Dumela Botswana!

Dumela is a popular greeting in Botswana. I have been back in Cape Town for a few days now and already missing Gaborone. My short week in Botswana was condensed with warmth, inspiration, and information. I got to meet some amazing people like the Dean of UPenn, Dean of University of Washington, WHO counselors on HIV, UCSF professors, and Botswana midwives to name a few. The presentations were so informative that at the end of the day my mind would be absolutely drenched from thinking so much. Part of it was because the presentations were so thought provoking. I could tell that I wasn’t the only person processing all the information I was presented to daily and forming opinions, questions, and suggestions for all of them. I flew out of Gaborone more inspired than ever and my interest in women’s health issues has been reassured more than ever. During that week we stayed with Professor KD from the University of Botswana. The feeling of being driven around in a BMW and spending the nights in her four bedroom mansion in such a rural area of the world was unique. She seemed like she had worked hard for what she had though so that alleviated the awkward and guilty way I was feeling a bit. Most of the Botswana professors had received at least some part of their training in the U.S. It was one of the few times I felt good about America and its international influence as providing higher education opportunities to the developing world. Those women were truly making a difference in national and international levels and I learned a lot from their strength. I was also lucky enough to meet the former president of Botswana who stepped down in April. From the little bit of information I got from him I learned that he had been a gender equality activist during his term. He was still very outspoken about the power of women and his opposition to gender based violence. I guess something else I liked about President Mogae was that he was very modest when I met him and I didn’t feel like I was shaking a powerful and unreachable figure’s hand but that I was getting acquainted with a colleague. Even though he had flown from Uganda only a few hours before, he had openly accepted the gala dinner’s invitation and didn’t fail to have a good time on the dance floor. I also got a tour of the hospital and the obstetrics ward. Along the way I randomly met Dr. Ryan Phelps, a physician from Baylor working at a Baylor-Botswana HIV/AIDS Children’s Clinic. I was excited to see so much international cooperation. I also saw a Harvard Clinic. Not sure exactly what they specialized in.

After deciding to become an OB/GYN and a gender equality activist and being back in Cape Town I decided to do something I have always wanted to but have never been brave enough to do it. I figured that it was time I faced my fears and that it would make me feel that I could achieve anything. So I jumped off a plane… Ok maybe there are other ways I could have proven to myself that I could do anything I put set my mind on but the adrenaline rush of skydiving was thrilling. Coming down I got a glance of the beautiful view of Cape Town and saw whales and dolphins in the ocean. I have now ticked skydiving off of my list of “things I have to do before I die.”

Dr. Campbell, my U.S. mentor has been in Cape Town for the past week. I feel like I have gotten more done on the research this week than any other week we have been here. I was really upset about not having a clear plan for things and the thought of not being able to finish the project was really making me frustrated. I think that had to do with the fact that no one had formally met with us about the project and with a bit of Dr. Campbell’s supervision I am more hopeful and happy about our performance. We met with Naeema and Shaanaz, renowned researchers in the field of gender issues at the Medical Research Council. It was great to get a brief overview of some of the projects they are running and I hope to be able to stay in touch with them. We are having dinner with them tomorrow night.

Yesterday was an exciting day also. For the first time I got to take part in an NGO decision making meeting. The “One Man Can” project is funded by the Ford Foundation with the purpose of getting across the message of gender based violence prevention. The main setting for the conveyance of the message will be 2010 World Cup. They are planning to work closely with FIFA in order to use soccer coaches and players to become advocates for this cause. I couldn’t believe that an organization was given a large sum of money to capture the audience’s attention at such a venue but I guess anything would work. I think if I had to choose an audience I would direct my efforts to township residents and people who wouldn’t be able to afford a World Cup game ticket. It’ll be interesting to see how those efforts turn out.

Among other things, Jennifer and Tondeleyo from Durban are here the next couple of days so we will be sightseeing with them and showing them the beauty of our home, Cape Town.

The picture here is at a weaving place in Botswana. I loved the women there!