Traveling like a local

Arising this morning, tiredness is in the air; we gather for morning prayer and mass. 

After our traditional morning coffee in the sun Botshelo asked if I wish to join her going to a meeting. We took public transport, taking the route of a local. It was interesting to see the back streets, the wider Gaborone area and the 'real' neighborhood. The meeting was at the new Ava Maria Pastoral Center. 

The Ava Maria Pastoral Center is a massive soulless building that was design to be a venue for local parishes and groups to gather in an affordable and inviting location. We got a personal tour through the building, followed by sitting outside to have the meeting. I watched the workers tidy the pool, which puzzle me to have a pool at the front of the building, especially when water is extremely expensive. I later found out that it was actually a water feature - Im not sure what is worst, the waste of water on a feature that looked more like a swimming pool. 

Later on I found out the costing to stay there, I know we must keep things in relation to the environment and context of the business situation. However, the fact that the prices are beyond what an average Botswana could afford is not to be dismissed. This place is like a hotel, in the sense that its sharp crisp lines, large open areas, tile flooring with long hallways leave that sense that one is standing inside a hotel. Per night it is around 350/700 pula (14.13 pula per dollar - approx) The conference room is 4000, while the larger one is approx 150,000 which is a lot of funds, even for a business. Therefore it sort of indicates that this is for foreign business rather than the locals which to my understanding was the target market. 

I guess the reason this gets to me is its an amazing resource that by what we heard was made for the local people, yet is out of reach of the locals. In a place where people are the center of everything, the culture, daily living, well being it comes across that the church has made something that is exclusive to a select group of individuals. Rather sad if you ask me… then again I am a visitor and don't know the full story or background therefore I just dearly pray that locals will be able to enjoy and use the facility just as much as others. 

On the way back, we dropped into Game City - which is a mall complex, where we went to the bank. Three hours later, we left. A long long wait… not too sure if this is normal or not, yet afterwards water was much needed before the journey on the kobe (van bus) home.