Well, it looks like Micah is doing better updating this than we are :-). I am borrowing another of the workers computer right now. We haven't updated much because it is really hard to get to the internet. We dont even have the phone we were promised, which makes it really hard to call a cab, call loved ones etc etc. The house we are in is really nice with a fantastic garden out front. Must get a hammock :-). It has AC :-) and a security system. All the houses here have walls and electric fencing that surrounds them. I feel like I am in a fort or something. We will post pics once we get to a regular computer (on wed). I only have a few minutes since we are borrowing a computer and as soon as everyone gets here we will celebrate new years.

Lessons learned:
1) Everything here is at a slower pace.
2) You are lucky if things work. If they don't (which they usually dont), someone will be by to help......next week... if they get around to it.

Tomorrow we are going to try and hike to the top of a local hill (mountain for texas). Should get a great view of the city.
Otherwise we have been mostly relaxing. We started to explore the city on foot today. Eventually we will find our way around. The town is fairly developed. No shantys, but lots of run down houses. Still everyone seems to have electricity and running water. Everything is pre-paid here (phone, water, electricity, TV). Some of the houses are really nice. There are a few malls here. One is even comparable to the US. We went grocery shopping yesterday... bought milk in a box for the first time. Interesting. I'll tell you how it is.
Gotta run. People are starting to show up. Will blog again soon, I promise. Next time it will be more organized too. :-)
Missing all of you!!!

Day 2 in Botswana

Just got a call from Portia/Becca, wanted to give everyone an update on how things are going. Sounds as if they have rested up and are trying to acclimate to the new environment/timezone. I know they are taking pictures of the house/area and hopefully people, so within the next week we may get some updated photos!

To hold us over, I have collected a few links and posted for reading at your leisure (on the right side), summary is that Gaborone has one of the highest AIDS rate in the world with about 1 out of every 3 people (including children) infected.

General/Area:

1. Most places are equiped with some kind of security system, their house has one as well with a fast acting security team (probably shared between the community?)... believe they may have more to say on this later


2. Their Aids Corps friends invited them to a new years party tonight - Believe I have linked to the group they are hanging out with
   
   

Communications:

1. Home phone doesn't work and with this being the holidays and most places closed in Botswana,fixing may take some time


2. They are planning on getting their cell phone on Wednesday when they get to their first clinic day (I tried calling, but no luck as I only get a not available message)



3. Hotel calling is quite expensive, approx $10 USD for a 5 minute call, thus we may not get many more updates via phone until later this week (I can't wait to use my Skype phone to talk to them, $.15-.25 is much cheaper)

Baylor Pediatric Clinic Picture (dug up on internet)

That's it for now, Have a safe and happy new year everyone!

We're here

Hey, we've made it. Frankfurt was boring and cold but it is nice and toasty here. Our phone in the house is not working and the cell isn't here yet but soon we will be able to contact people. I'll write more later. We are currently at someone's house borrowing the internet.

Becca and Portia

Made in Botswana

Got a call from Portia this morning around 8am to tell me that they have made it safely to Gaborone, Botswana (via connection through Johannesburg, South Africa). They are now 8 hours ahead of us, so it was around 4pm their time.

Believe they had been invited to a BBQ tonight.

Frankfurt

Hello all, we have made it to Frankfurt. It has been an interesting trip so far. First both of our names were wrong on our tickets. I will now be referred to as Dr Rawait and Portia still has her maiden name on her passport. As I had Gonzo the lucky frog in my pocket everything worked out ok. On the plane, (9 hours and only 2 movies) a call came overhead for a doctor on board. An elderly gentleman was having chest pain. Luckily 3 other doctors were on board, one was internal med. I am proud of the fact that of the 5 doctors on the plane I was the only one with a stethascope. We have been laughed at by 2 or 3 Germans by now. First we were told to take the subway 5 stops in. After 3 we were sitting there when a rather nice German came on to our car and told us we were at the last stop. Never fear, we have arrived at the subway station we were aiming for. Not that I know what is here but we are trying. We stopped for coffee. Thought we were ordering mochas but instead got very hot coffee in a water glass with a little cream. I am not sure if that is what we ordered or if they were just making fun of us. We are now wandering aimlessly around Frankfurt. After 3 tries we found an internet cafe so Portia can print off her marriage license. Next we will look for a church and other old stuff. More later.

Becca

Hey look at me I'm blogging! I'm a nerd I know. Here is our address in Gabarone in case anyone (mostly my father) wants to Google Earth us. 2677 Phiri Crescent, Gabarone Botswana.
Becca

We are busy doing some last minute pre-planning. One of the items on the list is to understand how to post to the blog ;)

See to the right for a map of Botswana, we will be starting off our trip by flying out from Houston, Texas at around 4:30pm local time on Thursday, December 28th. From there we will be ariving in Frankfurt, Germany for a 13 hour layover at which time we are trying to setup some kind of tour to a castle or something to pass the time.

From there we are leaving at night to travel down to Johannesburg, South Africa where we will then jump up to Gaborone, Botswana! Sounds like a 3 day affair just getting there.