University of Botswana (UB) Part 1

As a result of being a peer advisor for Japanese students at my university, I realized how valuable an international experience could be. With that newfound eagerness to travel, I made my way to the study abroad center. After having two Japanese roommates and working as their peer advisor for 10 months, one would think that Japan would have been the ideal location for me to study. However, because I was studying Psychology, I based my choice upon two factors: price and courses offered. After ardently examining the smorgasbord of international opportunities, I decided to make my way to the motherland; I was going to Africa. Not only was I attracted to the exotic allure of Botswana, but also the cost was low and the amount of courses offered was sufficient. For a full academic year, tuition, housing, and a food allowance cost less than $10,000 and would be covered completely by grants and scholarships. Ostensibly, studying at the University of Botswana (UB) seemed impeccable.

21 years old, fit, equipped with insouciant confidence, I embarked upon my first international endeavor in July of 2011. After 30 hours of travel, with layovers in both NYC and Johannesburg, I disembarked the airplane onto the tarmac by foot and walked into the tiny airport of Gaborone, Botswana. I arrogantly assumed that there would be someone at the airport to take to me to UB; there wasn’t. I paced back and forth throughout the tiny airport for what seemed like an eternity asking people if they knew who I was and whether or not there would be someone to take me to the university. Fortunately, an advisor for the expensive study abroad program sensed my desperation and took pity on me. He was a Motswana with long dreads, and an aura of Rastafarianism. We hopped in his truck and he dropped me off across from the business building near to a university cafeteria. Luckily, the Rastafarian informed three trustworthy male students from UB to look after me and ensure that I get food and accommodation for the night. The UB students whom the Rastafarian entrusted were adamant about me obtaining a padlock immediately in order to prevent theft. I, on the other hand, was sleep-deprived and hungry. The four of us went to the cafeteria where each of them had earned a free meal by volunteering that day. Despite having Pula in my pocket, and an appetite voracious enough to consume whatever the cafeteria was serving, I didn’t volunteer that day and therefore would not be granted a meal. I sat at a table with the boys gaping at my surroundings with sheer bewilderment. And to intensify my sense of awe and perplexity, everyone seemed to be staring right back at me. There were hundreds of students eating their free meals and each and every one of them was aware of my presence. I was not the black sheep; I was the white sheep amongst a massive crowd of black. I would never consider myself to be racist, but at this particular point in time, the contrast of skin color became starkly apparent. I was slightly fazed but the kindness exhibited by the three students looking after me mitigated any sense of fear associated with being in this unknown environment. In dire need of some food and sleep, I tagged along with the three UB boys to Choppies. Since Choppies closes early, I had to rush to get my shopping done quickly. I purchased a padlock, a knife, an unsliced loaf of bread, bananas, and some peanut butter. We then made our way back to UB to find my dorm located in the nicest residence hall on campus, “Las Vegas.” Although far different from Sin City, the amenities of UB’s Las Vegas were adequate. I chose to stay on the fourth floor because I was informed that students living on the highest floors experience theft less frequently. After borrowing a bed set from one of the boys who had helped me, I slept soundly that evening and had no idea what I would encounter for the following nine months.

My luxurious "Las Vegas" living space :) 

Meal #1