Ambassador Michelle Gavin introduced the First Lady, who shared some very nice words.
(Sorry for the poor cinematography, I was holding Nile in one arm and holding the camera up with the other tired arm.)
More Michelle.
Saturday, June 25, 2011
Michelle Obama's Visit: Saturday
The First Lady came to meet us at the Ambassador's residence on Saturday.
Ambassador Michelle Gavin introduced the First Lady, who shared some very nice words.
(Sorry for the poor cinematography, I was holding Nile in one arm and holding the camera up with the other tired arm.)
Yes, space heaters -- did I mention it was FREEZING! June = winter here, remember.
Nile and Michelle!
More Michelle.
The First Lady signed this book for the Peace Corps director's daughter. She even asked her exactly how to spell her name. Inside, she signed it the way the President does, with the message: "Dream big!"
And then she took a picture with all of the Peace Corps volunteers who were in town. Beautiful faces!
Ambassador Michelle Gavin introduced the First Lady, who shared some very nice words.
(Sorry for the poor cinematography, I was holding Nile in one arm and holding the camera up with the other tired arm.)
More Michelle.
Friday, June 24, 2011
Michelle Obama's Visit: Friday
The First Lady of the United States of America arrived in Gaborone, Botswana, on Friday morning. I didn't see her until Friday afternoon.
One of my other tasks during this visit: Local point of contact for the First Lady's meeting with the President of Botswana, Sir Seretse Khama Ian Khama, or, as Nanny exclaimed when I showed her the pics I'd taken: "Ian!"
I stood outside looking quite official waiting for the First Lady's motorcade to arrive at the President's Office. I was given a little lapel pin by the Secret Service to wear as I stood outside so that I wouldn't be identified as a threat. Sincere thanks, guys!
People lined the streets down the road, and I was told that she was on her way. It was bright and sunny but windy out. A helicopter went by overhead, signaling she was near. A few motorcycle cops went by. Then the motorcade came around the corner, a line of black, shiny SUVs. I looked at the windows of the cars as they passed me and all of a sudden I was looking in the face of the First Lady, who was looking back with a closed-mouth smile. For some reason I averted my eyes and looked down. I don't know why; I guess I wanted to seem professional and not stare, or I felt like it was rude to look at her. Then I thought, "wait a minute, why are you looking away?!" I looked back up to catch her looking at and waving to the Government of Botswana Protocol Officer beside me.
In her motorcade were some vans of press personnel that I was responsible for wrangling. They all came running out in a windblown herd to catch up to the First Lady whose car was right in front of the office building.
I moved toward the building to intersect with them; I could see her getting out of the vehicle on the side away from me. Correction: I could see her legs and head. She was wearing bright red pants and red shoes from what I could make out.
I escorted the press to their holding room, which involved more running and breathless traipsing up flights of stairs. The photographer from the Associated Press asked "How many more flights?" When I answered, he joked, "A day wouldn't be complete without flights of stairs!" Once all the reporters were safely inside the Cabinet Room, I stood outside and waited. My White House point of contact then came out and invited me in!
I stood behind the group and waited some more. The First Lady was meeting with the President inside his office.
The meeting and short press appearance was scheduled to last 30 min. total. At about 35 min. they were still in the President's office. The mood had gone from all reporters with cameras at the ready, occasionally testing with a click and a FLASH; to cameras sagging and BlackBerries out. I chatted with the reporter from Reuters. Then one of the Protocol officers indicated that they were coming out. Everyone perked up.
I snapped some pics, but my camera focused on the reporters' heads in front of me instead of the main event. Ah, well. Because they had run over time, they didn't take any questions from the press. Instead they came out, shook hands, and retreated back into the office for her departure. Literally 15 seconds.
One of my other tasks during this visit: Local point of contact for the First Lady's meeting with the President of Botswana, Sir Seretse Khama Ian Khama, or, as Nanny exclaimed when I showed her the pics I'd taken: "Ian!"
I stood outside looking quite official waiting for the First Lady's motorcade to arrive at the President's Office. I was given a little lapel pin by the Secret Service to wear as I stood outside so that I wouldn't be identified as a threat. Sincere thanks, guys!
People lined the streets down the road, and I was told that she was on her way. It was bright and sunny but windy out. A helicopter went by overhead, signaling she was near. A few motorcycle cops went by. Then the motorcade came around the corner, a line of black, shiny SUVs. I looked at the windows of the cars as they passed me and all of a sudden I was looking in the face of the First Lady, who was looking back with a closed-mouth smile. For some reason I averted my eyes and looked down. I don't know why; I guess I wanted to seem professional and not stare, or I felt like it was rude to look at her. Then I thought, "wait a minute, why are you looking away?!" I looked back up to catch her looking at and waving to the Government of Botswana Protocol Officer beside me.
In her motorcade were some vans of press personnel that I was responsible for wrangling. They all came running out in a windblown herd to catch up to the First Lady whose car was right in front of the office building.
I moved toward the building to intersect with them; I could see her getting out of the vehicle on the side away from me. Correction: I could see her legs and head. She was wearing bright red pants and red shoes from what I could make out.
I escorted the press to their holding room, which involved more running and breathless traipsing up flights of stairs. The photographer from the Associated Press asked "How many more flights?" When I answered, he joked, "A day wouldn't be complete without flights of stairs!" Once all the reporters were safely inside the Cabinet Room, I stood outside and waited. My White House point of contact then came out and invited me in!
I stood behind the group and waited some more. The First Lady was meeting with the President inside his office.
The meeting and short press appearance was scheduled to last 30 min. total. At about 35 min. they were still in the President's office. The mood had gone from all reporters with cameras at the ready, occasionally testing with a click and a FLASH; to cameras sagging and BlackBerries out. I chatted with the reporter from Reuters. Then one of the Protocol officers indicated that they were coming out. Everyone perked up.
I snapped some pics, but my camera focused on the reporters' heads in front of me instead of the main event. Ah, well. Because they had run over time, they didn't take any questions from the press. Instead they came out, shook hands, and retreated back into the office for her departure. Literally 15 seconds.
Here's a professional photo by the stair-conscious AP photog, Charles Dharapak:
Thursday, June 23, 2011
Michelle Obama's Visit: Thursday
Thursday was actually pre-Michelle's visit, the FLOTUS (First Lady of the United States) visit.
One good thing about a small mission like ours is that when something big like this happens, you are likely to be called on to handle more than one task associated with the visit.
Among my tasks: Gifts.
I was the local point of contact for the White House gift officers. Yes, they have people whose job it is to bring (and wrap!) trunks of gifts for giving and fill those trunks with gifts received.
I made lists of who should receive gifts from the First Lady, and who had given gifts to her. I logged gifts for the First Lady and First Family on special forms, and made sure gifts were distributed to those the First Lady was gifting.
I was also in charge of the Big Gift Exchange: the gifts between the First Lady and the President of Botswana.
I had to get some pics!
For security and logistical purposes, their gifts were exchanged on Thursday, the day before they were scheduled to meet.
I would love to have my own professional gift wrapper! Look how lovely this is! The wrapping is gold foil embossed with the Great Seal of the United States of America. There is a white ribbon overlayed with a gold tulle ribbon, secured with a gold sticker of the Great Seal. The pen is for perspective.
My FAVORITE part was the card, hand-written by the White House calligrapher!
p.s. shhh, since the President of Botswana is a nature lover and conservationist; the gift was an Ansel Adams photography book, signed by Ansel Adams!
Here is the gift from President Khama to the First Lady:
I know what's inside ... it's a beautiful baked clay tea set, handmade in Gabane, Botswana. It's nestled in rich dark green velvet inside a big wooden box affixed with a brass plate with a description of the contents and the President's name.
I love the wrapping paper! The colors and stripes mimic the Botswana flag, and the design is highlighted by the coat of arms of Botswana, which features a pair of zebras. Beautiful.
One good thing about a small mission like ours is that when something big like this happens, you are likely to be called on to handle more than one task associated with the visit.
Among my tasks: Gifts.
I was the local point of contact for the White House gift officers. Yes, they have people whose job it is to bring (and wrap!) trunks of gifts for giving and fill those trunks with gifts received.
I made lists of who should receive gifts from the First Lady, and who had given gifts to her. I logged gifts for the First Lady and First Family on special forms, and made sure gifts were distributed to those the First Lady was gifting.
I was also in charge of the Big Gift Exchange: the gifts between the First Lady and the President of Botswana.
I had to get some pics!
For security and logistical purposes, their gifts were exchanged on Thursday, the day before they were scheduled to meet.
I would love to have my own professional gift wrapper! Look how lovely this is! The wrapping is gold foil embossed with the Great Seal of the United States of America. There is a white ribbon overlayed with a gold tulle ribbon, secured with a gold sticker of the Great Seal. The pen is for perspective.
My FAVORITE part was the card, hand-written by the White House calligrapher!
p.s. shhh, since the President of Botswana is a nature lover and conservationist; the gift was an Ansel Adams photography book, signed by Ansel Adams!
Here is the gift from President Khama to the First Lady:
I know what's inside ... it's a beautiful baked clay tea set, handmade in Gabane, Botswana. It's nestled in rich dark green velvet inside a big wooden box affixed with a brass plate with a description of the contents and the President's name.
I love the wrapping paper! The colors and stripes mimic the Botswana flag, and the design is highlighted by the coat of arms of Botswana, which features a pair of zebras. Beautiful.
HAVE YOU HEARD THE NEWS?!
Hi there, sorry to have left you hanging on the story of Bolu's return home.
Things have been a bit busy around here. Have you heard the news?
Wait, what's the First Lady's itinerary? Oh yeah:
Friday, June 24, 2011
Gaborone, Botswana
Saturday, June 25, 2011
Gaborone, Botswana
Sunday, June 26, 2011
Gaborone, Botswana
More info, photos and details to follow, dear reader!
Things have been a bit busy around here. Have you heard the news?
Wait, what's the First Lady's itinerary? Oh yeah:
Friday, June 24, 2011
Gaborone, Botswana
Saturday, June 25, 2011
Gaborone, Botswana
Sunday, June 26, 2011
Gaborone, Botswana
More info, photos and details to follow, dear reader!
Friday, June 17, 2011
WE FOUND BOLU!!!!!!!!!!!!
Can you believe it?!?! It hasn't quite sunk it yet for me, either!!!!! We got home an hour and a half ago with Bolu! He was 21 kilometers outside of town, in a little village called Kumakwane. Insane. The most crazy story ever. I will fill you in next time. Just loving having Bolu HOME now!
Sunday, June 12, 2011
WHO LIKES EXPLOSIONS?!
{Video of a truck exploding at the end of this post!}
I went with some guys on Thursday to blow up a Chevy Suburban.
It was awesome!
We drove an hour outside of town to a beautiful rural area where it was sunny but windy and cold, but overall it was QUIET.
Until we blew up the truck.
Me and Mr. Wonderful on the drive out there. We stopped to pick up a hook and rope that fell off the car.
The Botswana Defence Force team used plastic explosives, which are malleable explosives that look like sugar cookie dough. Not sure how technical the use of a shovel handle is for breaking it up ...
They kneaded the plastic explosive dough into balls, which they then distributed all over the car and molded along tubes of explosive powder.
I am pretty certain that if I had asked nicely, they would have let me make my own plastic explosive dough ball.
Beautiful landscape. This was the farthest outside Gaborone that I've been in my 3 mos. here in Botswana.
Luckily Mr. Wonderful, aka The Cow Whisperer, herded these cattle down the hill and away from the truck. Although when I turned around and saw this stampede headed toward me, especially those horns, I thought "great, I come to see a truck get blown up and instead I get trampled and gored by cattle."
I decided this was a better place to risk it: They told me that if it accidentally blew right now, I wouldn't feel a thing ...
This is some serious explosive power.
Almost ready ...
I'm laughing stupidly here because one of the soldiers said "DON'T TOUCH ANYTHING!" after I totally leaned back on the car for the photo. Darwin Award, anyone?!
Ready for blastoff. All of those tubes are filled with explosive powder.
Not much left!
I went with some guys on Thursday to blow up a Chevy Suburban.
It was awesome!
We drove an hour outside of town to a beautiful rural area where it was sunny but windy and cold, but overall it was QUIET.
Until we blew up the truck.
I am pretty certain that if I had asked nicely, they would have let me make my own plastic explosive dough ball.
THE EXPLOSION!!!!!!!
There was a delay between seeing the blast and then hearing and feeling the BOOM! Me and the Botswana Defence Force demolition team leaders.
Friday, June 10, 2011
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