Early this week I met with two UB Population Studies professors about my Inquiry Project, journeyed to Gabane with Tebatso to meet with Gloria at Nare Sereto Junior Secondary School about our plans for World ICT Day, interviewed Babedi of Botswana Youth Talent Expo and finally received a 90-day extension on my tourist visa. This process began March 22, involved compiling lots of required documentation, multiple trips to two different immigration offices on opposite sides of Gabs, several hours waiting in queues and offices and significant intervention on my behalf by Human Resources Assistant Mr. Osupile at UB. So, now that I have the piece of paper I can legally exit and enter Botswana for a few more months.
It’s astonishing how much time, effort and stress have gone in to procuring three pieces of paper that have had a huge impact on my life here: research permit (which I have been asked to show ONCE), letter of permission to visit schools from the Ministry of Education and the visa extension. On Thursday, visa extension in hand, I caught the Flight Connect bus from Riverwalk Mall near my apartment to the bus terminal at O.R. Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg. It’s a six hour trip, with a clunky process at the border crossing. Get out of the bus, go through Botswana passport control, declare laptop at customs, walk across the border, go through South Africa passport control, pick up luggage from bus, have luggage scanned, present customs declaration for laptop, present passport one more time, back on the bus. On the way back in to Botswana you are required to wipe your shoes on a mat treated with disinfectant to reduce the spread of foot and mouth disease. The bus hostess pleasantly informed us that if for some reason we were not able to clear immigration at the border they would have no other choice than to leave us there. Comforting! The Johannesburg metropolitan area has roughly the same population as New York City proper (~8 million people). Joburg’s reputation for grit and crime persists, but today it’s a vibrant, high-energy city with a compelling history and lots to see and do. I spent three nights in Maboneng Precinct, a day in Soweto and a day exploring inner city Johannesburg. Too short!
1 Comment
Nancy Bader
5/8/2019 06:32:57 am
So interesting to follow your journey, Sara! Enjoy your last month traveling, learning, and experiencing Africa.
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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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