The Students and the Guides (far left and middle) at Dikgosi Monument, Picture by Marc Dawson

When first arriving in a city, it can be interesting what is seen as one of the most crucial or important places, the place to see first, one that truly serves as an introduction for the entire trip. That could certainly be said about our first visit here in Gaborone. After settling in to the university, our first trip was to see the Dikgosi Monument, with figures and depictions representing many facets of the country's rich history, it set the scene for the city and country we are about to experience.
In our travels through the city, we came to visit one incredibly significant place, especially in these times of change and advocacy. We visited a place known as Ditshwanelo, a group advocating for more rights in various areas including, children, immigration, homosexual rights, and the death penalty, along with many others. Knowing that our country is similarly issues in our own respects, it is extremely eye-opening to see the universal nature of these issues and the way another country is viewing them.

Kids in Tlamelo, Picture by Fallon Lapan

While it is a true and unique experience to visit another culture and comment on the differences, it can be one of the biggest comforts to find a similarity. Yesterday, our group went to Tlamelo to see and help out residents of Old Naledi, an impoverished part Gaborone. The one experience everyone in the group seemed to cherish was just making the children smile. Part of it seemed to be that comfort in that, thousands of miles from what we know, one thing still seems the same: the joy it brings just to make a child smile. Kids from all over the area would come in and crowd around us just to have their picture taken, and they loved just to see how they looked through our cameras.

Zach showing kid's their picture, Picture by Fallon Lapan

The group is traveling around on tours tomorrow, you will hear from us shortly!