Fashion faux pas

According to Wikipedia, a fashion faux pas is defined as 'an unfortunate error in fashion etiquette.' With the weather getting cooler (some nights it gets below 50 degrees Fahrenheit), the fashion scene in Gaborone is definitely changing. However, it seems that I am the one who has been committing the most offending fashion faux pas recently.

First, I broke out some of my long-sleeved shirts to wear to work. One day, I arrived wearing a bright orange one (which happens to be one of my favorites). Upon entering the office, I was informed that bright orange is the color of the opposition party and that people likely think that, by wearing this shirt, I am making a statement against the President.

Next, I often wear short socks with my Keen (sandal-like) shoes while I walk to work. It is miraculous how a simple pair of socks can prevent sand and rocks from entering the shoes. During the summer, I took the socks off when I arrived at work-- because even I know that socks and sandal-type shoes are NOT okay. But, with the cooler weather, it seems I have failed to remove my socks in a timely manner and a male coworker informed me that this was... as I already stated NOT okay.

Finally, my worst offense seems to be parading around with 'clothes pegs' on my person. In order to make it easier to take big steps during my walk to work, I used clothes pins (aka clothes pegs) to raise the hemline of one of my long skirts to just below my knees. When I arrived at work, I pinned the clothes pins to the straps of my backpack. Seeing the clothes pins on my backpack, one of my co-workers asked what the pins were for. I told her that I had used them to pin up my skirt during my walk to work. Her jaw dropped (literally) and she and all of the other people in the office began an exasperated flow of conversation in Setswana punctuated my the word pegs (aka pins). They asked if the pegs were EXPOSED during my walk and if anyone SAW them. I explained that by pinning up my skirt I was able to take longer, more comfortable steps and that YES, people had likely seen the pegs. My co-workers were shocked. I had to leave the office- but they were STILL talking about it when I left. So, note to self: don't wear pegs on your clothing.

I didn't, however, remove the clothes pins from my backpack and I continue to get questions and comments about them from strangers and acquaintances alike. It occurred to me that the clothes pins might symbolize something that I was unaware of- maybe, by sporting these pegs, I was projecting to the world that I am possessed by demons or 'available for hire.' But, alas, I've asked around about this and it seems that the only offense I make by having the pegs on my person is a simple fashion faux pas.

Check this out on YouTube or iTunes

My family sent me this link to a fantastic (short) presentation:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KVhWqwnZ1eM

For those of us in 'low-band-width' locations, you can also download it on iTunes by searching all or part of the title:

Debunking third-world myths with the best stats you've ever seen - Hans Rosling

It's kind of old (2006) but the messages are still relevant.

Happy Easter!

He is risen... He is risen, indeed!

This week I attended two (of the nine) Holy Week services at my church. Even with the blustery, wet weather, people turned out in their fanciest garb including beautiful African dresses, saris and springy western Easter apparel (which is funny because the season is fall here). I hope you are enjoying a lovely Easter weekend!

Blessings,

Katie

Those crazy Americans

Usually I blog about things that I find interesting thinking that others will find them interesting, too-- which is very egocentric. One of my blog readers suggested that I blog about things that I do that Batswana think are weird-- or uncouth.

I've come up with a few:

1) Hoarding: There has been some fear that the border-crossings would be impacted because of the current labor strikes. I was discussing this with some co-workers and I told them that I was going to the store to stock up on food and water. They laughed and said that this was 'very American' of me and implied that I was paranoid. Indeed, the food supply has not been interrupted (yet).

2) Talking through my nose: Recently a co-worker asked me to 'say something in American.' When I complied, she said that I sounded nasaly.

3) Drinking too much water: Soon after I arrived from the USA one of my co-workers said something like, "what is it with Americans and water... you guys drink too much of it." He noted that I carried a bottle of water with me wherever I went and I perceived that he thought it was very peculiar, probably hard on the kidneys and completely unnecessary.

4) Rolling in dough: There is a general perception that if you are from the USA you are rich. I am routinely asked by people to give them my shoes, clothes, pens, etc. as if I have an endless supply (this may relate to the [somewhat accurate] hoarding stereotype). Unfortunately, I do not have an endless supply-- but I do plan to leave many of these coveted belongings in Botswana when I leave.

The truth is that I may never know the things that Batswana find 'interesting' about me. I definitely attract a lot of stares and comments/ questions when I am out and about... if only I could read peoples' minds.

Thanks for the blog suggestion!

Trash talk

One of the fun things about living in a country other than the one you've grown up in is that everything is interesting... even garbage. When I first moved to Botswana, I was disgusted by the amount of garbage I saw everywhere. In the USA, I have been known to approach people who I see littering and ask them to properly dispose of what they've thrown on the ground. So, since moving to Botswana, I have had trouble biting my tongue when I routinely see people throwing candy wrappers, banana peels and other rubbish on the ground.



In some areas there is evidence that people try to put garbage in a designated spot. But in others, there is not.



At my house, we do pay for and have garbage service-- theoretically. Sometimes they come and collect our garbage, and sometimes they don't.



Also, there does not appear to be much of a recycling effort here. I used to separate my rubbish, but then I noticed that it was all eventually getting put in the same bin, so I've stopped. (Although I know the newspapers get passed on to someone who uses them for bird bedding).

I need you!

Okay blog readers-- I need you! I am running low on ideas for my blog. I know that when I get back to the USA you will have all kinds of curious questions about my experiences in Botswana and I will wish I had paid more attention to something you are interested in. So, please post your questions and suggestions for me and I'll do my best to blog in response. Thanks, Katie

Welcome back to Africa!

Since my return to Botswana, several inconvenient situations have arisen that, without any commentary from me, have prompted friends to look at me and say, sarcastically, “Welcome back to Africa.” I’m usually not a fan of sarcasm, but in these cases, they gave me a laugh and I think they might make you smile, too.

My co-workers and I found the vehicle we were assigned to drive to Mochudi was dangerously low on fuel. So, we made a bee-line for the petrol station—only to find the petrol station was out of petrol. Thank fully we were able to make it to another petrol station, fuel up and proceed safely to Mochudi.

Welcome back to Africa!

The internet was down on Wednesday leaving me feeling disconnected from the rest of the globe. Thankfully, this off-line time gave me an opportunity to relax and read on a beautiful day and once the internet was up and running again, I discovered I really hadn’t missed anything.

Welcome back to Africa!

Government workers (including boarder authorities) are staging a ‘go slow’ period and are threatening to strike over labor/ pay disputes. This has clogged up the boarders and made everyone a bit uneasy. I don’t know the outcome of this one yet, but previous frustrating circumstances have taught me that everything is going to be okay… I’m just hoping they keep the food trucks from South Africa coming.

Welcome back to Africa!