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| Emily at her health practicum in Gaborone |
In summer 2015, Emily Martin ('IAFS 16) studied abroad with the CIEE Botswana: Gaborone Community Public Health Program. She shared the following update with IAFS:
Dumela from Botswana!聽
So much has happened in the past few weeks!聽
Our group returned to Gaborone this week from a week-long stay with host families in the nearby village of Kanye. We continued our clinic rotations while we were there, so we were able to observe four of them and compare them to the ones in the main city. I was also given the opportunity to walk door-to-door with local nurses as they educated community members about HIV and sexually transmitted infections. It's a new campaign that was started to dispel misconceptions and encourage people to get tested, and it has been getting very positive feedback so far!聽
I lived with my host mom, Onkokame, and her two adopted daughters, Thuso and Lolo. Some of the other students had homes that looked very similar to the ones seen in the States, but my mom is a single mother and their home is still a work-in-progress. I am very grateful I was placed with them because it led to a very transformative week for me. They welcomed me into their home even though they have very little, and they taught me how to function with no running water and only one functioning burner for cooking. I think my week in Kanye will remain the most important week out of this entire experience!
In addition to our classes, we have also taken multiple excursions. We spent a weekend at the Mokolodi Nature Reserve, where we volunteered, camped, and went on our first game drive. We also went to the Bahurutshe Cultural Village and witnessed traditional dancing.聽
I can't believe there is less than a month left of my program! I feel very settled now and definitely feel like my dorm at the University is home. We are trying to take full advantage of our limited time. A couple of days ago, we hiked Kgale Hill, which had an amazing view. Today, we are hosting a 4th of July BBQ for the directors and volunteers of our program.
As a Gilman Scholar, I was also given the opportunity to apply to be a travel correspondent for Reach the World, a nonprofit that brings geography education to classrooms. It was very competitive, but I made the cut! I am so excited for the opportunity, because I am going to be partnered with a classroom and send them weekly updates. The writing will take the place of my Gilman service project, which I would've had to complete upon my return to the States. I can't wait to share my experiences with more people
