I FINALLY received my furniture on Tuesday December 14! It only took 6 freakin’ months!!! Now 3 of the 4 of us have it. Now we just need $$ to pay the 3 months of rent which they’re behind on ….

I attended the Chairman’s Ball last Friday. It used to be called a Christmas Party, but now has a spiffy name. I was at HBC that morning when the invitation arrived. 2 of the 3 staff said they were not going, so I said I wanted to go. I then invited the other PCVs in my district. We were all excited about free food and drink! The invitation said “formal,” so we had to dress up. That was the 2^nd time I’ve worn a dress in this country, the first being the Swearing-In Ceremony.

We 4 PCVs arrived about an hour late, because no one comes to events (or even meetings) on time. We were extremely surprised to hear speeches were already underway. We were also surprised that we needed the invitation in-hand to gain entry. Even though it was held at the RAC, with the same security guards and same people attending as we see every day, we needed that pink piece of paper. I called my friend from HBC, who was planning to come around 1030pm. During the call, one of the PCVs managed to convince them to allow us in. (And it would have been shocking if they hadn’t. Really? Deny entry to the 4 guests of your country? Really?) We were led down a red carpeted aisle to a table and chairs covered in white linen, very schmancy. Colored fabric was tied decoratively around poles, fabric streamers were hung, and colored lights were twinkling. The parking lot we were in had been transformed; it really was lovely.

Between speeches there was dancing. They attempted to play “Oh Come All Ye Faithful” on a loudspeaker but it didn’t work very well. They also attempted to lead us in “We Wish You A Merry Christmas” but they didn’t know all the words. It was so amusing it was charming. Finally we were led to buffet tables with all the traditional foods; 4 meats, sampe, rice, coleslaw “salad,” beets. And after that, we finally were given wine to toast (and later other adult beverages to enjoy). They waited so long into the night to serve alcohol that there was a LOT leftover at the end of the party. Each of us took home 4 or so drinks, and my friend from HBC took home 18!

World AIDS Day was December 1. I went to the national commemoration in Palapye (“pah-lah-pee”), which is about 90 minutes away buy car (and another hour away if traveling by bus). By the time the Boboning DHMT group arrived, all of the speeches were over. However, we still had time to wander around the many tents, and gather brochures/freebies/information. The President was there, and supposedly he was going to take a photo with all of the PCVs present (about 8 of us). He was escorted past the PC tent, so we all chased him to his car, along with a mob of Batswana. It was incredible how close we got to him; he was just 6 feet away at one point. A few police surrounded him and one held an umbrella over his head. In the US, that would NEVER happen. The security detail would be tight and efficient.

On December 8 I attended the AIDS Day commemoration in Sefhophe (“sef-oh-pee”), about an hour from Bobonong. Because that village is in our district, our DAC office put on the event. There were several speeches in Setswana, plus one in English by the DHMT med officer. There was also a troupe of singer-dancers who performed between speeches, and did a skit at the end of the morning. We were all given red ribbons to wear in solidarity. Of course, as is custom, we were all given a large lunch of traditional foods after the event. I wonder what they served as beverage at all these traditional meals before sodas were introduced to Africa?