The “Southern Hospitality” of Southern Africa

Enthusiastic “Dumelas!” (Setswana for “hello”) accompanied by warm smiles, have been common greetings since arriving in Botswana. From the moment we got off the plane, we've been shown exceptional kindness and generosity from the people we've met. From the student assistants in our program, Baluki and Malebogo; Univeristy of Botswana professors; university staff like Gift who works at the faculty cafeteria; cab drivers such as Happy and Dempo, who have cheerfully taken us around to various sites in the city; and fellow football fans watching the World Cup final with us. The people of Gaborone have been open to sharing their time, advice, opinions, experiences, culture, and language with us. Some, such as the family whose property we wandered upon after getting lost at Kgale Hill, have even opened their homes to us.

The experience so far in Botswana reminds me of a kind of hospitality not unlike the classic “southern hospitality” shown by people in towns across the American South. While many of the sights and sounds are exciting and new, Gaborone possesses a very familiar small town feel in regards to people's warmth and willingness to make us feel welcome. The welcoming nature of the people seems also to be reflected in the nation's role in the greater Southern African region. Whether it is to refugees from neighboring nations seeking safety or students from halfway across the world coming to experience its culture, Botswana seems to be a nation of welcoming and accepting people.

Aaron H.