My Birthday Weekend

My Birthday Weekend

It’s that time of year again. I know you all look forward to this every year (I know I do), that’s right you guessed it… My Birthday. This year was a bit of a challenge. I originally talked to Puso (my counterpart) about having a get-together at my house for my birthday. Needless to say, plans didn’t finalize until Tuesday night. Well on the 9th we decided to have my party. Granted it was a Thursday night, but most of the teachers in my area wanted to come but were all planning to leave Kachikau bright and early on the 10th because it is the end of term and they all want to go home for the holidays. So I graciously decided to move my party to Thursday night so the teachers would be able to attend. Wednesday Puso and I went to Kasane to pick up everything we would need for the party. I bought braii meat, sausage, and stuff for a spicy bean salad (I didn’t eat any of the bean salad, beans are yucky). On Thursday after lunch we collected firewood and set up my yard for the party which was to begin at 6pm. Of course, the party didn’t start at 6pm, I think the first guest arrived around 7:45/8pm. Finally more people showed up and we started cooking. It was around this time that I noticed that none of the teachers were arriving (the whole reason we were having the party on Thursday instead of on my actual birthday). No biggie, most of the clinic staff came and we had a great time. We danced, ate, and they even sang me happy birthday. I was really surprised when I opened my presents from the staff. I received a traditional skirt (pictures to follow) that I LOVE, wooden jewelry (which matches the skirt), a beautiful hand carved wooden statue of 2 giraffes, a picture frame, and a special gift from Puso (it was suppose to be embarrassing, she got me a nightgown lol). Really, the party was a great success. I had a blast and I went to bed exhausted.

On Friday, I woke up and made myself a special breakfast of an omelet, toast, fruit, and yogurt. It was delicious. I decided that considering it was my birthday I was going to dress up and look special. I wore my new traditional skirt and jewelry with a cute shirt and my rainbows. I had already decided that I would be picking up my packages in Kasane on my birthday because I knew that they were birthday presents and so they should be received accordingly. I asked Pinny (my APCD/ Assistant Peace Corps Director) if I would be allowed to spend the night in Kasane with Nadine (another PCV) for my birthday and come back to Kachikau on Saturday. She told me that would be more than okay, so I had packed a bag to take with me. I arrived in Kasane around noon and went off to the post office to get my packages. Then I met up with Nadine at one of the internet cafés. We also ran into Robert (another PCV) so we hung out and were able to catch up on life so far with each other. Nadine told me that she and Chami (another PCV) were taking me out to dinner at one of the lodges in town. I was thrilled. Nadine and I went to Chobe Safari Lodge and had very expensive sodas and talked while we sat by the river enjoying the view. (I have to say that I had already opened my packages from home and was wearing my birthday girl crown and pick lay all evening long!) We found out that the lodge stopped serving from the restaurant a little earlier than when we got there so we ended up at one of the only restaurants in town, The Old House. I got to have Hawaiian pizza (it was quite good) and we had a wonderful time. We finally we back to Nadine’s house and I got to talk with the family and Justin for a while. It really meant a lot to me because I hadn’t talked to Mom since I have been living in Kachikau.
On Saturday morning I woke up and was able to take a real shower with HOT water. It felt incredible! (You all take hot water and showers for granted, let me tell you) Then we got dressed and went down to run a few errands. I had a mint chocolate ice cream bar (basically my birthday cake) and we walked to the nicest and most expensive lodge in Kasane, the Mowana. This place is incredible. It is absolutely beautiful. They have a golf course, swimming pool, they are right on the Chobe River, they do boat cruises and safari’s, it really is luxury at it’s finest. Nadine and I walked all around the compound and finally sat down by the pool to have a drink before we walked back to the center of town. Our drinks were really expensive (my juice 15pula, her spite 11pula) but they were well worth it because of the atmosphere and ambiance. We finally left Mowana and went to meet up with my ride back to Kachikau. Sega and her husband are becoming some of my best friends in Kachikau. They are honestly some of the nicest people I have ever met. Sega works with me at the clinic and she is determined to teach me everything I need to know. Sega and her husband picked up my stuff at Nadine’s house and we went back home. I was a little disappointed because some other PCV’s were coming into town today and I missed getting to see them by only about an hour. But it’s all okay because I get to see them sometime this week. I was really surprised when I got home because I realized that I missed my house and I missed Kachikau. I have really grown to love it here. So I decided to relax and go through all the stuff I got from home.

BTW I want to thank all of you who post comments. Every time i check my mail i get a small message from home. So thank you.