Dear Mama le Papa

12 March, 2007

I have arrived safely. The flight was very long. It was very comfortable. The food was very nice, but not better than yours Mama. I watched movies the whole journey. KB slept most of the time. But one interesting fact is there was only a handful of Batswana. I did say dumelang to one, but he seemed not to understand Setswana. I was not comfortable to go to the toilet. I went once maybe. The plane was very big; it’s exactly like a bus inside, a very nice bus – a big bus, one day you will see it, when you visit me. Don’t worry, this time I will pay for the flight tickets.

We arrived very early in the morning at the Heathrow Airport. We then went to buy the train tickets. The kind lekgoa lady politely helped us with the directions to the Underground Train Station. She was nice – like the Peace Corps. We finally boarded the train to Scotland. We passed Newcastle; we arrived in Edinburgh, its very green gore! Especially the lawn, I will bring some with me next time – so Kanye grow it for us; and it was very busy! Just like at the Park Station, ko Johane, but full of only the makgoa. We bought drinks – the Fanta was weird. The bags were heavy. We boarded another train, to Glasgow where we waited for a while – maybe 3 hours before boarding the last one to Arrochar, our final destination.

We arrived just after 8 pm. Stepping off the bus, I was disappointed: it was very dark, just like in Kanye. There was no one waiting for us, although we had called and confirmed that we were coming. KB and I agreed that we would walk towards the lights; we walked, dragging our very heavy bags. Although they had wheels, mathata the road was just like in Kanye, dirt! I was shocked! KB was shocked, Europe? A truck passed us; the lekgoa man asked where we were going! He drove away. We kept on walking in disappointment. About 10 minutes later a car stopped, another lekgoa, this time a lady voice asked: “Kabo and Blessing?’’ Excitedly, we screamed: ”yeees!” She popped the trunk; we happily put the big bags into. Inside the blue car the lekgoa lady confirmed that the truck- man came to the hotel and informed them of 2 African guys on the road, she was from the hotel we will be working at. I am African gare Mama! You did not tell me, I thought I was a Motswana? Papa, were you also African at the Rooderpoort mine?

We arrived at the hotel; they gave us a big room with a bathroom and 2 single beds, and very clean duvets and tonkana blankets. After taking shower, we went to the staff room where we had food; the food was nice: potatoes and lots of vegetables with steamed chicken breasts. Anyway, Papa would testify that I like it fried, the chicken.

Tomorrow we will not be working, as they want us to rest first.

Boroko,

Mokhose

 

Me and Tumo, Edinburgh, 2007 ( ufortunately I don’t have a photo with KB).