He used to drink like his mother, but now he drinks like his father...

Today we went to a Zebra's soccer game! That's the Botswana National 'football' team, and it was such a blast. So much of a cultural thing, and we all enjoyed ourselves so much. So far before today we have just been at the mall and doing a little bit of walking around a limited area of the city, but today was just so much of what I feel like this area is about. And it was so much fun and excitement and new things. I LOVE IT HERE!!! It's so weird...I was nervous for so many of the months leading up to this trip, and so far, I've had such a peace about where I am and what we're doing. I am so happy to be here and really feel like I'm at home and comfortable with my surroundings and our team and the people here. I keep telling myself to take it one day at a time (some great advice I've received from MANY people as I tend to love to look at the future!) and enjoy each second because the life we are living here is unlike any we may ever have again.
We made some quick friends at the game, and they were so friendly and helpful and sweet. (Danielle has pictures of our new friends on her blog.) They came and sat with us and said they thought since we were Americans we would not talk to them, but we were so excited to have new friends! : ) Everyone here is very outward about how they feel, personal space is kind of non-existent and I think we all are adjusting and I know Danielle and I are feeling at home in this environment! At one point during the game I looked up and around myself and couldn't believe how incredibly LUCKY I am to be able to LIVE in this place for ten weeks...I know I keep saying that, but I still feel like it's a dream that we are here and living and about to be working...SO great.
Anyway, the title of my blog comes from a little incident from the game, there were some older men sitting behind us and one of them just kept talking to me and not really making sense or saying much I could understand. I didn't want to be rude so I would try to listen to him, but it was just kind of hard to understand and I didn't know what to do. This just proved to be a testament to how great the people here are though, because within a few minutes of this guy talking to me, the other people around us and our new friends kind of pushed this guy back and said "Enjoy the game, don't listen to him, don't worry." And our new friend Lucas said something to the guy and then told me, "He likes beer too much, don't worry. He used to drink like his mother, but now he drinks like his father." We thought that was great!! I hope this story doesn't freak out my parents or my grandparents...don't worry at all! Our surroundings were VERY safe and I never felt scared or anything, I just couldn't understand, and yet still it was just part of the whole experience. ; )
As far as the game, no one ended up scoring and now Botswana has to travel in a week to go play Madagascar again but this time IN Madagascar. Lucas and Hope (a guy) said that this was "the worst game we have ever seen!" They were quite disappointed. I felt like such a soccer buff and knew that my bff Rach would be so proud of me enjoying a professional soccer game. ; )Right as we were leaving our friends told us to be careful on the way out because everyone would try to step on us, which we also found very funny! ; ) Anyway...it was a great day, and a great experience, and the National Stadium is right across the street from the University so we plan on hopefully attending the games in the future. I cannot wait to continue this summer...IT IS SO GREAT HERE!!! I'm off to a dinner of Ramen noodles...haha JUST like at home. And we've all decided we need to start holding each other accountable in drinking lots of water because although it is "winter" here, the sun is so bright and warm and we've been drinking quite a bit of Coke Light and not a lot of water. So...at least four glasses a day it is!!
Hope everyone is having a beautiful Saturday, and I'd love to know how you all are doing. Email me if you would like, I would love it. Thank you again for all of the incredible support!!!