Mooki Don

"Mooki" is Setswana for nurse and I've been called "Mooki Don" by a couple of patients. This got me to thinking...

During my Botswana experience, there have been many times where I've been reminded that "I'm not in Kansas anymore": walking down a path and finding a 12 foot tall termite mound, seeing baboons running down a street, or driving past huge billboards advertising circumcision as a means to combat HIV/AIDS. A regular occurrence in this category is related to the use of names and titles. The Batswana are formal and very respectful but approachable and friendly. Perhaps it is its history as a British protectorate or the desire to become "westernized" but people can be called by many different names and titles. Many of my patients have had both a Setswana name and an "English" name that they use. I've been called "My Lord" by men asking for money through the iron gate surrounding our flats. Children at the schools call us "Teacher". One of our drivers, Mr. T, addresses me as "my brother". Women in the local Walmart-like store called me "Uncle".

But none of them are even close to be as great as being called "Uncle Don".