Maru-a-Pula Program - Maru-a

Maru-a-Pula Program
Intern Guide
2014
Harvard University
Committee on African
Studies
1730 Cambridge Street Room 403 Cambridge MA 02138 617.495.5265 africa.harvard.edu
Welcome to MaP!
Dumelang, new interns! That’s Setswana for “Hello.” We are excited - and a bit nostalgic that you will be teaching at Maru-a-Pula during the summer (or rather, winter, since it’s in the
southern hemisphere). This guidebook is meant to provide you with a sense of what to expect,
and what may or may not work, based on our experiences at MaP. Once you get to Gabs and
settle into life, be sure to make note of what in here was useful or totally off so you can make
it better for future interns.
Good luck!
The 2013 MaP Interns
2
Table of Contents
3
Introduction
Maru-a-Pula Program Overview
Harvard’s relationship with the Maru-a-Pula school
began in 2008, when Daniel Liss ’11, interned at
Maru-a-Pula (MaP) during the summer before his
sophomore year. As a former student of MaP’s
principal, Andrew Taylor (who previously worked
at the Horace Mann School in New York), Daniel
found that he could make an important impact
interning at the school. In collaboration with
Mr. Taylor, Daniel put together a proposal for
an ongoing internship program, through which
Harvard students could teach and tutor at MaP
for eight weeks every summer.
In 2010, Daniel approached the Committee
on African Studies (CAS) about housing the
MaP program within its programming portfolio.
This same year, a generous donor pledged to
support six Harvard MaP interns each summer,
fully-funding their experience. Thus, the summer
of 2011 was the first formal Harvard/Maru-a-Pula
Internship Program. At this point, CAS formalized
the application process, prepared students
through pre-departure activities and built systems
for effective program management, with all
stakeholders: MaP administration and students,
Harvard students, the donor and the College.
The summer of 2014 thus marks the seventh year
of Harvard students’ service at Maru-a-Pula, and
the fourth official MaP Intern cohort. CAS and
MaP look forward to your summer of service, and
building upon the legacy of remarkable interns
before you!
Dec. 2007: MaP Principal, Andrew Taylor, meets
with Harvard Treasurer, James Rothenberg, who
proposes selecting Harvard undergraduates to
serve as Teacher Aides/Interns at MaP
2008: Daniel Liss
2009: Amanda Lu
2010: Noah Hoch & Tian Wang
2011: Sarah Akhtar, Athena Lao, Sarah MacVicar,
Isaiah Peterson, Cerianne Robertson and James
Wood
2012: Samantha Barkowski, Aya Darwazah,
Theresa Gebert, Dichaba McGinty. Hope Ndhlovu
and Ali Slaight
2013: Julia Kee, Daniel Ki, Bhekinkosi Sibanda,
Grace Njunge, Jennifer Kizza, and Alice Hyde
Roles and Expectations
The primary objective of MaP interns is to make
the most significant educational impact possible
with the students at Maru-a-Pula, given each
intern’s particular background and skills. You
were selected by the Committee and the MaP
administration because of what YOU have to
offer to MaP’s students! Each intern will have a
role that capitalizes on his/her specific skillset, but
listed here are the general areas in which MaP
Interns assist.
Interns should make the most of the experience
by getting involved in as many aspects of school
life as possible. The first week will be hectic as you
attempt to figure out your new role, and as faculty
and students learn who you are and where you
can lend your skills. You are encouraged to be
very proactive in pursuing projects at the school
or around Gaborone that you might be interested
in. Eight weeks is not that long!
INDIVIDUAL TUTORING
Interns will often serve as tutors in various subjects,
such as Writing, Math, Literature, Science,
Economics, etc. Upon arriving at MaP, some
teachers will provide lists of students who would
like and/or need help. Sometimes you need to
ask for these lists. Past interns recommend that
you create your own schedule to meet with these
students throughout each class cycle (cycle
lasts 6 days). Other students will seek out interns
themselves, asking to meet regularly, or for onetime help with a certain assignment.
MaP, like many secondary schools in Southern
Africa, is a boarding school; this means that about
100-150 students live on-campus in hostels. These
boarders have prep hours from 7-9pm each
school night. As many interns as possible should
be available in the boarding house common
room from 8-9pm each night to help students with
homework questions or just to hang out with those
who don’t have work. In addition, it is likely that
each of you will have prep duty in your respective
boarding houses for at least one night per week—
4
Introduction
SERVICE-PHYSICAL-ENRICHMENT PROGRAM
the debate club, overhauling the student
newspaper, and spearheading an essay-writing contest. Also, there are extra help sessions
called clinics that interns will often be asked
to help run—last year’s group took over the
math clinic so be prepared to divide these
things up amongst yourselves as necessary.
The co-curricular program at MaP is referred to
as the SPE (Service-Physical-Enrichment) program. When you arrive at Maru-a-Pula, you will
be given a long list of all the SPE organizations
at the school. Read over the list carefully to see
which of the projects look most interesting and
worthwhile to you as soon as possible. Once
you’ve found an activity or activities that interest you, contact the supervising teacher for the
group to ask how you might get involved. You
are welcome to participate in more than one SPE
activity. Keep in mind, however, that the longer
you stay with a program, the more meaningful
your involvement will likely be. Also, make sure
that the SPE activities you choose aren’t on the
same afternoons you’ve agreed to tutor students
in the library! Oftentimes, the younger students
won’t have free blocks during the class day, so
afternoons will be the best time to meet with
them—keep this in mind when you are scheduling your SPEs.
If you decide that you want to start a new
activity, make sure you talk to Brenda Turnball, the Director of SPE—it is imperative that
you get the ball rolling on this as soon as possible! Eight weeks will pass very quickly, and
it’s hard to get a new activity off the ground
in the last few weeks before you leave, as
many of the students will be preparing for exams and will not have much free time. During
the meeting with the SPE teacher you should
brainstorm ways of publi cizing the activity to
students. Finally, be sure to take into consideration whether you would like for the club to
keep running once you’ve left, and how you
might make this happen if that is the case.
Interns are also invited to start their own SPE
activity, individually or in teams. Historically,
the bulk of intern SPE projects have fallen into
the Enrichment category, but interns are encouraged to start Service or Physical/sports
projects. Examples of past intern-led projects
include starting essay writing and SAT math
workshops for Form 5 students, moderating
MaP SCHOLAR MENTORING
Each year, MaP selects approximately ten
“MaP Scholars”, who are students that will
have the opportunity to attend a top American high school for senior year. Selection
Volunteer at Old Naledi
One service activity that past intern groups recommend is volunteering in Old Naledi, one of the poorest parts of
Gaborone’s suburbs, on Saturdays afternoons. The Sanitation Army runs a two-hour daycare for kids of all ages.
Participating in this service will give you the opportunity to experience a different environment and get involved
with a different group of children within the Gaborone community. Most of this volunteering gig will include
playing games and singing songs in Setswana—it’s okay if you don’t really know what’s going on! You can go
as many or as few times as you like, but if you do sign up, please do honor the commitment.
There are several other volunteer projects occurring in Old Naledi as well, including “feeding,” where you help distribute food to individuals and/or their families who cannot provide enough for themselves. This help is often offered to single mothers with many children and very elderly, sick, or disabled people. Another option is “reading,”
where you guide members of Old Naledi’s community through elementary English books to help them learn how
to read and understand English. If they do not understand a certain word – and you do not know how to say it in
Setswana – you may need to get a little creative and use sign language/charades to explain! It is very rewarding
and can be quite fun.
5
Introduction
of MaP Scholars is based upon excellent
exam scores at the end of Form Five (roughly
equivalent to junior year of high school) as
well as demonstrated charisma and leadership potential. Because the Botswana school
year ends in December (remember, it’s in the
southern hemisphere!), this means that MaP
Scholars have a period of time, from January
to when the American school year starts in
September, in which they continue to attend
MaP, but with a special status. MaP Scholars
take some classes and continue extra-curriculars, but they also have to prepare for their
year in United States. This entails SAT prep (as
described more below) and cultural literacy
courses designed to address what to expect
when living and studying at a US boarding
school. The intern group works together to
create fun lesson plans and lead discussions
to address cultural literacy.
TOP ACHIEVERS MENTORING
Starting last year, the MaP community includes a group of twenty students from the
country’s Top Achievers Programme. Top
Achievers are students who previously went
to government (public) schools, and have
been given scholarships to attend MaP. The
Top Achievers Scholarship Programme is a
project through the Botswana Ministry of Education and Skills Development, who sponsors
a select number of students with outstanding academic ability to pursue careers that
are of strategic importance in terms of driving the economic diversification agenda of
Botswana. This initiative is aimed at motivating young people to excel in their studies,
to gain recognition, to realize their potential
and to create a pool of exceptional leaders
for the country over time.
In addition, each intern will work closely with
one or two MaP Scholars as a mentor, helping them through the start of their college
search and application process. Many past
interns found this to be the most rewarding
part of their whole internship experience due
to the personal relationships made with their
mentees.
In the past, the teacher who has a weekly
discussion period with the Top Achievers will
periodically invite the interns to speak on
topics such as the college process, adjusting
to university life, and academics. These tend
to be more informal presentations but it is still
a good idea to think through who will talk
about what beforehand! You’ll also do similar
discussion periods with the two oldest groups
of students, called Sixth Form, as well.
SAT PREP
Another important function of MaP Interns is
assisting students with SAT Prep. While there
will be 1-2 interns whose primary role will be
to prepare and run these after-school classes, it is encouraged that all interns contribute
as needed. If at all possible, bring a couple
of good SAT prep books with practice tests in
them—you’ll find that a lot of the students will
have done nearly all the sections in the prep
books available to you in the library. Coordinate with the other interns to get a good
range of brands and editions. In previous
years, these lessons were held for one-hour
durations, twice a week. Those in charge of
this project will need to take initiative to set
up the class schedules and publicize!
Helping with classes
Not all interns will be expected to help with classes, but some
teachers will reach out to the intern group to ask for volunteer
assistants. If you’re interested in assisting a particular
class, you are encouraged to reach out to the relevant teacher,
and find out if and how you can help.
6
Getting Ready!
Maru-a-Pula Program Checklist
email questions to Maggie Lopes ([email protected]
Pre-Departure
ASAP
ГГ Check and make sure your passport is valid until December 2014.
ГГ If not a US citizen, check Botswana’s visa requirements for your nationality. Contact Harvard Global Support Services with any questions.
ГГ International students (without an SSN only) complete Foreign National
Info Form (FNIF).
ГГ Complete and return to CAS Maru-a-Pula Grant Recipient Form.
ГГ Complete and return to CAS Travel Waiver and Release Form.
ГГ Register for HGHI Student Workshops: Module 3: Health and Safety in the
Global Setting Plus Regional Scenarios on April 11th (dinner provided). Attendance required for MaP Interns.
ГГ Complete and return to CAS Maru-a-Pula Grant Terms and Conditions
Form.
ГГ Book travel to Gaborone. Use Harvard Travel Services website for assistance as needed.
April 2014
ГГ Complete online Health and Safety Orientation before attending in-person HGHI orientation.
ГГ Attend International Health & Safety Orientation session on Saturday, April
26th.
ГГ Attend Maru-a-Pula Internship Program Orientations:
• Thursday, April 1, 7-8pm (dinner provided) – CGIS Knafel K450
• Thursday, April 24, 6-8pm (dinner provided)--CGIS Knafel K450
• Thursday, May 1, 12-2pm (lunch provided) – tbd
May 2014
ГГ Return Health Clearance Form to CAS office by May 6th. Consult with
your doctor about immunizations and other health precautions.
ГГ Register your trip with Harvard Travel Registry. You MUST keep your profile
up-to-date throughout your trip with ANY side trips/changes.
ГГ Register your trip with US Department of State’s Smart Traveler Enrollment
Program (STEP), or home country’s equivalent national travel registry.
In-Country
By August 1,
2014
ГГ Participate in creation and production of Maru-a-Pula Program 2014
video.
ГГ Contribute to Maru-a-Pula Intern Guide updates as assigned.
Post-Program
Fall 2014
ГГ Complete Maru-a-Pula Program Evaluation, to be sent via email.
ГГ Submit a thank you letter to the donor responsible for the funding of the
Maru-a-Pula Program.
ГГ Actively participate in recruiting next summer’s cohort (i.e. help with info
sessions, forwarding marketing materials, etc.).
Summary of Forms to return to CAS: (1) Maru-a-Pula Grant Recipient Form, (2) Travel Waiver and Release Form, (3) Maru-a-Pula Grant Terms and
Conditions Form (available end March), and (4) Health Clearance Form. (5) FNIF Form necessary if international student without SSN.
Getting Ready!
of Botswana, where the
Maru-a-Pula School is
located.
Interns are
free to select their own
travel dates and routing.
However, you are required
to be at Maru-a-Pula on
June 2, 2013 to start your
position; your last official
day with the program is
July 28, 2013. Once you
have booked your travel
arrangements, emailed
these details to the CAS
Program Manager, who
will subsequently be in
touch with MaP to ensure
your arrival arrangements.
Before
departure,
you will be in direct
communication
with
Tlotlego Gaogakwe (TG),
MaP’s Student Exchanges
and Visitors Coordinator. In the past, interns have
found it beneficial to arrive on either the Saturday
or the Sunday prior to the date above—this allows
for some time to adjust to the time zone and to
get some rest before you officially start. Be sure to
check with TG about this before booking flights
however.
As with any experience living and working
overseas, being a MaP Intern requires a great
deal of flexibility as you continuously adjust to life
in Botswana and delve into your work at Marua-Pula School. It is essential that you try to bring
your expectations to the surface before arrival on
campus, to assess what the “lens’’ through which
you will evaluate daily life. Working overseas places
a special responsibility on you as an individual. Not
only do you have a job to do, but you must also
develop the intercultural skills necessary to do it
effectively.
Interns recommend starting your search with such
websites like expedia.com, STAtravel.com, orbitz.
com, cfares.com, and kayak.com. If you get
creative in how you buy your tickets, you can
save hundreds of dollars! For example, consider
booking connecting flights separately instead of
all part of the same trip. This may require you to
pick up and recheck bags, but can still be worth
it!
Naturally, you will have expectations of the MaP
community, and likewise, the MaP community
will have expectations of you. Your students,
colleagues, the principal, the local community
and the donor who made this opportunity possible
will all have expectations of you. People have
invested in you just as you have invested in them.
Always remember that your success as an intern
has not only immediate effects on the students
you will work with, but also long-term effects on the
perception of the Harvard/MaP Intern program.
NOTE: Johannesburg’s O.R. Tambo International Airport is the
air transport hub of Southern Africa and a bustling place! It
is advised to not book connecting flights too close to each
other as it can take around an hour to get through customs
upon arrival.
VISAS & PASSPORTS
MaP Interns will enter Botswana on tourist visas.
When you enter, be sure to tell immigration officials
that you are there to VISIT & TRAVEL – NOT TO
International Travel
Interns are responsible for booking their own
flights to and from Gaborone, the capital city
8
Getting Ready!
WORK! Avoid getting caught up in immigration
interrogation by telling officials you are there to
work, without a visa!
You must have a passport with at least six months
of validity remaining upon the time of entry (i.e.
make sure your passport is valid until December
2013!). U.S. citizens are permitted stays up to 90
days total within a 12-month period without a
visa. Also be sure to have a copy of your yellow
immunization card with you in case you are asked
to present it.
state.gov (note the “https”). Citizens of other
countries should register with their embassy in the
destination country. (Some governments have
centralized registration for their citizens, usually
from a link on the foreign ministry website.)
Physical Health
All Harvard undergraduate students traveling
abroad this summer are required to submit a
Health Clearance Form. This form was included
in your acceptance packet and can be found
on the Harvard Global Support Services website
(http://www.globalsupport.harvard.edu/).
Your
doctor will be able to consult with you on what
vaccinations and/or medications are best
during your stay in Botswana. CAS suggests
that you also check with the Centers for Disease
Control website for Botswana (http://wwwnc.
cdc.gov/travel/destinations/botswana.htm) for
recommendations.
Gaborone is not in a malarial area. However,
areas in the north of the country are malaria
zones, though higher levels are seen during the
summer rainy season (November-March).
In
addition, many neighboring countries are also
malaria zones.
NOTE: If you intend to visit South Africa during your summer, be
advised that you must have at least two blank (unstamped)
visa pages in your passport, each time. These pages are in
addition to the endorsement/amendment pages at the
back of the passport. Otherwise, you may be refused entry
into South Africa, fined, and returned to your point of origin
at your expense.
TRAVEL REGISTRY
Harvard Travel Registry
Once you have booked your flights to Botswana,
you MUST enter this information into the Harvard
Travel Registry (http://www.traveltools.harvard.
edu/index.shtml). You can always amend this
information as necessary, if your plans change.
The Harvard Travel Registry collects travel itineraries
and contact information for Harvard affiliates
traveling abroad. This information allows Global
Support Services to quickly contact travelers in
the event of an emergency (i.e. natural disaster,
civil unrest, etc.), so that they may account for
affected Harvard travelers and provide assistance
to their best of their ability.
NOTE: Although yellow fever is not a disease risk in
Botswana, the government requires some travelers
arriving from or transiting through countries with risk
of yellow fever virus transmission to present proof of
yellow fever vaccination. If you will be traveling to
Botswana from any country other than the United
States or transiting through another country on your
way from the United States, this requirement may
affect you. For specific requirement details, see
Yellow Fever & Malaria Information, by Country.
NOTE:
Through Harvard’s Travel Assistance Program,
International SOS continues to provide the same advice,
assistance, and evacuation services it has provided in the
past, including country-specific medical and security advice,
available at www.internationalsos.com. For reference,
Harvard’s membership number is 11BSGC000038. Please
also see the eligibility criteria at: http://www.globalsupport.
harvard.edu/international_health_safety/isos.shtml.
Finances
Each MaP Intern will receive $4,000 to fund their
experience. This grant is intended to cover an
international flight to/from Gaborone, incidentals
in-country and support personal exploration
of Botswana and the greater Southern African
region. Room and board is provided by Maru-aPula School.
The Committee on African Studies will need certain
information from students, including SSN or TIN, to
process your checks. Given processing time –
which can be a tad lengthy during the spring term
US Embassy Registry
You are also highly encouraged to register your
travel arrangements to Botswana with the US
Embassy, through its Smart Traveler Enrollment
Program (STEP). STEP allows the US government to
help you in cases where their assistance is critical
(e.g. lost passports, arrests, natural disasters, etc.).
U.S. citizens can register at https://travelregistration.
9
Getting Ready!
– you should expect to have your check around
the beginning of April.
TRIP IDEAS & BUDGETS
Johannesburg: $400 to cover B&B accommodation for 2
nights, bus fare from Gaborone to Johannesburg, day
trip with a driver, museum trip, and meals.
Kasane/Victoria Falls: $600 to cover the flight, safari
tent accommodation for 3 nights, meals, visa fees,
game drives& river boat trip, and park entrance fees.
For a more detailed itinerary, email alicehyde@college.
harvard.edu and she can give you the one from 2013.
Cape Town: $600 to cover the flight from Gaborone, 4
nights in a reasonable B&B, transport in city, various
attraction fees, meals. Recommended to do this trip
at the end of the program to allow enough time to take
advantage of all that the city and surrounding region
has to offer.
NOTE: It is recommended by previous interns to
look up the exchange rate before departing to
get a sense of how many Pula (unit of Botswana
currency) $7,000 USD will get you.
It is recommended to take at least $200 in USD with
you, especially if you wish to go to Victoria Falls. In
addition to a $30 visa entry fee (from Zimbabwe),
it is easiest to do transactions in USD, rather than
dealing with Zimbabwean dollars.
The grant also includes the funds to travel within
Southern Africa as well, though how much it will
cover depends on how you travel. There are two
long weekends in July which are good times to
travel. Below are some trips that previous interns
have taken and the relevant costs of said trips.
The school will put you in touch with a travel agent
that they regularly use for visitors—they do a good
job, but you should be very clear from the getgo about your budget and requests. Feel free to
reach out to past interns about trips and planning
them! They’ll be able to give you good information
about where to stay and things to do.
Packing List
CLOTHES
LAYERS LAYERS LAYERS! Although it will be winter
in Botswana during your service, Gaborone is a
temperate climate. It is warm during the day (think
Cambridge spring) though can get genuinely
cold at night (think chilly Cambridge December
night!). While it is impossible to give a verifiable
packing list that fits everyone’s needs and styles,
here are tips from previous interns:
•
Work clothes for during the week—nicer
pants or jeans, blouses or button-up shirts, sweaters.
Each person has their own definition of what work
attire constitutes during this internship, but you
should look presentable and professional for your
students, even if you’re wearing jeans.
• Warm pajamas (It will get very cold at night!)
• 1 or 2 nicer outfits for cultural events, etc.
• 2-3 sweaters/hoodies for layering
• Mid-weight jacket or fleece—Useful for trekking
to the staffroom both in the morning and evening,
10
Getting Ready!
and for staying warm while en route on a game
drive (if you choose to do one). The cold has
definitely taken interns by surprise in the past, and
you’ll be glad you brought the jacket!
• Shoes: 1 pair of sneakers, 1 pair shower shoes/flip
flops, 1-2 pairs professional shoes. (You may even
consider bringing a pair of boots for the colder
days if you have space but know in advance that
shoes will get very dusty from walking around the
school, where sidewalks are sparse.)
• Bathing suit
• Exercise clothes—for helping with Sports SPEs,
jogging, etc
• Headlamp/flashlight—you’ll want one when the
power goes out.
laptop or if you want to print something, you can
use the computers in the library and computer
lab, though they have limited daytime hours of
availability. You can also use the staff computer
room. Some interns prefer to work with a flashdrive,
and use one of these labs.
Whatever computer you use, save your work
often and consider emailing a backup copy of
your work to yourself—you never know when
the power might go off and you might lose what
you’ve done. You should be aware that MaP does
have wireless internet around their campus, but
its speed is variable and it is often not working.
Be prepared to deal with limited internet access
throughout the summer.
NOTE: One exception to the Cambridge spring rule is that you will be
in Botswana during its dry season, and as such, will see very little to no
rain. The only time you might want a rain jacket is if you go to Victoria
Falls, though cheap raingear can also be purchased there.
Adapters
HYGENIC ITEMS
• Shampoo, conditioner, body wash, lotion,
shaving equipment
•
Girls: make sure to bring enough female
hygiene products to last you for eight weeks!
• Of course, if you are tight on volume or weight as
you’re packing, lose the liquids and buy anything
you need in Gaborone. The products may not be
as nice as what you’re used to, but they’re really
cheap too!
ELECTRONICS
Laptop
Most former interns recommend bringing a laptop
with you. It will be helpful while making lesson
plans, and you’ll also want it for free evenings and
weekends to watch a movie or Skype with friends
and family. There is a decent WiFi signal in the staff
room, and a somewhat less reliable signal in parts
of the boarding houses, intern housing annex, and
the library. Keep in mind that it is very difficult to get
your computer fixed while you are in Botswana,
and this is true tenfold if you own a Mac. Just in
case, you should back up your computer before
you leave for Gaborone at the beginning of the
summer, and it probably wouldn’t hurt to bring
your software CDs with you just in case. Also, don’t
forget your charger!
In the event that something does happen to your
11
You will need an adapter. There are two types of
outlets at MaP—some have three flat line holes,
and some have three circular spaces.
The adapter with three flat lines is standard for
both Great Britain and Africa, and as such should
be relatively easy to find in the United States (two
good places to look for converters are Target and
REI). You should definitely get this adapter before
leaving for Botswana. It’s not necessary to purchase
an adapter for the other kind of outlet. On the
off chance that your room in the dorms only has
outlets with the three circular spaces, you should
check with the MaP IT department to see if they
have an extra adapter you can borrow. Here’s a
cheap one from Amazon that will work with almost
all the sockets and plugs you find: http://www.
amazon.com/gp/product/B000YN01X4/ref=oh_
details_o01_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1. It’s generally
a good idea if interns bring a variety between you
so that you’ve got yourselves covered.
Getting Ready!
OTHER
•
A towel & facecloth
•
Copy of your passport, credit card,
insurance card, other ID card (if you have it) to
keep locked in your room at the boarding house.
Leave another copy of these records at home
with your family just in case.
•
A copy of your immunization records
•
Books! (In past years, interns have brought
along 3-4 of their favorite books to share with MaP
students.)
•
A performable skill (You may or may not
have to put this on display at the first assembly…!)
Other useful but not absolutely necessary things:
Small binoculars (for use on game drives—don’t
spend a ton of money on a pair if you don’t have
any, because you can ask your guide to borrow
his or hers if you want to take a quick peek at
a faraway animal), deck of cards, a Frisbee,
Botswana/Southern Africa guidebook
Things to leave at home: Bedclothes/linens
(these will be provided), sleeping bag, things you
wouldn’t want to misplace during your trip, rain
gear
GIFT IDEAS
Converter
You may also need a converter. Sockets in
Botswana run on between 220 to 240 volts,
while they run on between 110 and 120 volts in
the United States and Canada. Because many
people in Botswana need converters for their own
American/European appliances, converters are
readily and cheaply available in-country.
If the only thing you’ll need to plug in (besides
the phone you will purchase in Botswana) is your
computer, you may not need a converter. Macs
have a converter built into the white box on the
charger cord. However, if you wish to bring and
use a hair dryer or curler, you will need both the
adapter and a voltage converter.
Many interns want to bring something to thank
the administrators and students of MaP for their
hospitality. Some recommend taking advantage
of that post-Memorial Day sale, and stocking up
on some “American” items to share with your new
friends and colleagues in Botswana. Lanyards,
keyrings, and other such souvenier things are best.
Camera
•
Camera, memory card and batteries
Interns recommend bringing a large memory
card(s) to hold photos for multiple days/game
drives because you probably won’t bring a laptop
on your trips to transfer them.
12
Working at Maru-a-Pula
MaP is a far cry from the typical school in
Gaborone. MaP iMaP is a far cry from the
typical school in Gaborone. MaP is considered
one of the best schools in Botswana due to the
high academic achievement of its students. By
contrast, government (public) schools are larger
and lack MaP’s great resources, both physical
and human.
Founded in 1972 to serve as a model of non-racial
education in southern Africa, Maru-a-Pula is a
coed, independent day & boarding secondary
school which has gained a reputation as one of
Africa’s premier academic institutions. MaP, like
all Botswana schools, follows the British system of
grade levels; it offers academic preparation for
the Cambridge IGCSE and A-Level examinations
(Forms 1-6 or U.S. Grades 7-12).
The structure of the academic program is quite
different from that of the states. In Forms 1-5,
students are learning material for their IGCSE
exams in a wide range of subjects. After Form 5,
students can decide to continue with the A-level
system at MaP, move to a school with International
Baccalaureate (IB), or…. Form 6 is made up of the
Cambridge A-level program. This is two years long,
and consists of two sets of exams: AS (taken at the
end of the first year) and A2 (taken at the end
of the second). In the first year, most students will
take four subjects that correlate to their academic
interests and what they want to study at university.
After AS exams, most students drop one subject
and continue on with three
in their second year. Some
universities accept students
after AS levels, but most
schools in the US require
students to finish both years
before enrolling.
•
Tlotlego Gaogakwe—also know as TG, he
coordinates school visitors and is your go-to guy
for most things
•
Ruwayda Khan—teaches English and is
head of a year of younger students.
•
Judy Brown—she is head of the staff, and
can point you in the right direction if you need to
track down other staff members
• Sally Jobson—college counselor. She
can help you find resources and give you MaP
specific information about the college process for
students, past and present.
•
Pete Vernon—history teacher, he’s an
American at MaP teaching. He’s a good resource
for things to do in Gaborone and is great about
answering questions about how MaP and its
nuances.
A Day in the Life
SAMPLE WEEKDAY SCHEDULE
The school runs on a complicated six-day, sixperiod schedule. The staff room board will let
you know what “day” it is in terms of the school
schedule. After a couple weeks, you will get the
hang of it!
You are highly encouraged
to read more about the
school on its website http://
www.maruapula.org/
before departure.
There are some staff
that interns in the past
have found particularly
welcoming and helpful. This
group includes:
13
Working at Maru-a-Pula
9:30-11 AM: Periods 3 + 4.
6:10-6:30 AM: Breakfast. Eat with the students in
the cafeteria. Go earlier rather than later! They will
stop serving breakfast as soon as the last person in
line is served. Alternatively, buy your own snacks
and skip breakfast. Or you can wait until 9am
when you can get sandwiches at 9am in the staff
room.
6:55-7:05 AM: Faculty Meeting. Attendance is
mandatory so that the principal, Mr. Taylor, sees
you are present for work.
7:10-7:20 AM (Tuesdays and Wednesdays):
Morning Assembly. Expect to lead one assembly
before you leave. Sign up early. The sign-up sheet
is in the staff room.
11-11:10 AM: Short break.
11:15-12:45: Periods 5 + 6.
12:45-1:30 PM: Lunch. You’ll most likely eat in the
cafeteria, as space in the staff room is limited.
1:30-2 PM: Break. Sometimes you’ll end up tutoring.
Mr. Taylor always goes home and naps.
2-5 PM: Afternoon activities. Get involved! Check
out the SPE program on MaP’s website to get a
feel for the types of things you can do.
6-6:30 PM: Dinner in the cafeteria.
Mix and mingle with the students.
Don’t sit together all the time.
7-9 PM (Sundays – Thursdays):
Boarding House Study Hours. Go to
the boarding house and knock on
students’ doors and ask if they need
help. Sit in the common room and
work or just hang out with students.
7-8pm is mandatory quiet time.
9 PM: Brain break. This is when the
kids (and you!) can have a snack
in their boarding houses—often hot
cocoa and PB&J. Interns often hang
out in the staff room afterwards, but
this is basically free time!
SAMPLE WEEKEND SCHEDULE
8:30-9 AM: Breakfast
1 PM: Lunch
7:05-7:20 AM (most days): Homeroom. This is usually
the best time to track down students.
7:25-9 AM: Periods 1 + 2.
1PM-6PM: Sports games, etc. You aren’t required
to attend but try to go cheer on MaP when you
can!
6-6:30 PM: Dinner
9-9:25 AM: Sandwich and tea break. Try not to
eat all the sandwiches in the staff room (they’re
delicious though).
14
Working at Maru-a-Pula
Additional Projects & Opportunities
While you are at MaP, you are strongly, strongly
encouraged to get involved with one or more
activities outside the classroom, in addition to SPE
activities. These projects are so important to daily
life at MaP that they are called co-curricular—
rather than extracurricular—activities. Try to start
these projects early (in the first or second week!)
so that you too can build relationships with the
people you are helping.
These projects were taken on by former MaP
interns, to great success. You may think about
resuming these this summer, or starting your
own. about College Night events. Take out an ad in
the local newspaper or use grassroots measures
to reach out to students. You can get contact
information for other schools from Sally Jobson,
the college counselor at MaP.
3) Make sure that the presentation is interesting
and/or fun. You may be speaking in front of a LOT
of students.
4) Consider topics like the differences between
colleges in America and Botswana, academics,
housing, extracurricular activities, components
of an application, and choosing a personal
statement topic.
GSS AFTER-SCHOOL TUTORING
In 2011 and 2012, MaP interns visited Gaborone
Secondary School (GSS), the local government
high school, to assist its students in preparing
for tertiary education. Interns presented on the
college application process for over 1,000 students,
and spoke to the school’s guidance counselor
about setting up a tutoring program and offering
more regular college application mentoring. You
are encouraged to pursue this opportunity if you
are interested; the MaP school administration can
give you the GSS contact information. Definitely
pursue this if you’re interested and have time.
AMERICAN COLLEGE INFORMATION SESSION
In 2011 and 2013, the interns held a College Night
event at MaP and invited students from several
schools in Gaborone to participate.
A few things to keep in mind if planning a similar
event:
1) Information about American universities varies
from school to school within Botswana. Students
in public schools in the area know very little about
the process of applying to American schools,
while students in private schools, such as MaP, will
have access to a lot more information. In order to
hold a successful College Night, one will need to
balance these extremes.
2) Publicize well. Do not depend on the local
school administrations to disseminate information
15
Working at Maru-a-Pula
and the number of pages you were printing. You
can use this copier for MaP Scholar printing too.
Ask the librarian or a friendly teacher to show you
how to operate the scanner/copier the first time
around.
School Resources
STAFF ROOM
It’s all yours in the evening! Make some nice tea or
coffee, but try not to use a staff member’s special
mug—either bring a mug with you or plan to get
a cheap one when you get there if you want to
have tea/coffee .
SOCIALIZING WITH STUDENTS
You best human resource at MaP will probably be
Tlotlego (“TG” affectionately), an English teacher
at the school as well as the Students Exchanges
and Visitor Coordinator. TG is also in charge of
assisting MaP visitors, including you! He is the person
who will pick you up from the airport, will acquaint
you with campus, and will make sure you’re welladjusted. In sum, he is the one you go to for all
your questions about living and complaints (e.g.
if there is no hot water anymore). By all accounts,
he is “really nice, sweet, and funny!” He’s also got
a funny nickname that you should try to find out—
just don’t tell him we told you about it!
Have fun with the students! Plan some events
that will be fun for you and that will be different
and exciting for the students. Previous interns
recommend at least one ‘s’mores fireside night’,
to introduce students to the American tradition
(you can get the supplies for free from Belinda, the
head of the kitchen!). Other ideas include movie
nights, pajama/dance parties, and Capture the
Flag!
COMPUTERS/PRINTING
As mentioned, there are computers in the library,
a school computer labs (although these both
have limited day hours), and the staff computer
room which interns can use. In addition, WiFi is
available in the library and the staff room if you
chose to use your own laptop. If you give the
librarians documents on a memory stick, they
can print them for you too if you ask them. Save
regularly - you never know when the power will go
out!
Making copies/Scanning
There is a copy machine in the library for staff to
use. Previously, each department had a card to
pay for copies, but last year they had switched
to just a simple sheet of paper where you wrote
your name, the department you were printing for,
16
Living at Maru-a-Pula
In addition to adjusting to a new job, you will also
be adjusting to life in a new culture. Here are
some insights into what to expect while living at
MaP and in Botswana.
Communications
PHONES
Your first purchase in Gabarone will likely be your
cell phone. You can find a basic phone for about
20 dollars (last year’s interns found some in a shop
at Airport Junction Mall). In addition to the phone,
you will need a SIM card. MaP should provide you
with one (ask Tlotlego!), or they will assist in getting
you one. Your plan will be pay-as-you-go, and will
need to buy airtime to use. You can buy minutes
from most food/convenience stores, including the
Choppies just down the road from MaP, or from
Linda in the front office—she carries both Mascom
& Orange. It is essential that you buy minutes for
your provider (i.e. Mascom minutes if you have a
Mascom sim card).
MAIL
You can receive mail as long as people send
things to you under your name to MaP’s address.
If you would like to send mail, TG can assist you.
Stamps to send a normal postcard or letter will
cost about BWP8.
Learning Setswana
Ask the students! Ask the librarian for a list of
key terms. If you’re really serious about learning
Setswana, think about ‘trading’ lessons with a
MaP student.
FOOD
You will have almost all of your meals (including
breakfasts, if you choose to attend) with the
boarding students in the cafeteria. Although
boys and girls usually sit on different sides of the
dining hall (by their own choice), feel free to sit
wherever you want. Some gender mixing does
occur naturally, especially among older students.
There’s nothing wrong with eating with other
interns, but the dining hall provides a chance to
meet and mingle with different students.
As you will see, meals tend to be heavy on
starches and meat, and less so on vegetables.
The traditional food in Botswana is delicious and
is very rich and savory. Some traditional foods are
paleche (cornmeal-type starch), stampa (hominy
beans), madombi (dumplings), nama (meat),
seswaa (shredded meat), and morogo (green
vegetables).
For buying groceries, Choppies down the road is
good for the basics. A trip to a mall to go to a
Pick’n’Pay grocery store will get you whatever
else you need (it is a step up from Choppies in
both quality, variety, and, marginally, price). For
your fancier shopping needs, Woolworths is good,
but be prepared for a drastic price increase
over the other two. Gaborone also has a wide
variety of restaurants ranging from Indian to
Italian to Portuguese, as well as plenty of fast-food
restaurants, most popularly Nando’s and Chicken
Licken.
Day-to-Day Things
LAUNDRY
There are two laundry machines for the entire
girls’ dormitory, though they are often broken.
Essentially, be prepared to wash some clothes by
hand! Powder detergent is predominantly used
in Botswana; anything that comes in a bottle
is probably a fabric softener. Feel free to ask a
student to show you what they use before you go
out to buy any. There are no dryers at MaP, thus
all clothes must be dried outside on a clothesline
(divided by gender).
You can leave a laundry basket out in the annex
(your accommodation) hallway in the beginning
of the week and the school’s cleaning staff will
return your clothes in an unspecified number of
days. Clothes can and do get misplaced from
time to time, but are always found soon after!
ATMS/MONEY
The closest ATM is next to Choppies. If that one
is broken, there is another one at the other end
of the road (i.e. turn left when leaving MaP, not
right) in front of the Gaborone Sun Hotel. Just
remember that you will pay a small fee (about $5)
each time you draw cash. Visa credit/debit cards
work in many stores in Gaborone, but don’t count
on them; always have enough cash. Past interns
recommend withdrawing a decent sum of money
to avoid the atm fees—just carry what you need
17
Living at Maru-a-Pula
and leave the rest safe in your room. You can lock
the door so theft isn’t really an issue.
TRANSPORTATION
The easiest way to get around Gaborone is to use
taxis. It’s possible that a student in one of the upper
forms might have a suggestion of a reliable taxi
number or driver to call. Taxi rates are not nearly
as much as in the United States, especially with
the conversion rate and if you’re traveling in big
groups. Taxis will also mark you even more clearly
as a tourist. Try to get a feel for how much a taxi
ride should cost. Ask a teacher about how much
a ride from MaP to downtown Gaborone would
cost, as well as farther out of town—for example,
to Airport Junction, Phakalane, or the Gaborone
Yacht Club.
Another way to get around is to use kombis. They
are 12-14 passenger mini-buses that the locals use
to get around Gabs very cheaply. They are safe,
and fairly easy to get the hang of once you find
out the right route numbers. For instance, Route
2 kombis stop near Main Mall and Route 5 kombis
should take you part of the way to Riverwalk
Mall, where you can do more extensive grocery
shopping and enjoy a nice series of restaurants.
You pay the same fee each time you board the
kombi, no matter if you need to go 1 stop or 5.
Don’t be shy to ask a teacher or student to walk
you through the kombi travel ‘process’ before you
head out!
HOUSING
Interns will live in an annex, which is a building
adjacent to the boarding house in which the
students live. The building is two floors; each floor
has three double bedrooms and a bathroom with
two showers. Thus, each intern can have their own
room and access to a shared bathroom. That said,
sometimes other visitors to the school will arrive
and you may need to share a room—last year two
interns decided to bunk together for the summer
to avoid having to move around.
The bathroom has a toilet stall, which is separate
from the sink and shower area. The school provides
bedding, though the pillows are much harder than
what Americans are used to. Most importantly,
the school provides super-duper warm blankets
that are useful in those really cold nights!
WEATHER
It may be deceptively warm for the first few
days after you arrive, but by the second week
of June, the temperature will most likely dip. It
will get progressively colder in the morning and,
eventually, warmer in the afternoons, but you
should expect a very chilly 30 to 40 degrees
Fahrenheit in the morning and a sunny 65 to 85
degrees Fahrenheit in the afternoon.
18
Travel & Exploration
If you haven’t been to southern Africa before,
now is your chance to explore! Last year’s interns
went up to Kasane and Victoria Falls over a long
weekend—travel outside of one trip can be
done if you are willing to spend a bit of your own
money outside of the grant, though how much
will depend on your grant amount and your travel
standards.
GABORONE
•
Malls: Game City, Riverwalk, Main Mall
•
Kgale Hill
•
Wildlife Reserve
•
Camping (ask Mr. Wilson about his property
about 45 minutes out of town)
•
Nearby villages
•
Bull & Bush (B&B) bar/restaurant - Monday
ribs night
REGIONAL
•
Okavango Delta: The world’s largest
inland delta, this is an amazing spot to stand in
an open field with elephants, zebra, and giraffes
with experienced guides – although you may find
the mokoro rides (narrow canoes powered and
steered by men with poles) to be dull after the first
fifteen minutes of staring at swamp weeds. Take
a bus from Gaborone to Maun and stay at the
Bridge Backpackers (highly recommended but
do NOT take any food into your rooms) for a night.
The hostel can organize a one-night mokoro
camping trip for you/a group. You’ll then return
to the Backpackers for the third night, hangout
at a local restaurant, before heading back to
Gaborone.
19
Travel & Exploration
•
Kasane / Victoria Falls: Kasane is a
great safari spot located on the Chobe River in
northeastern Botswana. You can take a LONG
10-12 hour bus (consider overnighting) to Kasane
if you’re prepared to be cramped and to deal
with limited bathroom stops. Air Botswana also
operates daily flights from Gaborone to Kasane but
book early as these fill up, particularly on holiday
weekends. Interns recommend staying three
nights in order to spend one full day on a game
drive and/or river cruise around Kasane (try to find
DreamSafari for the best safari package deals)
and one full day at Victoria Falls. The Zimbabwe
side is ‘better’ than the Zambia side of the falls (i.e.
views of the falls), but you’ll need to splurge on
the border crossing ($60 for Americans), bargain
for a ride from the crossing to the Falls, and carry
U.S. dollars for any expenses. Often, if you book
through a safari company or travel agency, they
can arrange transport for you. Definitely check out
the adrenaline activities at the gorge and white
water river rafting along the Zambezi; you’ll get
the best deals in a package from one company.
•
Cape Town: Some interns chose to go to
Cape Town after the internship is over, to have the
time to fully take advantage of all the city and
surrounding area has to offer. Flights to Cape Town
can get pretty expensive, so plan ahead and be
flexible to get the best prices. In addition, the
Intercape, a regional bus provider, can get you
there; while it takes a great deal longer, it usually is
much more cost-effective!
•
Johannesburg: Ideal for a two or three day
jaunt down from Gabs, Johannesburg is great for
the history buffs or those who want to learn more
about how South Africa shook off apartheid. From
the famous Apartheid Museum to Constitution Hill,
there’s a ton to do and learn in the city. Intercape
bus services can get you there from Gaborone,
though you will need to arrange transportation to
and from the bus stations. The Melville area, both
safe and comfortable, has lots of B&Bs with great
prices—they are a bargain and are in a good
part of the city. As a city, Johannesburg requires
caution to get around so go with a buddy or
group—use common sense and you’ll be fine!
20
Staying Healthy
FOOD & WATER
last updated in 2010).
The tap water on MaP’s campus is safe to drink,
as are all the meals that are prepared on campus
and given to you in the cafeteria. The fresh fruit
purchased from Choppies and other grocery
stores were safe to eat as long as it was washed.
That said, you may want to start slowly when
eating fresh fruit to see if, and how, it affects you
before purchasing a lot.
MEDICATIONS
ILLNESS
Upon your arrival, you will have an orientation
meeting with Mr. Taylor (the principal) and other
staff. They will be sure to cover the procedures
of what to do if and when you are not feeling
well or find yourself needing to seek medical
attention. There is a school nurse, and this is
typically everyone’s first line of defense. However,
if it is after-hours and the nurse is not around, there
are several hospitals in the area that are safe
to visit. Information about general practitioners
and hospitals can be found at this link: http://
photos.state.gov/libraries/botswana/19452/pdfs/
Medical%20Information.pdf (note that the list was
If you will be bringing medications with you, make
sure you also bring a copy of your prescription. Keep
the prescriptions together with the medications,
and keep all of them in your carry-on luggage
(this applies even to gel or liquid medicines more
than 3 oz. or that might not fit into the gallon-size
Ziploc limit; just make sure you verbally declare
the medicines to a TSA officer before you go
through security). If you regularly take Motrin or
Tylenol for headaches or sometimes need other
over-the-counter medicines, bring those with you
as well. Finally, don’t forget to have both your
yellow immunization card (preferably kept with
your passport) and a copy of your shots record
when you leave!
Always remember that the US Embassy is in
Gaborone and is there to help US citizens!
Contact information can be found at the end of
this guidebook.
21
Culture & Customs
Adjusting to Being Abroad
Living in a foreign country is not easy. While you
have the opportunity to make significant impacts
on the lives of your students, make lifelong friends
and be exposed to a society quite different in
many ways, some of them subtle, from the one
you leave behind, there are also hardships and
frustrations that are intertwined in this process.
In place of the common term “culture shock,”
which emphasizes only the negative aspects
of the adjustment, we like to think in terms of a
“cultural adjustment curve” as it better describes
the continuing process of cultural encounter and
adaptation.
There have been more than a handful of scientific
studies on cultural adjustment, which have given
rise to multiple theories. However, one thing
remains the same: cultural adjustment is a very
individual phenomenon. Every person adapts
differently.
The five stages of the most common adjustment
curve can be described as:
1. Initial euphoria (Honeymoon)
2. Initial Culture Shock
3. Initial Adjustment
4. Further Culture Shock
5. Further Adjustment
(Taken
from:
www.umt.edu/ip/docs/faculty/
CulturalAdjustmentCurve.pdf)
This curve expands and contracts depending on
the individual’s length of stay. The extremes are
also often softened if the person has had previous
living experience in another culture. Of course,
this is all subject to individual variation, so do not
expect your summer to follow any predictable
or even “appropriate” pattern. In fact, you will
probably feel as though you are going through a
mini-cultural curve every day. If you are so inclined,
you may want to track your personal adjustment
curve throughout the summer.
LOW POINTS
While the path of your particular adjustment
is unpredictable, at some point you may feel
irritable, confused, and homesick. This is normal!
Keep in mind that recognizing and acknowledging
your feelings is the first step towards feeling better.
The following is a list of some of the feelings and
behaviors you may experience during your stay:
•Loneliness
•
Feeling isolated
•Homesickness
•Boredom
•Anxiety
•
Identity Problems
•Withdrawal
•
Sleeping excessively
•Fatigue
•
Compulsive eating
•Irritability
•
Exaggerated cleanliness
•
Marital/family stress and conflict
•Stereotyping
•
Hostility to host nationals
•
Loss of ability to work effectively
•
Unexplainable fits of weeping
•
Physical
ailments
(headaches,
stomachaches, trembling)
22
Culture & Customs
COPING MECHANISMS
•
Be comfortable with being uncomfortable.
Cross-cultural encounters take you out of your
comfort zone. If you are feeling uncomfortable,
you are seeing the differences….and learning.
Practice role reversal. Try to see things from a local
point of view.
•
Get out and do something. Develop new
routines. Do something specific for others.
•
Don’t be negative. Avoid complainers and
don’t make comparisons to home.
•
Be a good listener, ask questions, and learn
about the culture. Show more of an interest in
learning how they do things than telling them how
we do things.
•
Prepare. Read. Study the local language –
the best antidote to culture shock is knowledge
and a lively interest in others. You are not likely to
have this sort of long grass-roots experience in a
developing country again. Be determined to get
the most out of it you can!
•
Write down what you are experiencing,
your philosophical response to what’s going on.
This may prove very interesting to you later, and
can help while you’re having problems.
•
Don’t deny reality when things are hard.
•
Seek respect. Don’t get hung up on being
liked. Don’t take things personally.
•
Create comfort zones. Go some place
where you can be your American/British/Australian
self.
•
Speak English, do things that you like.
•
Reduce stress through activity. Exercise,
meditate, relax, and write. Set realistic work
expectations. Do not expect to be as effective,
especially in the beginning, as you were in your
last job.
•
Get one host friend who can fill you in on
what you do not understand. A real friend can
make all the difference in your experience.
•
Make observations, not judgments. Cultures
are different, try to figure out why.
•
Make sure you are eating a good, balanced
diet – an essential for good physical and mental
health. Given the meat & starch heavy menu
served in the cafeteria, it’s important to make sure
you are eating enough fruit and vegetables!
•
Remember that cultural norms are never
predictors of individual behavior. Adjust your
actions in response to individual differences.
•
Make use of a support system. Turn to other
interns on weekends, compare notes, and help
each other.
•
Have faith in yourself, the experiences and
the curves.
LANGUAGE & CULTURE
You will find that almost everyone at MaP is
bilingual (in Setswana and English), speaking at
least basic English. However, locals appreciate it
when visitors make an effort to learn – and USE! some Setswana, even if it is just the greetings.
As mentioned, proper manners are very important
to Setswana culture. Cultural norms place great
emphasis on the importance of greetings.
Everyone greets each other, even strangers in
passing. To not do so can be considered rude. This
applies to the staff room too—if someone walks in
while you are there, you should greet them and
be polite. There’s a lot more hierarchy in Botswana
than in the US, so be sure to be more deferential to
the older staff members than you would normally
be.
Hospitality
Batswana are generally very hospitable and
welcoming, and there is a great sense of
tradition and manners. For instance, part of being
hospitable is offering food or drink to any guest.
23
The most basic form of greeting is “Hello,” which is
usually followed by sir or madam:
Hello Sir - “Dumela Rra”
Hello Ma’am - “Dumela Mma”
If you are greeting more than one person, the
plural of “Dumela” is used: “Dumelang.”
There are a few variations of “How are you,” but the
most common are:
How are you? - “Le kae?”
I am good/fine Ma’am/Sir, how are you?
-“Ke teng Mma/Rra, le kae?”
OR
How are you?(literally: How did you wake?) - “Le
tsogile jang?”
I am fine (literally: I woke, or I woke well) -“Ke
tsogile” or “Ke tsogile sentle”
Culture & Customs
To not accept whatever is offered is often
considered rude and an offense to the host.
Personal Space
Generally, maintaining personal space is not
as important as it is in the United States. For
instance, squashing in next to strangers on the
kombi is not uncommon when it is busy. Men
can also be forward, and sometimes even
grabby, towards women.
Time
Be prepared for what is affectionately called
“African Time.” Batswana do not have the
same sense of urgency that many Americans/
Westerners do, and it will only frustrate you
to expect things to be done quickly, or to be
in a rush for many things. Plan for this when
booking taxis if you are going somewhere and
promptness is necessary. That being said, this
doesn’t apply professionally, and you should be
at the staff meetings on time.
Family
Family and family values are very important
to Batswana, and most Batswana are close to
both their immediate and extended families. It
is said that no one can be “from” Gaborone,
as everyone has ties to a home village, where
extended family live. It is a fantastic opportunity
to experience a different side of Batswana
culture.
Socializing
Although your main purpose in Gaborone is to
be as useful as possible to MaP, there are plenty
of opportunities for socializing and fun activities.
Mr. Taylor likes to have the MaP interns over to his
house on Friday nights for dessert and a game
of scrabble. Some interns have enjoyed playing
tennis in the afternoons after SPEs, or running on
the trail around MaP. Talk to the younger faculty
about what they like to do on the weekends—
last summer there was a recurring Frisbee game
that the interns were invited to.
the ever popular Bull n’ Bush for Monday Rib
Night, as the happening spots in town. There is a
movie theater at Riverwalk, one of the three malls.
BotswanaCraft is a really nice shop for gifts, and
the Main Mall (sometimes called African Mall) has
stalls during the week which sell crafts and trinkets,
music, and food. There is also an outdoor market
on Saturday mornings at Riverwalk. Talk to older
students and young staff members about what
they like—things often change year to year, so
get as much present information as you can when
you get there!
For outdoorsy activities, you can hike Kgale Hill,
go kayaking at the Dam (the Yacht Club), or go
to Mokolodi Game Reserve. Definitely try to hike
Kgale Hill at least once—the view from the top is
beautiful. Oftentimes the boy’s boarding house
head takes a trip out early on Saturdays, so talk
to him if you are interested—it’s worth the early
wake-up to see the sunrise over Gabs.
National Pastimes
Football (i.e. American soccer) is a big sport across
Africa, and Botswana is no exception. Botswana’s
national team, the Zebras, is not the greatest on
the continent, though people support it in droves.
Many Batswana also support European clubs as
well as South African teams (e.g. the Kaizer Chiefs
or Orlando Pirates). Many people play football,
in pick-up games, or more formally organized
leagues. Rugby also has a significant fan-base in
Botswana.
Many gatherings in Botswana revolve around food
and music. Braais (barbeques) are very popular in
the summer, although they still do happen in the
winter. Accept any invitation to a braai; the food
is delicious!
House music is very big in Southern Africa right
now, and is mostly what is played at clubs and on
popular radio stations.
There are also several restaurants and clubs in
Gaborone. Former interns recommend Fego,
Sanita’s, Europa, Gaborone Yacht Club, and
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Leaving MaP
Just as there is an adjustment period to living abroad, there is the adjustment of leaving a place
where you have spent two months. It is likely that you will have mixed emotions about leaving MaP at
the end of the program. You’ll have made new friends over the course of the summer, established a
routine, and settled into the rhythms of life at MaP. It’s important to talk about these with your fellow
interns. Make sure you exchange contact information with the people you wish to keep in touch
with, and take the time to say proper goodbyes to those students and staff you have become close
with. Also, you might have some students who will wish to continue working with you on things such
as college essays—if you agree to continue working with them, honor those commitments and be
honest with the student about how much you will be able to help from afar, particularly once you get
back to Harvard.
Once you get back to campus in the fall, try to keep in touch with your fellow interns. Social gatherings,
meals, and coffee dates are a great way to have fun and reminisce about your summer at MaP.
Hopefully it was one full of challenge, discovery, laughter, and exploration that you will never want to
forget.
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Botswana Quick Facts
Republic of Botswana
Formerly the British protectorate of Bechuanaland, Botswana adopted its new name upon
independence in 1966.
Religions
Christian 71.6%, Badimo 6%, other 1.4%, unspecified 0.4%, none 20.6% (2001 census)
National Flag
Independence Day (Botswana Day)
30 September (1966)
Political system
Parliamentary republic
Chief of state
President Seretse Khama Ian Khama (since 1 April
2008)
Country Map
The light blue with a horizontal white-edged
black stripe in the center; the blue symbolizes water in the form of rain, while the black and white
bands represent racial harmony
Capital city
Gaborone, population: 196,000 (2009 est.)
Major cities
Francistown
Kanye
Maun
Molepolole
Mochudi
Serowe
Time zone
GMT + 2 Hours
Area
581,730 sq km
Slightly smaller than Texas
Currency
Pula (BWP)
National Emblem
Population
2,098,018 (July 2012 est.)
Nationality (noun and adjective)
Motswana (singular), Batswana (plural)
Languages
Setswana 78.2%, Kalanga 7.9%, Sekgalagadi
2.8%, English (official) 2.1%, other 8.6%, unspecified 0.4% (2001 census)
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Important Contact Info
Committee on African Studies
Program Manager, Maggie Tabach Lopes
CGIS South, 1730 Cambridge Street, Room 403
Cambridge, MA 02138
Tel: 617-495-5265
africa.harvard.edu
Harvard Travel Assist
+1 617-998-0000
International SOS
+1 215-942-8478 (worldwide, 24/7/365). You may call collect.
Harvard’s membership number: 11BSGC000038
Maru-a-Pula Contact Info
Principal, Andrew Taylor
Office phone: +267 391-2953
Cell phone: +267 7130 3800
Address: Private Bag 0045, Gaborone, Botswana
Website: http://www.maruapula.org/
U.S. Embassy of Gaborone
Address
Physical: Embassy Drive, Government Enclave, Gaborone, Botswana
Mailing: P.O. Box 90 Gaborone, Botswana
Telephone
(+267) 395-3982 (Monday-Thursday, 7:30AM - 5:00PM)
(+267) 395-3982 (Friday, 7:30AM - 13:30PM)
(+267) 395-7111 (After Hours)
For Visa Information Telephone: (+267) 390-4669
For American Citizen Services Telephone: (+267) 373-2322
Fax
(+267) 395-6947
Website
http://botswana.usembassy.gov/
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