Christmas in Botswana

Sami Oeser, a member of Central, has been serving in the Peace Corps in Botswana for nearly 2 years. She's working at an orphanage with kids whose lives have been changed by HIV/AIDS (either from infection themselves or orphaned when parents died of AIDS). Here are some excerpts from Sami's Christmas card this year. Enjoy!

Sami writes:

I have learned some valuable lessons from living in Africa, though I'm not sure how applicable they will be in Alaska.

* Always shake out your shoes before putting them on. (You don't even want to know what might be hiding inside!)
* Don't sit under a palm tree (Falling palm nuts are big and heavy!)
* Don't park a car under any tree (goats will climb up on the hood and roof to reach foliage, leaving behind hoof indentations)
* Don't drink any fluids within 10 hours of a journey by bus (The buses have no facilities and don't stop!)
* If it looks like it tastes nasty, it probably does.

I am not alone:

In case any of you think I may be lonely living by myself in Maun, Botswana- fear not. Besides a steady stream of neighbors (especially children, last Friday during a rainstorm, I had 28 kids drawing pictures in my 300 sq. ft. house) I currently reside with 5 cats, several dozen spiders, a score of lizards, myriad cockroaches, beetles, flies, mosquitos, moths, crickets, mopani words and thousands of ants who materialize out of thin art if any scrap of food is left out, and then disappear just as quickly after consuming it. Fortunately, because I live far from the river, and there is little vegetation in my yard, I do not have a snake problem.

Christmas in Maun:
Christmas here goes by almost unnoticed. There are no Christmas trees, no lights and no decorations, save for one lone "Merry Christmas/Happy New Year" sign in teh window of a shop owned by a Hindu couple - go figure). There is no Christmas music and no sales pitches to buy presents. Chrsitmas cards and wrapping paper are very difficult to find. Ribbon is non-existent. But then, most people in my village can't afford to exchange gifts anyway. And instead of snow covered trees, I will be looking out on sun-baked sand.

But just like last year, I will put up the 10-inch Christmas tree that I made from green construction paper, and the African creche I assembled from wood carvings. I will play christmas music (thank goodness I remembered to bring some CDs from home), drink Christmas tea, eat some chocolate (life is good) and thank God for the wonderful support and love I have received this past year from my family and friends.

I hope to see each of you next summer.
Blessings,
Sami

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If you want to check out the orphanage where Sami works: www.banabaletsatsi.com
Or write to Sami:
Sami Oeser
c/o BBL
Private Bag 114, Suite 55
Maun, Botswana