Botswana Time

Hello everyone. During my recent outing doing home healthcare in Botswana, I encountered the true meaning of "Botswana time." For those that are unfamiliar with the term, Botswana time refers to the nation's relaxed attitude about time. Very often, the Batswana take a more relaxed approach to life and do not feel it necessary to rush many things. Before our departure, we were extensively coached to not expect most of our meetings to start on time, as that is just the Botswana way of life.

The story begins with myself and my home visit partner Blair being invited by the Deputy Chief of the village to perform an assessment on him. He had heard about us being in the village (Mmopani), and wanted to be included. So our supervisor, Sister Agnes, took myself and Megan T. (who was substituting for Blair that day) to the municipal headquarters during the day to visit with him. Unfortunately, he was busy with a meeting. But the workers were very interested in being assessed (as has everyone in the village we've encountered. Everyone we see seems to ask us to take a look at them). We listened to their heart and lungs, took vital signs, and did our own assessments. I then proceeded to ask one of the women workers if she would also like a breast exam. This was due to the high level of interest we had encountered earlier from the home health volunteers at St. Placid church, and some of the women we've gone to see. To this question, the woman replied, "Oh no. I can't. We have a fire we are suppose to have been leaving to." And there is the perfect example of Botswana time. A fire does not require people to rush to it. There is always enough time to have your health checked first.