I have been collecting 5,10, and 25 thebe coins for 18 months, and I can't wait to go to the bank to cash them all in. Small change adds up!
A 500 milliliter bottle of water, about 16.9 ounces, costs about 9 pula, or 66 cents in USD. You can buy a larger bottle of one liter for 15 pula, or $1.10 USD. In Botswana there are not any recycling programs for collecting or processing the plastic bottles. It is helpful to make clean drinking water available in a place with no water fountains.
My favorite meal this week was spaghetti that I made using fresh tomatoes and local sausage for the sauce. It was mixture of tastes from home and local ingredients, making it the best of both worlds. Most of the food here is fresh, and not as processed compared to what is sold in the U.S.
There is always music, sometimes you need to listen for it. I hear different types depending on where I am. In a taxi, the driver may be playing gospel music, rap, or tunes from Zambia or Zimbabwe. You never know which you might hear. The yard where I live has a few people who like to listen to their music outside. I get to hear top 40 either from the US or Botswana depending on what station they are tuned to. In my own space I also like to listen to various types of music from classical, to oldies, to Celtic for my Irish roots. Having the internet makes music very accessible!
Locally, I hear gospel music coming from the churches on Sunday morning. Every morning before we start work at the clinic, a gospel call and response is shared to bring everyone together and set a positive tone for the day.
