(1week) Botswana arrived

I arrived at Botswana！
During the five weeks, we will receive the training of Setswana in the capital Gaborone. Then, we will move to each duty station.

Day1(Wed)

Via Johannesburg of South Africa

Sir Seretse Khama International Airport

Via Hong Kong and Johannesburg, we arrived at Sir Seretse Khama International Airport in Botswana. We moved to the JICA office by the car of JICA exclusive driver. The end is the rainy season (November to March), now towards the dry season (April to October).

Side dish

Side dish②

The way, we buy our lunch. White ones is the Nshima that was in solid shape kneaded after boiled corn flour. Nshima is not taste, but I was able to eat. Meat was

Rich natural even in the capital

We took a lunch after move to the JICA office in the capital Gaborone. JICA staff seems to have eight people (including three Japanese people). Looking at the bottom from office, it had spread the idyllic landscape that I do not think the capital. Then we bought a SIM card and a prepaid card in a mobile phone shop.

※ 113 JPY ≒ 1 USD ≒ 11 BWP

living room

A lot of books and comics have been placed.

Bathroom

Washroom

There is a microwave and rice cooker in the kitchen.

There is also a washing machine and dryer.

There are four room in dormitory. We shared a room with two people.

Dormitory has four rooms. There is a three or four beds of a room. New members will use basically the dormitory. But old members are also to come back on the weekend. Old members is also to come back on the weekend. Facilities are aligned in general. But I don’t know about seasoning well because of too much.

Senior members gave us a welcome party!

Welcome party seems to be separate on the weekend, but the capital city member to get together in week day gave us open the small welcome party. In addition to us, Botswana members is 19 people.

Day2(Thu)

There is a JICA office in this building.

We have heard about the current situation and problem of Botswana from Botswana director. Botswana is moist economically because diamond has been unearthed. Government spending on education is high. Since it has passed only 50 years after independence, experience as a government is shallow. There is a few industry and a high unemployment rate. The goal of JICA branch is “diversification of industry and support for the poverty reduction”.

There are 80 people of Japanese in Botswana (including JICA-related 42 people). Japanese companies that have business in Botswana is just four companies. December to March is 40 ℃ and hot rainy season. July to August is winter. Morning and evening is required stove. There is occasionally a power outage or water outage.

There is a shopping mall in the vicinity of the dormitory.

Security guard closes and opens the gates.
When the intruder touches the electric fence on the fence, an alarm is triggered.

On the way back to the dormitory, we bought a dinner at the River Walk Mall. After a while to go back to the dormitory, senior members came back one by one. During four consecutive holidays of Easter, one of the group’s is going to same campsete, another group is going to meet in San group.

I heard story about members who received damage to the burglar or intrusion robbery in the senior members. I had heard a comparatively safe country, but recently it seems different.

Day3(Fri)

Barbecue-style burger and salad and cola is 93 Pula (about 9 doller). The price is quite high.

Chicken and rice is 27.5 Pula (about 2.8 dollars)

I had lunch at the Riverwalk mall with synchronous members. Eating out is high, but lunch box is an affordable price.

Day4(Sat)

River Walk Mall

Bread, scrambled eggs and Heineken

Today I went to the River Walk mall by one person. I wanted to buy a beer, but the beer was not sold until Tuesday the end of Easter. So I found a shop that drink drink, ordered a snack and beer.

Day5(Sun)

Bronze statue of the Republic of Botswana’s first president Seretse Khama

I went a little far away to the Gaborone station. The center of city in front of the station are buildings of each authority and embassies and Mail Mall.

Gaborone station. Cargo business only

Railpark Mall

In front of the Railpark Mall has stylish shop, also slightly higher price and price is also a little high.