Busy busy busy

Wow I have been up to a lot lately. I'm going to try and update everyone as much as possible, but I'm just on a lunch break so I don't have much time. My second week in the homestay was great. I got along with my family very well and my little nephews continued being extremely adorable and attached to me. Last week we took many excursions instead of having all classes at the University of Botswana, which was a nice change of pace, although not every excursion was pleasant. On Tuesday, for example, we went to the Botswana Meat Commision in Lobatse to see the process of how they get there meat. Needless to say, I was a complete wreck the entire time and I could only handle about 2 seconds of the process before I broke down and asked to leave (a few others joined me). Based on what my classmates told me about the process, I'm definitely going to stick with being a vegetarian. The same day we also visited a mountain that was surrounded with cape vultures, which were flying in mass above our heads. Wednesday we visited an area that worked on recycling in the city- the place was quite small, but a good start. On another day we also went to a Veld products center and saw what they have been doing with natural plants of Botswana. On Satuday our class said goodbye to our host families and rode off in an overnight train to Francistown. The train was quite fun but also very smooshed. From Francistown we drove 3 hours to Kasane, where I have been for since Sunday. We are currently staying at a place called Toro Safari Lodge. We are supposed to be camping every night in a lawn area of the lodge, but the rain is constant and intense here, so I've been forced to sleep in a cabin in the lodge for 3 out of 4 nights. My tent acts much like a waterbed when the rain comes pouring down. I'm going to tell you about my adventurous "spring break" time here in Kasane at a later post because my time is up, but get excited! As a preview I'll let you know that a hippo was about 10 feet from our cabin last night. I'll try to answer your questions soon, so keep commenting. Sending my love!