This week, I had to take my friend Sue to the Sir Seretse
Khama International Airport in Gaborone to say goodbye as she returned to
Australia, via Joburg. What a wonderful send off, courtesy the staff of the
airport.
She checked in and the Air Botswana man responded to our
greeting of ‘Dumela’ (hello) by adding ‘Le kae?’ (How are you?). I explained I didn’t
know how to say ‘I am fine thank you and how are you?’ so, while my friend
filled in her immigration form, he quickly wrote it down for us and how to say
thank you. He then wished my friend a pleasant journey and (having overheard me
say I hope it would be sooner that the last time of 7 years), added ‘come back
soon’.
We then went to the café to have lunch and after Sue had complimented
the chef on the beef dish, he came over, explained that it is a traditional
dish in Botswana, known as seswaa and explained how to prepare it, when she got
back to Australia. We didn’t have the heart to tell him that at the price of
beef there, it wasn’t on the menu!
For me it was so heart-warming that once again the friendliness
and courtesy of the Batswana people would leave a lasting memory across the
world.
Sue and Charlotte at the airport
Ke a leboga (thank you)
