GHETTO FABULOUS
My heart is full of joy.
A couple of weeks ago, I wrote about how I missed being in Botswana and the Ghetto in particular.
I vowed that I would be among the first people to cross the border once it opened. True to my word, I was in Francistown last week - a day after borders opened - and what a visit!
I had fun! I shopped, I ate seswaa, hake fish and pizza and other nice foods I had long craved for. And to top it all, I spent good quality time with my colleagues.
Though it was for a short time as they were on deadline, the few minutes that we spent chatting and laughing out loud really soothed my soul.
To add the cherry on top, they had a very nice surprise… they had bought me a bottle of my all time favourite, All Gold tomato sauce, which was one of the things I mentioned I would buy as soon as I crossed over as its price here in Zimbabwe is ridiculously high.
I swear I shed a tear of joy for both the sauce and their thoughtfulness. I am sure you also agree that surprises and presents are heart-warming no matter how small they might be. In any case, they say it’s the thought that counts – and the thought, as well as the T.sauce, was greatly appreciated.
Though the main purpose of the trip was to shop for various household things and groceries, I couldn’t resist the urge to spoil myself with a few clothing items seeing as some of my favourite shops now have branches in the Ghetto
Thanks again dear colleagues, George Moore (you know, everyone’s favourite subeditor) and Kabelo Dipholo for the bottle. It’s really being enjoyed and, by the way, I wouldn’t mind another surprise on my next visit!
Though the main purpose of the trip was to shop for various household things and groceries, I couldn’t resist the urge to spoil myself with a few clothing items seeing as some of my favourite shops now have branches in the Ghetto.
I was also in awe of the new look Galo Centre. When I last visited early this year, refurbishment of the mall was in progress so I was really excited to shop around the complex. You can’t blame me really because we don’t have such kinds of shopping malls in Zimbabwe and neither do we have the South African clothing stores that are found in Botswana.
You should have seen me getting into one shop after the other despite the tediousness of registering by the entrance.
But at the end of it all, though tired, I was a happy soul. Happy to have been in the Ghetto after such a long time, happy to have done some shopping, happy to have indulged in some of my guilty pleasures and happy to have spent a few precious moments with my colleagues.
And it would be amiss of me not to thank my hommie, Joy Chikura, for warmly welcoming me into her home. Ke a leboga mme!
Until we meet again, Ghetto, thanks for the wonderful memories!