Running

Today was a good day. I went running. It marked the second week of my training and I still feel motivated to continue. I enjoy running here as miserable as it is. It gives me time to reflect and take in all that I have experienced in this country. On my first day running in this country I saw a full sized wathog trotting along the road about ten feet from where I was jogging. At first I didn't believe it was real, it looked large and strong, something I would not want to be alone with in a dark room. After noticing my presense it stopped and stared at me only to quickly turn and run away. This morning as I ran down a long straight road, on the far side of campus I saw something I first thought to be a dog. The road is newly paved and painted yet it sits untouched and bush hangs out into the roadway. Carefully laid brick side walks have been lost to the grass and the prickly weeds so I run down the center of the road way following the white line. Generally I focus on the line because I have timed myself on this stretch of road, and while running at a 8:30 mile pace, I can go straight on the line for 12 min. As I gazed down this long runway esque blacktop the animal I thought was a dog sat up like a child and stared in my direction, it was at that moment I finally realized it was a baboon. As a grew closer it hooted at me standing up on its hindlegs I presume so it could look bigger and more intimidating. Running here is more a mental game than a physical one. The land is flat, the sun draining, and the air dusty. I have yet to see another runner while I jog across campus. I get nervous on the outskirts because I am often alone and can never tell who or what will be around the corner. Sometimes on my longer days I run with my i-pod. I am ashamed that I always grip it tighter when I run by another person, worries for its safety. I would never do that in the US, but here, it is a different matter. It is not that I think I am unsafe, I just feel uncomfortable at times in this foreign land. Construction and road workers yell at me as I pass, but it is easy for me to ignore them with my sunglasses and headphones. Even with the sometimes unnerving feelings running alone is the best. The land is so quiet, peaceful, you have to remember that bad things sometimes do happen, but normally they do not. In the end, despite everything, I like running here, it gives me something to make me feel tired and complete.

On a side note. The other night we went out to a Resturaunt/Bar called Bull and Bush. Its a fun place with good food, a nice outdoor bar and patio, and dancing. While we were there we met several people who work on the "Number One Ladies Detective Agency" TV show which supposedly airs on BBC however they do all of the filming in Botswana to make it more authentic. This has been my closest brush with fame since I have been in the country, then again I am not sure how much closer you can get here.

Greetings from Botswana, I miss you and love you all. I am also trying to get a few more postcards so I can send another round of them home. Love always,

Celene