Tryouts

Thank goodness for Liqui Fruit. On a campus where fresh fruit is a rare species and vegetables are served with teaspoons at the cafeteria, I find myself wanting for a major food group. Enter...the greatest beverage ever! Conveniently canned, no sugar added, no preservatives, pure fruit juice deliciousness. Available in several mouth watering flavors. On another health note, yesterday I experienced my first “gym class” in Botswana. Volleyball began with 4 laps around the court and stretches out of an 80's workout video. Several girls were wearing sandals and skirts. Hmm. Perhaps first day ill-preparedness? Gymnastics was much of the same, except the lap count was extended and half the class hid in the corner after tiring on the 6^th lap. However, there is something about “common misery” and group activities that helps to break the ice: I met at least 30 friendly and exuberant students. On a similar quest to establish more contacts, I joined up with the UB aquatic squad and the UB choir. I'm an inefficient sinker and I can't hold much of a tune, but thought the experience would be worthwhile. The Aquatic squad has yet to hold a practice, but I attended a choir session just this evening. Prudent advice: If not musically gifted, don't stand in between the alto and soprano sections. You will end up not being able to sing either part. The pieces are all in Setswana, which will prove frustrating at first but hopefully I'll adapt faster to the language by learning through music. Do re mi fa so la ti...

Student tip: Before forking out hundreds of Pula for textbooks, check the university library for earlier editions of the recommended reading. Books can be checked out for a month, and then renewed twice. If you reach the stacks before your fellow students you can basically secure a textbook for the entire term and keep some bills in your pocket.

Cultural note: By far my favourite expression used in Botswana remains “Isn't it?”. Used extensively by everyone, particularly lecturers after stating any significant point. I counted during Plant Pathology this morning and noted eight uses of the expression during a short hour long class. “The major concern of Plant Pathologists is the health and productivity of economic plants...isn't it?...yeeesss.”