21

Thank you all for the birthday wishes!  But before we discuss the celebrations, let me go over yesterday's adventures.

The US research team began the day by fixing up a bike to be used for charging cell phones.  Mallory's senior project at CWRU explored inexpensive methods for charging cellphones.  Cell phones are even common in villages here where access to electricity is limited, so Mallory's group came up with a few different devices for charging cellphones.  One of these methods involved using a bike to spin a motor, which would then generate enough (actually more than enough) electricity to charge a phone using a micro-USB.  Dr. Lacks brought over part of the bike but had to take it apart in order to get it on the plane.  A few of us worked on putting the back wheel on and aligning the loose chain on the gears, while the others looked over the circuitry.  It was a really neat experience to use all of our collective knowledge and skills to get everything working. We were very close to testing a light bulb, but we need to build a stand to support the back end of the bike (there is no front end) so the wheel can spin freely.  We also need to fix one or two of the electronic pieces.  We should have that done soon so I can bring it to the village and see if it is something they'd be interested in using.

After lunch, all of the researchers and ENGR students went for a hike up Kgale Hill.  The hike up was a trek.  Lots of pricker bushes and the path wasn't very distinct.  It got pretty steep at points and having 35 people all in a line, we just hoped no one slipped and caused a domino effect.  At one point we heard baboons and Lebo became concerned.  The other Botswana boys and some of the US boys took the lead to protect us.  At the top there was an antenna and power lines so we realized there must be a service road.  After taking lots of pictures and relaxing for a bit, we headed down the nice paved road laughing that we had taken the road less traveled up.  On the way down, we heard a group in the distance chanting some sort of ritual.

Kameron (William and Mary), Maren (Yale), and Amber (UPenna) found the gateway steps.

Follow the leader.

Not quite at the top.

The Gaborone Dam is in the background.

Some Indians Fans right along with me.

Andrew (Rutgers) with the most prepared outfit.

The antenna was our goal.

Power lines with a service road to them.

Crawling under the fence around the antenna.

The graffiti doesn't wash away fast because there is so little rain here.

Gabs and the dam.

Gabs

The dam.

Made it.

Brian (Tulane) and Zee (UB) just playing a quick game of chess...

Amber (UPenn), Andrew (Rutgers), and Maren (Yale)

Mallory (CWRU)

CWRU ENGR students

Kameron feeling accomplished.

The barbed wire gate we walked through

Another climber

Easy path downhill, paved and all.

Made it to the bottom and felt very satisfied.

A short nap and then dinner and the US researchers, Lebo and Kevin (UB) went to a local football game, Gunners vs. Nico United.  These are regional amateur teams from around Botswana.  They played at the UB stadium where the internationals friendly's are also played until the national football stadium is done with renovations.

Lebo(UB), Andrew (Rutgers), and Maren (Yale) pumped for some Botswana football.

We left the local game around half time so we could head over to a nearby cafe to watch the Championship League Final, Chelsea vs. Bayern Munich.  We went to News Cafe, which was a classy restaurant and bar.  I had a delicious peanut butter banana smoothie.  The food was very American like.  The game was good and went into PKs when Chelsea ended up winning.  The audience was split in which team they supported.  I chose to support Bayern, but wasn't too emotionally invested.  The rest of the night and the next day, the Botswanans had what sounded like heated debates about the game.

Kameron (William and Mary)

They had two types of brown sugar on the table.  Obviously we had to try them. (Amber , UPenn, and Brian, Tulane)

My Peanut Banana Smoothie and Leslie (Rice) with her Mango smoothie. Both delicious.

Andrew (Rutgers)

When I returned to my dorm, I video chatted with my parents, Eric, Ryan, the Pinters, and my Aunt Jill.  I opened some birthday cards and presents my parents hid in my suitcase since it was after midnight Botswana time.  Oreos, Reese's, a squish ball and a goofy monkey hat.  It was nice to see some familiar faces again and hear what people had been up to.

In the morning, we headed out to a nearby nature reserve for a game drive.  This nature reserve is geared toward education and doesn't have as many of the larger animals (no lions, elephants..).  Our guide K.K was very enthusiastic and knowledgeable.  We saw some hippos, some impalas, a marshall eagle, crimson bobo, warthogs, hyenas and some other animals that I'm forgetting the names right now.   They served us lunch and I had a glass of wine to celebrate.  The most exciting part was definitely petting one of the tame cheetahs.

Starting off the day with some classy drinks.

Warthogs running through the parking lot

Didn't go in here, but we could have held snakes and stuff.

Our guide K.K.

Eric (CWRU) taking the first turn.

Andrew (CWRU) quick to move as he stood up.

Marc (CWRU)

Couldn't have a better 21st birthday story.

John (CWRU)

Alyssa (CWRU)

Spotted Hyenas, I thought for a while that they were in the same enclosure as the cheetah and was very concerned that I had just been in a pen with hyenas.

Out of the truck to see the hippos 

Those 2 bumps in the water are hippos.  Had to back away when the went underwater because they are so quick and dangerous.

Our truck.

Fight between males.  The one farther away on the left was chased out of the herd.

Wine served with lunch, first drink on the 21st.

My front seat mates, the Andrews (CWRU, Rutgers)

On my way to dinner, I stopped by Maren's and Leslie's suite and walked in on them preparing a surprise for me.  They had bought me candy and were making me a birthday card.  At dinner, I was surprised with a birthday cake that some ENGR students and researchers trekked through some sketchy areas to get.  Chocolate cake.  Someone knows me well. The only candle they could find was this giant red one.  A great souvenir. The cake had an interesting zing to it that we tried to figure out, but it was good and very thoughtful of them.

After dinner, some of the US researchers got together to go over pictures and watch a goofy British show that Brian (Tulane) is into, The Mighty Boosh.

All in all, an unforgettable birthday weekend.
Until next time,
M.E.