later that afternoon, enjoyed a wonderful dinner, and went to bed. The next three days followed the same form: get up early (6:00 a.m. at the latest—those were the mornings on which we were allowed to “sleep in”), eat breakfast, go on a ten to twelve hour game drive, experience the incredible beauty that Africa has to offer, arrive at a new campsite, eat and sleep. It was during this time that I learned something about myself: I like to be just a little bit dirty. For the record, that was not meant as an open invitation to throw mud at me or to invite me on your family’s annual camping trip. What I’m really saying is that there is a freedom in not showering for four days, in wearing absolutely no makeup, in becoming “one with nature” and in learning to relax and let things go. Yes, I just said that.

Saturday morning arrived quickly and we went our separate ways for the remainder of the weekend. My group, consisting of Melissa, Emily, Kayla and myself, headed to the Thebe River Lodge for much-needed showers, pizza and siestas. Following one of the best nights of sleep I have had this semester, we awoke to face our next adventure: entering Zimbabwe and visiting Victoria Falls.

The way that I phrased that last sentence makes it sound as though we walked across the border, wrestled with border authorities, and arrived at Vic Falls with stories to tell and scars to go with them. In reality, we were escorted to the Falls by a wonderful tour company. Our driver managed our entry into Zimbabwe and we enjoyed an easy drive to the entrance of the Falls. Once there, we parted with another thirty dollars (I hadn’t used those in a while!) and entered one of the wonders of the world.

Two hours later, we left the main gate of the Falls soaking wet and with some of the most incredible pictures my little Canon has ever had the pleasure of processing. Victoria Falls is the most beautiful place I have ever visited, and I highly recommend that everyone visit at least once. The Main Falls are spectacular, and I found myself staring wide-eyed at each new stop along the trail. At one point, we had the opportunity to walk onto a part of the trail that no longer provided barriers or protection. It was unbelievable to be that close to the edge of a 350-foot drop. Even though we emerged looking as though we had decided to take an ill-advised swim in our clothes, the visit to Vic Falls was worth every minute spent wringing out clothing over the toilet in a local restroom.

For a moment, we need to recap. These are the words that I used to describe Vic Falls: incredible, beautiful, spectacular, unbelievable, worth every minute. Now is a good time for you to start looking at plane tickets. Our already amazing day continued as we dined at the Victoria Falls Hotel for lunch. Dating back to 1904, the Hotel is situated in the Edwardian era and features a view of the bridge that connects Zimbabwe and Zambia across the Falls. I tried crocodile meat for the first time, and enjoyed the homemade butterscotch ice cream. We left the Hotel and visited a market, haggled a bit, and then started the journey back into Bots.

At the end of the day, I left with a renewed sense of beauty, a smile on my face, and a Zimbabwean visa in my passport (which, by all standards, should be considered really awesome). We spent the rest of the evening enjoying the company of the Maun Hogs, a cricket team that was visiting Kasane for a tournament. They were nice enough to buy us dinner, and we heard some hilarious stories about their weekend “adventures.” We had a great time getting to know them, and it was a nice memory to have as we struggled through the following treacherous day that can otherwise be referred to as “Monday.”

Monday arrived with a startling 4:00 a.m. start—the first of our many struggles on the way back to Gabs. I think that returning from any vacation is difficult, but especially when one must return via the bus system here in Bots. Arriving at the bus station at 5:00, we were immediately (and I do mean immediately!) pushed onto a waiting bus that was headed for Francistown. Six hot, sweaty and horribly uncomfortable hours later, we arrived in Francistown only to board another bus to Gabs. We arrived in Gabs at 5:30 p.m., white-knuckled our way through one of the most excruciating cab rides to date, and finally arrived back on campus—dirty, but thankful to be out of moving vehicles for the first time in almost thirteen hours. After pizza and a hot shower, we were back to our normal selves. Although, I do have to admit that I am still recovering from vacation mode. (Those five-hour siestas are certainly missed!) 

Back on campus, I am currently working on conducting research for my final project and Senior Thesis, as well as investigating medical waste management practices within hospitals and clinics in Bots. March is proving to be a busy month, as I have many projects, papers and applications to complete. The light at the end of the tunnel is Durban—our “girls weekend away” for the Easter break. We are hoping to soak up some South African sun and enjoy a dip in the Indian Ocean. For now, though, I am focusing on the tasks at hand.

Wherever your journeys in life may lead you, I hope that you will have the opportunity to spend some time in Africa. It is nearly impossible to describe in adequate detail the vast amount of beauty that exists here; I have obtained countless mental images since arriving in January. Better than anything else, though, is the opportunity and urge to disconnect from being a busy American and take time to appreciate the culture and landscape that constantly surrounds me. I used to think that I would return and go back to being the same person I was when I left; I now realize that this is not even a remote possibility…and that is something that I cherish.

Until the next update,

Elise