*In this chapter I attempt to use some Setswana/Tswana words, the native language of Botswana. If I have used some of them incorrectly, it is unintentional. I hope readers do not take offense.*
The next week passes extremely quickly, with Betty, Matt, Kristin, and Kelly all starting their packing on Tuesday evening and finishing such on Wednesday morning, as they are scheduled to leave for Botswana on one of the Hartley jets around 11pm Wednesday night to best match Rosalina's sleeping schedule.
Kristin calls the Suarez-Hartley residence midday Wednesday and asks Matt, "What type of clothing do you suggest?"
Matt answers with, "Definitely clothes more on the casual end of things and light weight too. You'll want to bring items that can tolerate rain as well, as we are going to be there towards the end of the rainy season."
"Thanks," responds Kelly, "That helps, with all the baby stuff we don't want to over-pack."
"Do the same clothing suggestions apply to me too?" asks Betty as she comes up behind Matt, embraces him, and runs her hands across his chest, which makes him shiver even though he is wearing a shirt.
Turning around, a smiling Matt gives Betty an intense kiss and tickles her back before he says, "In general, yes, the same kinds of clothing I told Kelly and Kristin about. "
He adds, "On the other hand, please also bring one or two more formal items, as there is a restaurant I want us to go to and it is on the fancier end."
Betty jokes, "I am hoping I am the first person you are taking to this restaurant."
"Of course you are," responds Matt as he continues to hold Betty in an intimate embrace, "It is described by locals and tourists alike as having a romantic atmosphere and I certainly didn't have any reason or desire to go there while on my volunteer tour."
"Well, then it seems like a good thing that we'll have our Nanny and an assistant with us to help occupy Rosalina during both the business and pleasure aspects of our trip," comments Betty, who is unable to stifle a laugh when Matt raises his eyebrows and nods with approval at the dresses she puts into their suitcases.
"I am leaving the English-Setswana/Tswana dictionary out to read on the plane, along with these sheets of some common words and sayings," indicates Matt.
"Great idea," states Betty, "I'm sure all of the adults will find those helpful."
"Ke a go rata," answers Matt.
"Making me do research already," comments Betty.
After glancing at her "cheat sheets," Betty comes over to Matt, kisses him intensely and says, "Ke a go rata, to you too, as I love you."
Betty and Matt both have brief conversations with their respective parents prior to leaving for the airport. They put the phone to Rosalina's ear at Victoria's suggestion, with Rosalina's stares and coos into the phone making them all laugh with her.
After a long flight that is tolerated reasonably well by all, the plane lands safely at an airport in Gaborone, the capital of Botswana, which is located in the southeastern part of the country.
Glancing around at the city as they begin the drive to their destination, Kelly announces, "This seems quite modern to me."
"Yes, Gaborone is urban but where we are going, which is about 3 hours north, is rural with high rates of poverty unfortunately readily evident," responds Matt.
As they leave the city limits, the flat landscape of Botswana, which is 70% covered by the Kalahari Desert, along with the contrast of the city to countryside is obvious to all of them, with silence for most of the ride with the exception of an occasional gurgle and babble from Rosalina and commentary from their driver.
They arrive at their hotel, where Matt has reserved two suites, one for he and Betty as well as another for Kelly, Kristin and Rosalina, since they want to get some preliminary work done on the articles as well as helping out with the ongoing waterway construction, with extra hands always appreciated. After changing out of the their travel clothes, they head to the village as they are eager to get started.
Upon getting out of their van, both volunteers and villagers alike greet them happily, with a young girl's eyes growing wide as she exclaims, "Mr. Matt?"
"Ee (Yes), Mr. Matt," he responds, with Betty smiling at how excited most seem at seeing Matt.
"Leina lame ke Mmaabo. Leina la gago ke mang?" (My name is Mmaabo. What is your name?), asks Mmaabo as she looks at Betty in particular.
Mmaabo continues to talk in her native tongue, at a relatively fast pace, peppering them with many questions, including "Why are you here? How long are you going to stay?, etc."
Betty glances at Matt worriedly, but relaxes when he is able to translate some of Mmaabo's statements.
"Bua ka bonya, tswee-tswee" (Please speak slowly), requests Matt.
Blushing, Mmaabo replies, "Ke maswabi, Ke leka" (I'm sorry, I'll try).
"Leina llame ke Betty" (My name is Betty), she answers with a grin.
"Ene ke mosadi le Rosalina ke ngwake" (She is my wife and Rosalina is our daughter), adds Matt.
Mothusi, Mmaabo's grandfather and an elder of the village, says as he places his hand gently on Mmaabo's shoulder, "Dumela" (Good day).
Bowing slightly, Matt responds, "Dumela. Re tsogile sentle, wena o tsogile jang?" (Good day. We are well. How are you?).
"Re teng" (I am fine), replies Mothusi.
"Ene ke montle" (She is beautiful), states Mothusi as he looks at Rosalina who is in Betty's arms and watching everything with great interest.
After giving both Betty and Rosalina a kiss, Matt announces, "Ee, lona ke" (Yes, they are), which leads to laughter from several present due to Matt's obvious love and adoration for both his wife and daughter.
George teases, "So, the mini-honeymoon didn't put a damper on your romance, I take it."
Matt replies, "No it didn't, in fact, it enhanced it. Wait until you fall in love, and you'll know the wonder of it too."
"Moreri would love to translate for you while you are here," comments Mmaabo as she looks at her older brother, who then gives her an intense stare due to his embarrassment about being volunteered by her for such duties even though she is correct that he would be happy to do so.
"That would be wonderful," responds Betty, "Mr. Matt and I are here to hear your stories so that we can tell them to others in our magazine and hopefully get some more assistance to you."
Leigh gives Matt and then Betty a hug before saying, "I take it your trip went well, and we are all very glad you are here. With your various talents, your magazine can help bring much deserved attention and more aid to these wonderful people."
"I think Kagiso, my wife would be an excellent person for you to interview," states Mothusi.
"As long as Betty gets to interview you too," says Matt.
"Of course," responds Mothusi proudly as he stands a bit straighter.
"Ke itumetse" (Thank you), reply Betty and Matt.
Betty, Matt, Kristin, Kelly, and Rosalina are then given a tour of the site and get to see first hand the results of the combined efforts of the volunteers and villagers. Matt is impressed with how much progress has been made since he left there not quite a year ago.
"Tsena, tswee tswee le nna fatshe" (Please come in and sit down), says Kagiso when the group approaches the entrance to her hut.
Rosalina takes an instant liking to Kagiso and sits happily in her lap playing with her beads while Betty pulls out the recorder after a nod from Kagiso.
Addressing Matt, "So this is your Betty, the woman you daydreamed about even while working hard on our waterway."
"You never mentioned a baby though?" adds Kagiso as she looks at him quizzically.
Blushing, Matt responds, "Yes, this is my Betty. Our daughter, Rosalina, was a surprise to both of us, as neither of us realized Betty was pregnant until shortly after we reunited upon my return from my volunteer tour here."
"Well, you both look happy and in love, and Rosalina seems happy and healthy, so it must have been meant to be," states Kagiso.
"We agree and think that as well," replies Betty as she glances lovingly at both Matt and Rosalina.
Matt explains, "My time here was one of the most fascinating and enriching experiences of my life. Now that I have a wife and child, I won't be able to get away for 6 months at a time to do such things. But, with Betty's writing skills, my business knowledge, and some family resources, we are starting our own magazine dedicated to telling the world about worthy causes and people, such as your village, with the hope that such will bring you even more needed support."
"We welcome all the support we can get. What can I do to help?" asks Kagiso.
"Mothusi thought that you would be a great person to interview," replies Betty.
"As would he," responds Kagiso with a smile.
Betty informs her, "That was part of our discussion a few minutes ago, that I interview both of you."
"I'll make a deal," says Kagiso. "You and this lovely baby will stay here with me while you ask me your questions. Matt, and the rest, can assist with the pipes or whatever they'd prefer, as this sized audience will distract me while we talk."
"As you wish," states Matt, who gives both Betty and Rosalina quick kisses and then escorts Kelly and Kristin out of the hut.
Once the door closes, Betty turns on the recorder and tells Kagiso, "Please tell me about your village, its people, your successes and your challenges."
"Well, we'll definitely all be ready for a break when I'm done because that gives me a lot to talk about," jokes Kagiso.
Kagiso is a wonderful storyteller, with Betty having to do little to no prompting to learn about the attempts of the village to be less reliant on farming and the difficulties that the drought has placed on the villagers and their livelihood.
"Kobo?" (blanket?), offers Moreni, who has been translating as needed, when Rosalina begins to look tired about 30 minutes into the interview.
"Ke itumetse" (Thank you), says Betty as she gives Rosalina a light kiss on the forehead and then lays her down next to her.
"You are a good mother," comments Kagiso as she watches Betty interact with Rosalina.
"That compliment means more coming from you," responds Betty.
"Shall we continue?" suggests Betty, with Kagiso nodding yes and then providing Betty with more information about their village.
Kagiso speaks about the harsh realities that HIV/AIDS has had on their community, with many children being raised by relatives as the free anti-retroviral drug treatment provided by the government has decreased transmission from infected mothers to their children but cannot cure the mothers and fathers themselves.
Betty gently places a comforting hand on Kagiso's leg as Kagiso relays that she knows the ravages of the drought, famine, and HIV/AIDS first hand having lost three daughters, two sons, four grandchildren and two great grandchildren to the combined impact of these conditions.
Having been asleep for over an hour, Rosalina awakens hungry.
Glancing at Moreni, Betty asks, "Intshwarle" (Excuse me), is there somewhere I can nurse Rosalina?"
Laughing heartily, Kagiso responds, "Trust me, Moreni has seen a baby breastfeeding before, but if it would make you more comfortable I will ask him to leave."
Blushing slightly, Betty replies, "Ee" (Yes), I would prefer he is not here when I am feeding the Princess, it may be typical in your culture but not in mine."
After nodding, Moreni leaves the hut with a smirk on his face. Betty then settles an eager Rosalina against her, followed by doing her best to interview Kagiso without the assistance of a translator. They manage to understand each other with minimal issues.
"Would you like to burp her?" asks Betty, when a gurgling Rosalina has finished eating.
"Twsee, twsee" (Please), says Kagiso, whose years as a mother, grandmother, and great grandmother are evident in how easily she handles Rosalina as well as the burps she elicits from her.
Kagiso remarks, as she holds Rosalina, "It is wonderful that you are nursing, less of our women are able to do so due to HIV, but it has improved in the last few years."
Unsure of how to respond, Betty says, "Hopefully your people have begun to win the battle against that horrible disease."
"I pray you are right, the sooner the better," states Kagiso.
The interview ends shortly thereafter, with the visitors going back to the hotel for the remainder of the day, thus giving them the chance to better adjust to the time and weather differences as well as giving Betty the opportunity to start on the first ever article for their Good Works magazine.