Olympic Celebrations and Much More!

Dumela,

Wow, where does the time go? It’s crazy to think that I have reached the halfway point of my trip already. I’m still getting used to my surroundings but finding my way around a lot easier than before. Every day consists of a new experience or adventure, that keeps me excited and happy to be here. The only experience I’m not enjoying is how cold it gets here after 6 pm. Don’t believe the forecast that consistently says at 25 degrees Celsius, as most nights the temperature drops to 0. Despite the cold morning and nights, the days are always sunny and hot- something I am definitely getting used to.

Earlier this month we got to attend the African Beach Games send-off celebration. The African Beach Games were held on the island of Sal, Cape Verde this year. We were proud to send teams competing in 3v3 basketball and karate. It was a great ceremony that celebrated their success and wished them good luck. The Minister of Youth Empowerment and Sport came to make a speech to the athletes, which was a kind gesture. I was happy to see they have a ceremony that recognizes youth sport within the country. The BNOC also hosted a few Olympic Day Celebrations. Josh and I were lucky enough to be a part of two, and it was a blast. One was in a small village called Molepolole and the other within Gaborone.

Both consisted of a 10km walk in the morning, speeches, dancing, activities, and lunch to finish off the celebrations. This is a great way for the BNOC to interact and give back to the community. Events like these spread awareness about physical activity, sport, and anti-doping. I was surprised how many children wanted to have a conversation with me about all the topics, and were interested to learn more.

Work is starting to pick up and Josh and I are getting busy. Since my last blog, we have met with the Botswana Badminton Association (BBA) quite a few times now, and are getting more of an idea of how our LTAD framework is going to look. Badminton is not a very popular sport here, but there seems to be an interest. Coming up with ideas on how to spread the sport has been a challenging learning experience, especially due to the fact there isn’t much funding. I’m enjoying the real-life problem solving as I know it will make a difference and help the BBA’s development. I’m excited to get some more information from the national coach and our technical director so we can dive in and make some magic.

Frisbee is still in full swing twice a week, Wednesdays at the Yacht Club for live music and socializing, and the odd time we organize a netball game. I have come to love netball and am hoping I’ll be able to find a team to join when I arrive home. Our good friend Nipun took us to the Mokolodi Game Reserve within Gaborone. We saw quite a few animals, a beautiful sunset, and I got some lovely photos. It’s a small reserve but still very cool nonetheless. There is a race there Josh and I are participating in at the beginning of July. It’s a safe enough reserve where you can walk, run, and bike, the animals that live there are not the most dangerous.  The people here are what I’ve enjoyed most. They are so kind, thoughtful, and always make my day better. They always invite us out, drive us places, and ensure we are seeing all the best parts of Gaborone. We have been adopted into the friend group and I feel right at home. I am also happy to announce that we finally conquered Kgale and got the real best view in the city. Excited for July as we have a few long weekends and are keen on planning some cool trips. I’m continuing to smile and following my motto of ‘no worries’. I’m sure the last half will go by quicker than the first, but I can’t wait for what’s to come.

Off to the next adventure! 🙂

Cheers,

Aleia Robin