Let me start by saying that I am fine, I'm intact, and I am staying in Botswana. That being said, I'll share with you a little of what has happened in the last week.
Last Saturday I was walking with a friend to our respective homes in our village around 10:30 at night. We had come from a friend's house who lives on the other side of some hills in our village (Thamaga hills). We both had flashlights (I had my headlamp) and bags with us. We decided to walk quietly because we knew that some areas can be dangerous, and we thought it would be best if we went by unnoticed. We were walking around the side of the hills (mind you there are no streetlights, or paved streets for that matter in Thamaga). Just when we rounded the corner we saw some houselights (we'd walked the road about 4 times...so we knew it quite well i.e. landmarks etc). It was pretty much at that moment that I turned to my friend and said "we're home free, I can almost see the light of your house."
It was at that moment that two men came running up behind us. They had their faces covered with ski masks and they each jumped on us and started to separate us. I don't remember much of what happened during the fight. I remember being aware that the guy on me was pulling me by the hair and I realized that he was trying to separate us. I could hear my friend screaming, but like me it was in an angry/fighting manner. I don't think I've ever screamed so much in my life, nor have I had the opportunity to punch and kick someone as much as I was able to. The guy on me was basically just trying to hit back at me, pull my hair (which I'm seriously considering chopping off as I now kind of view it as a weapon against me) and trying to cover my mouth...I was so loud! We were both screaming "ke kopa thuso" which means I need help in Setswana...we're actually both quite amazed at how much Setswana came out of our mouths at that point.
I don't know exactly why the guy got off of me. He took my headlamp from my hand (which I was beating him over the head with) and reached for my friend's flashlight which was no where near her, and had fallen the the ground. I could still hear her fighting when my guy came back at me as if to hit me with her flashlight. I don't know whether I punched him again, or whether I was too busy screaming, but he ran off and his friend ran off too.
We both had our bags with our cameras in there and wallets (passports etc)...we're pretty happy that our bags weren't stolen, but in many ways it frightens us a lot more because of the implication of their motive. They did take our flashlights though...we try to just tell ourselves that whatever they wanted, they were bad at it...and that they likely have some good bruises and scrapes too!
I was very lucky in that the only real injury (other than some bruising and some scrapes) is an injury to my hand that they think happened by a tooth (namely his tooth)...because of that I am now on HIV prophylaxis (which is not too exciting), but that is all. This happened last Saturday, so I feel as though I have healed quite well. My friend, on the other hand, who is one of the strongest and most amazing women that I have met...fought a fight similar to mine, and basically beat her guy up too...unfortunately, she was also stabbed in the process and had to be taken to the hospital for stitches. She is also recovering really well...She and I laugh and the fact that we're so happy we were with each other because we knew that all we had to do was fight our guy...and that the other person could fight their own fight!
I am doing much better (it's been about a week now since all of this happened). I'm still pretty jumpy, I'm not nearly as friendly as I used to be; but all of that is getting better as the days go by.
I'm learning all sorts of lessons...just this morning a young man passed me (I was walking to class) he had his head down and was wearing a hood...I stared at him to try to let him know that I could see his face and got very tense...he greeted me in Setswana, and I greeted him back in Setswana...he then gave me the biggest smile and said "bua Setswana?" to which I replied "eh rra" (he asked me if I spoke setswana and I told him yes)...we then exchanged some quick greetings (as that's all I really know) and went on our way...I've decided to be very cautious now, but not to judge a book by its cover and to try to be as friendly as I can while still being safe!
On a lighter note because of the incident I have to see a counselor (just twice I think, this is my second time)...the best part of her counseling is that she has Internet, so I'm on the computer now as my friend is talking with her!
I find out next week where I will be placed for the next two years (next Saturday). I am so excited about finding out where I am going to go...I'm crossing my fingers for Internet access. I miss everyone so much, and get a little homesick at times, but am still loving Botswana!
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