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By Marcus Demian of North Carolina State University Wednesday, February 1st: It feels like a lot happened today: up by 9:00 am in Johannesburg, ate quickly, managed to check into the Maun flight without getting there late despite confusing directions,…
We learned from the personal experiences of our guides, the community members, and from each other within our own group as well. The effort and care of everyone has been what made this experience so much more than just a study abroad program; so much more than just getting an education. Everyone offered us kinship, just as much as we offered it.
This group has flourished into something so incredibly unique, and I feel so grateful for each and every person involved. These folks have created an incredible experience that I’ll never forget. I felt more at home here in Botswana than I ever expected to, and that’s thanks to all the wonderful people that have contributed to this program and that I have been lucky enough to share this experience with.
Instead of asking how are you, our escort guides would ask, where are you? Are you here? Le teng? And in the bush, re teng. We are here. I think that phrase encapsulates our time at Mopane Camp. We are here, present in the moment, just us in the bush.
The stories told by these pans, I realized, would soon include our story; the 9 sets of sandal-tracks or bare footprints running through the open pan, stopping occasionally for photos or to look at an interesting animal track, reveling in the beauty of being surrounded by so little. We spent our time on the pan, reflecting, before loading into our trusty land cruisers and heading off to our next adventure.