On my 78th Day in Botswana, Modimo (God in Setswana) said Let there be rain...and rain it did! I was squished like a sardine in the back of a crowded Mogodisthane Route 10 combi last night, as per every weekday evening, when we passed by Pula Spar and the rain started to come down. It wasn't anything to dramatic, but it was exciting nonetheless. It rained again this morning for about 15 minutes. Not sure what this rainy season is going to entail..but its a nice break from the 90 degree heat I've gotten used to the past two weeks.
This week has been pretty ordinary in terms of life in Gabs goes. Writing papers, going to the clinic, taking the combi, etc. However, on Wednesday Kelsey, Alicia, and I had the "pleasure" oh accompanying our Environmental Health professor to the Gaborone Chicken Slaughterhouse. Thats right folks, where they somewhat manually kill, defeather, "clean", and package 6000 chickens per day. Only the pictures can do this visit justice. Although Kelsey was lovin it, Alicia and the vegetarian in me weren't to thrilled. Clad in our white rainboots and lab coats, We eased our way into the tour, going from the end of the process to the beginning. It didn't really get too disgusting until we went in the room where intestines will pouring through shoots from the previous room. As Dr. Letsholo explained, there is no waste when it comes to chickens. They eat it all-- feet, heads, intestines, hearts, even lungs! The worst part by far was when we went outside and saw the blood-stained chickens hanging by their feet on a conveyor belt. Some were writhing around not quite dead yet. Appparently it takes some chickens longer than others to die after having their neck manually slit by a huge machete. Fun times!! My professor got too close and got blood splattered all over his clothing...lovely!
I'm hoping to go back to Mochudi this weekend to visit my host family and pick up my skirt. The problem is I don't have my mom's phone number because my phone got stolen. I don't think I mentioned that little detail earlier either...On the way to the ARV (antiretroviral treatment) clinic one morning, someone at the station opened up my bag and took my phone. Its only 200 pula down the drain...definitely could have been worse! When I told the social worker at the clinic about my story, she simply replied, "Welcome to Botswana!"
Look out for my next post about my vacation to South Africa!!! It should be a fun one :)
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