This week my daughter Rosa and I were in full tourist mode in Cape Town. It was a return visit for me, as I was first there in 2016 to visit my daughter Emma while she studied abroad at the University of Cape Town. We stayed in Green Point, put on lots of miles walking along the Atlantic Ocean and loved exploring the City Bowl, Kirstenbosch Gardens, Bokaap, Robben Island, Cape Point, Table Mountain, neighborhood food markets, coffee shops and more. We returned to Gaborone for about 20 hours before flying home to Minneapolis. So many emotions as I walked dusty streets and absorbed Bots sights, sounds and smells one last time. Thoughtful goodbyes exchanged in person and via WhatsApp. One of my favorite taxi drivers, Gifa, shouted friendly greetings as he drove by. Thank you Fulbright, Tess, U.S. Embassy, University of Botswana, and the many Batswana, Zimbabweans and South Africans that welcomed me, helped me and with whom I have forged new friendships and ongoing collaborations. I have a Summary Report and lesson plans to finish in the coming weeks to meet Fulbright requirements and will post links to the final products. I certainly experienced all of the stages of cultural adaptation since my arrival in January, but now that my fellowship has come to an end, I tear up when I think of saying goodbye to beautiful Botswana and this impactful Fulbright experience. Most photos taken by Rosa Dunn!
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After our Kasane trip and an overnight in Gabs, on Tuesday we flew to Maun, Botswana's "tourism capital" and access point for the Okavango Delta. Something in the water or food hit both of our digestive tracts hard. First Rosa and then I spent some miserable hours at our tented safari camp with an outdoor toilet. After taking antibiotics (and switching to a hotel with an indoor toilet) by Thursday we were literally on the "up and up" and felt good enough to explore Maun and take a 12-seater MackAir scenic flight over the Delta. Botswana is having a drought year, so the Delta is drier than usual, but still a gorgeous landscape from above. We were able to spot elephants, hippos, giraffes, buffalo, zebras and impalas from the plane, piloted by a female bush pilot! Yay! On Friday we took a day trip into the Delta by mokoro canoe. These dugout canoes were traditionally made by hollowing out a straight tree (today they are fiberglass) and are propelled by a standing poler. All polers are represented by the Okavango Kopano Mokoro Community Trust (OKMCT), which sets their daily pay rates. Our poler MD also served as our expert guide through the Delta and on a three hour island bush walk. Between Kasane and Maun we have been fortunate to see Botswana's wildlife from a boat, a safari vehicle, an airplane and the ground.
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About MeA 9th grade AP Human Geography and Global Studies teacher at Stillwater Area High School in Stillwater, Minnesota, USA, living and learning in Gaborone, Botswana from January to June 2019 as a Fulbright Teacher. Archives
June 2019
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