Airport greetings

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)